An overview of Canada
 
 
* Canada is ranked as the second largest country of the world. It spans six time zones. It extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and later creeps deep into the Arctic.
* Surprisingly, its total population is just a ‘little more’ than the national capital region of India ‘Delhi’.
* The United Nations has ranked Canada as one of the best places in the world, to live!! This assessment bases its assertiveness on factors like: educational attainment; life expectancy; national income; and quality of life.
* The United Nations has ranked ‘Toronto’, Canada’s largest city, as the most multicultural city in the world.
* Canada is ranked as one of the wealthiest nations of the world, producing a high per-capita income.
* It is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and is a part of the G8 countries.
* It is ranked as one of the top ten trading and manufacturing nations.
* It takes pride to speak of a near-negligible unemployment rate.
* Canada resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system; pattern of production; and high living standards. The Canada-United States, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) of 1988 eliminated tariffs between the two countries, whereas North American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA) worked to expand the free trade zone, to include Mexico in the 1990s. Thus it has become a very interesting economic zone.
Location TOP
 
* It lies on the continent of North America.
* It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
* Canada is north of the 49th parallel of latitude.
* The 49th parallel was chosen as a border from the Great Lakes to the west coast.
Land and water TOP
 
* It has the longest coastline in the world
* It is surrounded by oceans on three sides - Pacific on west, Atlantic on east, Arctic on north.
* It has about 1/4th of all the fresh water in the world.
* Glaciers shaped the land and created many lakes.
* The Mackenzie River is Canada’s longest river.
* Ships sail inland on the St. Lawrence River.
* Nearly half of Canada is covered by Forests, as it houses 1/10th of world’s forests.
* Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory is Canada's tallest peak at 5,959 meters.
History TOP
 
* The first people were the Aborigines.
* In the 1500s, explorers and settlers from Western Europe arrived.
* Jacques Cartier, a French explorer named Canada in 1535.
* The name "Canada" comes from the Huron and Iroquois word "Kanata" meaning "village".
* Canada became a country on July 1st, 1867.
* The first provinces were Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec.
* Sir John A. Macdonald was the first prime minister of Canada.
Resources TOP
 
* Canada's renewable resources include forests, plants, animals, and fish.
* Canada has 10% of the world's forests.
* Minerals, metal, natural gas, and oil are some of Canada's non renewable resources.
* Hydroelectric power from Canada is sold to the US.
* Canada is one of the world’s largest mining nations.
* Over 60 minerals and metals are produced in Canada.
* Canada is world’s 3rd largest diamond producing nation in the world.
* Canada is the world's leader in the production of potash and uranium.
  There are 42 national parks in Canada.
* The largest park in Canada is Wood Buffalo National Park, in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It is home of the world's largest bison herd and the only nesting site of the endangered whooping crane.
Industries TOP
 
* Automobile
* Auto Parts
* Pulp and Paper
* Iron and Steel
* Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing
* Mining
* Fuel
* Forestry
* Agriculture Products
 
Exports
* Automobile Vehicles and Parts
* Machinery and Equipments
* Oil
* Natural Gas
* Metals
* Forest
* Farm Products
Transportation TOP
 
* The main highway system is called the Trans-Canada Highway.
* It goes from St. John's NFLD to Victoria, B.C.
* The highway is 7,604 kms long, and is the longest national highway in the world.
* The Dempster Highway in the Yukon territory is the northernmost highway.
* The major ports are Vancouver, Churchill, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John's.
* The St. Lawrence Seaway allows ocean-going ships to sail inland.
* The Seaway has 26 locks and five canals.
* The two main freight railway systems are the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific Railway.
* In 1937 Bombardier invented the first snowmobile.
Government TOP
 
* Democratic system of government
* Parliament of Canada is in Ottawa, Ontario
* Parliament consists of House of Commons (elected) and Senate (appointed)
* Prime Minister - Stephen Harper (leader of the Conservative Party)
* Governor General of Canada - Michaëlle Jean
Sports TOP
 
* The native people of Canada invented the game of lacrosse.
* Lacrosse is the national summer sport of Canada.
* Ice hockey is the winter national sport of Canada.
* Five pin bowling was invented by T.E. Ryan of Toronto in 1909.
* Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891.
Facts TOP
 
* Second largest country in the world (Russian Federation is the largest)
* Ten provinces and three territories (capital cities are in brackets).
* Population 33,212,696 (July 2008 est.)
* Capital city of Canada - Ottawa (Ontario)
* Leader of Canada - Prime Minister Stephen Harper
* Emblem - Maple leaf
* Flag - Red and white with a red maple leaf
* Canada's birthday is on the first of July.
* Animal - The beaver
* Motto - "From sea to sea"
* National anthem - "O Canada"
* Police Force-RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) the national police force
* There are 6 time zones
 
Average Salaries Paid by Sectors in Canada
Look at jobs throughout Canada, typical wages as follows:
 
Average Hourly Wages for Various Professions
Professions Average Hourly Wages
Retails Sales/Sales Clerk $11
Data Entry Clerk $15
Book keeper $16
Accounting Clerk $17
Truck Driver $19
Plumber $22
Carpenter $22
Executive Assistant $22
Electrician $25
Architect $27
Social Worker $28
Registered Nurse $32
Computer Engineer (not software) $33
Physiotherapist $34
Lawyer $36
Computer and Information - Systems Manager $37
Engineering Manager $45
Dentist $60
 
Average Hourly Wages at Middle Management Levels
Job Location Low Wage Average Wage High Wage
Human Resources Manager Toronto $14 $30 $49
  Calgary $17 $41 $49
  Winnipeg $14 $29 $50
Purchasing Manager Toronto $14 $26 $58
  Calgary $17 $45 $56
  Winnipeg $17 $28 $38
Engineering Manager Toronto $26 $36 $57
  Calgary $45 $54 $79
  Winnipeg $19 $40 $57
Computer & Information Systems Manager Toronto $24 $39 $53
  Calgary $36 $40 $48
  Winnipeg $20 $35 $45
Retail Manager Toronto $11 $16 $26
  Calgary $20 $22 $29
  Winnipeg $8 $21 $37
 
Canadian Average Hourly Earnings by Gender
Earnings Classification Average Hourly Earnings
Males $23.44
Females $19.83
All Employees $21.66
 
Average Weekly Wages Sector Wise
Profession Average Weekly Wages
Educational and Related Services $844
Health care and social Assistance $734
All industries $792
Public Administration $981
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services $1016
Why study in Canada TOP
 
Post Study Work and Immigration Possibilities.
* Canadian economy requires qualified and experienced working population.
* The Canadian economy has not been affected by recession.
* The current regulations permit students to work in Canada post studies.
* Canada also offers immigration possibilities
 
High on Quality of Education
* The country spends more on education (as a percentage of GDP) compared to the OECD average, and is the second highest among G-8 countries.
* Canada was also among the first in the world to recognize the need to connect schools and libraries to the Internet, and its SchoolNet program is being copied around the world.
* Canada offers a wide choice of over 90 universities and 150 colleges and technical institutes, featuring every imaginable program.
* Surprisingly, Canadian tuition fees are amongst the lowest in almost all the English speaking countries.
* Most of the universities and college programs incorporate a co-operative work program, giving the students an opportunity to work in their related field and earn credits for the same.
 
Great Place to Live
* Canada has ranked as one of the top ten places to live in the world since 1994 according to the United Nations (UN) and the Economist Intelligence Unit. In the UN survey Canada earned particularly high marks for its access to education, high life expectancy (due to universal health care system); and low crime and violence rates
* Canada's largest cities -- Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal -- have been recognized as world class cities in which to live and work, for their cleanliness and safety and for their cultural activities and attractive lifestyles.
* Canadians enjoy a standard of living among the highest in the world. Almost 70 per cent of Canadians own their own homes, with a higher percentage owning durable goods, such as automobiles, refrigerators, washing machines, television, telephones and radios
* Canada also has an extensive health care system and social security network.
* Canada is considered to be a relatively peaceful, safe and orderly country. Its violent crime rate decreased for ten consecutive years from 1993 to 2003. Unlike its US neighbours to the south, firearms are strictly controlled and generally are not permitted.
* The country is an international leader in computer and information technology and has a reputation for excellence in such sectors as telecommunications, transportation and engineering; and specifically, aerospace, urban transport, microelectronics, medical devices, advanced software, hydroelectric and nuclear power, lasers and opto-electronics, biotechnology, food and beverage processing, geomatics; and ocean and environmental industries. High points in Canada's telecommunications industry include Teleglobe's CANTAT 3 cable. The BLACKBURY also originates from Canada.
* Students have an authorization for working twenty hours per week, off campus* when classes are in session and full time during scheduled breaks/vacation. But students must start work only after they receive the off-campus work permit.
* Despite its rich lifestyle, Canada has a remarkably low cost of living. Its inflation rate has remained one of the lowest in the industrialized world.
* Canada offers post study work and immigration possibilities.
Types of certifications TOP
 
Types of Certifications
1 Certificate is a qualification awarded upon successful completion of a programme which is usually one year in length, and is offered at colleges.
2 Diploma is the qualification awarded on the basis of one or two year’s successful study, and is offered at colleges. You will require to have cleared class 12 with the required IELTS score.
3 Undergraduate/Bachelor’s Degrees are awarded by a university after four years of full-time study, and lead to graduate level studies.
4 Graduate/Post Graduate Degrees lead to advanced degrees, diplomas and certificates. A pre-requisite to participate in graduate studies is a bachelors/undergraduate degree (4 years).
5 Masters Degree: It’s an option for bachelor degree holders, who want to further their qualifications. It’s a two year course and requires a 4 or 3 years UG qualification with a 1 year Canadian PG qualification.
 
M.B.A.
* Programmes will typically require a minimum of two to three years of relevant work experience, GMAT score of 580-600, TOEFL score of 88-100, and a 4 year degree,
* They are generally 2 years in duration, though a few institutes offer a fast track option.
* Pre-requisites to participating in a master’s programme is a four year bachelor’s degree with high academic standing equivalent to a minimum mid-B grade in Canada (mid 70’s); at least two academic letters of reference; and other qualifications as specified, i.e., TOEFL, GMAT test.
 
Doctorate or Ph.D.
* This degree ranks above a master’s degree,
* Requires four to seven years to complete full time.
* A combination of course work, original research, and a thesis is required.
* Prerequisites are typically a master’s degree, although direct entry from a bachelor’s degree to a Ph.D. programme may be possible depending on the school and programme.
* Minimum high-B grade in Canada (high 70’s) is required; where relevant, demonstrated research competence equivalent to at least a B+ grade; at least two academic letters of reference; and other qualifications as specified, i.e. TOEFL, GRE general and/or subject test.
 
Post-Doctoral Programmes
* These are much more specialized, research oriented programmes.
* One of the most important factors in granting post-doctorate fellowships is the personal network established between the interested applicant and the faculty member within the institution
Level of qualifications and entry criteria TOP
 
Please note that the below is indicative and it can change depending on the institutions.
Level Requirements
Advanced Diploma/ Diploma/ Certificates High Second Class in HSC
IELTS/ TOEFL (ibt)
Bachelors Degree First Class in HSC
IELTS/ TOEFL (ibt)
Post Graduate Certificate/ Diploma High Second Class in Bachelors ( 3 or 4 Years)
Masters Degree First Class in Bachelor’s Degree (4 Years in most cases)
IELTS/ TOFEL (ibt)
A Post Graduate Certificate or Diploma in Canada Can be Counted as the 4th Year in Many Cases.
Intakes TOP
 
* Major intake is the “FALL” or September one
* Some institutes offer courses in “Winter” (January) as well.
Application Process TOP
 
Under Graduate Application Process.
* To start the application process, you will be required to complete and sign the application form yourself, and attach official transcripts/ academic records, plus application fee of your chosen institute(s) in the format acceptable to them.
* The application fee to the universities/colleges may be paid online via credit card or by banker draft.
* The last dates can vary from institution to institution; you should contact one of our offices for information on deadlines.
* Once the application form is submitted, the institute will inform our offices who in turn will inform you in case if any additional information is required.
* Outcomes of an application may be unconditional, conditional or rejected.
 
Graduate Application Procedure
* Please visit/contact our nearest office for getting the application forms. We would assist you in filling the application forms. Also our expert counsellors would provide assistance and guidance for preparing your SOP (Statement of Purpose) and LOR (Letters of Recommendation).
* A three year Bachelor’s degree or Diploma will be sufficient for the post degree/post baccalaureate or post diploma programs offered at the Canadian colleges.
* For a masters degree, you would be required to have a degree, which is comparable to a Canadian bachelor’s degree (a minimum of 16 years of formal education). It would imply qualifying in a professional four-year degree like engineering or other such courses, in India. Some universities also offer a Pre- Masters/ Qualifying Masters ranging from 3 months to one year depending upon the number of credits they expect you to pre-qualify for the masters with.
* While applying for masters degree courses, you will have to submit an official transcript from each college or university that you have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects/credits involved (for each year) and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc. This procedure is to be done for each and every college that you have attended. More than one copy of the transcript can be asked for by certain universities. The transcripts need to be in English.
* You will have to first complete the graduate application form accompanied with the required application fee. The fee can be submitted either through a credit card or bank draft. Note: Your application will ONLY be processed once the Canadian institution receives the application fee.
* Many Canadian institutions prefer to receive an online application form rather than paper applications for faster and easier processing. Our expert counsellors will thoroughly assist you in filing the online as well as filling the paper based application forms.
* Note: You are NOT required to wait until your final exam or semester results are released to submit an application!
* Your application and documents should reach the institution before the stipulated deadline for supporting documents. If you don't have your final results yet, you can begin by sending in your available results i.e. mid-term, semester or forecast results first. The final results can be couriered later. Please ensure that all academic documentation submitted, must either be original documents or certified in English by the issuing institution. It should also be sealed in the issuing institution's envelope.
* You will get an admission offer from the institute. After your acceptance, you will be sent an official letter of acceptance from your university or institute
 
Decisions on Applications
* Universities and colleges generally take between 4 and 8 weeks (or even longer where a faculty assessment has to be made or a portfolio has to be assessed, or for special cases) to make a decision on an application.
* Detailed below are the stages involved in processing and application and its meaning.
 
1 Acknowledgement: This acknowledges the receipt of the student’s application and most universities send this letter to the student.
2 Unconditional Offer: The student satisfies all the required conditions and has been given a confirmed seat on the course and the place is guaranteed.
3 Conditional Offer: The student has not yet satisfied all the entry conditions and still needs to fulfil some conditions raised by the university, before the confirmation of his/her seat on the course. The condition could be based on the entry requirements or on formalities of finance. They may include things as the classification of your forthcoming degree award or evidence of English language proficiency
4 Rejection: The student’s application has not been successful in gaining admission. The university is unable to offer a place to him/her.
Cost TOP
 
Tuition fees
Programs Tuition fees
Diploma and Certificate level CAD $12,000 to $15,000
Bachelors Level CAD $12,000 to $18,000
Masters Level CAD $14,000 to $25,000
Part time work TOP
 
1. Working on Campus:
* You are eligible to work on campus, without requiring a work permit, if you are a full time student at a public post-secondary institution and you have a valid study permit.
 
2. Working Off-Campus:
* International students are allowed to work off-campus while completing their studies. But, it requires you to be a full time student enrolled at a participating publicly funded post-secondary educational institution or in an approved program at an eligible privately funded institution.
* A work permit has to be applied for, for working off-campus.
* A work permit, authorizes you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer holidays, and spring break).
 
Eligibility for Off Campus Work Permits
You will need to be a full time student at an eligible post-secondary educational institution participating in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program, if you plan to work off campus.
 
To get the work permit, you must:
* Carry a valid study permit
* Study at a participating institution
* Have been a full time student for no less than 6 of the total 12 months preceding the date of your work permit application
* Have a satisfactory academic standing
* Sign a form authorizing the institution, the province, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for sharing your personal information. This is done for confirming that you are continuing to study full time and that you are in satisfactory academic standing
An overview of the Canadian education system TOP
 
An Overview of the Canadian Education System
* The education system in Canada encompasses of both publicly funded and private schools, including: community colleges/ technical institutes, career colleges, language schools, secondary schools, summer camps, universities and university colleges.
* Education is a provincial responsibility under the Canadian constitution, which means that there are significant differences among the education systems of the different provinces. However, education is important to Canadians, and standards across the country are uniformly high.
* In general, Canadian children attend kindergarten for one or two years at the age of four or five on a voluntary basis. All children begin grade one at about six years of age.
* Education institutions are not officially ranked in Canada, but you will find quality institutions across the country.
* When choosing your school in Canada, consider the type, size and location of the institution.
* If you are interested in a particular area of study, investigate which schools have more to offer in that discipline.
Types of Canadian educational institutions TOP
 
 
Universities
* Canada has a large selection of universities and university colleges located in both urban and rural settings in every region of the country.
* Canadian universities are internationally known for the quality of teaching and research.
* Degrees from Canadian universities are considered to be equivalent to those from American and other commonwealth universities.
* Canadian universities are largely publicly funded; as a result they are of a consistently high quality, regardless of location or area of study. Moreover, they all retain a high degree of academic autonomy.
* They offer a broad range of courses and a full range of degrees from undergraduate to doctorates, and can also offer certificates and professional degrees.
* Fees for universities differ depending on the province, institution and program of study.
* The university year usually runs from September to May. Some universities are on a semester or trimester system, with all courses available even in the summer.
* There is no Canada-wide entrance test: each university sets its own admission standards and assesses the qualifications of each applicant individually.
 
University or Community College
* University colleges combine Canadian university and college traditions, with a strong base on applied and academic programs offered in campus environments.
* As the name suggests, a university college offers university degrees as well as college diploma and certificate programs.
* As a component of the Canadian university system, university colleges offer students a choice of either academically-oriented university degree programs or the more practically-oriented college diplomas and certificates.
* As part of the Canadian college system, university colleges are distinguished by their strong student support services, small classes and strong campus environments.
* They may also offer combined degree/diploma programs and university transfer programs.
 
University Transfer Programs
* Students intending to acquire a degree at a university can complete their first two years of study at a community college or university college and earn credits.
* Most of the credits earned in this type of program may be transferred to universities as the first and second year of a degree program.
* Community colleges and university colleges that offer transfer programs usually have an established relationship with nearby universities. However, it is important to check with the college to determine which universities will accept the transfer credits.
* You must ensure that the courses you take are appropriate to the degree you plan to enter in university
 
Technical Institutions and Colleges
* These days there is very little difference between colleges and technical institutions and university college/ community college.
* Colleges and technical Institutions are popular education choices in Canada; they offer professional programs of 1 to 3 years (often including a work term) that are highly appreciated in the job market.
* Some community colleges offer university transfer programs that allow students to take courses that are parallel to those offered for the first two years of a four year university program. Students must still apply to the university to gain admission to complete the last two years of the four year program.
* The 175 post-secondary institutions which are members of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) are officially known by a range of titles, including Community College, College, Technical Institute and University College.
* All of these institutions have the primary function of responding to the training needs of business, industry and the public service sectors.
* Historically, these institutions offered diplomas but as community needs changed and evolved, at least 18 of them are now granting degrees and applied degrees.
* In fact, a significant number of university graduates attend college upon completion of their degrees to acquire vocational skills for employment.
* Colleges typically have more vocationally-related curricula than universities, with smaller classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater ratio of laboratory space to classroom space, an interactive teaching style and inclusive entry criteria.
* Employment-related programs, including apprenticeship and continuing education courses, often maintain varying entry levels and range from the technologies to the creative arts.
* Colleges maintain renowned Centres of Excellence in many fields such as information technology, mining, the environment, and hospitality and tourism.
* The uniqueness of Canadian colleges lies in the combination of employer-centred curricula within comprehensive learning institutions which respond to national economic policy.
* Colleges are dynamic institutions, constantly changing to meet the economic and social needs of the communities in which they work.
* As such, several colleges have achieved ISO certification and all strive for quality and excellence in meeting the changing learning needs of society.
 
Career Colleges
* Career colleges are privately owned institutions that offer diploma and certificate training programs with the main objective of preparing students for the job market after a short period of instruction.
* Please note that specific requirements for institutions will vary and students are encouraged to check directly with the institution(s) they are interested in for specific admissions requirements.
* Students seeking short-term training programs in multimedia, film studies, computer/internet studies, graphic design and hospitality to name a few, may want to consider applying to a career college.
* Although privately owned, these schools are provincially approved and regulated, ensuring that program standards and quality are maintained. Career colleges have highly competitive fee structures
 
Secondary Schools
* There are numerous private, independent and publicly funded secondary schools available in Canada.
* Students can choose to study intensive English or, an integrated academic and English program.
 
Private Schools
Private schools exist in every province and provide an attractive alternative for families seeking an overseas education for their children.
* Many of Canada's business and political leaders are graduates of well-established private schools.
* All private schools must be registered with the Ministry of Education in their province or territory, and must meet the curriculum and other standards set by their respective ministries.
* Families can choose schools that are boys-only, girls-only or co-educational.
* Some private schools offer full boarding programs, others are day schools, and many offer both.
* Many private schools adhere to a particular religious faith, emphasize particular moral teachings and apply rigorous academic standards.
 
Public Schools
* Many Canadian public schools are now accepting international students into their programs.
* Publicly-funded schools are managed at the local level by elected school boards.
* Almost all public schools are co-educational and offer day programs only.
* Many school boards offer secular or non-religious education while others have religious affiliations.
* However, this varies from province to province.
* Policies on accepting international students and the fees charged vary from district to district.
 
Advantages of Studying at a Canadian College
* College is a cost-effective option-With shorter program length, lower tuition costs, and less time in school before you can start working, college is an incredibly affordable option. Also, thousands of dollars are available in Ontario each year through scholarships, bursaries and grant.
* Wide program selection-College offers dedicated programs for specific areas that give you the specialized knowledge you need to succeed, and the broad choice of program types make it easy to find the right fit for you.
* Small classes- A low student-to-teacher ratio means you aren’t just a faceless number in college. Your contributions to class discussions and projects will be seen and valued by your teachers and peers.
* Connected Education- Instructors connect course material to their work experiences and offer the potential of partnerships with business and industry to introduce real-world projects into the curriculum. There are co-op opportunities for many programs, and college offers you the best route to join or progress to universities.
 
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