Canada Study Guide: Top Universities, SDS Visa Process and Scholarships

More than 2.12 lac Indian students went abroad in 2018 for post-secondary studies and out of them, nearly 1.07 lac opted Canada as their study abroad destination, making Canada the number one choice of the Indian students. Thanks to the Canadian government for making the Canada study visa process easy. And not only this, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has planned to increase PR admissions to 350,000 by 2021. This is a piece of virtuous information for the students who want Canada study visa and looking to settle in this land of opportunities.

Why study in Canada

Low study cost

In Canada, International students are paying half the fees compared to the fees charged by the famous private education institutes of the US and UK. Moreover, the cost of living in Canada is less. This is due to the low inflation rate in Canada and it is projected that it will remain low till 2024.

High probability of getting PR

The Canadian government is immigration friendly and Canadian immigration authorities readily give permanent residency to those students who can contribute to the economy and society with their knowledge and expertise.

Safe environment

Canada is a very safe place for international students. It is ranked 6th in the world safest places by the World Population Review 2019. Moreover, many universities and colleges offer transportation and safety service such as “walk safe” to students.

World class universities

The quality of education is remarkable in Canada. Many of its Universities are a top ranking, in fact, 9 Canadian universities are in "top 200" list of world university ranking 2019 presented by Times Higher Education. The list is given below.

In addition to the above universities, students also prefer following top institutes for study in Canada.

• Brock University
• Carleton University
• Concordia University
• Dalhousie University
• University of Guelph
• Lakehead University
• Laval University
• University of Lethbridge
• University of Manitoba
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• University of New Brunswick
• University of Northern British Columbia
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• University of Quebec
• Queen’s University
• University of Regina
• Ryerson University
• University of Saskatchewan
• University of Sherbrooke
• Simon Fraser University
• Trent University
• University of Victoria
• University of Waterloo
• University of Western Ontario
• Wilfrid Laurier University
• University of Windsor
• York University

The Student Direct Stream

Indian students have an added advantage when they apply for a Canada study visa . The Student Direct Stream (SDS) offered by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expedites the entire Canada study visa process. The students can apply for the study permit through the Student Direct Stream. However, they are expected to meet specific requirements. The most important requirements are listed below.

• An acceptance letter from the approved Canadian education institute
• A certificate of medical fitness by the authorised panel physician
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate, as a proof to meet living expenses
• Evidence of paid tuition fees for the first year.
• Academic certificates
• An IELTS certificate. Most of the time, Minimum 6 to 6.5 bands are required.

Depending upon the individual requirements a student may require to provide additional documents for the Canada study visa.

The scholarship Programs

There are many scholarship programs available for undergraduate, postgraduate, and even for PhD students. These programs are funded by the Canadian government and the private sector. The programs can prove to be very helpful for the students who want to study in Canada. Some of them are listed below.

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program

It is a scholarship program for International Students at the University of Toronto. It is awarded to brilliant and creative students who are recognised as leaders by their schools. It covers tuition, books, full residence support and incidental fees for 4 years. The award is for the academic year 2019-2020.

International Major Entrance Scholarship

The University of British Columbia awards the scholarship to exceptional international students entering the first year at UBC. IMES is renewable for up to three additional years.

Outstanding International Student Award

The University of British Columbia awards the OIC scholarship to Outstanding International students. This admission scholarship is awarded one time, based on the merit of the student.

Quebec Merit Scholarship for Foreign Students

McGill University awards the Quebec Merit Scholarship to international students. The award is available for doctoral, postdoctoral, and short-term research programs. The duration of the scholarship is 3 years, 1 year and 4 months respectively; and the value of the scholarship ranges from 3000 CAD to 35000 CAD.

International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships

The University of Guelph presents this scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. International students must take admission in the fall semester to complete the requirements.

Aga Khan Academy Renewable Scholarship

The University of Victoria awards Aga Khan Academy Renewable Scholarship to the students. The criteria are a brilliant academic and leadership record. The value of the scholarship is 90000 CAD, which is rewarded over a period of 4 years.

Humber University Scholarships

Based on the academic and reference merits, The Humber University awards this scholarship to new international students. It covers full tuition fees of the course in the university.

International Admission Scholarship

The University of Ottawa awards scholarship to new international students for Master and doctoral programs. The value of the scholarship is 7500 CAD and 9000 CAD respectively and it is non-renewable.

Scotiabank International Student Scholarship

Scotiabank awards Scotiabank International Student Scholarship to the new international students. The criteria is a student's academic performance. And the value is 2000 CAD.

The above mentioned information may change as it depends upon the policies of the respective universities.

Many more universities award scholarship to an International student through their various scholarship programs. For more details and easy visa approval please contact our experts and make your study in Canada dream true.