InFocus | Canada
Achieving your goal
Imagine studying in Canada, where dreams become reality
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:00 September 14, 2010
- Image Credit: Embassy of Canada
- A Canadian degree is respected globally and imparts confidence and the skill sets to get you going in your career of choice
Canadian universities and colleges offer students an unforgettable experience that will last a lifetime. More than 85,000 international students selected Canada in 2009 for a premier education, access to global career opportunities and a cross-cultural experience.
In Canada, you can experience international study in a multi-cultural environment and return home with a degree that will be recognised and respected across the globe. Canada has some of the best colleges and universities in the world, which combine academic excellence with opportunities for interaction and cooperation. Teachers and professors are accessible and willing to help, because the student is the focus of the teaching process. Canada is known for its vibrant cities, beautiful spaces and welcoming multi-cultural communities, with an exceptional standard of living, safety and health care. Tuition is affordable when you compare rates among the top destinations for study abroad.
Canada's education system
Canada's college and university system commences after high school. Semesters typically run from September to December or January to April, and many offer summer May to August options.
College programmes usually take two to three years, and concentrate on hands-on skills taught by highly experienced faculty. University programmes begin with three to four years of undergraduate study, with the option for �in-depth research and progression to graduate-level masters or doctoral programmes.
Canadian universities generally teach in English, though some teach in French; a few also offer a bilingual option. Canada excels in language instruction, given its bilingual environment and diverse language communities. Many students combine a language or study-abroad experience with their studies.
The admission process across Canada
Admission to a Canadian university or college is usually considered upon successful graduation from high school. There is no standard admission test such as the SAT, as each university individually assesses applicant qualifications. However, a strong emphasis is always placed on academic standing.
Application deadlines vary between universities but traditionally range from January 15 to June. Applying earlier than the stated deadline is strongly recommended to ensure that all documents are received and there is adequate time to apply for a study permit once an offer of admission is made.
For specific admission requirements and applications, students should contact each university directly. Some provinces also offer a common application for universities in that province. You will find online common applications on the following provincial websites: www.ouac.on.ca (Ontario); www.pas.bc.ca (British Columbia); www.alis.gov.ab.ca (Alberta).
Budgeting for college or university
Canadian tuition is excellent value when compared to other countries in the world. Depending on location and programme choices, a recommended annual budget for an international student at college or university can range from C$17,700 (about Dh62,640) to $27,700, which includes tuition, accommodation, books, supplies, health care and personal expenses.
Scholarships are generally based on academic merit and are often awarded automatically at the time of admission. Full-time international students are eligible to work on or off campus during the year and summer.
There are also opportunities to continue work experience in Canada upon graduation for up to three years. For more details log on to www.cic.gc.ca.
Immigration considerations
International students studying for more than six months must receive a study permit before arriving in Canada. In some cases, a temporary resident visa may also be required depending on your country of citizenship. Details regarding applications and requirements can be obtained from the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.uae.gc.ca.
With thousands of programmes to choose from and the opportunity to make your dreams a reality, you will find something that's right for you, with the best environment and budget to meet your needs.
Imagine, the key to your future in Canada.
Middle East Education Initiative 2010
Organised by the Embassy of Canada, the fifth annual Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI) will welcome representatives from Canadian universities, colleges and language schools to meet students, parents and members of the education community, and provide information about study opportunities in Canada. The tour includes selected school visits and a "Study in Canada" exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. Exhibition times and locations are:
Abu Dhabi: Sunday, September 26, 6-9pm - HCT Abu Dhabi Men's College
Dubai: Tuesday, September 28, at 6-9pm - HCT Dubai Men's College
Sharjah: Thursday, September 30, at 6-9pm - Sharjah Rotana
Resources:
Education in Canada: www.educationau-incanada.gc.ca
Information on study permits and visas: Embassy of Canada to the UAE www.uae.gc.ca
The voices of experience
Sara Krikorian - Senior Industrial Engineer, Emirates Airline; BASc in Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
Growing up in Dubai, I always dreamed of working at Emirates Airline; now that I do, I look back at the path that got me here and realise that I owe a large part of it to my education in Canada.
The degree that I received in Canada has been highly regarded throughout my career in the UAE. The combination of both theory and practical work was extremely beneficial in the transition from studying to working. I acquired skills that were used in the workplace, and collaborated with teams on solving real problems with actual companies. Professors would always provide examples of real-life situations in environments that most of us would eventually work in. Further support ranged from faculty to teaching assistants to friendly students who were enthusiastic about forming study groups.
My time in Canada, both studying and otherwise, contributed significantly to my development, intellectually and in character. It certainly helped me arrive where I am today.
Karim Helal - Founder, Monaqasat.com; Ecole Polytechnique, BASc in Electrical Engineering, HEC Montreal, MBA in Entrepreneurship
After completing my education in Canada, I came back to the UAE in 2007, where my brothers and I transformed what was a 40-year-old traditional architecture office that my father started, into a modern and efficient design studio, and signed close to Dh2 billion worth of projects within less than a year. Then, as co-founder and CEO of the popular eTendering site Monaqasat.com, I was responsible for setting the vision and direction of the application, while ensuring the viability of the business. Since our launch in 2009, we have grown to be the most popular eTendering application in the UAE, with more than 600 member companies and over Dh1.7 billion worth of awarded tenders. Being successful in business is a mix of luck, dedication, attitude and skills. While I have no control over luck, I can say without a doubt that my education in Canada was paramount in giving me the dedication and skills that I now use every day.
Kerri Lefebvre - Managing Partner, Conyers Dill & Pearman Ltd; University of Alberta; University of British Columbia and Harvard University
I studied music at the University of Alberta and then law at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University. After spending several years as a tax lawyer in Canada, I joined a number of my former class mates from U.B.C. in practice at Conyers Dill & Pearman, a multi-jurisdictional offshore law firm specialising in corporate and commercial law. Three years ago, Conyers invited me to move to Dubai, where I am a director and head of our office in the DIFC.
In my experience, Canadian universities encourage students to aspire to high levels of professionalism and, at the same time, pique their interest in the global community. Canada is a multi-cultural environment, so a student meets and makes friends with people from a wide array of cultures and backgrounds. As a result, it is not unusual to encounter Canadians and people who have studied in Canada pursuing business and professional interests abroad. My educational experience in Canada helped prepare me to meet the challenge of developing a legal practice that serves local and international clients in a competitive environment. It also helped me adapt to the business community in the UAE, and appreciate its rich cultural fabric.
Varqa Kanani - Commercial Manager, Rafi International; Concordia University
After having completed my high school education in Saudi Arabia, I had the opportunity to pursue higher education in Canada. I grabbed this opportunity, and have never looked back since. My time spent at Concordia University has shaped who I am today, and has definitely assisted in opening doors for me. Going to school in Canada is a constant adventure, you always feel like you are searching for something, there is always more to be learnt, more to see, more to do. This drive has helped me in my career and motivates me to keep aiming higher and look for ways to improve myself.
On a personal note, I felt very much at home in Canada, it is a very multi-cultural society with a lot of respect and tolerance for other cultures. The cutting-edge education provides a stable platform to help launch a career, and the environment is very fulfilling from a student's perspective, with a lot of support to help in realising your dreams.
Did you know?
- Canada allocates one of the highest proportions of gross domestic product (GDP) to education, placing it seventh highest among the OECD countries.
- Canada is where innovative research projects were developed like the NEPTUNE ocean floor laboratory; voice compression for mobile phones and computers; the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative; the ArticNet, a revolutionary approach to studying the impacts of climate change along the Arctic Coast; and Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE Inc.), which facilitates leading-edge research and science around the world.
- Canada is where revolutionary products like the BlackBerry, flat-screen technology, the SMART Board, and the IMAX film format were invented and developed.
- Canada performs very well in the international university rankings. As an example, Canada has eight universities among the Top 200, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2010. Canada also has seven universities in the top 100 for Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Biomedicine and Social Sciences, and eight in Engineering and Technology, according to the Times Higher Education - QS University Rankings 2009.
- Canada dominates Mercer's worldwide city rankings 2010, with five cities listed at the top of the Quality of Living index and 5 cities topping the Eco-City index.
