Pick The Right School And Program

Choosing the right program can be one of the most important steps in one’s immigration journey because not only does the right program get you access to Canada but it also, in many ways, decides what your future, with regards to Canadian Immigration, might look like. According to the Council of Ministers of Education, as of 2020, Canada was home to 223 public/private universities along with 213 public colleges and institutes, and to add to this there are numerous private colleges and institutes that are also competing to attract students. In such a scenario, it can be very difficult to ascertain whether a program or institute is right for you or not.

With access to the internet, aspirants sitting anywhere in the world can research and find information about Canadian education. A few things to keep in mind when doing this research would be the following:

• Designated Learning Institute (DLI): In order for you to apply for a Study Permit, the institute being enrolled in must be a Designated Learning Institute. The list of Eligible designated learning institutions is available on the Canadian government’s website and must be referred to before enrolling.
• Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP): A lot of institutes may be enlisted as DLIs, but not all of them actually offer courses that can eventually lead to the student getting a PGWP. One must enroll in PGWP-eligible programs if one wishes to work in Canada after the end of one’s education.
• Budget: While this may not always be in one’s control, similar programs being offered at different institutes can have different fee structures. Not to mention, the difference in course duration, location of the institute, living expenses, etc. can cause your overall expenses to go up
• Program Duration: The duration of one’s program tells you how well the various courses would be covered in the program, and it is especially important because when a Visa Officer looks at a PGWP application, the program duration plays a big part in the length of PGWP offered.
• Campus Location: Canada is one of the largest countries in the world with various economic, climatic, language, and cultural differences throughout the country. It is therefore important that you do your research and pick a campus that suits your needs.
• Course Intakes available: Most Canadian institutes offer programs aligned with one of the 3 intakes available for international students, namely Fall Intake (Starting in September), Winter Intake (Starting in January), and Summer Intake (Starting in April). When applying for a program it is important to make realistic choices and apply well in advance of the intake start date so that the study permit application can get processed in a timely manner.
• Future Immigration Plans: Studying in Canada, does not automatically guarantee a pathway to Permanent Residence for all applicants. It is important that one analyzes one’s profile and has an exit plan ready for the time when one’s education gets completed in Canada. For example, if you intend to study in Canada purely for acquiring knowledge and then want to return back to your home country, the program duration may not be of much relevance to you, whereas if you are someone who might need a few years of Canadian work experience to apply for your Permanent Residence then you might want to select a longer duration program that could potentially get you a PGWP for 2-3 years.

Once you have shortlisted a few programs and institutes, it is important for you to apply and get accepted at one of these institutes. Most institutes have admission requirements where they scan a candidate’s GPAs in past education, language proficiency scores, and some other factors leading to the successful issuance of a Letter of Acceptance.