Immigrate to Canada. Nick Noorani
English as a second language (ESL) classes may be something you want to consider as well. Even though you’re busy attending classes in your field of study, if your English (or French) isn’t good enough to easily understand the professors or to write clear essays and assignments, your education in Canada could suffer.
Learning the language is one of the most important strategies for success in a new country. Even if you plan on staying in Canada for only short-time studies before returning to your homeland, it is a smart idea to brush up on your language skills.
Check with your university’s continuing education department to see if it offers ESL for adults. If not, check with smaller, public and private colleges. Generally, the free ESL classes available at immigrant settlement agencies are reserved for permanent residents.
4.5 Cost of tuition
Tuition fees vary from school to school, and even program to program. Tuition for universities will be higher than colleges, just as tuition for graduate studies will be higher than for undergraduate.
Tuition fees will be the bulk of your academic expenses, but not your only costs. Count on paying for various administrative and student fees as well as books for each course. If you need housing, it will be another large expense to add to your costs.
Make sure you have enough money for all your basic needs or requirements. As mentioned earlier, there are some limitations on working in Canada as an international student. Also note that international students are not typically allowed student or bank loans in Canada.
4.6 Arranging housing
The ideal situation would be to have prearranged student housing on campus before you arrive in Canada. It’s convenient and adds to that “university experience,” but it can fill up fast and comes with certain restrictions. Costs vary depending on the institution, as do types of housing — from shared rooms to independent studios to family units. Note that not all postsecondary institutions have campus housing; generally, only the larger universities do. Check with your school to find out more information about student housing.
If you had no luck in securing on-campus student housing, your next option is an off-campus rental. Depending on how much you have to spend on rent, you can look for the following:
• A room to rent in a house (with shared bathroom and kitchen) is around $400 or more per month.
• A separate suite in a home (often a basement suite) is around $600 or more per month.
• A bachelor or one-bedroom apartment in an apartment building is around $600 or more per month.
Many students also look for a roommate to share accommodation. In some cases, two or three roommates together could even afford to rent a small house with three bedrooms, which would cost upward of $1,000 per month. Of course, rental costs vary widely across the country and between cities, so these prices are general estimates. Some rentals include the cost of electricity, heat, and water, and sometimes even have cable included. Finding furnished accommodation is also possible. Also note that some landlords will require you to sign a lease and pay a damage deposit or first and last month’s rent.
To find available rentals, look in the newspaper classifieds, on bulletin boards at your school, and on the Internet. Some campuses have webpages dedicated to helping students find off-campus housing such as the University of Ottawa (http://www.residence.uottawa.ca/en/och/).
4.7 Off-campus and postgraduate work permits
The Canadian government has recognized that when students have obtained education in Canada they integrate very well into the Canadian workforce and can provide valuable skills to the Canadian labour market as well as make ideal permanent residents. Accordingly, there are several ways for students to gain work experience, both while studying in Canada and after graduation.
Students are able to work part time while they are pursuing their studies. Previously, this was through the Off-Campus Work Permit Program. This program required that students attend their program of study at a designated college or university on a full-time basis for at least six months and that following this initial six-month period they were able to work 20 hours per week during school and full time during school breaks until the completion of their studies. However, this has changed and for the better!
As of June 1, 2014, it is easier for international students to gain work experience in Canada. Students attending a designated learning institution on a full-time basis are able to work up to 20 hours per week while attending classes. Currently your study permit entitles you to work on a part-time basis while studying full time. You are also permitted to work full time during class breaks such as the summer and holidays. This gives international students an opportunity to get valuable Canadian work experience while completing their studies.
Students in Canada attending designated learning institutions are now able to work without a work permit and start immediately. Once students have a study permit, they may work up to 20 hours a week and only for the duration of their educational program. During school breaks and summer or winter holidays, students are eligible to work on a full-time basis. Students must be in full-time attendance at a designated learning institution (see the list of eligible schools: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/institutions/participants.asp).
Following graduation, students are then eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit of up to three years duration, depending on the length of their course of studies. The course of studies must be full time and at least eight months long in order for students to qualify. This is an open work permit, and students can work in any field either full time or part time. Part-time work may affect your ability to apply for permanent residence; for example, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) requires students to have one year of full-time work experience which is defined as being a minimum of 30 hours per week. If you are working part time, you will need to have two or more part-time jobs that provide you with at least 30 hours or more of work per week. Students who apply for the postgraduate work permit must do so within 90 days from receiving written confirmation from their school that they have completed their studies and are eligible to receive a degree or certificate. Also, your study permit must be still valid.
4.8 Moving toward permanent residence
It is good to remember that work experience after graduation may lead to permanent residence status. Students who have studied in Canada and then worked in Canada on a full time basis for one year are eligible to apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Furthermore, students who are working on Post-Graduation Work Permits often develop relationships with their employers and have an opportunity to prove themselves, and many employers choose to nominate them for permanent residence status through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
International graduate students who have obtained their PhD degree in Canada are eligible to apply for permanent residence status through both the Federal Skilled Worker Program as well as through many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). Most PNP graduate student programs accept Master’s students. In many cases, postgraduate students will not require an employer or work experience and are able to apply for permanent residence merely on the strength of their graduate education. Find out more about studying in Canada on CIC’s website (www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp).
Note: The permanent resident program for CEC, PNP, Federal Skilled Workers, and Federal Skilled Trades are all designated to become a part of Canada’s new Express Entry program starting in early 2015. Stay tuned for these new changes and how they may affect international students seeking to become Permanent Residents. (See Chapter 12 for more information about Express Entry.)
Chapter 3
Mandatory Requirements, Fees, and the General Process
There are several different immigration categories, which