Home to nearly half a million international students, Canadian institutions are known to offer high-quality education at affordable tuition fees with globally recognised degrees. Not just that, Canada is also very popular for its excellent quality of life, immense post-study work, and immigration opportunities.
Here are the top reasons why students choose to study in Canada:
Academic excellence
Ample research opportunities
Affordable falls in the budget
Cultural diversity
Safe and peaceful
Earn while you learn
Vibrant campus life
Canada does not follow a uniform grading system across its ten provinces. Instead, it varies depending upon the area you are in, the university you have enrolled in or the form of education you have opted for. The following grading scale can range from a 4.0 to a 9.0 grading scale. And you can find variations as well as combinations of alphabetical grades, numerical scores and percentages being followed in each region or university.
While each university, department or even professor may have their own grading system to follow, here are the two grading scales most commonly followed in Canada:
SCALE I | SCALE II | ||||
Alphabetical | Percentage | GPA | A+ | 90-100 | 9 |
A | 92-100 | 4.33 | A | 80-89 | 8 |
A | 88-91 | 4 | B+ | 75-79 | 7 |
A- | 85-87 | 3.67 | B | 70-74 | 6 |
B+ | 82-84 | 3.33 | B- | 65-69 | 5 |
B | 78-81 | 3 | C+ | 60-64 | 4 |
B- | 75-77 | 2.67 | C | 55-59 | 3 |
C+ | 72-74 | 2.33 | C- | 50-54 | 2 |
C | 68-71 | 2 | D | 40-49 | 1 |
C- | 65-67 | 1.67 | F | 0-39 | 0 |
D | 55-64 | 1 | |||
F | 0-54 | 0 |
Unlike a single intake in Indian universities, Canadian colleges and universities offer three intakes. In some universities, intakes may also be referred to as a semester. The three intakes available in Canada are:
Fall: A popular intake among Indian students, The Fall intake starts in the month of September
Winter: Starts in January; it’s best if you miss the September intake
Summer: Available for limited programs and colleges, the Summer intake usually starts around April and May
The following are the basic eligibility criteria for seeking admission to a Canadian university:
For Diploma/Certificate courses
Flexible admission
IELTS score: (As per the course and institution requirement)
For Post-Graduate/Masters courses
Up to 3 years of full-time work experience
GMAT: 580-600 min.
English language proficiency test scores such as IELTS (6.5 overall with no bands less than 6 / As per the course and institution requirement)
4 years bachelor’s degree, 70% average.
Some institutions may require written samples/copies of published work/Portfolio
For Undergraduate/Bachelor’s level
70% in 12th grade
12th grade level Maths
If you still have any queries, you can get in touch with our international education experts. They will guide you through the admission process.
Eligibility criteria to apply for MBA in Canada
While each institution will have its own set of entry criteria for MBA programs, here are the most common requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised institution. While most institutions ask for a 4-year bachelor’s degree, some may also accept 3-year degrees
Relevant work experience of 3-5 years in any related field. Institutions prefer students with a minimum of 12 months of work experience
GMAT score of 500- 700 out of 800 is required for entry into a good Canadian institution
Also, don’t worry if you have a study gap as it’s acceptable in Canada under special circumstances.
Learn about types of MBA available in Canada
Co-operative education, or co-op education, is a program where you can work in an industry that is related to your field of study. It gives you real-world, program-related work experience while pursuing your education. It also helps you decide what kind of job you might want; helps you pay for your education and increases your chances of acquiring a good job (with a higher salary) as a graduate. Most co-op programs are structured in an alternating pattern, i.e., one semester or term of schooling is alternated with one semester or term of work.
Canada is an English-speaking country and hence, to study here, a student needs to take an English language proficiency test. Out of all the language test options available to students, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the most preferred choice. Recognised worldwide by 11,000 institutions, this test is accepted in 140 countries across the world.
To be eligible to apply for a student visa to Canada, you must score a minimum of 5.5 in each band and 6.0 overall. While the specific IELTS requirement may vary from institution to institution, here is the minimum score typically required to study in Canada:
Undergraduate Courses in Canada | Postgraduate Courses in Canada |
Overall: Minimum 6 IELTS | Overall: Minimum of 6.5 IELTS |
To make this journey bump-free, you need certain documents that authorise your entry, stay, and activities in the new country. One of the most important documents on this list is a study permit. While a student visa authorises your entry into Canada, a study permit validates your stay in Canada. It is a mandatory immigration document for an international student.
As an international student, it can get overwhelming to manage the expenses of studying and living abroad. While this is true for Canada as well, the country gives you plenty opportunities to efficiently manage your expenditure. You can always find a suitable job inside or outside your study campus and use the earnings to cover the cost of living in Canada
When deciding which university to study at, it is crucial that you also look at the world university rankings.
S.No. | Institution | QS Ranking 2023 (Globally) | QS Ranking 2022 (Globally) |
1 | University of Toronto | 34 | 26 |
2 | McGill University | 31 | =27 |
3 | University of British Columbia | 47 | 46 |
4 | University of Montreal | 116 | 111 |
5 | University of Alberta | 110 | 126 |
6 | McMaster University | 152 | 140 |
7 | University of Waterloo | 154 | =149 |
8 | Western University | 172 | 170 |
9 | University of Ottawa | 237 | 230 |
10 | University of Calgary | 242 | 235 |
Check where these Canadian universities rank on the Times Higher Education charts