Canada

I was born and brought up in New Delhi, India, where I spent the first 17 years of my life as the single child of a working father and homemaker mother. I grew up in a good family and had great friends, so I wouldn’t say I grew up with the dream of leaving my country.

My journey toward an international education began when I was 15 years old, when my parents asked whether I might be interested in studying abroad. 

Trying to remember everything you need to apply to universities abroad can be a challenge, especially when you’re considering multiple locations. In this guide, we’ve listed all the forms and documents you need to prepare with the relevant links to help you study abroad. 

Unlike some people, I did not have a specific country or university in mind when I first started high school. However, I attended a school trip during the summer break of my sophomore year that helped me decide where I wanted to study. 

As part of the trip, we visited Toronto and were all registered at an English language school. For a month, I had the chance to practice my English and experience student life in Canada. After that school trip, I decided to study in Canada and, in particular, Toronto. 

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Canada is known for providing cheaper study options than other top study abroad destinations, such as the US and the UK, as well as offering simpler application processes and more opportunities for permanent residency after graduating.

However, funding your degree in Canada still requires a lot of research and planning. Below is an outline of costs you’ll need to consider as an international student in Canada and a list of funding options.

How does health insurance work in Canada for international students?

The public healthcare system in Canada (Medicare) is funded by taxes, meaning that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents pay towards the system and have access to it when they need medical aid. As international students do not pay taxes (or pay only partial taxes if working part time), they do not have access to this service and must have private healthcare to access the system.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that from 15 November 2022 all international students studying in Canada may work beyond the 20 hours a week limit if they secure valid off-campus work authorisation.

Finding accommodation that is safe, close to campus and affordable is a concern for all students. For international students, an added difficulty is that they often cannot see the accommodation in advance. And, unfortunately, there are those who try to take advantage of this and create accommodation scams. 

The bustling multicultural city of Toronto is a popular choice among international students.

Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto offers an attractive blend of campus learning and city life.

Canada can also provide cheaper study options than most anglophone countries, as well as simpler application processes and more opportunities for permanent residency after graduating.

If you’re planning to move to Toronto for your studies, you’ll know that lots of exciting times lie ahead.