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Living in Canada

You will find this section a useful guide to living in the Canada throughout your stay in Canada. It explains everything from the basics, such the Canada Climate, Banking system etc. It also includes tips on how to stay Safe and Secure.

Students may choose to accommodate/live either on or off campus while studying in a college/university in Canada. Hence there are several kinds of accommodation available.

Accommodation provided by the school/college enrolled in

Canadian Schools/ Colleges and Universities provide two kinds of accommodation

    In this variety, normally 4-6 students share a flat – like space with individual bedrooms and common living and kitchen areas. This is a good way of making friends, getting to be part of the student community, share chores and exchange cultural tips, while still being able to have one’s own individual space while studying, writing and sleeping. Gender specific floors or dormitories may be specifically asked for if a student so requires.

Many Canadian families enjoy renting out their extra rooms to international students after their own families have moved out. The advantages of such homestays are many. The student gets to stay in a home-like atmosphere and has the benefit of being part of a family. This is often essential for international students, especially the younger students and helps them adapt quicker. It also gives the student a chance to improve their English or French. Typically the student has a room to her/him and shares meals with the host family. Since homestays are arranged by the school/college the student has enrolled in, every effort is made to match the student profile with the host family to ensure safe and healthy adaptation. Prices will depend on the location, placement fee charged by the school/college and whether a meal plan is included or not.

Renting is a popular system of accommodation. However, in this system, there are no set prices or set of amenities provided. Rents may vary vastly depending on location, the lists of amenities and utilities included. Rents are higher in the city centre areas, especially in larger cities while the suburban accommodation may appear or actually be much cheaper. It is important for the student to make a thorough comparison and read the fine print before signing a lease. The attending college/ institution may be able to provide a list of renting options within the vicinity. Though recommended by the institution, it is still important that the student makes a thorough study to avoid problems later. Often an entire flat or house is too expensive for one student alone to rent out and so one can join a group who is renting by either checking out new students with similar requirements, or keep a lookout on notice boards, newspapers and the like for any single rooms within a house being advertised. Landlords may take a damage deposit at the start with rent being payable monthly, quarterly or as a lump sum.

Things to remember when choosing accommodation in Canada

Try to make arrangements ahead of time but be especially sure to do so if you require accommodation during the summer months, and during holidays and festivals. If you are staying in a hotel or hostel, always inspect the room on arrival before making a payment. If you are unsure about the location, ask the local tourism association. Prices can vary greatly according to location and time of year, so try to investigate before you leave. Canada is a friendly and wonderful place, and having made the proper arrangements, you will undoubtedly enjoy your stay regardless of where you choose to live in Canada.

Youth Hostels/YWCA/YMCA

Youth hostels are a boon for students looking for temporary stay because they have not been able to make arrangements in advance for the longer duration. These are ideal for short stays as they are relatively cheaper and provide the basic amenities. Canadian hostels must be inspected and approved by the Canadian Hosteling Association however these may not be ideal for longer durations. Also these are open to travelers from within and outside Canada, so may be also booked up during holiday or peak season. It is best for a student to make arrangements for even such short stints before one leaves one’s homeland.

For More Details Please Click On The Following Link:

http://www.canadian-universities.net/Campus/Off-Campus-Housing.html

Studying Costs In Canada

Studying in Canada is not free, but it is affordable. The average cost for a foreign student for one school year (8 months) in an Arts & Science program is approximately C$7100 (US$4765). However, tuition varies from institution to institution. See below for.

About Canada

You will find this section a useful guide about Canada.It explains everything from the basics, such as Canadian History, Economy, Geography etc. The discovery and exploration of Canada is credited to the early adventurers of England and France. However, Canada was inhabited long before these settlers came in. Canada was home to the ‘Indians’ as they were known then – now called the ‘Aboriginal People’, ‘Native People’ or ‘People of the First Nation’.
In 1949 Canada joined NATO and in the same year was able to replace its British Judiciary with the Supreme Court. Today however, Canada is the melting pot of several cultures with migrants not only from Europe but from South American and Asia Pacific countries as well.
Canada is made up of 10 provinces and three territories, most of which are populated by Canadians who can trace their ancestry from virtually everywhere in the world. A recent census showed that over 11 million Canadians, or 42 per cent of the population, reported having an ethnic origin other than British or French. Canada follows the Parliamentary system with the party with largest number of elected MPs leading Parliament.

Canada is an English speaking nation. Hence, it is important that a student aspiring to study in Canada be proficient in the language. A good way of demonstrating your proficiency is by giving the standard International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exams. Besides these, there are several other exams that a student might have to take. Depending on the school applied to or course of study, it may be recommended or even mandatory to appear for one or more of the following tests:
For Undergraduate Study:
SAT
For Postgraduate Study:
GRE
GMAT

Increase in GIC Administration Fee With effective from May 1, 2015, the Scotiabank Student GIC Program administration fee for all new GIC Applications will be changed to $200 CAD.
A valid passport and a valid long term stay permit (student visa) is required to enter and study in Canada. The making of a new passport, if the student does not already have one, can take from several weeks to a couple of months. The visa process too can take from a few days in some cases to up to 2-3 months in others. Therefore it would be wise to factor these in when you start planning the course intake in which you plan to study. Here is some information with regard to Visa Procedures and Requirements.
The visa is a legal document that allows a person to enter that country and stay for the duration stipulated on the document, for the reason it was granted. A student therefore requires a student visa that allows him/ her to stay for the duration of the course study and also allows him/her certain privileges (such as permit to work part time) as per the rules of that country.
An applicant must be able to convince the Consulate Representative handling the visa that she/he has “a permanent residence in India which he/she has no intention of abandoning.”
Each case is different and scrutinized individually and hence there is no standard or ‘foolproof’ procedure for obtaining visas. A prospective must be able to demonstrate the genuineness of his visit. A few examples of circumstances that applicants have submitted as proof of return are: evidence of a good job, sizeable finances or property, family and a good social standing.
However this does not mean that the officer would accept all these papers, nor that it guarantees a visa being granted. One must remember that today the number of visa applications received is so large, that it often is not possible to get them done within the normal working hours of the Consulate. It is important therefore to understand that one must submit only necessary, genuine and relevant documents and also be ready and able to answer any questions asked by the interviewing officer, quickly and precisely.

This section takes you through the universities admission process step by step. It starts with general requirements, application procedure right till bank loans. It also gives a helpful guide for Studying in Canada.
Canada is a country blessed with unimaginable physical beauty. The Canadians are proud of their land and respect their natural environment. Stress is given on maintaining the incredible surroundings. Students coming to study here will not be disappointed with the beauty that surrounds them.
Geographically though, Canada is diverse. It is endowed with mountains such as the famous Rockies, the largest coastline on earth, the Great Lakes and several natural forests that have been developed into National Parks. Canada’s cities are safe, modern, of a cosmopolitan culture and are unbelievable close to their natural habitat. Almost 25% of the world’s fresh water is in Canada.
There are 4 seasons; they being more distinct in the regions close to the US border. Temperatures vary from as low as -deg C in winters to as high as 35 deg C at the height of summer. Spring and fall are more moderate.
Culturally too, Canada is a vibrant country. There is much to see and do in the form of public festivals and events that are held by the local government as well as the local communities.
World-class theater, music, restaurants, cultural and sporting events (including cricket) can be enjoyed here year-round. Being a bilingual country where the English and French languages are equally used, Canada has a uniqueness all its own.
Canada was ranked for nine consecutive years by the United Nations to be among the top 3 countries in the world in which to live and study out of 174 countries. Also, the Human Development Index survey consistently ranked Canada number one for a variety of reasons including its excellent education systems, high quality health care, low incidence of crime and clean environment.

This section gives you details about your Work Eligibility and Employment Opportunity in Canada.
Students may work on the campus of the institution they are studying at, without a work permit, if they are:
Studying full time at a public post secondary institution or a private post secondary institution operating under the same rules as a public one, They have a valid study permit.
To be able to work off campus, A student must have a valid ‘Off campus work permit’. Such a permit allows you to work while studying but does not guarantee a job.
The institution at which the student is studying, must have signed an ‘off campus work agreement’ with their provincial government.
For More Details Please Click On The Following Link:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp