Admission in Canada: Eligibility & Admission Process

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Veda Burman Study Abroad Content Specialist

Study Abroad Content Specialist

Canada has crossed 1 million mark in international students, with Indians accounting for 37% of the total students. The country is expecting an enrolment of 364,000 approved study permits in 2024. For admission to the universities in Canada, Indian students need prior academic qualification from recognized higher education institutes. The universities in Canada require proof of English or French proficiency as a part of the admission process.

The supporting documents required for admission to the universities in Canada are SOP, academic or professional LORs, CV, proof of finance availability. For admission to the graduate courses, students might require a GRE score of 300 or above. For business programs, you might need a GMAT score of 580 or above. Some universities might require course-specific professional experience between 1-5 years. Details of admission to the universities in Canada are provided below.

How To Get Admission To Canada?

The admission process in Canada depends on several factors like university, course type, and admission sessions. The steps to apply for admission to the universities in Canada are as follows:

  • Step 1: Choose a suitable program for yourself. Make sure the program is English taught if you are not proficient in French.
  • Step 2: Check the best intake for you considering the application deadline, visa processing time, class start date and other important dates.
  • Step 3: Check the eligibility criteria. Make sure you satisfy all the academic and non-academic requirements for admission to the specific program.
  • Step 4: Prepare all the documents required, including LOR, LOM, SOP, CV, portfolio and other requirements as specified by the university for your specific course. Also gather the documents required for Canada study permit application.
  • Step 5: Submit your application through the official portal as specified by the university. Pay the application fee or any other fees required at the time of application.
  • Step 6: Wait for admission results. If selected by a private university, you might be asked to pay the tuition fee for the first semester to reserve your seat. Otherwise, only accept the official letter of admission, submit admission confirmation and other documents asked by the university/ college.
  • Step 7: Apply for a Canada study permit. Begin the visa application process at the earliest, as it requires important documents and may take up to 2 months to process.
  • Step 8: To get a student visa, you need to demonstrate your proof of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

Note: Make a budget for all the expenses in Canada, including pre-arrival cost, living expenses, course tuition and fee. Arrange for proof of finances before applying to the courses, as it is an admission requirement across many universities.

Eligibility Criteria for Admission in Canada

Indian students planning to study in Canada need to arrange for a range of documents as eligibility criteria. The admission requirements widely vary based on factors like university type, selected course, and your citizenship. The commonly required admission requirements in the institutes in Canada according to levels of study are as follows:

Category Undergraduate Admission Requirement in Canada Postgraduate Admission Requirement in Canada
Degree/ Certificate Requirement High school certificate 4 years bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Academic Documents Transcripts, completed application form
Academic Score 70% or above in 12th grade (University specific) 70% or above in bachelor's
Standardized Test Score GMAT: 580-600, GRE: 300
English Proficiency Score IELTS: 6.5 or equivalent
French Proficiency Requirements TEF: Equivalent to 7 on Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for each ability Not required for most courses
Supporting Documents SOP for Canada, LOM, 1-2 LORs, Canada student visa, photograph, updated CV, proof of finance availability SOP, LOM, 1-3 LORs (academic and professional), Canada student visa, photograph, updated CV, proof of finance availability
Work Experience Not required Up to 5 years

Note: It is advised to thoroughly check the course-specific admission requirements before applying for admission.

English Proficiency Requirements in Canada

A majority of the universities in Canada require an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for admission in various academic requirements. Here are some of the top universities in Canada and their English proficiency requirements across UG and PG levels:

University Minimum IELTS Score for UG Courses Minimum IELTS Score for Graduate Courses
University of Toronto 6.5 (6.0 in each section) 6.5 (6.0 in each section)
McGill University 6.5 overall, 6.0 in each component Band score of 6.5
University of British Columbia 6.5 (6.0 in each section) 6.5 (6.0 in each section)
University of Alberta 6.5 (6.0 in each section) 6.5 (6.0 in each section)
University of Ottawa 6.5 band score 6.5 band score
McMaster University 6.5 (6.0 in each section) 6.5 with 5.5 in each section
University of Montreal - 6.5 with 6.0 in each section
University of Waterloo 6.5 overall (Writing and speaking: 6.5 | Reading and listening: 6.0) 7.0 (6.5 in each section)
Western University 6.5 6.5
University of Calgary 6.5 6.5 (6.0 in each section)
Queen’s University 6.0 (5.5 in each component) 6.5 (6.0 in each section)
Simon Fraser University 6.5 (6.0 in each section) 7.0 (6.5 in each section)
Dalhousie University 7.0 band score 6.0 band score

The world-class academic opportunities in several top ranked universities make Canada unique. Affordability, and easy visa process also make Canada stand out when compared to countries like USA and UK. Indian students on a tight budget, applying to the universities in Canada are advised to look for suitable scholarships at the earliest to avoid rejection due to finance unavailability. With proper academic qualifications and satisfactory professional experience, Indians stand a good chance of securing admission to the Canadian universities.

FAQs

Ques. How much will it cost to study in Canada?

Ans. Indian students can estimate to spend between 7,000 and 35,000 CAD annually in tuition fees at Canada. However, some programs like Master of Architecture, and MBA, among others across the top universities in Canada might cost above average. The public universities are comparatively affordable than the public institutes.

Ques. Which university is best in Canada for Indian students?

Ans. Canada has numerous top-ranked universities offering world-class education to international students. Before selecting a university in Canada, you should check your suitability with the program, curriculum, eligibility criteria, and fees structure. Some top universities in Canada for Indian students are, University of Toronto, McGill University, The University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Waterloo, Western University, Université de Montréal, and McMaster University among others.

Ques. How much percentage is required to study in Canada from India?

Ans. The academic score requirements in Canada are university and course-specific. However, for admission to the undergraduate courses, a score of 80% or higher in higher secondary is considered competitive in Canada. For admission to the graduate programs, it is safer to have at least 70% score in bachelor’s level.

Comments


Found 1 Comment

M
monesha balasambandam
Jan 1, 2023 19:23
Hi , I havent given IELTS yet, booked at the end of jan . am i eligible to apply for September intake in canada . please clarify if gre has been completely waived off. Thanks in advance
S
Sinbad Chongtham
Jan 4, 2023 17:17

The application deadline differ from one institute to another and it is important that you must submit your application before the given deadlines. Please visit the official website of the university to check the application deadlines. The admission requirements is also program-specific. Submission of GRE score is mandatory for admission at some institutes.


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