If you’re convinced that Canada is where you want to study, in this blog post we go into more detail on how to get a letter of acceptance in Canada, the cost of education, and where to start.
Acceptance Requirements
Entrance requirements
Entrance requirements vary across Canada. Most institutions will look at your existing qualifications, your scores, and the country you have studied in and are applying from in order to issue you a letter of acceptance.
Undergraduate programs
Requirements usually are:
– graduation from high school with good academic standing
– meeting English language proficiency criteria
– supplementary information (personal profile / portfolio) may be required
Postgraduate programs:
Requirements usually are:
– 4 years bachelor’s degree (3 years maybe acceptable in some cases)
– Work experience
– GMAT / GRE (not always required)
– Statement of Purpose (SOP)
– Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
– English proficiency
– Resume
SOP is your opportunity to share with the institution your reasons for applying for a specific program, your goals, and objectives. SOPs are usually around 1,000 words.
LORs are letters from a 3rd party (your academic supervisor or a senior professional colleague) who can recommend your potential to the institution.
English proficiency
Unless you are a native English speaker or have studied from an officially English-speaking country, you will need to provide evidence that you are proficient in the English language in order to get your letter of acceptance in Canada. Some of the popular English language qualifications accepted by Canadian institutions are:
TOEFL – acceptable score is around 560+ (paper based) and 84 (internet based with no single test score below 21).
IELTS – acceptable score is around 6.5 with no single score under 6.
CAEL – acceptable score is around 60+.
Duolingo – acceptable score is around 110+.
Note that the acceptable scores vary from institution to institution, and the above should be used as guidance on what we’ve seen previously that result in a letter of acceptance in Canada.
Cost of Education
Canadian education is relatively cost effective as you will see in the table below:
School cost sources: Statistics Canada, EduCanada, Times Higher Education, Reddin, UK Home Office, US College Board, IDP
On average, a Canadian undergraduate qualification costs around $29,714 CAD while a postgraduate qualification is around $17,744. More specialized degrees cost more. As for the cost of living, it is dependent on your lifestyle, spending habits, and the province you are in.
Letter of Acceptance – Where to Start?
Start early! You need to give yourself time to research and apply to the right colleges or universities. By starting early, you will avoid a lot of stress that comes with international education process. In Canada, institutions usually have 3 semesters in a year:
Winter Semester: January to April
Spring / Summer Semester: May to July / August
Fall Semester: September to December
You need to know the admission dates, requirements, process, fees, and other details. You need to know if you are applying yourself or using a consultant / agent who can help with the entire process. Give yourself at least 8 to 10 months of time before the admission closing date of your preferred semester.
Once you apply, institutions usually take 3 to 8 weeks to process applications and issue your letter of acceptance, which you will need to apply for your study permit.
Finally, if you are convinced about Canada, let’s connect! Sign up to Visto for free and get your Canadian education journey started, or take our free study permit assessment to see if you have a good chance at an approval.
