1) You can get a scholarship to go study in Canada.

The rewards of studying in Canada are big while the cost is small, particularly compared to its neighbor to the south. Additionally, there are a significant number of scholarship opportunities for international students. These include:

These are just a few of the financial aid offerings available in Canada. For those just getting started, the Canadian government lives up to its friendly reputation by providing a searchable database of international scholarships.

2) You will experience living in one of the most attractive countries in the world.

More than 200,000 top international students and researchers choose to study in Canada each year.

Wordly Renowed Universities

Canada tops the list of educational spending per capita of all the countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Canadian universities are internationally regarded for their high academic standards and emphasis on research in post-secondary education.

• Despite the high education standards, the cost of is comparatively affordable, particularly compared to the U.S. and U.K.
• A vibrant cultural life is a Canadian imperative; in fact, a government policy specifically mandates diversity. Nearly all of the globe’s ethnic groups are represented, and bring with them everything from new perspectives to culinary delights to exciting recreational activities. Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto — the country’s largest cities — are celebrated as safe, accessible and culturally rich world-class cities with beaches, museums, restaurants, shopping and more.
• High academic rankings and a reputation for friendliness is great, but it’s hard to beat eight consistent years of top rankings by the United Nation as one of the world’s best places to live. Canadians are protected by a diversity of freedoms, and international students are too. The result is an exceptionally stable and peaceful society with a low crime rate.
• Job prospects are strong for Canada’s international grads. The country’s universities boast links to more than 5,000 global collaboration agreements. Combined with Canada’s focus on industry-specific applied research, it’s no surprise that more than 90% of Canadian alums are employed less than six months after graduation.
• Canada is at the international forefront of computer and information technology, particularly in telecommunications, medical devices, aerospace engineering, lasers, biotechnology, ocean and environmental, and several others. Through its innovative SchoolNet program, Canada was the world’s first country to connect its schools and libraries to the internet.
• Canada also excels in terms of its stunning natural settings with 42 national landmarks and multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The landscape offers a stunning diversity — from breathtaking coastline to wide open prairies and the scenic Rocky Mountains.
• International students who worked and studied in Canada don’t have to leave in order to apply for permanent residency. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada website offers info regarding how international students can transition to post-school life in Canada.

3) You will find a new home, no matter where you are from.

Canada became the first country to officially declare multiculturalism as a policy through the establishment of the 1971 Multiculturalism Policy of Canada, which affirms the rights of all citizens regardless of race, ethnic origin, language or religion.

Canada’s diversity is an extraordinary asset in today’s global marketplace, not only because of unparalleled cultural understanding, but also because of the multilingual nature of its citizens. It’s no surprise then that Canada has a reputation as a premiere language training destination. More than one billion Canadians speak English while 250 million speak French. International students improve personal and business fluency through access to unparalleled “English as a Second Language” and “French as a Second Language” programs.

4) Your education is the government’s priority.

Canada’s International Education Strategy recently announced its goal to double the number of full-time international students to 450,000 by 2022.The Canadian Council of Ministers of Education prioritizes attracting international students in all education sectors through a number of strategies.

5) Getting your student visa has been made easier.

Because of Canada’s rising status as a premiere destination for international students, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has evaluated its student visa (AKA study permit) system to provide greater overall accountability. In January of 2014, a number of changes will take place, including the following:

• All visa holders must be enrolled and actively pursuing a course of study at a designated educational institution upon arrival in order to maintain legal status.
• Institutional eligibility will be designated by the government, and only international students admitted to these schools will be granted visas and work permits.
• Work permits will only be granted to full-time students actively in pursuit of a degree, diploma or certificate with a maximum workweek of 20 hours.
• Eligible institutions will report to the government and the CIC on international enrollment and statistics, and will be required to comply with a set of common standards

1) Standard of Living

Canada consistently presents high scores on the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) quality of life index.  The average household net-adjusted disposable income is US$28,194 in Canada, more than the OECD average of US$23,047 per year and life expectancy is 81 years, one year higher than the OECD average of 80 years.

2) Labour Market

Canada ranks high on the OECD labour market with 72.5 percent of individuals aged 15-64 employed (compared to 67.3 percent in the United States) in 2013.   Canada continues to be attractive to skilled newcomers. Between now and 2021, a million jobs are expected to go unfilled in Canada.  These expected labour shortages mean there are more opportunities for skilled newcomers.

3) Health Care

Canadians are immensely proud of our health care system, and with good reason.  Citizens and permanent residents enjoy access to publicly-funded health care that guarantees coverage of medically necessary services regardless of income level.

4) Natural Beauty

Spanning two oceans, Canada is a geographically diverse country and boasts some of the most beautiful geology in the world.  From the rugged Rocky Mountains to the postcard-perfect Atlantic coastline, flat prairie land and a multitude of forests, lakes and rivers in between, Canada is a playground for nature-lovers.  Our high scores in environmental cleanliness compared to other industrialized countries also makes the country attractive.  89 percent of the population are satisfied with the quality of their water, more than the OECD average of 84 percent.

5) A Safe Place to Live

Canada’s national crime rate is lower than many other OECD countries.  The homicide rate has been steadily declining since 1975 and was 1.73 in 2011.  This rate is about one-third of the U.S. rate (4.80).  Rates of violent crime are generally higher in the larger urban centres of Western Canada.

 6) Education

Access to education is a priority in Canada.  Public school education is free for students across the country, up to grade 12.  88 percent of adults aged 25-64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, well above the OECD average of 74 percent.  The average student scored 527 in reading literacy, math and science in the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment, higher than the OECD average of 497; making Canada one of the strongest OECD countries in education skills.

7) Social Programs

Canada cares for its residents.  In addition to access to free healthcare and public education, Canada offers many social programs including unemployment insurance for individuals faced with job layoffs, social welfare for individuals who are unable to support themselves and aren’t able to work, childcare benefits and an old age pension, to name a few.

8) A Multicultural Society 

Canada values the contribution of immigrants and embraces all cultures and religions.  Multiculturalism in Canada is the belief that one can feel a sense of belonging to Canada without denying their ancestral culture.  Canada is ranked among the world’s top countries in terms of its integration of immigrants.