Canada is always among the top choices for students in terms of study abroad options due to its relatively small population and size. It is an ideal destination for learning with high-quality offerings for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. In fact, Canada is considered the World’s Most Educated Country with most of its citizens obtaining a college degree.
There are over 250 educational institutions in Canada. Such institutions are home to both local and international students seeking quality education. It was reported that almost 10% of university populations in the country consist of foreign students. Ontario, British Columbia, Toronto, and Quebec are the top choices for international students, housing some of the best universities in Canada.
With 5.4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on education, there is no doubt that Canada provides excellent instruction for all its program offerings. The quality of education among Canadian schools and universities in Canada is constantly checked and regulated by provincial and federal institutions. Spearheading the quality assurance measurements is an organization called “Universities Canada” (formerly known as the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada or AUCC), which comprises of the top universities in the country.
There are two classifications of post-secondary institutions in Canada from which international students may choose to enrol in. Universities are for those students who wish to get a degree – bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph D. Colleges, on the other hand, offer certification or a diploma on a certain field of specialization.
1. Facts about Universities in Canada
2. What is education like in Canada?
3. Which are the Top Canadian Cities for Foreign Students?
4. How to Apply for a University in Canada
5. How to Get a Canadian Student Visa
6. How to Apply for a Scholarship in Canada
7. Quick Facts about Canada
Education in Canada follows the general format as with other countries worldwide: primary, secondary, and postsecondary. Primary education or elementary level starts at the first grade (age 6 or 7) until Grade 8 (age 13 or 14). Secondary education is Canada’s secondary school system that starts at Grade 9 (age 14 or 15) to Grade 12 (age 17 or 18).
In Canada, graduating high school students must maintain specific entering averages ranging from 65-85%. Schools in Canada are publicly funded and provincially managed, each province has a mandated age when students are expected to attend school. Canadian schools and universities receive their share of funding from the local, provincial, and federal governments.
Below is a table showing the compulsory age of education for all students in Canadian provinces:
|Alberta||6 - 16|
|British Columbia||6 - 16|
|Manitoba||7 - 18|
|New Brunswick||5 - 18|
|Newfoundland||6 - 16|
|Northwest Territories||5 -18|
|Nova Scotia||5 -16|
|Prince Edward Island||5 -16|
In Quebec, students ought to attend school until they are aged 16. After which, they can take the CEGEP – a two-year college program wherein students may choose to continue a university preparation diploma or a vocational diploma.
Likewise, children in Ontario and Quebec may enter kindergarten schools when they turn 4. In other provinces, they are admitted to kindergarten at age 5.
The academic year in Canada typically starts in August or September (after Labor Day) and ends in June of the following year. Usually, a school year has 190 days in the calendar including breaks for Christmas and summer. Meanwhile, a university year runs from September to May of the following year with some universities operating on a semester or a trimester system.
Most universities are considered non-religious. However, there are also privately funded institutions that are religious-based which provide equally excellent programs and are considered non-religious. However, there are also privately funded institutions that are religious-based excellent and high-quality education. Besides universities and colleges, there are also technical, applied arts and applied science scho