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From the Idea to the Institution, Part I

Choose Your Own Adventure

You've decided you want to continue your education by studying abroad - but what now?  If you start with a simple web search on studying in Canada, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of information that is returned to you.  It may seem extremely confusing at the moment but it doesn't need to be.  This lesson is designed to help you turn your dream of studying abroad into reality.  Welcome to part one of this three part lesson - picking your school.


Define your Goals

Before anything else, you need to figure out why you want to go to school.  This can help you form an idea of what type of school you want to go to (a large or small school, a research or teaching focused institution), what areas you may wish to study, or even what province you want to study in.

Questions to ask yourself now:
  • Why do I want to study abroad?
  • What are my career ambitions?  What programs will get me the job I want?
  • What language would I be most comfortable studying in?
  • What kind of city am I happiest in?
  • What type of school am I looking for?  Renowned for research?  Unsurpassed undergraduate education?

Macleans Univeristy Rankings ReportA great tool to help you figure out which schools specialize in certain types of study is the Maclean's University Ranking.  This yearly survey ranks a number of Canadian Universities based on criteria like student to faculty ratio, research grants received, and student satisfaction. 



Check your Eligibility

Each school will have their own specific requirements for entry, so once you have narrowed your choices of school and program, check with each institution to ensure you meet minimum acceptance requirements.  Often, acceptance is based on completion of secondary school with good academic standing and the results of a language proficiency test.  That said "good academic standing" is a very vague term, so check with each school you plan on applying to for admission averages.

If you're coming from an Indian 10+2 school system, eligibility is most often determined by the results of your Grade XII Board Exam, or a combination of the board exam and your coursework from Grades XI and XII.

Examples of English Profeciency testsInternational Students who do not speak English or French as their mother tongue will also likely have to pass a proficiency exam to ensure they have the language skills necessary to be successful studying in a foreign language.

For English speaking schools the most common form of evaluation is a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, however, some schools will accept alternative tests like the International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS).  If you come from an English speaking country or have been studying at a school where English is the main language of instruction you may be except from this exam.  You'll want to check with each individual institution to see how language proficiency requirements apply to you.

Schools that instruct in French also have their own language proficiency requirements, however these vary significantly from school to school so please check with the institutions you're considering attending.


Questions to ask Yourself now:
  • Do I meet the minimum requirements for my program?
  • If not, what can I do to ensure I do meet the requirements?
  • Am I eligible for any exemptions?
The Liaison, Admissions, or Registrar's Department of the school you are interested in can be a great assistance to you right now.  The staff of these departments will be familiar with the school's admission requirements and can help you determine your eligibility for each program.  They will also be an invaluable resource when you move onto your next step - applying for school.
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