Studying in Canada : Applying
APPLICATION TO ONTARIO:
You will need to apply to the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) www.ouac.on.ca for university admissions in the Fall semester. If applying to a university in Ontario, you are able to include up to 3 university and course choices on your form. A fee of $95 is payable to the Ontario Universities Application Centre. Any applications for colleges are processed through the Ontario College Application Services (OCAS) www.ontariocolleges.ca . You are able to include up to five college and course choices on your application. A fee of $65 is payable. The OUAC and OCAS will then forward all the information onto the relevant institutions. It is up to you to forward all appropriate documents to the institution yourself. If you do not receive correspondence from the university or college of which documents they need, contact the admissions department for further information. A handful of institutions in Ontario must be applied to directly. To find out which application process you should be undertaking, it is best to contact your chosen institution and ask for the international or admission department.
APPLICATION TO THE REST OF CANADA :
To apply to an institute in one of the other provinces, you will need to request an application form directly from your chosen institute. When sending the completed form back to the admissions office, make sure you include any required documents and fees. If your application is successful you will then receive an admission offer, which you can either accept or decline.
The admissions office will also send you student authorisation and visa forms. It is important to apply to any institution at least 15 months before admission dates (the beginning of the Fall semester). When requesting an application form, you can either telephone or e-mail the institution and request one or download a form from the institution website where available.
APPLICATION REQUIRMENTS
SECONDAR Y SCHOOL
TRANSCRIPTS:
Secondary school transcripts or reports will be required when applying to any Canadian institution. It is important that a school official completes the transcript and that it is translated to English if you are not from an English speaking country.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Students from non-English speaking countries will be required to complete standardised test to prove proficiency in English. Please go to Page 14 for further on tests and entry requirements.
LETTER OF RECOMMENDA TION
A teacher or counsellor who knows you well and has taught you professionally in a subject related to your application choice should complete your letter of recommendation. The letter should Bea thorough account of you as a person and your academic achievements, listing your strengths and positive attributes. It is recommended that you include two letters with your application form.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
A statement of purpose is a personal essay written by yourself which outline why you want to study in Canada, why you chose the institution and course,what would make you a good studentship the suitability of your education. Your statement of purpose is extremely important and much time and effort should be taken when writing it.
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
As Canada is a predominantly English-speaking country, proficiency in the English language also needs to be demonstrated by students who aren’t permanent residents. Different institutions and courses require different qualifications and proof of English proficiency It is always best to contact the admissions or international office to find out the relevant information and which method is most recognised at the institution.
Below are different qualifications, which can be undertaken to demonstrate proficiency in English. The TOEFL English exam is mandatory for international students applying to any Canadian institution, however other tests can betaken on top of the TOEFL to further demonstrate proficiency;
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign
Language) - The TOEFL is available in
three different formats, paper based,
Internet based and computer based
• CAEL (Canadian Academic English
Language Assessment)
• Cant Est (Canadian Test of English for
Scholars and Trainees)
• IELTS (International English Language
Testing System)
• University of Cambridge Certificate of
Proficiency in English
• Successful completion of an English
language course
ACAD EMIC PROFICIENCY
To study in Canada, students must meet certain academic requirements as wells providing proof of finances and health. In Canada, nearly every university and college has their own, individual admission requirements Qualifications from different countries are recognised differently in each province and institution. Evaluation services are offered by agencies across the country. For a fee, an evaluation service can be carried out to assess how your qualifications compare with the qualifications recognised in Canada It is important to ensure that your chosen institution accepts your evaluation and recognises the agency your evaluation came from. Ring the international office or admissions office at your chosen institution to discuss which agency to use. Below is a list of the various different agencies in Canada. All of the following abide by the Quality Assurance Framework of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC). You can contact any of the agencies that follow for services in New Brunswick,Newfoundland Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut and Yukon.