Undergraduate, medical, and doctoral degree programs are all four-year courses of study in Canada. Program lengths for undergraduate and PhD degrees in Canadian universities range from three to five years, depending on the course and the institution’s region. A bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for prospective medical students before they may enroll in a four-year MD program. To study their chosen course in Canada, PhD applicants must have a master’s or bachelor’s degree.
Canadian Universities to Study a Four-Year Degree Program
It is advised that you start your journey to study in Canada by choosing an appropriate academic institution. Of course, this will depend on your field of study, your degree program, and the university where you go. Many universities and colleges in Canada award scholarships after enrolling students in four-year degree programs.
Below are some of the most popular universities in Canada one can easily choose from when looking to study in Canada.
- University of Toronto.
- University of Manitoba.
- University of Waterloo
- McMaster University
- University of Calgary
- University of Alberta
- McGill University
- University of British Columbia
- Université de Montréal
- University of Winnipeg
General Entry Requirements for a Four-Year Degree Program in Canada
Undergraduate, medical and PhD students need to gain admission into a Canadian university before they can study the course of their choice.
Applicants usually submit the following requirements when applying to study for a four-year degree in Canadian Universities:
-
- Copy of a high school or secondary school transcript/certificate (undergraduate applications)
- Copy of a master’s degree certificate or bachelor’s degree certificate from any accredited university (postgraduate applicants).
- Proof of funds or finance which is usually in the form of bank statements.
- English proficiency scores or certificate
- Official transcripts from previous universities
- A resume or CV
- Recommendation letters submitted by your referees to the school
- SAT or ACT scores (undergraduate applicants)
- Official MCAT scores (for medical school applicants)
- A completed application form
- A statement of purpose or personal statement.
Canada Student Visa or Study Permit
After getting an admission letter from a Canadian university, the next step is to submit an application for a study permit and student visa. While a study permit is a legal document that allows the student to study and live in Canada for the term of its validity, a student visa or electronic travel authorization is a legal permit that allows the student to enter Canada. A person’s passport is linked to an electronic travel authorization, which normally has a five-year validity. Both of these documents are necessary to enroll in school in Canada.
Steps in Getting a Student Visa and Study Permit
- Get admitted to a Canadian university and accept the offer of Admission– An acceptance letter will be sent to you by the university most times by email. This allows you to start your study permit and student visa application.
- Check Your Eligibility to Apply for a Study permit- The following individuals or group might not have to apply for a study permit;
- Those enrolling in a course that has a duration of 6 months or less
- Members of foreign armed forces from a country designated as visiting forces act.
- Family Members or private staff members of a diplomatic agent, consular officer, representative, or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations, or any of its agencies, or of any international organization of which Canada is a member do not require a study permit. Instead, they require diplomatic or official visas.
- Indians who are registered in Canada.
- More eligibility information to apply for a study permit can be found on the Government of Canada’s official website.
- Prepare Documents Required for a Study Permit Application- Ensure all required documents for the study permit application are complete. The list of documents required to apply include:
-
- The original letter of acceptance from the designated learning institution or university
- A valid international passport/travel document
- A letter of intent
- Two recent passport-size photographs, on which the name of the student and date of birth has been specified on the back.
- Bank Statement showing proof of sufficient financial support to study in Canada. The amount usually covers tuition fees and living expenses for one year.
- An English proficiency test certificate (IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, PTE Academic, C1 Advanced) is required if the student comes from a non-English speaking country. A Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, is required in addition to the following: English and French translations, a copy of the original documents, and a statement from the translator. These documents must be submitted if the student plans to study in Quebec.
- A medical certificate or record is required to prove that the student is in a good state of health.
- A Police Certificate is required to confirm that the student has no criminal record
- Proof of study permit fee payment (150 CAD – rate might change).
- A filled student permit application form
- Apply for a Canadian Study Permit– A student must apply for a study permit before entering Canada. The study permit is applied for using the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website. The documents listed by post should be sent by post to the Canadian embassy in the applicant’s country if there is a slow or no internet connection in the applicant’s country.
- Book for a Biometrics Appointment and Interview– The student will need to book a biometric appointment in his/her country at a Canadian Visa application center or embassy. This should be done as soon as possible before the deadline on the biometric instruction letter. The student is required to enter his/her biometric data such as fingerprints and signature during the process and pay a biometric fee of 85 CAD. An interview might follow after the biometric capture.
Processing Duration for a Canadian Study Permit
After a study permit application, a period of about 90 days is used to process the application. It is important to submit all requested documents so that the application is not rejected or delayed. The processing time can be faster (about 20 days) using the student Direct stream which costs 150 CAD. It is available to applicants from Senegal, China, Vietnam, Morocco, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
If a student’s application for a study permit has been accepted, a letter of introduction confirming that the student is allowed to enter Canada will be forwarded to him or her. At the point of entry into Canada, the student will receive a study permit after presenting this letter to the Canadian border services official. The student’s passport will also be linked to an electronic travel permission, which is valid for five years or until the passport expires.
Working While Studying for a Four-year Degree in Canada
Any student who has a valid study permit is permitted to work 20 hours per week during the academic year and 40 hours per week during breaks or vacations. Students can work on or off campus to earn money to help with living costs. While attending school in Canada, students can work at the following part-time jobs:
- Tutor
- Teacher’s assistant
- Freelance writer
- Freelance graphic designer/UX designer
- Sales development representative
- Translator
- Uber driver
- Bartender
- Bookkeeper
- Customer service assistant
Some undergraduate four-year programs provide cooperative jobs or co-ops that are career-related and last between four and twelve months. Students can choose to work as interns for up to four terms in a row over the summer. Co-ops are a terrific method for students to earn money while gaining practical experience in their chosen academic field.