The North American nation “Canada” is famous for its Maple syrup, Moose and Ice Hockey. The country also attracts thousands of international students to its prestigious universities every year for the quality education it offers. Students from Nepal are no exception. Each year, thousands of Nepalese students enroll into prestigious Canadian universities for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Universities in Canada offer a variety of course options, including English language classes, which makes them an attractive option for international students. Safety and quality of life, as well as opportunities for employment after graduation, are among the many benefits of studying at Canadian universities.

Why Study in Canada ?

Canada is one of the safest countries to study and live in. According to the Global peace Index, 2022, Canada ranks 12 out of 163 countries worldwide.

Studying in Canada is a great experience. The country offers a rich cultural environment, including high-quality of education. They encourage overseas students to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by Canadian universities. There are plenty of scholarships and financial aid programs available for foreign students.

In Canadian universities, the tuition fees are lower compared to other English-speaking nations. In addition, Canada is one of the most affordable countries to live in, as it offers affordable living options. The total cost to study in Canada from Nepal includes tuition and living expenses.

Post Secondary Education in Canada

Canada is one of the popular study destination for Nepalese students. Majority of Nepalese students apply for undergraduate and post graduate degrees from Nepal. Hence, before committing to any popular courses in Canadian Institutions it is important to understand the education system as a foreign student.

Canada has 223 public and private universities, and 213 public colleges and institutes. These colleges and universities in Canada offer more than 10,000 degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels for overseas students.

Post Secondary education in Canada normally includes public universities, colleges, community colleges, polytechnics, institutes, university colleges, and others. Such Canadian Institutions can be both publicly-funded and private schools.

Universities in Canada:

Universities offer programs on a wide range of topics, with a wide range of difficulty and complexity levels. Professional and academic programs are the focus of Canadian universities. After successfully completing a university program, you are awarded with a university degree that reflects the type of program you completed.

1. Bachelor’s Degree: This is the most basic degree offered by Canadian schools. It usually takes three to four years to finish.
2. Master’s Degree : It is an advanced degree that usually requires one to three additional years of study after you complete a bachelors degree.
3. Doctoral degree: This is the highest degree awarded by Canadian universities. To complete a doctoral degree, it can take another three to four more years of studying and researching following a master’s degree.

Colleges in Canada:

Colleges are categorized as career oriented centers compared to universities. College degrees are designed to help students prepare for a particular career.

In college programs, students have both theoretical knowledge and practical experience that is beneficial to boost career for students.

Courses for students in Canadian colleges are designed to offer practical or hands-on training that teaches you all about the tools and techniques used by professionals.

Intakes in Universities of Canada

Canadian universities and colleges offer three intakes in an academic year. Universities offer fall, winter and summer intakes for students. The good part of multiple intakes is that students can enroll into next intake if they miss the first intake.

However, it needs to be understood that certain universities and courses only have two intakes in a year.

Also, the intakes can be confusing to select. Normally Nepalese high school or +2 graduates opt for January intake because the results for +2 is published within September of each year. The table below has the details about the intakes in Canada:

Intake	Starts and ends	Duration	Remarks
Fall Intake (Primary Intake)	September–December/early January	4 months	The fall semester provides a large number of courses and degrees to foreign students.
Winter Intake (Secondary Intake)	January–April	5 months	Overseas students who missed primary intake apply for Winter Intake. Winter intake is popular among Nepalese students as they graduate from high school in September.
Spring Intake	May-August	4 months	Summer admission usually starts in April or May for a limited number of programs.

Cost of Studying in Canada

International students choose Canada as their study destination for its educational facilities and tuition fees.

The cost of study in Canada for overseas students is higher than the native ones. International tuition fees for Nepalese students vary depending on the program and location students choose. Also, private university has higher cost compared to public university.

However, some courses include work-integrated learning which provides student a chance to earn while study. Such work-integrated learning helps to shape career for students.

Nepalese student spend approximately between CAD 13,000 and CAD 35,000 per year. The table lists indicative cost per level of study in Canada for graduate study programs and undergraduate programs:

Level of Study	Indicative Annual Cost
Undergraduate Program	CAD 13,000 to CAD 20,000 per year
Graduate Programs	CAD 17,000 to CAD 25,000 per year
Doctoral Degree	CAD 7,000 to CAD 15,000 per year
MBA	CAD 30,000 to CAD 40,000 per year

Living cost in Canada

While studying and living in Canada students can choose to live on-campus or off-campus.

Most universities offer on-campus housing facilities for foreign students. The cost of housing differs based on the location and the type of university students choose.

Similarly, you can choose to stay in rental apartment or a shared apartment. This kind of accommodation lowers the cost of living but can become expensive as well based on the living standard and lifestyle.

Generally in average foreign students spend approximately CAD 600 to CAD 800 for groceries, daily expenses and entertainment which excludes accommodation.