Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of land size and consistently earns top rankings for its high standard of living as evidenced by United Nations country reports. Although Canada is a Commonwealth country by historical heritage, it education system follows that of United States due to close ties and proximity between the two countries.

There are about 90 universities in Canada. All universities in Canada are government regulated and therefore their degrees are of a high international standard, recognizable worldwide.

There are also university-colleges which represents a new breed of educational institutions in Canada. These colleges offer partial to full degree programs and typically grew out of previous community colleges.

There are 2 official languages in Canada: English and French (spoken in the Quebec Province)

Unlike in United States where scholastics tests like SAT, ACT or GMAT prevail, universities in Canada sets their own admission criteria for students.

All tuition fees for international students are subsidized by the Canadian government. However the amount of subsidy varies from province to province.

In Canada, international students can expect to pay tuition fees ranging from C$7000 to C$18,000 depending on the course of study and the province where the university is located.

The academic year in Canada is 8 months long, from September to April

In terms of living expenses, the Canadian government requires students to show evidence of C$10,000 to cover a 12-month stay every year. Otherwise, the actual expenses for most students average C$ 8000 a year, covering accommodation, food, transport, recreation and entertainment.

A note of warning to international students: healthcare in Canada is very expensive.
So students are advised to buy medical and hospital insurance as soon as possible upon arrival into Canada.

There is limited financial assistance for international students in Canada and there are working restrictions as well. Students should check with their university student office about part-time work opportunities. Usually, foreigners on student visa are allowed to work only on campus premises or as part of graduate work ie as a teaching assistant.