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Canada

Introduction

Education Systems

Application Procedure

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Application Procedure- Canada

Application to a university or course should always begin with the right career counseling . The counselor can assist you in selecting a career option keeping in consideration of your aptitude, academic background and future plans. Once a decision regarding the course is made, the counselor can research the appropriate university that offers the programme. All students are encouraged to apply to at least three universities from the list recommended by the counselor. It is then time to launch the application.

The following is the application procedure for graduate courses

Check out the eligibility criterion prescribed by the university you are applying to.
Most schools require qualifications comparable to a Canadian Bachelor's (Honours) degree (Four Year Degree Program). That means a minimum of 16 years of formal education. In the Indian context, it implies qualifying in a professional four-year degree like engineering or other such courses. For Doctorate programs, most universities require a Master's degree in that subject. In a few exceptional cases like a good undergraduate engineering degree, they may offer a direct admission to a Doctorate course.

The following is a summary of the eligibility criterion set up by most of the universities. However, requirements in individual cases may differ.

Programs/Level of study	Graduate/Post-Graduate level
Business	4 yr Bachelors degree, 70% aver. 2-3 years full time work experience . GMAT : 580-600 min TOEFL : 237-250 min
Computer Science	4 yr Bachelors degree, 70% aver. preferably in Computer Science TOEFL : 237-250 min. Some universities will require GRE Score (1200-1500)
Engineering	4 yr Bachelors in Engineering, 70% over. TOEFL :237-250 min Some universities will require GRE score (1200-1500)
Fine Arts	4 yr Bachelors in Fine Arts Portfolio/audition TOEFL : 237-250 min.
Media/ Communications	4 yr Bachelors in Mass Communications Portfolio TOEFL : 250 min. Work experience is an added advantageSome institutions may require written samples or copies of published work .

If you have completed a three-year degree program in India , the advisable plan of action to maximize eligibility for Canadian graduate schools is to apply for a Post Graduate degree here in India . A one-year university affiliated program will make up for the fourth year of a Canadian Undergraduate degree.

Important :

Professional programs like the CA, ICWA, part time diplomas from a university such as those in management, communication may or may not be accepted, though most MBA programs now accept the Indian CA qualification in lieu of the fourth year graduation.
Independent certificate courses offered by private institutions like Aptech, NIIT, etc. will most likely not be accepted. The decision is based on each university's individual evaluation.
One-year education of a two-year degree course (like M.Tech., M.A. etc.) may not be accepted by most schools. The full course has to be completed for qualification, unless there is a recognized university examination at the end of one year.
No standardized policy exists regarding the acceptance of such programs. Some universities may accept the three-year Indian Graduation Degree for a few programs. Confirmation can only be obtained by either writing directly or formally applying to the universities concerned.

Fill up the Application Forms : Inquiries for application forms must be sent at least 15 to 18 months before the proposed date of admission. There are two ways to get application forms – via e-mail or by downloading from the university website.

Attach Academic Records : Your past academic record is one of the most important deciding factors in securing admission to a college abroad. Most schools require you to have a reasonably good academic record especially for programs and courses offering a master's or doctoral degree. Each university has its own minimum requirement for its programs, which are flexible depending on the candidate's profile.

Universities in Canada have their own marking and evaluation systems, which are considerably different from the Indian system. It is advisable not to convert your marks in the Indian system of grading to the Canadian Grade Point Average system or any other system since the conversion may not be accurate. You may attach an explanatory note from your college to indicate your rank in your class and/or university. The letter should also indicate your place as compared to the class and the university average and the number of students in the class and the number of colleges and students in the university. You may also provide any other information or documents that you feel may help you in the admission process.

Students applying for Graduate courses (MBA, MS etc) are required to submit an official transcript (mark-sheets) from each college or university that they have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects/credits involved (for each year) and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc. Most universities ask for the transcript (mark-sheets) to be sealed in an envelope and signed and attested across the seal by the registrar. This procedure is to be done for each and every college that you have attended. Some universities may ask for more than one copy of the transcript.

If the transcripts are in a language other than English, then they must be translated into English only by the issuing authority or university otherwise it may not be accepted.

Attach Academic Records : Many Courses and Universities in Canada require you to take one of the standardized tests like GRE, GMAT along with English Proficiency tests like TOEFL, TWE and IELTS.
English Proficiency
TOEFL: This test is mandatory for International students applying to a Graduate course or University in Canada . The minimum score required by most universities for admission is 570 (Paper-based test) and 230 (Computer-based test).
Note :
Many universities and colleges also accept IELTS scores. GMAT scores are required for most management courses. A candidate will have to appear for GRE while seeking admission in any Graduate Course in any field other than Management.

Mention in detail any relevant work experience : A number of professional and vocational courses require relevant work experience. For instance, many MBAs or master's courses in information studies require at least a couple of years' work experience. Most Canadian universities are pretty strict about this. A detailed Résumé is an important part of your application. It should include all information of professional work experience along with the details like positions held, achievements and range of work.

Attach two Letters of Recommendation : Letters of reference or recommendation letters play a very important part in your admission especially in courses that earn you a master's or doctoral degree. A recommendation letter is a signed statement from a person who knows you well professionally or has taught you in a subject that is related to the course you are applying to. It should list your positive and negative qualities, strengths and other such information.

Many universities have their own format and questions that have to be answered by the person who is giving the letter of recommendation on your behalf.

Note : Even if not mentioned, it is advisable to include at least two letters of recommendation in your applications as they increase your chances of getting admissions.

Write a Statement of Purpose (SOP) : The personal essays, and/or statement of purpose, play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for both admission as well as financial aid because it gives the faculty assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual. This section is the key to distinguish your application from other suitable candidates and a chance to market yourself.

A personal statement should include your reasons for choosing a particular course, the suitability of your education and experience for the chosen course, your personal interests and career goals. Some courses like Business school courses will have their own essay questions and format. Others may ask for a résumé or reasons for applying to that particular course

To apply for an undergraduate programme follow the below-mentioned procedure :

Most universities in states other than Ontario and Quebec require a minimum of 12 years of formal education for admission to Bachelor degree courses.

Universities of Ontario and Quebec require a minimum of 13 years of secondary school education. This implies 12 years of schooling and one year of college education in India , or 12 years of schooling in India and one year of high school in Canada . If your academic credentials are very impressive, some universities may admit you in their Bachelor degree programs with 12 years of education.

There are no centralized Canada wide entrance tests, each institute sets its own admission standards and assesses the qualifications of each applicant individually. The general criteria is mentioned below. However, requirements for individual applications may vary:

Programs/Level of study	Undergraduate/Bachelors level
Business	70% in 12th grade TOEFL : 237-250 min. 12th grade level Maths
Computer Science	70% in 12th grade TOEFL : 237-250 min. 12th grade level Maths
Engineering	70% in 12th grade TOEFL : 237-250 min. 12th grade level Maths (algebra, calculus, geometry), Physics, Chemistry, & English
Fine Arts	Min. 70% in 12th grade TOEFL : 237-250 min. Portfolio/audition or documentary evidence of creative skills
Media/ Communications	70% in 12th grade TOEFL : 237-250 min.

Programs/Level of study	Diploma
Business	Flexible admission TOEFL : 213 min.
Computer Science	Flexible admission TOEFL : 213 min. 12th grade level Maths
Engineering	Flexible admission TOEFL : 237-250 min. 12th grade level Maths
Fine Arts Flexible admission	Flexible admission TOEFL : 213 min. Portfolio
Media/ Communications	Flexible admission TOEFL : 213 min. Proficiency in keyboarding and/or Computer Studies.

Fill up the application form and submit it to the university concerned with the application fee ($ 50 - $ 150)

Attach the following documents :

Secondary School Reports / Transcripts
Standardized test reports (TOEFL / IELTS)
Letters of Recommendation.
Statement of Purpose / Personal Essays.

Documents to be submitted while APPLYING to the universities :

Mark sheets
Transcripts
Reference letters
Bio- data.
Statement of Purpose
IELTS/TOEFL score card
Proof of identity.
Work experience
Application fees

Documents to be submitted while visas (prepared in sets)

Application form
Personal information form.
Correspondence letters (acceptance letter, offer letters, accommodation fees letter)
Statement of Purpose
Academic documents
Score card
Student Affidavit (format to be given from here)
Proof of identity of sponsor and relationship with student
Proof of employment of sponsor
Proof of income of sponsor
Bank balance statements
IT returns
Educational loan
Financial Evidence
CA statement and valuation