© University Study 2024
An initiative of Ģý
By Mohamed Berrada
For students starting university, learning to manage your time on a day-to-day basis is a major priority. It can be hard to juggle courses, homework, social activities, and maybe even a part-time job. Fitting it all in can be quite the puzzle, especially for young adults. But with effective organization and a few helpful tips, you can find the balance you need to succeed without running yourself ragged.
Here are a few tips for optimizing your time to study, work, and play smart.
Effective organization is essential to avoiding overwork and stress, especially once deadlines start to pile up.
Countless apps and tools can help you stay organized and manage your tasks. Here are just a few options:
Many students work part-time to make ends meet, but that can make it all the harder to balance studying, leisure, and work. Here are a few tips to consider:
Now that you’ve organized your busy schedule, streamline your productivity to make the most of your study time.
Optimizing time management is an essential component of academic success and a balanced lifestyle. These tools can improve productivity and help you find a happy medium between obligations and fun. Whether you’re juggling studies with part-time work or just your social life, staying organized is a great way to get the most out of your university experience—without unneeded stress.
By Moira MacDonald
No kidding – there has been a whirlwind of changes to Ģý’s study permit program for foreign nationals since late 2023. Among these is a limit over the next two years on the number of new study permit applications that the federal government will process as of Jan. 22, the date the change was announced. At the time of the announcement, the cap was expected to result in about 360,000 approved study permits, a 35 percent cut compared to 2023.
If you are a student from outside Ģý who has had this country on your list of potential university study destinations, you likely have a lot of questions. “For students, question number one is, ‘Does Ģý remain open?’ And the short answer is, ‘Yes,’” says Larissa Bezo, CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education.
However, after massive growth in this sector over the last decade and concerns about meeting the country’s obligations to international students, Ģý’s federal immigration department said it had to step in to protect the system’s integrity and ensure students are treated fairly. No target for the processing of study permit applications in 2025 has been announced and the number is to be , the government said. This is the first time that a limit of this kind has been set by Ģý.
“To be absolutely clear, these measures are not against individual international students,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller at the Jan. 22 announcement. “They are to ensure that as future students arrive in Ģý, they receive the quality of education that they signed up for and the hope that they were provided in their home countries.”
What does this mean for you, dear prospective international student? Sector experts say Ģý remains a good bet for a quality university education that is well-recognized globally. But you should take some time to understand the details of the recent changes and how they affect you, including whether your planned course of study is even impacted by the cap. If it is, find out what the additional requirements are, including the all-important “provincial letter of attestation,” and what to expect around timing for the processing of your study permit application.
On to some myth-busting and question answering …
Is Ģý banning visas for foreign students?
No. Ģý’s immigration department is reducing the number of new study permits it will process for international students in 2024 and 2025. For 2024, it has set a limit or “cap” of processing for affected programs.
Are all incoming international students affected by the study permit cap?
No. International students pursuing master’s or doctoral studies, or those headed into elementary or secondary school programs in the cap. Students who already have study permits and those seeking renewals are also not affected. or less are not required to have a study permit and are also not included in the cap.
Are Canadian universities still interested in international students? Is it even worth trying to come to Ģý?
Again, the answer is yes. Canadian universities are still very interested in having international students at every level. “Universities are still accepting applications from international students and now’s a great time to apply,” said Graham Barber, assistant director, international relations at Ģý, which advocates on behalf of Canadian universities. Graduate level students are not impacted at all by the study permit restrictions. This has been viewed by some immigration observers as a signal that Ģý is particularly keen on students at this level of study. If you are in this category and have a letter of acceptance, there’s no need to delay your study permit application.
How will the cap affect my chances of getting a study permit and how will it be applied?
While fewer permits will be approved than last year, the cut brings the numbers close to where they were around 2022 (407,000 for all levels of study ), which remains substantial. Each of Ģý’s 10 provinces and three territories has been given a share of the 606,250 study permit applications that will be processed for the capped groups, based on their population. Each jurisdiction will then decide how it will distribute its share among universities, colleges and other affected “designated learning institutions.”
Significant cuts were expected for more in-demand provinces such as Ontario – 50 percent or more.. British Columbia reported an allocation of 83,000 study permit applications, below the 97,000 it saw in 2023. However, other provinces that have received less attention from international students in the past may have room to grow their study permit approvals under their allocations.
Has anything changed around the application for a study permit? What is this “letter of attestation” that I have been hearing about?
The biggest change is that every application for a permit under the cap now requires a provincial “letter of attestation” also known as a PAL. This PAL means that the application has been verified by a province or territory as falling within its study permit application limit, or allocation. Study permit applications for affected programs received after the Jan. 22 announcement must include this PAL. However, those students whose study programs are not covered by the cap – master’s, doctoral , elementary and secondary school programs – do not need a PAL in their study permit application.
A previous announcement by the immigration department also the proof-of-financial-support amount that all study permit applicants must provide. That amount is $20,635 per year, not including tuition, for a single person. This applies to all study permit applicants, regardless of whether or not they are covered by the cap.
Where can I get an attestation letter?
The best advice is to check with the university where you have applied or have been accepted for the most up-to-date information. Provinces and territories have until March 31 to develop their systems for issuing and managing these letters of attestation.
Quebec was already able to issue this document as of by modifying its existing Certificat d’acceptation du Québec. CAQs issued before this date do not include the modification; an updated CAQ is required in this case if the application is submitted after Jan. 22. Alberta said its system was operational March 1 and British Columbia’s system began . These provinces are issuing the letters of attestation to post-secondary institutions. The institutions then send them to international students. Where a province has not yet announced anything, “I would encourage [students] to be in direct conversation with the institution where they intend to study to get clarity in terms of timing, etc.,” said Larissa Bezo of CBIE. But be patient in the run-up to March 31 – “If an institution says ‘We don’t yet have that information as to when the [provincial letter of attestation] will be available,’ they sincerely mean they don’t have that information,” Bezo added.
I heard that under this cap, Ģý will limit its intake of international students by country. Is that true?
The federal immigration department has responded that: “[a]ll study permit applications are assessed equally and against the same criteria, regardless of the country of origin.” Individual institutions do their own student recruitment and some have been trying in recent years to broaden the number of countries where students are coming from. However, it’s not clear how the cap will be applied by universities facing a cut in international student study permits.
I heard that certain programs will be favoured under the study permit cap, such as students in medical schools. Is that true?
Here’s what the federal immigration department has to say about that: “Medical schools are considered to be undergraduate programs or professional programs and would therefore not be exempt from the cap. Provinces and territories will determine how their allocation is shared among [their] designated learning institutions.” Setting priorities for how to distribute a province’s cap allocation would presumably only apply in high-demand provinces facing a study permit cut – Ontario, for example — but there is no information on that yet.
I submitted my application after January 22. It has been returned to me because I didn’t have a letter of attestation. Does that mean I am rejected?
The federal immigration department calls these applications “unprocessed” rather than rejected. Applicants can try again – just make sure all the required documents are there, including the letter of attestation if it applies to you.
I submitted my application for a study permit before January 22 but it was still being processed when the cap was brought in. How will this affect my application?
Those students who submitted their study permit applications before the Jan. 22 announcement do not need to take any further action as a result of the new requirements, the federal government . Their applications have continued to be processed, along with applications from international students whose programs are exempt from the cap.
I submitted an application for a study permit before January 22 but it was returned because I was missing a document. Do I have to include a letter of attestation when I re-apply?
Yes.
My study permit is ending this summer. Does that mean I will need to get a provincial attestation letter to renew my permit? Will the cap affect my ability to renew or extend my existing study permit?
No. Current study permit holders in Ģý will not be affected and .
I have been accepted into a university program for spring or summer 2024 but I still don’t have a study permit. What happens now?
If you did not apply for a study permit before the Jan. 22 announcement, this means you will be included in the cap (unless you fit one of the exemption categories mentioned already in this article), and you will have to get an attestation letter once they become available in the province where your university is located. Check with your university for more instructions. Bear in mind that study permit application processing time was running at about 10 weeks as of early March once all those documents are submitted, including the attestation letter. That does not include time to submit biometrics, if you are required to do that. The federal immigration department also says that processing times can vary depending on things such as how easily information can be verified.
Am I still eligible for a post-graduate work permit (PGWP)? I heard something about international students not being eligible for this anymore!
International students enrolled in Canadian university undergraduate and graduate programs remain eligible for PGWPs. As well, graduates of master’s degree programs that are eight months or longer are for a three-year PGWP if they meet all other existing criteria, as of Feb. 15, 2024. What has changed is that new students enrolling in private college programs that have curriculum licensing agreements with public colleges for PGWPs. International students at Canadian universities are not affected.
How does this affect my eligibility to work in Ģý while I am at school ?
There have been no recent changes to international students’ ability to work in Ģý during their studies. Consult the federal immigration department’s for details. However, there have been changes affecting the ability of an international student’s spouse or common-law partner to work. Only spouses and common-law partners of international students in graduate and professional degree-granting programs (such as law, medicine, education, engineering ) will be eligible for open work permits.
If I am already in Ģý on a visitor visa or work permit, do I need to provide a letter of attestation when I apply for a study permit?
Foreign nationals who are in Ģý on a work permit do not need a PAL when applying for a study permit. Some categories of temporary residents are also exempt – but not all. Make sure to check the federal immigration department’s for details so your study permit processing is not delayed.
In conclusion …
In the short-term, changes to Ģý’s international student immigration policies do create confusion and anxiety for students and institutions alike. Nevertheless, there has been general consensus that changes were needed so that international students have as positive an experience as possible. “Each institution is trying to reassure students and applicants that we’ll get answers in time for them to make a decision and that we’re still a welcoming country in which to study,” said Annik Gélineau, chair of the Association of the University and College Registrars of Ģý.
In the meantime dear international student, take a deep breath and carry on with pursuing your goals. It’s always wise to be clear about your motivations for choosing any study program and place, and how these match up with your interests and longer-term plans. “Get to your ‘why’s’ and then make a checklist,” advises Lou Janssen Dangzalan, an immigration lawyer and vice-president of Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association. “Make sure it aligns with your goals and with what’s available out in Ģý.” Giving yourself options in terms of programs and universities is also a good strategy to follow for any student, adds Graham Barber of Ģý: “Make sure you’ve got a couple of programs in mind,” he says. “Keep your options open, apply early and make sure you’re checking all the boxes and meeting all the requirements.”
" ["post_title"]=> string(78) "Ģý’s international student study permit ‘cap’: What you need to know" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(68) "canadas-international-student-study-permit-cap-what-you-need-to-know" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-11-06 19:02:38" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-11-07 00:02:38" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(96) "/canadas-international-student-study-permit-cap-what-you-need-to-know/" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [1]=> object(WP_Post)#6434 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(964) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "9" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2013-08-08 01:18:29" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2013-08-08 01:18:29" ["post_content"]=> string(8957) "Now that you’ve decided studying in Ģý is right for you, what’s next?
Determine what you’d like to study and where. UniversityStudy.ca is a good place to begin. It includes profiles of institutions and listings of their programs. You may want to research individual university websites as well. An easy way to access those is through our searchable database of study programs.
It is important to find out as much as you can about the institutions you’re considering, and the communities they’re in, to make sure you make the best possible choice. Don’t be afraid to contact officials who deal with international students at the universities you’re interested in and to ask them questions. Also, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to apply and to get a study permit (see below).
After you’ve identified your preferred universities, find out on their websites what the admission requirements are and what the application process entails. Application rules vary across institutions, but you’ll need to consider the following:
In Ģý, each university has its own entrance requirements and will assess you on an individual basis. However, graduation from a secondary school and good academic standing are typically the minimum requirements for undergraduate study.
You may need to supply official documents, such as transcripts from secondary or postsecondary school. It may be necessary to have those documents assessed and translated into English or French. Consult your country’s educational authorities or the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials () for more information on degree recognition.
International students in Ģý must demonstrate proficiency in either English or French, depending on the university they apply to. Many English-language universities require that you attain a minimum score on a standardized language test. French-language universities usually assess applicants on a case-by-case basis.
If your language skills are insufficient, there is a host of Canadian programs you can enroll in before applying to a university in the country, offered by universities, colleges and private institutions. For more information, go to the Languages Ģý website ().
Application processes vary by province. In some provinces, students can apply through a central application service. In others, you must apply directly to the university. You may also want to apply to more than one program or university in case you aren’t admitted to your first choice.
Deadlines vary, but generally, you should apply at least eight to twelve months in advance. Typical entry points for international students are the September and January semesters. However, many universities have a “rolling admissions” procedure to consider international students throughout the year.
Once you’ve received a letter of acceptance from a Canadian university, you must apply for a study permit if you intend to study in Ģý for six months or longer. You must apply for the permit before you come to Ģý.
You can apply online or submit a paper application to the Canadian visa office responsible for your country. Details about study permits for international students can be found on the website of .
To study in Quebec, you must also obtain a Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (CAQ) from that province. You can find further information online ().
To obtain a study permit, you must prove you have enough money to pay your tuition fees, living expenses for yourself and family members who come to Ģý with you, and return transportation for you and any family members who come. In some cases, you will also need to pass a medical examination that proves you are in good health.
To study in Ģý, you must be law-abiding, have no criminal record and not be a risk to Canadian security. You may have to provide a police certificate.
You also need to prove to the visa officer that your primary reason for coming to Ģý is to attend university, and that you will leave Ģý at the end of your studies.
Since 2014, newly arrived full-time international students with valid study permits have been allowed to work in Ģý without a work permit. They can work on-campus for an unlimited number of hours and, if their program lasts at least six months, they can work off-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in progress, and full-time during study breaks.
International students who wish to work while studying must obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Ģý. They can work as soon as they have their SIN.
International students in Ģý are also allowed to work as part of a co-op or internship program as long as the work is part of their educational program. Students in these programs will require a work permit in addition to their study permit.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows international students who have graduated from a program of at least eight months’ duration at a Canadian university to get work experience in the country. This permit allows students to work for the same period of time that their university program lasted, up to a maximum three years. If certain criteria are met, a student’s spouse may be able to obtain an Open Spousal Work Permit.
Canadian experience as a skilled worker through the PGWPP helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Ģý through a process called Express Entry, the system through which most immigrants obtain permanent residence in the country. And under new rules introduced in November 2016, getting a degree in Ģý also makes it easier to gain permanent residence. With permanent resident status, you get most of the social benefits, including health-care coverage, that Canadian citizens receive. Permanent residents can subsequently apply for Canadian citizenship after having lived in Ģý for a predetermined number of years.
For more information on study permits, visit
" ["post_title"]=> string(37) "How to apply to Canadian universities" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(37) "how-to-apply-to-canadian-universities" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-10-25 01:24:09" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-10-25 01:24:09" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(33) "/?p=964" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [2]=> object(WP_Post)#6425 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(1017) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "9" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2024-10-26 00:53:49" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-10-26 00:53:49" ["post_content"]=> string(7886) "This article was written by Dan Seneker, manager of undergraduate recruitment at the University of Saskatchewan.
When it comes to deciding on your future after high school, there are few times when such a decision will have such a large impact on your life. It ranks right up there with marriage, children, moving out of your parent’s house and buying your first home.
Now this isn’t meant to scare you or make you more nervous about making a decision, but the reality is that most teenagers will spend more time researching and deciding upon what car they’ll buy than the university or college they will attend.
Think about it: one decision will last you for five to maybe ten years and the other will have an impact on the rest of your life.
One of the advantages students have over their peers from past generations is the breadth of university programs and career options available – there are thousands of choices, many of which were non-existent only a few decades ago.
How can you narrow it down to just one program and university? Some students approach the application process with very little strategy and consider it as a contest to see how many schools they can get into. Believe it or not, some students apply to as many as 50+ programs!! That’s approximately CDN$4,000-$5,000 in just application fees, not to mention a significant amount of wasted time! This could easily be money towards your first car.
You may be surprised to hear that the magical number of applications is five – and no more. Below is some practical advice and strategy to adopt in getting to that number.
Your first two picks are easy – they are your “fun” pick and your “safe pick”, which are exactly what they sound like.
Your fun pick is your “no holds barred”, “pie-in-the-sky”, ultimate dream school. If money or anything else wasn’t an issue, where would you want to study? A top-tier school? A school on the Gold Coast of Australia? A small liberal arts institution in a university town with lots of atmosphere? Choose something that is for you and only you.
Now balance this out by choosing your safe pick, which is an institution that you are very confident that if you applied you would be accepted. Don’t forget to be realistic with yourself. Don’t pick an Ivy League school if you are struggling to maintain a 75 percent average. Instead, do some research and select a school with the program you want and with a cutoff average that you know you can achieve. For example: With your 75 percent average look at schools with a cutoff of 70 percent.
The other three picks should cover different bases but all should be options which are realistic and schools from which you would be happy to accepting an offer. One of the picks should be a “homer” pick, or in other words, an institution that is close to home. While you may not like this idea you never know what can happen between now and the time you accept your offer. Life happens and when it does you’ll be thankful that you have an option that is near home so you can deal with life as well as continue your studies. For most of you, having a homer pick will also make mom and dad happy as they hold on to the slim reality that you won’t be moving away!
That leaves you with two choices, and what you do with them is up to you. However, the main thing to determine is what type of environment you want for yourself over the next three to four years.
Ģý has an excellent post-secondary system with top quality institutions that go well beyond the large universities that everyone has at the tips of their tongues. There are both medium and small universities in addition to the large ones across the country that deliver quality education which is recognized around the world. So by being re-assured about quality university education in Ģý, you can focus more on the ideal study environment for you because that’s what will be a primary factor in your academic success, not necessarily the name of the institution on your parchment.
As the cliché goes, do you want to be a small fish in a big pond? Then look at a larger institution of 30,000+ students where you can be as anonymous as you want and you won’t have people keeping track of your every move. This will mean that you will want to look at the larger urban centres in Ģý such as Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver that all have universities that fit this category.
Do you want to be a small fish in a small pond? Look at a small to medium sized institution that will range from about 1,000 to 25,000 students – these types of universities are located in a variety of urban centres such as Halifax, Sherbrooke, Kingston, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, Saskatoon, and Victoria. They can also be found in smaller more rural centres such as Antigonish, Wolfville, Sackville, or Lennoxville. Conversely, what about all the “big fish” out there who want to blaze a trail and be involved in anything and everything? Students with these aspirations will be the ones seeking out opportunity, so it might not matter where you choose but you should still try and find a place that “fits”.
You often hear people talking about “university fit”, and there is a lot of truth to it. Quite often you’ll hear stories from friends or friends of friends about how a certain university is terrible, and that’s why they failed or aren’t going back. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
What typically happens is that the student didn’t pick a school with the right fit and didn’t mesh with the campus philosophy. For example, they wanted to blend in with the student body but picked a school with less than 1,000 students; they wanted a more close knit environment but chose a school with classes larger than their hometown; they wanted a large range of intramural activities where students get involved, but instead chose a commuter campus; or worse yet they based their choice on where their high school friends or their boyfriend/girlfriend were attending. Whatever the scenario, they didn’t do their research…but perhaps they are driving around in the perfect car, right?
So there you go, a few tips to help you make a decision that is right for you. Keep the choices down to five, be strategic in picking them, be realistic in what you can achieve (and afford) and do your research so that you choose a school that is right for you – not for your friends or parents. Good luck with your search!
" ["post_title"]=> string(54) "University applications – what’s the magic number?" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(46) "university-applications-whats-the-magic-number" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2024-10-26 00:53:51" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-10-26 00:53:51" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(34) "/?p=1017" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } }Our partners