International students who want to study in Canada can save thousands of dollars on tuition fees and be eligible for permanent residency by taking an efficient approach to higher education. By enrolling in a College first, that offers a two or three-year program, students can get the most out of their educational experience, be prepared for the workforce and be eligible for up to a 3-year post-graduate work visa upon graduation. By partaking in these opportunities, international students have the chance to receive a top-notch education while saving money. Furthermore, this also puts them in a position to become permanent residents of Canada. The FAS-T Education approach allows International students to maximize success and get a head start on their careers. Let us dig deeper into how this works in more detail:
Attending a College Program
Undergraduate Students
The first step to coming to Canada as an international student is attending a 3-year advanced diploma program at a college. This 3-year program will allow you to qualify for a 3-year postgraduate work visa that Canada provides to its international students. The work visa has no requirements, such as job offers or having a particular type of work. You simply have to apply within that time frame. After you graduate from the 3-year program, you can then apply for a work visa. Once you have the work visa, you can stay and work in Canada for up to 3 years.
Post-Graduate Students
The college application process for international students is different if the student already has a degree or a 3-year advanced diploma. In this case, it is recommended that the student applies to graduate certificate programs instead of colleges that offer more hands-on training and a compressed education. The typical length of these programs is eight months, and to qualify for the Post-Graduate work visa, students must complete a total of sixteen months within twenty-four months. To ensure eligibility for qualifying, we assist students to apply to multiple eight-month programs simultaneously.
Gaining Relevant Work Experience to Qualify for Permanent Residency
The Canadian Experience Class program is a great way for international students to become permanent residents of Canada. To qualify for the program, you must have completed a three-year college program (or two years if you’re applying to Graduate Certificate programs) and have a post-graduate work visa from Immigration Canada. Once you have these requirements, you can work in your field in a capacity that would allow you to qualify for Immigration under the Canadian Experience Class program. The program is designed by Immigration Canada to attract international students with relevant Canadian work experience, command of the English language, and proven suitability to easily assimilate into Canadian culture. By meeting these requirements, you will be well on your way to becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
Upon obtaining permanent residency under this program, you are now eligible for free Canadian healthcare, as well as have the opportunity to get local education loans to further your education if you wish. At this point, your fees at a Canadian institution are now the same as other domestic students, having saved you thousands of dollars. This newfound access to quality healthcare and education is a valuable perk of permanent residency, and one that you are sure to appreciate. Let us help you break down what the costs will look like if you followed this process versus if you were to apply to a university degree directly.
What does it cost to study at a University?
Tuition fees at universities in Toronto can vary widely depending on the program you choose. For example, business, arts and humanities programs tend to be cheaper than sciences or engineering programs. On average, tuition fees at a public university in Toronto range from $30,000 to $50,000 per year. Over the course of four years, this means that you could be looking at a total bill of anywhere from $120,000 to $200,000 just for tuition fees. Of course, this is just an estimate - the actual cost will depend on the specific university and program you choose. But one thing is certain: a university education is not cheap.
What does it cost to study at a college?
The tuition fees for colleges in Toronto are much lower than those of universities. On average, you can expect to pay between $15,000 and $18,000 per year for tuition. This means that the total cost of a college education will be between $45,000 and $48,000 - significantly cheaper than a university education. Colleges are now offering 4-year Bachelor programs that on average cost $20,000 per year. This means that over the course of four years, it would equate to approximately $80,000 for tuition. Even though this is cheaper than a university education, it's still significantly costly for some who opt for Advanced Diploma programs as a starting point.
Transferring to University Upon Immigrating
Upon graduating from the college program and obtaining a work visa, an international student can gain the relevant work experience to qualify for permanent residency in Canada. Once approved for Canadian resident status, the student is eligible to pay the same tuition fees as locals, significantly reducing the cost burden of the university fee to approximately $8,000 to $10,000 Canadian dollars per year.
The student, who has obtained a 3-year Advanced Diploma through pathway programs, would have to complete two more years towards the four-year degree at University. At the cost of approximately $10,000 / year, this would mean a total investment of $20,000 towards university + $48,000 towards college adding up to a total cost of under $70,000 as compared to a direct university student spending anywhere from $120,000 to $200,000.
What’s the difference between a college program and a university education? Are they equivalent?
No, a college diploma is not the same as a university degree. A college diploma is generally more focused on providing you with practical skills that you can use in the workforce, while a university degree is more academic in nature and will provide you with the theoretical knowledge needed to pursue a career in research or teaching. That being said, many employers will view a college diploma as being just as valuable as a university degree, and in some cases may even prefer applicants with a college diploma.
Our recommendation is to gain multiple qualifications after obtaining permanent resident status because they both have unique offerings. We encourage students to obtain a bachelor's degree so that they can stand out in the competitive market that is Canada with more than 1 in 2 Canadians having a post-secondary education.
Choosing the right post-secondary path
When it comes to choosing the right post-secondary path, there are a lot of factors to consider. But if you're looking for an option that will give you the best chance to succeed in your career, our approach is the most efficient way to go. By getting a college diploma and working in your field, you'll get a leg up on the competition and valuable insight into your field when it comes to furthering your education in University at a later stage. And because you'll be earning money between college and university, you'll be able to save thousands of dollars in addition to the already saved thousands by adopting our approach. With all of these advantages, it's no wonder that our approach is becoming the preferred choice for students across the globe.
How You Can Get Started
To learn more about how you can get started, contact us or give us a ring and we can help you understand the process and how you can take advantage of this formula.
Do you still have questions and want to learn more? Register for our upcoming webinar, Study, Work, and Live in Canada. Get the opportunity to speak with Ali, Founder of FAS-T Education Consulting, and learn more in-depth about the FAS-T Education process and how we can help you to get moving on your career.
Don't see an upcoming date for the webinar? Don't worry, we hold our webinars regularly so check on our social media and webinar page for future dates. If you already have plans to study in Canada, contact us now to get started right away!