How to choose an institution to study in Canada?

1. Be clear about the objective of traveling to Canada. If you are looking for permanent residency you should know that the program you choose must meet certain requirements. In addition, there are different immigration programs and each one has different requirements to achieve this objective. For example, a common requirement to apply for residency through Quebec is the ability to speak French.

2. Once you are clear about your immigration plan (if you are looking to stay in Canada) choose in which city and in which language you want to study . In Montreal, for example, there are bilingual studies, that is to say, the same program is offered in English or French. We recommend you to check the requirements of the educational institutions, most of them ask for a proof of the knowledge of languages, for example for English the IELTS or TOEFL, and French TEF or others.

3. The educational institution must be DLI (Designated Learning Institution). This means that it has permission from the government to admit international students. A DLI school can issue a letter of acceptance which is essential to obtain a Canadian study permit. You can check if the institution is DLI.

4. Consider the duration of the program. If you want to stay in Canada after graduation, be sure to select a DLI institution that is also eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Not all DLI institutions automatically qualify for the PGWP. When you are sure that your institution is a DLI and also has a PGWP, make sure that it has a long enough program to qualify you for a post-graduation work permit. Remember that the PGWP is generally issued for the same length of time as the duration of the program of study. That is, if you study for 1 year, you may only get 1 year of study permit, while if you study for 2 years or more, you may get more time and even up to 3 years of permit (times vary depending on the immigration officer).

5. Remember to take into account the costs of the study program. Technical studies are usually cheaper than university studies. In addition to this there are several extra expenses that must be added, check this article to know how much money you need to study in Canada.

6. We advise you not to choose a program of study that is below your profile. That is, if you have already studied an undergraduate or bachelor's degree and you choose a technical program, the immigration officer may not consider it congruent (unless you have an excellent reason to do so). Taking into account the previous example, the ideal would be to apply for a master's or postgraduate degree.

7. Choose a program of study that contributes to your career and/or experience. It can become a reason for visa rejection if there are extreme changes in education, for example when you are a lawyer and intend to study pastry (unless you have excellent reasons to do so).

8. Check the curriculum and the subjects of the study program, so that if there are several institutions that offer it, you can make the best decision.

9. Search for information on the Internet about educational institutions, check location, facilities, etc.

If you are not looking to stay in Canada you have a little more freedom to choose. Look for an institution with a good reputation and a program of study that will be of great use in your profession/occupation. If you are looking to stay and are unsure of your immigration pathway, we recommend that you make an appointment with our CICC-regulated immigration consultants, who will show you the options available and guide you. We also have a team of experts in education in Canada who will be happy to advise you.

Learn about the new immigration rules for international students, updated on October 07, 2022 by the Government of Canada. Government of Canada.

With love,

Immiland

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