What to expect when studying in Canada as an international student

Want to know what it is like to study in Canada? Studying in Canada is different from studying in any other country and will be the experience of a lifetime. 

Multicultural

Canada is known for its multiculturalism and diversity. Did you know that almost 22% of all Canadians were born outside of the country? Canada is the top 3 country in the world with the highest number of international students. This means that there will be a good mix of international students in classrooms. 

Inclusive learning

“Inclusive” is what we would describe as Canadian classrooms. Education in Canada welcomes people from all backgrounds, beliefs, religions, sexual orientations, and abilities. You will feel included in the conversation as they highly value group thinking in classrooms. 

Collaboration

Collaboration and teamwork are important in Canadian classrooms. Students will be encouraged to participate in group discussions, group projects, and many more to showcase their teamwork and leadership skills. For international students, this means that you will have the opportunity to work with local students as well as students from other countries. 

Engaging

Student and professor’s relationship in Canada is very different as compared to other countries around the world. Student’s relationship with professors is often informal. Students often address their professors with their first name rather than “professor” or “sir” or “ma’am”. In classrooms, you will be recognized if you often ask questions and participate in active discussion. 

Self-learner

Unlike other countries where students prefer to study in groups, you will find that students attending university and colleges sometimes study in their own time. Depending on the type of school you attend, the study schedule often varies depending on your selected courses. You might have some friends that are taking similar classes and some friends who you would see rarely. 

Experiential learning

Canadian employers value tangible experience over credentials. It is important for students to gain real-world experience. Many Canadian institutions encourage students to take part in experiential learning or the co-op program so students can gain practical work experience while completing their coursework. 

Work while studying

On average, Canadians start working at the age of 15 years old. This might sound like a very young age to work as compared to the standard in your country. However, in Canada, people are encouraged to gain work experience while studying. As an international student, you are allowed to work 20 hours per week. Many students decide to work part-time during academic semesters to gain extra income and gain Canadian work experience.