Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Where do you go for more education or training?
In Canada there
are various opportunities for education beyond secondary
school. You can study at a community college, at a university or at
a professional school.
- At community
colleges you can learn a trade or acquire technical or administrative
skills. After you successfully complete your studies at a community
college you usually receive a diploma.
- Universities
offer programs of study in a wide variety of areas, usually leading
to an undergraduate degree.
- You will usually
need an undergraduate degree for acceptance into a professional
course, such as law, medicine or social work.
Community College
At community colleges
you can learn a trade or acquire technical or administrative skills. For
example you can study to be an electrician, health care worker or to work
in business.
After you successfully
complete your studies at a community college you usually receive a diploma
and not an academic degree.
What else are community colleges called?
The provinces have
many names for community colleges. They can be called:
- colleges of applied
arts and technology,
- institutes of
applied arts and sciences,
- technical/vocational
and university-oriented colleges,
- institutes of
technology or technical institutes,
- in Quebec, they
are known as collèges d'enseignement général et
professionnel, or CEGEPs.
There are also training
institutes specializing in fields such as forestry, fisheries and transportation.
In many cases, it
is possible to transfer from community college to university. You should
confirm this with the schools ahead of time.
How long does it take to get a diploma from a community college?
It depends on your
course of study and previous education. It is possible to earn a diploma
in less than a year, particularly from colleges that run 12 months a year.
Courses such as computer programming, communications or administration
can take from two to three years.
Where can you get trades and technical training?
This varies from
province to province. Generally, training is offered at community colleges
or vocational centres. It is also sometimes available at work through
government-funded training programs designed for particular regions or
certain groups of people such as newcomers or Aboriginal Peoples.
How do you become registered to practice a trade?
Qualifications for
trades such as hairdressers, electricians and carpenters are controlled
in each province. You begin as an apprentice. After fulfilling the requirements
of training, on-the-job experience and examinations, you progress to becoming
a registered trades person. If you move to another province, you may have
to re-qualify.
Re-qualifying in Canada
If you have been
practising a profession or trade in your country of origin you may be
expected to re-qualify in Canada. This will probably involve attending
courses and gaining Canadian job experience.
Universities
How do you qualify
for university entrance?
You must have a high
school diploma or equivalent. Popular courses in colleges and universities
get many applications so you will need above average marks to be accepted.
Apply at least a year in advance.
Many colleges and
universities allow adults over 25 or 30 to enter as mature students, based
on their individual abilities and background instead of based only on
previous education.
How long does it take to get a degree from a university?
A bachelor's degree
normally takes three or four academic years of eight months each. An honours
bachelor’s degree usually requires four academic years. Bachelor’s degrees
are offered in arts (BA, BA Hon) and in sciences (B.Sc., B.Sc. Hon).
Some universities
offer courses throughout the calendar year. This allows students to complete
a degree more quickly. Or if you need to earn money for your education,
you can work during some parts of the year.
How much does it cost to get a diploma or degree?
You must pay fees
to attend college or university. Tuition costs range from $3,000 to $9,000
for an eight-month term, depending on the province, program and university.
Living expenses, books and supplies etc., are additional costs.
Medicine, science
and business programs generally cost more than the humanities and arts.
You may be able to
get a scholarship, bursary or student loan to help you pay university
costs. Many university students get a part-time job to help pay for their
education. Many graduate students support themselves financially through
bursaries, scholarships, and loans or by working as teaching assistants.
Professional Education
How do you acquire
professional qualifications?
To enter a law degree
program (LL.B.), you usually need a bachelor's degree or at least two
years of undergraduate courses, plus high marks in a standardized examination.
The course of study lasts three years. After completing the program, law
students article with a law firm for one year, and then pass bar examinations
to be granted professional status.
Degrees in medicine
(M.D.) normally take three to four years after completion of the qualifying
undergraduate courses. Then medical students intern for one or two years,
after which the provincial medical boards license them.
Professional degrees
are also offered in:
- Engineering;
- Accounting; and
- Social Work
as well as in many
other fields.
Lawyers or doctors
who move to another province must re-qualify.
Graduate degrees
take, on average, two years at the master's level and a further three
to six years, or more, at the doctorate level.