Canada’s education system is renowned for its excellence, with many of its universities consistently ranking among the top globally. A degree from a Canadian institution carries significant weight and is highly respected worldwide, offering a gateway to a successful career.

Canada’s reputation for multiculturalism and inclusiveness makes it a welcoming environment for international students from diverse backgrounds, mainly from Pakistan and India. The presence of vibrant Pakistani and Indian communities enriches the cultural experience in and out of the classroom. Canada also provides ample opportunities for international students to gain work experience during and after their studies through programs like Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP), which can serve as a pathway to permanent residency. The Reviving Pakistan is dedicated to guiding you through this process, ensuring a smooth transition and a successful academic journey.

Read the steps below in sequence to get a better understanding.

1. Passport and Bank Account.

The first step when you start the process is to create your passport and bank account. Passports should be of any type, either 35 or 100 pages, and 5 or 10 years long. A Bank account should be opened where international payments are supported, and you should have a card, a debit or credit card with a limit of almost three million a month because all of your costs like insurance, fees, visa fees, accommodation charges, all type of payments will be made through this card.

2. Preparing Documents.

It would help if you prepared all your documents before applying to avoid problems. You will need your educational documents, SSC certificate, and HSSC transcript of certificate. You will also need recommendation letters. It’s good to get two letters. Do you want to know what recommendation letters are? Click here. You will also need any of your additional certificates.

3. Selection of University.

It would help if you considered the various factors while selecting a university.

i) Get details of the university, the course in which you are applying, its modules, credit hours, and the worth of the university’s degree. The uni ranking will also matter a lot.

ii) You should see the city and the surroundings in which the university is located. In Canada, there are several types of colleges and universities, like community colleges; keep this in mind: in the case of a community college or a low-ranking university, your chance of visa approval will be declined to almost zero.

iii) The university’s passing rate, grading system, and fee installment should also be seen. You will study for years at the uni, so it’s better to look at everything that will affect you later.

iv) You should also see the city’s part-time job opportunities. Students find it hard to get a job in small or even large cities, so it’s better to look at the job market.

v) It would help if you also considered the local communities living there. It’s better if the city has a Pakistani or Indian community; you will not feel far from home. People from your country or speaking the same language will soothe you and not make you homesick.

4. Application Process.

i) You should see the admission criteria and eligibility requirements; all details are available on every university’s website.

ii) After meeting all the requirements, you should apply to university. Almost all universities in Canada accept direct applications, so it’s better to apply to multiple universities to have various options when you have to choose one. You have to pay a fee to apply to the university; it’s almost 150$ Canadian Dollars.

Documents required for application.

a) Passport.

b) Secondary School Certificate (SSC) (Matric or O levels).

c) Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) (FSc or A levels).

d) Recommendation Letters.

e) Photograph.

f) Statement of Purpose or Letter of Motivation.

g) An English language proficiency certificate, which could be IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE; check the university requirements, which are easy for you to meet. Click on the following links to learn more about these tests.

5. Univeristy’s Response OR Conditional Letter.

After reviewing your documents and eligibility for the course you have applied to, the university will issue you a conditional letter. In this letter, there will be some conditions you must make to secure your admission.

These conditions will be;

i) It could be a credibility interview. In it, you will be assessed by a representative of the university. They will interview you and make further decisions based on that interview. It is a relatively easy interview; they will ask about yourself and your motivations for studying in Canada

ii) Then, you will have to pay the initial fee deposit. They will ask you to pay a fee of at least two semesters.

iii) You will be asked to submit the proper one if a document needs to be included or unacceptable.

iv) They will also ask you to open a GIC account for your proof of savings to fund your education. GIC is an account type open in Canadian banks; the amount that should be deposited is 20635$ Canadian Dollars. This amount will be blocked in the bank account for a fixed term of one year; you will get monthly installments from them, and the bank will also give you some interest. The interest rate depends and varies from bank to bank.  

6. Un-conditional letter.

After meeting all the requirements for the conditional letter, the university will issue you an unconditional letter. This letter confirms that your seat in the desired course is confirmed, and you can now proceed further.

7. Visa Application.

To file a visa, you must have the following documents.

i) Your letter of acceptance from the university.

ii) A provincial attestation letter (PAL) is issued by the province in which you will be studying; ask your university where to apply for PAL.

iii) Proof of financial support, your GIC account.

iv) Passport.

You must apply online for the visa. The visa fee is 150 CAD, and the processing time is about 20 days. After the visa is approved, you will book for bio-metrics and stamping. You can apply for a Canadian Visa by following the link below.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/portal-application-process-study.html

What is the fee of the university, and how to get scholarship?

The fee of university vary from one to other. You should check it from the university’s page you are applying to. Scholarships are also available but you have to search them on your own. Process is quite simple, on every university website, information is broadly available.