Comprehensive University Guide to Studying in Canada - @csrcharity
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Comprehensive University Guide
to Studying in Canada
@csrcharityWelcome!
Welcome to another comprehensive guide prepared especially for you by the Canadian
Student Relief Charity! This guide serves to provide potential and currently enrolled
students with a general overview of studying in Canada. We included various sections to
suit your needs. Our guide contains information including but not limited; to student
finances, housing information, discounts, transportation and many more! You will also
find links to helpful university resources as you go. We hope this guide can serve you in
the best way possible!
In this guide we will mention the following topics:
● General overview of universities in Canada
● How to decide on which university to attend and application tips
● Student finances, scholarships and OSAP
● Finding student jobs
● Student housing information
● Student meal plans and food discounts
● Public transportation
● Other important university resources and links
Academics and Studying in Canada: Overview
Canadian Universities and American Colleges are both similar and different in various
aspects:
● The first is the name itself. Most of the institutions commonly referred to as
‘colleges’ in the US would be called ‘Universities’ in Canada. There are still
colleges in Canada, but they differ from universities in the sense that they
grant certificates and diplomas instead of degrees.
● Canadian schools cost less, on average, than American schools. The average
cost of private tuition in the US for the 2018-2019 academic year was $35,676,
whereas the average cost in Canada was $6,653.
● Differences in admission. Canadian universities focus on GPA when looking
at potential students, while US schools put more weight on standardized
testing scores.
"How college differs in Canada and the US - Insider." 30 Nov. 2018,
https://www.insider.com/college-canada-us-differences-2018-11. Accessed 7 Jan. 2021.
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1A quick breakdown of academic programs
in Canada & important terminology to be aware of
An academic program is defined by a combination of courses that are taken during a
student’s time at university. The duration of a typical program is four years from the start
to graduation.
A co-op program is an initiative through which students are able work in an
industry that relates to their field of study. Most co-op programs are structured in such a
way that a semester of school is alternated with a semester of work. Being part of a
co-op program could add another year of studies but it depends on the set up of the
program.
Being a full-time student means graduating with a minimum of twelve credits
(approximately four courses). If a student takes on more than half of a traditional course
load, they are usually considered a full-time student.
Credits are measures of how many classes were taken and completed by a student. You
are granted a credit if you complete a class with a passing mark. Credits can be divided
into sub-groups for example, language credits may include credits obtained from classes
such as french or spanish, science credits may include credits obtained from classes
including but not limited to; biology or physics, and so forth.
How to decide on which university to attend
Every university differs in the quality of the programs they offer. For example, one
university may be the best for engineering, while another may be the best for psychology.
Depending on what you want to study, try searching for “the best universities for
_________ in Canada,” to gain a good understanding of which universities to apply for
based on your interests.
● https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-canada
● https://www.stoodnt.com/blog/top-courses-to-study-in-canada-international-students-jobs-immigration/
● https://www.macleans.ca/education/university/best-jobs-canada-what-to-study/
● https://www.ouac.on.ca/ouac-101/
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2Things to consider when applying to university
● High school grades (usually your top six courses for Grade 12 are involved in
mark calculation and considered the most relevant)
● Extracurricular activities, volunteering and experiences (are they required? do you
need to complete a personal statement?)
● References (do you need references when applying to this program?)
● Distance from home (commute, considering time and safety to reach and return
campus everyday vs. residency and housing, considering meal plans and the
ability to live independently)
● School community and life (what is this school best known for? how big is the
school population?)
● What kind of jobs can you get after graduating from this program?
● How do upper year students find the program and university?
Finances and Student Funding (Scholarships and Awards)
What is a scholarship/award?
Scholarships are a type of financial aid. These are provided to assist students to pay for their
post-secondary education. Scholarships are not expected to be repaid, unlike student loans.
Some scholarships are a one-time cheque while others are renewable as long as the student
meets certain requirements year-after-year (i.e. they maintain a certain average). Scholarships
are either paid directly to the student’s tuition or the student’s university, and the remaining
balance for student fees is expected to be paid by the student. Depending on the scholarship,
students may have to apply and offer additional information (i.e. extracurriculars, volunteer
experience, references, transcript(s), etc.), or students will be automatically considered.
Entrance scholarships can be found on university websites. This is an example of a scholarship
where an application is not required. Universities will look at your high school average and
based on that, you may be granted an entrance scholarship. Oftentimes universities expect
students to maintain an 80% average in order to receive an entrance scholarship. After this,
students may be given a chance to renew the scholarship if they maintain a certain average
throughout university.
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3What is a bursary or grant?
The words bursary and grant are often used interchangeably. These are also a
form of financial aid which you are not expected to repay. However, bursaries
and/ grants are based on the financial needs of the student. For example, students
whose parents earn below a certain income will receive relatively more money
from bursaries than students with parents who have a higher income. Hence
making it fair for students who may be worried about being unable to receive
post-secondary education due to their financial status.
What are student loans?
Student loans are offered provincially and they need to be paid back eventually. It
is important to note that interest builds up on the money borrowed after a certain
amount of time. After graduating, students will be presented with options on how
they decide to pay off the loan and interest (i.e. pay X amount of money every
month). This money can be used to pay for tuition, residence, textbooks, and so
on.
OSAP
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid program to
assist students to pay their educational expenses.
Read all about OSAP at the following link:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-about-osap
Information includes:
● What is it?
● How does it work? How much can you recieve?
● Who is eligible?
● OSAP approved schools
● And more!
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4OSAP Timeline
Make sure you apply within the time limit! The following link includes extensive
information on when you can begin applying:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-apply-osap.
CSR Resources (Financing & Funding)
Student scholarship document
This document includes the following information:
● Variety of external scholarships you apply for
May require essays, references, transcripts, etc.
Can apply as long as you meet the requirements (not restricted to
a single university)
● Province-based scholarships
● University-specific scholarship and bursary links
Choose your university link and see which scholarships/bursaries
you are eligible for
● Funding for those who identify as:
Indigenous
Having a disability
References:
Flinn, G. (2010, January 04). How Scholarships Work. Retrieved January 07, 2021, from
https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/college-planning/financial-aid/scholarship.htm
Interactive, E. (n.d.). Scholarships, Bursaries, Loans and Awards: What's the Difference? -
ScholarshipsCanada.com! Retrieved January 07, 2021, from
https://www.scholarshipscanada.com/News/16/2974/Scholarships,-Bursaries,-Loans-and-Awards-What-s-the-Difference
How Do Scholarships Work? (n.d.). Retrieved January 07, 2021, from
https://www.cappex.com/articles/money/how-do-scholarships-work
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5Student Jobs
There are a variety of jobs and programs to support students during their academic
endeavours. You can find many part-time opportunities on campus dedicated to busy
students. Some common student jobs including working for the book-store, customer
service, waiter, IT support and becoming a residence don. Student jobs tend to be
more flexible as employers understand students are preoccupied with school.
There are also work study programs where there are job positions for students who
demonstrated financial need. There is an application process, so we suggest you
complete your research early, as it requires many documentations.
Some universities offer the co-operative program (co-op) where students would
alternate between study and work in various semesters. The university may assist you
in finding professional job placements for four, eight or one year placements. This is a
great way to start gaining professional experience while in school.
Student Housing
Students can choose between on-campus residence or live off-campus. There are
various dorming options for on-campus residence. You may or may not be sharing
a common space, washrooms or have a kitchen. We recommend you check out the
residence pictures to have a better understanding of the on-campus setup. On-cam-
pus options may be more expensive as they are closer to the university campus and
some require you to be enrolled in mandatory meal plans.
You can find off-campus options on the university websites. Private rooms tend to
be more expensive and you have to figure out utilities expenses. Many students
tend to live with their friends or find roommates to split up the monthly rental cost.
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6Student Meal Plans and Food Information
A meal plan is a plan established by a university to cover a student’s food
requirements. There are three kinds of meal plans: light, medium and heavy.
Universities usually offer more than one possible meal plan, ranging from a low amount of
meals to a high amount of meals and respectively escalating in price.
Many grocery stores such as Metro, No Frills, Bulkbarn, Fresh and FreshCo groceries offer
some measure of student discounts to their customers.
Student discounts are offered by many stores across the country. This article by global news
has compiled a list of discount-friendly stores across Canada:
https://globalnews.ca/news/5825325/student-discounts-2019/
When asking for a student discount, most stores will accept a student ID, but having an
internationally accepted student card will ensure that all stores give you a discount.
Student Transportation (Public transportation and Student Transit Card Information)
Post-secondary education can be expensive! This is why Presto offers discounts to stu-
dents; visit this page for more information on how:
https://www.gotransit.com/en/trip-planning/going-to-school
The TTS also offers transportation at a monthly fee. Visit this website for more informa-
tion: https://www.ttc.ca/Fares_and_passes
Ask your post-secondary advisors for more information on transportation and if your
university offers bus passes or any other discounts to save some money while travelling.
Other helpful university articles and resources:
Check out www.csrcharity.ca/academic for more valuable academic resources! You will find
resources to help you budget for your time in university. We also included an extensive list of
scholarships and awards that you can apply to in Canada. If you are curious about real life
experience and learn from other students, check out our university interview stories at
www.csrcharity.ca/academic.
● https://www.macleans.ca/education/how-to-decide/
● https://www.macleans.ca/education/canadian-university-admission-deadlines/
● https://advicewithmy.com/studying-in-canada-university-guides/
● https://www.macleans.ca/education/make-application-unique/?ut-
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7You can also read
