Opting for Higher Education?
Confused about the selection of Country UK or Canada?
Considering the impact of economic and political trends, many Indian students prefer to travel abroad for higher education. The aspiring students from India are increasingly opting for overseas education to get an exposure to high standard internationally recognized academic programmes and avail lucrative career opportunities in the global market. But the question is ‘Which country is better?
When it comes to the most preferred study destinations worldwide, UK and Canada are in the top charts. The British education system is rich in heritage and Canada provides world-class education system with high standards. Both the countries offer top quality academic curriculum with international accreditation. However, when compared to UK, Canada is now emerging as one of the most popular choices for higher education amongst Indian students. Let us explore why:
1. Eligibility/Requirements for Admission
Canada
For UG courses in Canada, you need to have completed a minimum of 12 years of schooling and appear for SAT exam. To get admission into PG courses, you need to have completed sixteen years of education and appear for GMAT test compulsorily. You also need to appear for a language proficiency test like TOEFL or IELTS to get a visa.
UK
To get entry in UK courses, you need to have passed A-levels or GCSE in English along with a foreign language proficiency test like TOEFL or IELTS.
2. Visa
Immigration process in Canada is much easier than that of UK. A student would need a study permit before you wish to study in Canada which is issued on arrival and costs CAD$ 150. This can be obtained from the CIC website. However, you must first get a temporary resident visa, provided by the Canadian High Commission. You can contact your local visa office in your home country for further processing.
To pursue an UG or PG course in UK, you need to apply for a long-term student visa or Tier 4 visa which is granted only for a full-time study program. It costs £310 to apply for this visa. For diploma course, the length of the visa is 3 years and for a degree course, it would be 4 years.
3. Work Permit
In Canada, you are allowed to work 20 hours/week during study. The Post Study Work Permit allows students to work up to a maximum of three years. In UK, students are allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours/week during study. Post Study Work Permit is cancelled in UK as you need to apply for Tier 2 Visa to be eligible to work there.
4. Tuition Fees
The cost of tuition is comparatively lesser in Canada than UK. The average tuition costs in Canada per year comes to around $11,000. While in UK, the tuition averages $18,000 a year. Due to its low tuition costs and flexible immigration policies, Canada has marked an increase in the number of immigrant students.
5. Cost of Living
The cost of living is a very crucial factor that needs to be considered while living and studying abroad. It varies from country to country and depends on your tuition fees, lifestyle and budget.
In Canada, the cost of living ranges between $9,000 to $11,000 for students per year. However in UK, you need almost $20,000 a year while pursuing higher education.
6. Scope for PR
Getting a PR in Canada is quite easy when compared to other countries. You can apply for PR in Canada upon completion of your studies. On the other hand, UK has strict rules in terms of immigration. You are not entitled for PR in UK, rather an immigrant visa.
Keeping in mind the aforementioned points, it can be understood that migrating to Canada is comparatively cheaper than that of UK. If you are planning to settle down abroad after your studies, Canada is the right choice for you. With a range of cultural diversity, you can get a friendly environment to reside and study along with some part-time job opportunities in Canada. However, if you have plans for high quality education with state-of-the-art technological advancements, you can opt for UK.
Author: Lawyers and Immigration