Applying to Canadian Universities as an International Student: A Practical Guide
Throughout the years, Canada has become a major option for international students pursuing undergraduate studies. With globally recognized institutions such as McGill University ranked 27th globally and University of Toronto ranked 29th globally, it is no surprise that Canada continues to attract ambitious students from around the world. Beyond rankings, Canadian universities are known for their contributions to world leading scientific research, strong career support through co-op and internship programs, and their inclusive, multicultural communities.
However, applying as an international student requires strategic and early planning. Particularly when navigating different application portals and scholarship opportunities. Through this guide, we’ll help you break down the process.
Understanding the Application Process
Choosing Your University
Canadian universities offer a wide array of programs, naturally, with each university having their own strengths. As an applicant, it is important to research this early on, to make sure that you are certain of the program you are applying for.
Some examples of top programs offered by Canadian universities include:
University of Toronto - Life Sciences, Computer Science, Medicine, Engineering
McGill University - Medicine, Political Science
University of Waterloo - Engineering, Computer Science
University of British Columbia - Environmental Science, Business
2. Different Application Portals
When applying to Canadian universities, the different application portals can be quite confusing, especially for international students. To simplify the process – applications are generally divided into the different provinces, where each province would have its own application portal. Some examples include:
Ontario universities - Applications are submitted through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) portal at ouac.on.ca. This platform allows students to apply to multiple universities, though they are limited to a maximum of 3 program choices at each university. It is important, however, to note that different universities may require supplemental documents (such as program-specific essays), which is why applying for too many universities might become overwhelming.
Universities in the Ontario region include: University of Toronto and University of Waterloo.
British Columbia universities - Applications here are submitted through the educationplannerbc.ca portal, which enables students to, once again, apply to several universities. However, different university programs may require separate applications.
Universities in the British Columbia region include: University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.
It is important to also note that some universities may not be present in the provincial portals, in which case they would accept applications directly from their respective websites.
Academic Requirements
Academic Transcripts: High school grades 11 and 12 (translated to English). Some programs tend to require specific subjects to be taken (such as Physics or Higher Level Mathematics for Engineering).
English Proficiency Tests: IELTS or TOEFL. Different universities would have different minimum scores which is important to note.
Additional Tests: SAT or ACT. This would often be required for students whose diplomas are not recognized by the Canadian government. The different diploma types that are accepted can be checked on the university website.
Importance of Extracurricular Activities
Similar to US universities, Canadian universities value well rounded students, and don’t just focus on exam scores. This is why it is necessary for applicants to prepare earlier on (around a year before the application period) to prepare their extracurricular activities. Some examples include:
Leadership roles in organizations
Involvement in school’s sports team
Volunteer work
Internships or personal projects
On the bright side, strong extracurricular activities can sometimes even compensate for slightly insufficient grades in the admissions process.
Scholarships and Financial Considerations
All in all, despite the high rankings and global reputation, it is to no surprise that Canadian universities can be quite costly. Tuition fees alone, for international students, typically range from CAD 20,000 to 60,000 per year. However, pre-enrolment scholarships (such as the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship, and International Scholar Award) can help reduce the financial burden.
Many renowned universities also offer co-operative education (co-op) programs, which combine academic study with paid employment in their partner companies (typically 2 years of studies and another 2 years of working). Through these opportunities, students can gain practical experience, expand their professional networks, and earn extra income to support their studies.
