Why study in Canada?
In 2014 as part of the Student Center International Student Survey, 1000 international students told us the reasons that they chose Canada. Here is what they said:
#12 Financial support
Students told us that the cost to study in Canada is low compared with some other countries, and that scholarships from their institutions were really helpful. Search Canadian university and college scholarships here.
#11 Career opportunities
Many students are getting a head start on their careers by working on-campus and off. Students also said that they were able to grow industry contacts in Canada through co-op placements and field trips.
#10 Skills-building
In addition to the knowledge of their field of study, we heard that students are building marketable skills including writing skills, teamwork, critical-thinking, presentation and communication skills.
#9 Hands-on learning
Many students told us that studying in Canada provided them with a unique opportunity to undertake practical learning. This learning is made possible by having access to cutting-edge technology and laboratories on campus, as well as opportunities to interact directly with instructors and participate in research teams and practicums.
#8 Student activities
Outside of class international students told us they can participate in activities and have ample opportunity to learn about and enjoy Canadian culture.
#7 Services and supports
Canadian communities and campuses received rave reviews from students with regard to services and supports such as public transit, healthcare, academic support and more.
#6 English and French
Be it French or English, many students said that they improved their language skills in Canada. Many more told us just how awesome and unique it was to be living in a bilingual country.
#5 Independence, responsibility and self-confidence
For many students, living and studying in Canada is their first time away from home. Students told us that living in a safe and supportive place like Canada has helped them to experience independence for the first time, growing their sense of responsibility and self-confidence in the world.
#4 Canada’s quality of life
Canada has a fantastic environment with clean and safe cities and wilderness. For many students, the quality of life in Canada is what they have enjoyed the most.
#3 Diversity on campus
When you choose to study in Canada, you are choosing one of the most diverse countries in the world. Canada’s universities and colleges are hubs of global learning – students told us that they really enjoy learning about different cultures and international perspectives as they learn.
#2 Warm welcome
Canadians have a reputation for being very polite. In addition to politeness, many students told us that they received a warm welcome from their community in Canada, including neighbours, classmates, instructors, homestay families and even strangers on the street. Some even told us that they felt immediately at home studying in Canada (this is too much!)
#1 Reason to choose Canada: A great education
All of the reasons we were given above contribute to exceptional learning, but students emphasized that their time in class, in the library with their study group, and working on their projects was the most rewarding thing about coming to Canada. Some aspects of Canadian education that students really wanted to highlight was the world-class teaching – interactive, accessible instructors, the prestige of a Canadian degree around the world, and the flexibility of programs which encourage interdisciplinary studies, developing deeper cross-cutting expertise.
On behalf of our member universities and colleges, we are humbled by this list. Thank you for telling us what you love about Canada, and how we can continue to offer exceptional learning experiences.
What is your number one reason for choosing Canada?