Colleges of Canada

Canadian colleges are significantly less expensive than universities, making them very popular with international students. Once a student graduates, they are recognized as a qualified professional with the right to start working. In addition, after graduating from one of the international colleges in Canada, an international student has the opportunity to obtain permanent residency, and subsequently citizenship. While both public and private colleges exist in Canada, it is necessary to study at a public college for the purposes of immigration.

While professional education in Canadian colleges is equivalent to that of universities, there are some differences. The deciding factoring between attending college or university is that colleges are focused primarily on practical applications, while universities are focused on scientific research. This means those studying at colleges will be taught more practical skills, and those studying at universities will go through more academic education.

Specializations in Canadian colleges are in line with labor market trends. Departments of education analyze the database on the demand for professions and form additional options for students in current specialties, and close registration for more irrelevant studies.

In 2019, the Canadian Department of Education, together with regional departments, compiled a list of current vacancies up until 2024, which helped optimize the work of Canadian colleges.

Excluding accommodation and other expenses, 1 year of study at a Canadian college will cost about 15 000 Canadian dollars, which is much lower than many developed countries such as Australia, USA, New Zealand, UK and France. It is worth noting that the cost of studying at a Canadian college will depend on a number of factors, such as the city and province in which the college is located, as well as the student’s specialization and the program of study.

After completing their studies at colleges in Canada, students receive certificates and diplomas of graduation in two types of programs:

It is worth noting that there is a college-to-university transfer program that applies to high school graduates. Due to the relatively inexpensive cost of training, students can enter one of the colleges in Canada after grade 11, study there for 2 years and then transfer to a university, where upon graduation they receive a bachelor’s degree.

It is possible to start studying at a college in Canada provided that the student is at least 17 years old and has a certificate of secondary or higher education (depending on the chosen program). The admission process is as follows:

Students who did not achieve the required score on one of the international English exams can still enroll in a Canadian college through the Pathway program. This program is a preparatory course in English after which a passing student will be able to enter Canadian colleges directly.