What Schools Should International Students Consider When Arriving in Canada?
The I.B. Program is a universally accepted school program that ensures academic rigour and acceptance at schools throughout the world.
Whether you are a recent immigrant to Canada or a Canadian who anticipates a move to another country, placing your child in a school that has an International Baccalaureate Program designation just makes sense.
The I.B. Program is a universally accepted school program that ensures academic rigour and acceptance at schools throughout the world. This is an ideal fit for families who have immigrated to Canada and wish to leave as many options open as possible for their children.
International students arriving to Canada should be aware that each of the ten provinces and three territories is responsible for their own system of education and set their own standards with respect to required courses, minimum achievement levels, and graduation requirements. One way to navigate through the various educational jurisdictions in Canada is to select a school that is I.B. certified. This will ensure that no matter where you may go in the future or to which university you may apply, your educational background and credentials will be taken seriously by post-secondary institutions anywhere in the world.
The I.B. Program began in Canada in 1974 and has grown ever since. Today there are 373 I.B. designated schools right across the country virtually in every region.
Essentially, there are four different streams that comprise the International Baccalaureate Program:
- The PYP is designed for children aged 3-12 years in elementary school.
- The MYP is designed for students aged 11–16 years in middle school.
- The high school I.B. Program is for students 16–19 years and has two streams from which students may choose – the Diploma I.B. Program or the Career Related Program.
Hopefully by now you are not too confused. It really is straightforward and makes sense if you have just arrived in Canada and want to keep as many doors open for your children as possible in the future.
If you happen to be an international student who has recently arrived in Canada looking to enroll in a university, you are fortunate because Canada provides probably the best value for your money when it comes to a university education.
The tuition and associated fees for international students entering Canadian universities are much lower than one would find in the United States or Great Britain.
In terms of finding what is the best “university fit” for you in Canada, it depends on a variety of factors such as the nature of the program you wish to follow, the reputation you desire of your chosen university, along with intangible but important things such as “international friendliness.”
The Huffington Post has listed the five best Canadian universities for international students based upon the following criteria: international friendliness, cost of living, international reputation, and tuition costs. Immigroup has listed the top ten universities in Canada for International Students based on international tuition and associated fees.
What is really noteworthy on both of these sites is that they both agree on four of the top universities in Canada for International students. These are: McGill University, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, and Dalhousie University.
Another convenient site for International students to check out when arriving in Canada is http://universityhub.ca. This site includes Canadian university rankings along with student reviews which may be helpful when selecting which university in Canada you will attend.
Whatever university you finally decide upon, you will find that Canadian universities are a microcosm of the country as a whole: open, warm, and welcoming.
Resources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/universityhubca/the-5-best-canadian-unive_b_9203950.html
https://www.immigroup.com/news/top-ten-universities-international-students-canada-2014