Is Canada your study country of choice? And have you now also decided on a university? Then the application phase is now! Depending on which type of study you want to apply for, the application is more or less time-consuming. The effort depends largely on which type of study you want to apply for. While you can often apply at short notice for a semester abroad in Canada, you have to plan plenty of time for applying for a master’s degree in Canada. On the following pages you will learn how to apply for a degree in Canada – be it for a full bachelor’s or master’s degree or for a semester abroad Academic Gap Year or a Summer Session.
Admission Requirements to Study in Canada
How much time you have to plan for your application to study in Canada depends above all on the respective admission requirements for the chosen study program.
Semester abroad / Summer Sessions / Academic Gap Year
Are particularly popular with German students, especially due to the moderate admission requirements, the Visiting Students programs or summer sessions of Canadian universities. A high school diploma is sufficient here. If necessary, applicants must have already been enrolled at a German university for two semesters.
Undergraduate studies such as undergraduate programs, associate studies or advanced training
The minimum requirement for a bachelor’s degree at a Canadian university is a high school diploma and, depending on the subject chosen, a technical high school diploma. In many cases, a certain grade point average (GPA) is expected. A secondary school leaving certificate and a completed vocational training are often sufficient for an associate’s degree at a Canadian college.
Graduate studies such as master’s and postgraduate courses as well as doctorates
Admission requirements for advanced and master’s programs in Canada are basically a first academic degree such as a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a diploma. In most cases the universities require a good grade point average. Often, applicants for graduate studies in Canada are required to achieve certain results in academic admission tests such as the GRE, LSAT or GMAT. If you are applying for a master’s degree in Canada, you must also write a letter of motivation and enclose at least two letters of recommendation with your application.
Applying for a PhD in Canada usually requires a research-oriented master’s degree. Magister and diploma degrees are usually also recognized. An excellent bachelor’s degree may also be sufficient for a PhD program in Canada. In addition to submitting letters of motivation and recommendation, applicants must also explain their research plans.
Applying to Study in Canada: Language Admission Requirements
In order to successfully apply to study in Canada, applicants whose native language is not English must generally prove that they have a sufficient command of English. The short summer programs are often the exception here.
For complete courses of study, universities mostly only accept standardized language tests such as the TOEFL or IETLS as proof of language proficiency. The minimum number of points usually depends on the chosen subject, but also on whether it is an undergraduate or postgraduate course.
Those who take part in a visiting students program often have the option of using alternative language certificates. This can be, for example, a DAAD language certificate, a confirmation from a professor or a good English grade on the Abitur certificate.
Application process for studying in Canada
How complex the application process for your studies in Canada will be depends largely on the type of study you have chosen and the respective admission requirements. If you still have to take a language test and / or an academic admission test for your application, you should of course plan this in time. The time required to write a letter of motivation and obtain letters of recommendation should not be underestimated either.
If you apply for a semester abroad in Canada, you can do so at short notice, because there are often no fixed application deadlines. If you don’t study in Canada for more than six months, you don’t even need a visa. Nevertheless, it is advisable to start planning and applying for the semester program at least six months in advance, especially since a sufficient buffer of time is simply less stressful. And when it comes to choosing a course, there are certainly fewer complications with an early application than with an application “at the last minute”.
With the application for a complete study in Canada you should advance at least a year to start. After all, it takes time to prepare adequately for an admission or language test and the respective examination dates only take place a few times a year. You should also take a lot of care with regard to the letter of motivation and you cannot ask your reference persons to write a good letter of recommendation overnight.
Whether complete study or Kurzeitstudium: A conscientious filling out the application form and the organization of English-language certificates and performance records (transcript of records) are integral parts of an application to study in Canada, a major country in North America listed on anycountyprivateschools.
Depending on which type of study or which subject you are applying for, it can only take a few weeks or even several months before you receive the notification as to whether your application was successful and whether you will receive a place at the university. It is not only very likely that you will be accepted for a place on a visiting students program, but you will usually receive it within a few weeks. Those who apply for a master’s degree in Canada, on the other hand, have to wait a little longer, because here the applications are examined in detail by the selection committees and also compared with each other. It may be that your German bachelor’s degree must first be checked for equivalence.
After acceptance: preparation for studying in Canada
Have you received your admission offer from your dream university in Canada? Congratulations! To be finally enrolled at the Canadian university, you have to accept the Admission Offer and transfer the tuition fees. Only then will you receive the letter of acceptance. Depending on the university, you can pay the fees later or even on site. With the acceptance to study in Canada, the practical and cultural preparations continue, including:
- Applying for a study permit (if you are staying in Canada for more than six months)
- Take out (additional) health insurance
- Book a flight
- Organize accommodation
- Provide information about the culture in Canada, about cultural differences and culture shock
