Universities in Canada calculate the tuition fees for the semester programs differently: The students either pay per credit / course or there is a so-called “flat fee”, which covers a certain number of courses (usually four or five).
In the latter case, you should make full use of the quota and, if necessary, take advantage of the opportunity to take a course outside of your own department, even if you only “have to” take a few courses from your home university.
Also take the opportunity to get to know the country better from an academic perspective and take country-specific courses !
5. Create a (preliminary) timetable
On the websites of the Canadian universities you will usually also find timetables or schedules (time table, class schedule) that show when and where the respective courses will take place. On this basis, you can create your (provisional) schedule and you an overview about procure whether the desired courses may overlap. Some of our partner universities, such as Capilano University, even do this work for you and create your schedule based on the specified courses or point out overlaps and alternatives.
If the timetable for the semester you have chosen has not yet been published at the time of your course selection, you can initially orientate yourself on the courses offered in the same semester in the previous year, as the courses on offer often differ only slightly.
In this case, however, you should expect that you may have to update your course selection again when the final timetable is published.
6. Register
As soon as the universities have checked whether it is possible to take the desired courses, you can often register for the courses. The exact start of registration varies from university to university – sometimes registration starts as early as April, at other universities not until July or August.
Registration then takes place either via an online system or directly via the university, for example via the International Office or a course coordinator within the faculty. As soon as you have registered, you also pay the respective tuition fees.
Don’t panic if your desired courses don’t work right away! If the necessary professional requirements are not met, the Canadian university often suggests alternative courses. If the course is already full, it can still be worth putting yourself on the waiting list, because as a precaution, many students first register for more courses than they actually want to take, so that later there are often places available for successors.
7. Add and Drop Period
In the first two weeks of the semester, there is a so-called add & drop period at Canadian universities. During this time it is usually possible to deselect the selected courses and, if necessary, choose new ones without any problems. During this phase, there is still the opportunity to come to a course that was originally taken and in which places have now become vacant at short notice. So it can be worthwhile to stay tuned. Here are a few more tips:
1. Get a taste of all courses
Use the option of the Add & Drop Period to perhaps come to a desired course after all or to deselect / change a course if you notice that the course may not meet your expectations after all. Sometimes at the end of the day you like the alternative course better than the actual desired course. So get an idea of all the events that are eligible for you.
2. Important: deselect the course regularly
Courses for which you are still registered after the add & drop period must definitely be paid for, even if you no longer attend them. So it is not enough to de-register with the lecturer or simply not to go any more, but you have to formally deselect courses that you do not want to attend.
If you decide later in the semester not to continue attending a course, you should note that at most universities there is a fixed time in the semester up to which you can cancel a (already paid) course without that this will appear on your transcript as “failed” at the end of the semester.
So it’s worth keeping a close eye on the deadlines !
3. Use the support of the universities!
Many Canadian universities have great service when it comes to supporting international students. Do not be afraid and turn yourselves to the service centers on site, if you have questions and problems related to your course selection abroad semester in Canada, a major country in North America listed on iamaccepted.
