Q: Do I need a Study Permit/Visa? If so, how do I get one?

A: Anyone planning to study for more than six months in Canada needs a Study Permit. If you plan to study for less than six months, but might decide to stay longer, you should apply for a Study Permit before coming to Canada for your studies, as it is very complicated to apply for a Study Permit from within Canada. Citizens of certain countries may also need a Temporary Resident Visa in order to come to Canada for their studies. You can get information about applying for a Study Permit/Visa at www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp.

Q: What papers do I need to prepare for applying high school, college or university?

A: The common documents that are required for applications are photocopy of valid study permit, passport picture page and most recent 3 years school transcripts. Oversea students can also apply schools without study permit but they are required to submit the copy back as soon as they get their study permit. Besides that, applicants also need to meet the English Language Proficiency. They can fulfill the English requirement by writing several English tests such as TOEFL, IELTS or LPI which are recognized by most schools across Canada and worldwide.

Q: What are the requirements for admission into Canadian universities?

A: Each university in Canada has its own policy regarding admission requirements. Your best course of action would be to identify which universities in Canada offer the program which interests you, and then contact them directly regarding their admission requirements. You can find the contact information for each university when you do a search for programs at here.  Just click on the name of the university in the program list and it will link you directly to the university's web site and contact information.

Q: Can I still apply for college/university without grade 12?

A:  Yes. You can. However, this condition does not apply to all colleges and universities. Some schools accept students without completing grade 12 but they must meet 2 requirements. First they must be at least 18 or 19 years old; second, they must meet the English Language Proficiency.

Q: What are TOEFL, IELTS and LPI?

A: They are the most common tests that students have to take in order to meet the English requirements for schools.

 The TOEFL test is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is administered worldwide. The test was first administered in 1964 and has since been taken by more than 23 million students.  TOEFL score is valid for two years and then will no longer be officially reported since a candidate's language proficiency could have significantly changed since the date of the test. Colleges and universities usually consider only the most recent TOEFL score.

IELTS or “International English Language Testing System”, is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African academic institutions, over 2,000 academic institutions in the United States, and various professional organizations. It is also a requirement for immigration to Australia and Canada.

The Language Proficiency Index (LPI ) is a Canadian standardized test for English proficiency written and administered by the University of British Columbia Applied Research and Evaluation Services. The results of this test are used mostly by post secondary institutions and professional organizations within the Province of British Columbia and in the territory of Yukon.