Study in Canada

Canada is a culturally diverse nation with a valued tradition of embracing newcomers. Similar to Australia and New Zealand, Canada is a safe, modern and prosperous society, rich in natural beauty and well-known for the quality of its academic institutions.

In Canada, there is no federal or national department of education. Each province and territory has exclusive responsibility for elementary, secondary and post-secondary education within its borders. Nonetheless, the Canadian education system is comprehensive and recognized internationally for its quality.

Universities and University Colleges

Canada offers a wealth of higher education options and life enriching opportunities at its universities and university colleges.

Canada’s more than 90 universities and university colleges are diverse and range in size from less than 1,000 students to over 40,000 students and are located across the country. Universities offer undergraduate degrees (bachelor and honours) and graduate degrees (master and doctoral). The length of most undergraduate (bachelor) degrees is four years when undertaken on a full-time basis. Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programs are usually three years in duration, but require at least three years of prior undergraduate study for admission.

University colleges also offer academically oriented undergraduate degrees as well as more practically oriented college degrees or diplomas (see also Colleges and Technical Institutes, below).

Semesters in Canada Universities

University semesters generally run as follows:

• Semester 1: early September to Mid December
• Holiday Break: mid December to early January
• Semester 2: early January to early May
• Summer holidays / Summer courses: May to September.

Colleges and Technical Institutes

Colleges and technical institutes offer vocationally-oriented programs of study leading to certificates and diplomas and some degree programs (e.g. applied arts degrees). These institutions are very similar to TAFE colleges in Australia and generally tend to focus heavily on training and skills development through hands-on experience.
Some colleges offer transfer programs that enable participants to complete courses through the college and then later transfer into a university or university college, sometimes with credit towards their university degrees.