Ontario/British Columbia/Quebec/Manitoba/Saskatchewan/Alberta/New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island
*It’s worth noting that most Sri Lankans choose to study and settle down in Toronto or Vancouver*

Pre-elementary level –
Kindergarten or the pre-elementary category is the first educational stage in the country. It is available for children between four and five years before commencing elementary education. It is compulsory in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, while it is optional in all other regions. It is offered across private, public, and federal schools in Canada and the first year is mostly free. Some provinces even provide extra years without any charges. Quebec, for instance, provides kindergarten education at zero costs for people from lower-income backgrounds or even for specially-abled kids. Children enjoy a more satisfying educational curriculum while learning basics like counting, art, reading, playing with peers, music, reading, etc.

Primary level –
Primary education is compulsory for kids in Canada, right from Grade 1 onwards. It is usually at six-seven years and goes on till Grade 6 (when the children are 11-12 years old). There is one teacher who instructs them on all the subjects at this level. Special classes are also provided upon request. The pre-elementary stage has subjects like mathematics, reading, science, history, English language or French (in provinces like Quebec), social studies, music, art, and physical education.

Secondary level –
Secondary Canadian education comes with junior high school and high school sub-categories. The former is two years, comprising Grades 7 and 8. Students gradually adjust to changing teachers and classrooms while preparing for the advanced level of difficulty. The high school covers four years until Grade 11 or 12 or 16-18 years, depending upon the province and other factors. Students should compulsorily remain till 16 years of age in school. The law in New Brunswick and Ontario states that they should study until 18 when they get high-school diplomas. Quebec mandates secondary education till Grade 11, and this is followed by the CEGEP (publicly funded college, exclusive to Quebec) or the two-year pre-university curriculum.

Post-secondary level –
After high-school graduation, Canadians can start applying to universities and colleges. Colleges in the country are mostly trade schools or community colleges which are smaller. Many Canadian students go to college as a means of preparation for university studies. They also get credits that are transferable to their university programmes. Universities offer higher education to Canadians with diverse subjects, courses, and academic degrees on offer. The structure is similar to the US, beginning with a UG degree, followed by a postgraduate course, and culminating with a PhD qualification. In the case of public colleges and universities, they receive provincial government sponsorship. The remainder is covered by research grants, federal government sponsorship, and nominal tuition fees from students

1. Academic excellence – Canadian universities and colleges maintain a strong reputation for their academic standards and are consistently ranked high on international rankings. Canadian qualifications are equally recognised as those from Australia, the UK, and the USA. Canada also attracts top international faculty because of its investment in cutting-edge research opportunities.
2. Affordable costs – The tuition fees and living costs are generally lower in Canada than in Australia, UK, and USA.
3. High quality of life – Canada ranks among the top three countries globally for the best quality of life (U.S. News & World Report, 2022). According to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canadians are generally happier and more satisfied with their lives than others around the world, faring well above Australia, the UK, the USA, France, and Germany.
4. Work while studying – International students enrolled in a full-time programme at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) can work up to 20 hours per week during their academic semester and 30+ hours during scheduled semester breaks.
5. Pro-immigration policies – Canada has programmes designed to help international students gain Canadian work experience after graduation, and if they wish, transition to permanent residency and eventually citizenship. A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) lets students who have graduated from a 2+ year PGWP-eligible programme stay and work in Canada for up to three years. Students can use this work experience to qualify for permanent residency in Canada.

Bachelor’s degree = Completion of Advanced Level or Year 12 equivalent (subjects should be relevant for the chosen degree) with minimum three simple passes (top-ranked universities will require higher grades) and IELTS overall score of 6.0 – 6.5 with no band less than 6.0

Master’s degree = Completion of an accredited Bachelor’s degree (preferably in the same field of study) with minimum 1st class or upper 2nd class honours and IELTS overall score of 6.5 – 7.0 with no band less than 6.5. Relevant work experience is also desirable.

Doctoral degree = Completion of an accredited Master’s degree (preferably in the same field of study) and IELTS overall score of 7.0 – 7.5 with no band less than 7.0. Relevant work experience and existing research publications are also desirable.

Merit scholarships:
A merit scholarship is awarded based on a student’s level of success and does not take financial status into consideration. These awards are typically given out to students with a high level of achievement in academics, athletics, the arts, or outstanding community work.

University/College scholarships:
Most universities and colleges offer their own scholarships to students. Many of these are entrance scholarships, meaning students don’t need to apply in order to be considered for the award. Always be sure to check your institution’s website to see what kind of financial aid they offer.

Financial scholarships:
Also known as bursaries, financial scholarships are given to students who demonstrate financial need. Although many of these awards are only available to Canadian residents, there are some for international students as well. Again, check with your university or college to see if you are eligible.

Government-funded Canadian scholarships:
These are international student scholarships made available by the Canadian government. These government scholarships are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Searching online for “international student scholarships Canada” isn’t the best way to find them, though. Instead, visit EduCanada to search for available Canadian scholarships, fellowships, and other funding opportunities.

1st year = CAD10,000 (Main applicant) : CAD4,000 (Adult dependant) : CAD 3,000 (Child or additional dependant)

Upto 20 hours per week and full-time during semester breaks

Relatively easy, particularly in Ontario and British Columbia. Most international graduates secure full-time employment within just 3-6 months upon graduation.

Up to three years

Individuals with a two-year PSW are eligible to apply for PR closer to the expiry date.