Essential Guide to Canada for International Students

Essential guide to Canada for international students

General Information

Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD) – this is approximately 1.74CAD to every 1GBP

National language: English, French

Geography: Made up of 10 provinces and three territories. Canada borders with the United States.

Time in Capital City: GMT -4

Climate: The temperature varies depending on where you are located: the temperature is milder in British Columbia, but otherwise Canada is generally a cold country, especially in the winter.

Population: 38.8 million people

Annual Costs (approximate):

University Cost (CAD): $36,100 for international undergraduates / $21,100 for international graduate students

Living Costs (CAD): $15,000

Total Cost (CAD): $51,100 (undergraduate) / $36,100 (postgraduate)

Top Universities in Canada:

1. University of Toronto
2. University of British Columbia
3. McGill University
4. McMaster University
5. University of Alberta

Things You HAVE To Do:

• Visit Vancouver. It’s one of the most popular cities in Canada, and with good reason: Vancouver is known for its excellent food, especially its Asian cuisine courtesy of the large Chinese population. In between delicious meals you can enjoy the sights - gorgeous parks, botanical gardens, and even whale-watching!
• Grab your bike helmet and head to Canada’s capital city Ottowa. It’s the perfect place for a cycle: rent a bike and take a guided sightseeing tour, weave through the trees at Gatineau Park, or enjoy almost 500 miles of pathways around rural Ottowa to make your ride a smooth one.
• If you’ve ever been on a shopping trip and thought, “this is fun, but I’d love to take a quick break to ride a rollercoaster”, you’re in luck! The West Edmonton Mall in Alberta is the biggest mall in North America, not only offering a dazzling array of shops but a huge indoor amusement park, race karts, bowling and more.

Quick tips:

• 911 is the emergency number in Canada.
• Canada has a free health care system but this only applies to permanent residents. International students are required to arrange health insurance, which you might be able to do through your institution. The system varies a little depending on which province you live in, so make sure you check out the specifics before you leave.
• It gets cold! The temperature will rarely rise above 0°C in winter time, and may get as low as -30°C. You will need more substantial clothes than just a sweater. A waterproof down-filled jacket is recommended for winter, and make sure to wear gloves, a scarf and a hat (or a toque, as they call it in Canada.)
• Just like the USA, tipping is expected for services in Canada including restaurants, beauty services like salons, and cabs. The standard tip is around 15-20% of your bill.
• Canada is well-known for being an exceedingly polite country, so you should try to match this energy. If you feel like you’re saying “please,” “thank you” and “sorry” too much, you’re on the right track.