Study in Canada from Pakistan, 2021-22 Guide

Many students wish to study in Canada from Pakistan, especially with IRCC’s announcements of opportunities to immigrate after completion of academic degrees in the country. Canada is the most popular study location for students all over the world.

When it comes to studying and settling, Canada has even more appeal for Pakistani citizens. This guide will cover study in Canada for Pakistani students, as well as all related details for Pakistani and international students who wish to study in Canada, such as admission requirements in Canada for Pakistani students, the new SDS (Student Direct Stream) scheme for Pakistani students, tuition as well as other costs, and the prerequisites for student visas to Canada from Pakistan.

Canada’s higher education system is one of the world’s strongest and most outstanding, and Canadian higher education institutions have set numerous modern educational trends. Every year, approximately 200,000 international students attend Canada’s premier universities, and Canadian graduates and researchers work in every sector around the world.

Reasons to Study in Canada from Pakistan

Reputable Institutions

In Canada, there are around 98 universities that cater to both domestic and international students. The majority of them are highly ranked and have an excellent international reputation; Canada’s educational standards are quite excellent.

Skilled professors

The faculty of universities are made up of highly skilled professionals, and each higher education institution’s teacher is a specialist in his or her field of knowledge. The teaching style in Canada is highly outstanding, as courses and training are made very simple for students, and the institutions have a student-friendly atmosphere.

Canada is world’s top destination for schooling

In the last 8-9 years, Canada has steadily gained prominence as a preferred destination for higher education. It is now one of the most popular destinations for international students seeking higher education.

For Pakistani students, a high-quality education combined with internship opportunities, as well as liberal government policies on post-study work and immigration, is the ideal combination. It doesn’t get any better than that when you add in the low cost of living.

Although the advantages of studying in Canada are numerous, let us focus on the following points for students’ understanding:

Academic achievement

Because education is a provincial matter, governments ensure that educational quality is high across the country, regardless of the type of institution – university or college. If you want to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can choose from a variety of universities depending on your qualifications.

Choose from a variety of specialized diplomas, advanced diplomas, and PGD programs at Canadian institutions if you’re seeking a faster and more relevant way to learn skills and become marketable.

Wide range of programs for Pakistanis

In terms of educational streams, Canadian colleges and universities offer a wide range of programs from several streams. In Canada, you can discover an appropriate program in engineering, IT, healthcare, agriculture, sports, management, accounting, economics, mining, petroleum, renewable energies, and any other field.

It is cost-effective education

Tuition fees in Canada are quite low when compared to universities in other preferred study destinations. When you consider the return on the investment and the fantastic job options, both part-time and full-time, it’s a very practical alternative for Pakistani students. Qualified students can also apply for a variety of scholarships to help pay for their education.

Quiet and secure

Canada has long been regarded as one of the safest countries in the world. In 2018, the Global Peace Index ranked Canada as the world’s sixth most tranquil country. You will have the same privileges as any other Canadian student as an international student.

The essentials of life, such as clean air, clean water, and reduced population/competition, sense of space, and other facets of life, such as access to world-class healthcare, solid education facilities, and so on, all contribute to the quality of life.

Ethnic diversity

Canada as a civilization is very warm and friendly; individuals from all over the world have been moving to Canada for a long time, giving the country an advantage in terms of ethnic diversity. Canada and Canadians accept variety and see it as a strength, and students can participate in festivals of all ethnic groups all through the year. The best thing is that the celebrations are not confined to the ethnic group; the entire country celebrates all festivities!

Prospects for Pakistan students after study in Canada

Over the last few years, Canada has attracted a large number of international students from all over the world, providing a variety of job prospects for both students and working professionals.

Canada is recognized as the best country among G20 countries for establishing company’s operations, and it is expected that the country will be ranked as the third-best country among G7 countries for doing business over the next five years, from 2018 to 2022, implying that ample employment opportunities will be available to international students both during and after their studies.

Post graduate work permit for Pakistan Graduates

Students from Pakistan need a work permit to be able to work in Canada when you’ve finished your courses. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program is one of the most frequently approved (PWPP). PWPP work permits are effective for the duration of your initial study program (up to three years) and allow you to work in any profession and switch employers at any time.

You must have graduated from a Designated Learning Institute to be considered for PWPP (DLI). Because not all DLI programs meet the eligibility criteria, double-check to see if your school is on the list. Also, register for the PWPP within 90 days of getting written proof that your university program is complete.

Opportunity to work in Canada

Pakistani students studying in Canada can work par time while in school. They also stand a change to be gainfully employed for at least 3 years after their graduation using the PGWP.

Make sure you meet all of the following conditions while you wait for a decision on your post-graduation work visa application:

• When you apply for a post-graduation employment permit, you must own a valid study permit.
• You were a full-time student in a post-secondary educational, vocational, or professional training program who was enrolled in a DLI.
• You were permitted to work off-campus without obtaining a work permit.
• You did not work more than the allowed number of hours.

Types of programs to study in Canada from Pakistan

Multiple study programs are offered to students from Pakistan in Canada, and the country’s higher education institutions provide a wide range of degree programs in an array of disciplines.

International students from Pakistan can enroll in undergraduate and graduate degree programs at Canadian universities. Every university sets its admission requirements, therefore they differ from university to university and course to course.

How much to study in Canada from Pakistan

Tuition costs at Canadian higher education institutions differ from one university to the next and from one course to the next.

Tuition fee for Pakistanis in Canada

Expenses vary by academic program and course; fees for medicine, engineering, legal, business administration, and scientific disciplines, for example, are higher. However, in Canada, students in the arts and humanities pay a lower tuition cost.

Students from Pakistan typically pay between CAN $ 6000 and CAN $ 17500 per year for undergraduate studies, with some courses charging up to CAN $ 35000 per year, and graduate students paying between CAN $ 6500 and CAN $ 33000 per year.

Minimum personal amount to study in Canada from Pakistan

Canada is a popular choice for overseas students seeking a high-quality education. Not only does Canada offer high-quality education, but it also gives several options for those who want to stay in the nation after graduation.

Proof of adequate funds to cover tuition and living expenses is necessary to pursue studies in Canada. Your ability to sustain yourself financially when you arrive in Canada plays a big role in your prospects of getting a student visa or study permit. It is critical to be able to demonstrate that you have unrestricted funds during your stay in Canada.

In most situations, tuition for the first year at a Canadian post-secondary university can be as high as $15,000 in most cases. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) also requires a living expense fund of approximately $10,000.

This implies you’ll have to prove a total of $25,000 to back up your application for a study permit in Canada. As a result, you must demonstrate that you can support yourself (and any accompanying spouses or family members) while studying in Canada.

To fund your study in Canada from Pakistan, admissible bank statements must have the following qualities. The common factors are usually as follows;

• The statement must be written in the applicant’s name.
• It must be valid for at least three months at the time of issuance.
• It displays the transactions that occurred during this period.
• The required final balance must be present in the statement.
• The statement must be printed on bank letterhead, signed, and stamped by the appropriate bank officials.
• It must include the account number as well as other information.

Who can sponsor a Pakistan student to Canada?

Only a few nations accept a bank statement from a sponsor. It must be blood-related in the case of the sponsor. Parents are the legal sponsors, although other family members might also be sponsors.

Loan for students from Pakistan

As a full time Pakistan student in Canada, you may apply for a loan without a co-signer at a growing number of institutions across Canada. International students may not be able to access the bulk of financial aid programs available at Canadian universities because they are geared toward Canadian students.

You may only be able to cover a portion of the cost of studying in Canada using your savings and family assistance, as well as some non-repayable financial aid such as grants or scholarships.

This is why many students rely on a loan to meet the remaining fees; however, you should only request these loans after you have exhausted all other options, such as scholarships, personal savings, and other financial aid.

What are the benefits of Canada Student Loans?

Tuition fees, as well as other education-related costs like housing, food, health insurance (if necessary), and educational resources, books, and other materials, are funded.

Who is qualified to apply for a Canadian International Student Loan?

Borrowers who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents who are enrolled in an accredited university are eligible to apply. Private education loans are administered by many companies, and each lender has its own set of eligibility and approval criteria. When assessing an offer, there are a few points to keep in mind:

• The maximum amount of money you can take out a loan for.
• The interest rate (as well as whether it is fixed or variable).
• The terms of repayment and the timeline for repayment.
• How and when will the money be released?

Procedures for applying for student loan in Canada

After your application has been reviewed, you will be provided information about your loans, such as your interest rate and the amount you can borrow; this information will vary depending on your position and the lender you are negotiating with.

If your application is approved, funds are normally sent directly to your university to cover your tuition costs. This takes roughly 6 weeks on average.

Scholarships to study in Canada from Pakistan

International students can apply for a variety of scholarships from the Canadian government to study in Canada. International students can get scholarships from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).

These scholarships are provided for research and studies in Canada. If you are an intellectual and high-achieving international student, you can register for the scholarship, as Canada exclusively awards scholarships to high-achieving international students.

Other scholarships available for Pakistani students include;

• International Global Citizen Scholarships and Awards at Trent University.
• H.Y. Louie and Lohn Awards for Entrance.
• University of Quest Scholarship.
• Course-Based Master’s Recruitment Scholarships at the University of Alberta.
• Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS).
• Graduate Bursaries At Simon Fraser University.
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program.
• Humber International Entrance Scholarships.

Students Direct Stream for Pakistani Students

Canada’s new SDS (Student Direct Stream) program for Pakistani students will help the country meet its goal of attracting more students from all walks of life.

Fortunately, Pakistan has joined the SDS at an early stage; on July 26, 2019, Canada announced a new fast-track visa processing policy for Pakistani students interested in studying in Canada.

The SDS (Student Direct Stream) program is the name of this approach. The SDS (Student Direct Stream) program was started in 2018 for candidates from China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, to process student visa applications in under three weeks.

Since most SDS visa applications were processed in under three weeks or less than twenty days last year, Canada has officially opened the SDS doors to Pakistani students. Pakistani students are encouraged to apply through the SDS program to benefit from the accelerated procedure.

Student Direct Stream Criteria

For Pakistani students, there is no new information needed for SDS; all you should do is apply for a student visa to Canada with your complete documentation. Pakistani students who want to study in Canada can now get their student visa completed in under three weeks; however, Pakistani students will have to furnish the visa officer with more upfront details, such as:

• If you’re planning to study in French, you’ll need a TOEFL or IELTS score, or recognized French language certificates if you’re going to study in French.
• Financial proof demonstrating how you intend to fund your study.
• Biometrics, as well as the entire application.
• Additional pertinent information that may be useful

International students, including Pakistani students, can apply for a post-graduate work visa, and with Canadian education and job experience, they can become permanent residents and apply for permanent residency in Canada. The post-graduate work visa program granted permanent residence to about 54,000 former students in 2018, a new high in Canada’s history.

How to apply for admission in Canada from Pakistan

Students from many cities in Pakistan such as Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and more apply for admission into Canadian universities and colleges every year. Depending on the candidate’s qualification, admission acceptance rate vary from individual to individual.

Academic requirements: undergraduate

The following is a list of the admissions criteria for Canadian higher education institutions:

• Intermediate / secondary school certificate / 12 years of education.
• Form of Application (correctly and filled by candidate).
• Transcripts from high school (10th Grade/FSC attested photocopies).
• A detailed educational CV that included all academic achievements, employment experience (if applicable), growth, volunteer experience (if applicable), and so forth.
• Letter of Intent (LOI) (mention why are you applying to the university of Canada and your academic intentions).
• Certificates of English language proficiency, such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System), CAE, and so on.

Students seeking an MBA may be required to have two years of work experience and a GMAT certificate, all documentation must be in English, and if the original certificates were issued in a different language, translated copies must be submitted.

These are general admission criteria; it is recommended that you visit the university’s official website to learn more about specific admission requirements and the closing date for submitting an application for admission.

Canada Admission Requirements for Graduate students from Pakistan

The following is a list of the admissions criteria for Canadian higher education institutions.

• A bachelor’s degree or an undergraduate degree with a high CGPA is required.
• Form of Application (correctly and filled by candidate).
• Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (attested photocopies).
• A certificate of professional distinction (if applicable).
• Two letters of recommendation from prior institutes (for continuous students).
• Employer’s certificate of experience (if study starts again after some years).
• A detailed educational CV detailing all academic achievements, employment experience (if applicable), growth, and volunteer experience.
• Letter of Intent (LOI) (stating why are you applying to the university of Canada and your academic intentions).
• Certificates of English language proficiency, such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System), CAE, and so on.

All documentation must be in English, and if the original certificates were issued in a different language, translated copies must be submitted.

These are general admission criteria; it is recommended that you visit the university’s official website to learn more about specific admission requirements and the closing date for submitting an application for admission.

Admission Requirements for PhD Programs

The following is a list of the admissions criteria for Canadian higher education institutions.

• A master’s degree or a graduate degree with a high CGPA is required.
• Form of Application (correctly and filled by candidate).
• Transcripts from all academic institutions (attested photocopies).
• A certificate of professional distinction (if applicable).
• Two letters of recommendation from prior institutes (for continuous students).
• Employer’s certificate of experience (if study starts again after some years).
• A detailed educational CV detailing all academic achievements, employment experience (if applicable), growth, and volunteer experience.
• Letter of Intent (LOI) (detailing why are you applying to the university of Canada and your academic intentions).
• English language competence certificates, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System), CAE, and others.
• A compelling thesis (should be defended at any public forum).

All documentation must be in English, and if the original certificates were issued in a different language, translated copies must be submitted. These are general admission criteria; it is recommended that you visit the university’s official website to learn more about specific admission requirements and the closing date for submitting an application for admission.

Language Requirements

International students must produce an English language competency certificate, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or CAE, among others. If you do not have the necessary English language proficiency, you can enroll in an English language preparation program in Canada.

Application steps – seeking admission in Canada

Pakistani students who want to study in Canada will have to fill out an online application. The college or university in Canada that you have chosen for admission will have an application form online on its website.

You can fill out this form online or download a pdf version of it and submit it to the school’s international office (if the university requests it); otherwise, most Canadian universities accept online applications. This strategy works for all study programs, including undergraduate, graduate (Masters), and postgraduate (PGD).

Although Canada is mostly an English-speaking country, French is nevertheless widely spoken. So, when picking a course or program to study, look to see if it is taught in French or English before applying. There seem to be some other aspects to consider:

In Canada, admissions are based on merit:

v High-achieving students with outstanding academic records are preferred; nevertheless, the grades required for some study programs may differ from those required by universities in Canada.

However, most colleges allow students who have received at least 70% of their previous marks to get admitted. To be clear, your prospects of being admitted to Canada are dependent on your academic performance.

If you are 25 years old and applying for admission after a two-year study break (the last study program you completed was two years prior to submitting your current admission application), you must offer complete job experience verification.

Using an IRCC Representative

Seeing as the admissions and document preparation process in Canada is a lengthy one. It is best to contact a professional study abroad agency; professionals in this field are available. They will notify you when it is time to apply for admission and will assist you in preparing the necessary documentation.

You may lose your chance for admission if you are unable to gather all of the required documentation by the university’s admissions deadline.

The consultants can also help you determine which university or program will provide you with the best employment chances. Hiring a consultant boosts your chances of acceptance, saves time, and reduces your risks of being denied admission.

How to apply for Study Permit from Pakistan

Studying Visa Requirements

To enter and study in Canada, Pakistani students require a visa. Student visa requirements for Canada from Pakistan vary depending on the candidate’s university and study program.

The following are the conditions for Pakistani students seeking a student visa in Canada:

• Letter of acceptance from a Canadian higher education institution.
• A valid passport is required.
• Two photographs taken recently (passport size).
• Bank account number in Canada (if necessary money transferred in Canada).
• A foreign currency bank draft.
• Receipt for tuition costs.
• A copy of the proof of rent payment.
• A letter from a person or an entity soliciting money (if the study is sponsored).
• A letter from Canada confirming your scholarship (if study based on scholarship).
• Explanatory letter (if you are applying for a residence permit too).

It is also suggested for you to apply for a residence permit in conjunction with your Canada study visa because this will assist you in finding part-time jobs at the institution or elsewhere in Canada.

These are merely general study visa requirements for Pakistani students; the Canadian Embassy may request different or additional documentation from different students depending on their study program/degree.

Visa cost for Pakistan Students

A fee of 150 CAD is required to apply for the Canadian Study Permit. Canadian officials may allow you to pay this cost online, in person at a visa application center in Pakistan, or via bank transfer, dependent on your condition.

The Canadian visa does not require Pakistani students to have health insurance, but you must pay an additional fee of 85 CAD to have your biometrics taken. You’ll also have to pay for your transportation to the location where you’ll have your medical evaluation, as well as the medical exam itself.

Student’s Visa Checklist

To apply for admission to a Canadian college, you must complete an online application through a Canadian university. The institution will give a list of documents that must be supplied with the online application for admissions, which will be filled out and submitted online.

The admissions requirements vary by university, but in broad terms, you will be required to submit certified transcripts of your completed diplomas, degrees, and letters of recommendation from your home institution.

Additional documents include a letter of intent, written confirmation in the form of a Bank Statement illustrating you have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses, and a Language Proficiency Test Certificate.

How long does it take to get a visa?

Allow additional time for your visa application, as you can begin your application for the Canadian Study Permit as soon as you’ve been admitted to and registered in the University of your choosing. You should apply at least 4-6 months before the commencement of your university degree course, and you should expect to wait about 28 days for a decision once you’ve registered.

Paper versus online application:

You can apply for a visa either online or on paper; if you apply on paper, you must present your documentation at a visa application center in Pakistan. Irrespective of how you apply for a visa, your biometrics will be taken at the visa application center.

It is conceivable that you’ll be asked for a visa interview after your application is reviewed, depending on your condition.

Pakistani students may be required to give biometrics as part of the visa application process; biometrics are additional forms of identification (such as fingerprinting and photographs) that countries utilize for security reasons.

The study permit from Canada is effective for up to the duration of the course plus three months, allowing you to stay for the duration of your college program, though you may need to renew your visa per year. You will need to apply for a new visa or a visa renewal through the immigration office if you want to stay in Canada after your program is completed.

Conclusion

The benefits of studying in Canada as a Pakistani exceed the disadvantages by a significant proportion. You will be sorry for passing up a chance to study in Canada.

Unlike other nations, you do not require to meet stringent standards because you can work and study simultaneously. So, if you’ve read this far, it’s time to put your phone down and gather your paperwork to begin the application process.