Head to Head: The United States vs. Canada

 
The United States may be the most popular destination for international students in the world, but what about its Northern neighbour? Evidence suggests Canada is an increasingly attractive option for students from all over the world. In this blog post, we compare the two major North American university destinations, the United States and Canada, to see how they fare when placed head-to-head.

                                                               

 

Canada and International Students

International students in Canada will find loads of good company. Canada is the seventh most popular destination for international students, with approximately sixty percent of its overseas students coming from China, India, Korea, Saudi Arabia and France. The Canadian government also launched a plan as of January 2014 to double its population of international students by 2022; while countries like the UK and the UK are ambivalent about internationals, then, it’s quite clear that Canada is embracing them!

Career Prospects For All Students

In Canada, international students are allowed to work part-time through a study permit and full time during their holidays. They can also apply for a work permit to stay in Canada for three years after graduation. In the U.S., international students are able to work part-time on the campus of their university, and are issued a visa that is valid up until sixty days after graduation. The U.S. is considerably more restrictive when it comes to employment options for international students, so it’s important for students to consider how important working during university, and staying after graduation, is for them, when they choose where to apply.

Tuition

The cost of studying in Canada is, on average, quite a bit cheaper than the cost of studying in the U.S. While a Canadian undergraduate education will typically cost you about $15,000 to $18,300 per year, studying in the U.S. is, on average, $36,564. If cost is a factor, then, it might be wise to consider Canada.

The Applications Process

Another major difference between Canada and the U.S. is that Canadian universities typically do not use the Common Application, the system used by many U.S. universities, or any general application system for that matter. Students applying to university in Canada will typically apply to the individual university, rather than using a generic form. For this reason, it’s particularly important for advisors to be aware of the individual deadlines and requirements of different universities, as they tend to vary more than those of U.S. universities.

Finding Your Best-Fit Location

Deciding which -- and how many -- universities is a considerable task, which is made even more difficult when multiple destinations are involved. As Robert Waite recently argued eloquently in The Huffington Post, the best answer to whether or not a student should apply to universities in a particular location is probably it depends. However, if armed with the right information and tools, we will all be more likely to make the best decisions for our students.
Topics: Studying in the U.S., International Education, University Admissions, US university application, Common App preparation, applying to university in the u.s., American universities, head to head, Canada, USA

Written by Bridge-U