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| EDUCATION
SYSTEM |
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Education
in Canada is under the complete jurisdiction of the
provinces and territories and as such, there is no federal
education system in Canada. In keeping with the national
commitment to education, public education in Canada
is free upto and including secondary school in all the
provinces. However, each provincial system, while similar
to the others, reflects its specific regional concerns,
and historical and cultural heritage. At the post-secondary
level, institutions are divided into community colleges
and universities.
There are significant differences between the education
systems of the different provinces of Canada. Secondary
schooling in Canada could go up to Grade 11, 12 or 13,
depending on the province unlike in India, where Grade
12 is standard all over the country. |
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| Post
secondary education is offered by four types of educational
institutions : |
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| 1. Universities
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Canadian
universities are largely public funded, and, as a result,
offer consistently high quality education at lower tuition
rates for international students than their counterparts
in competing countries. They offer a broad range of courses
and degrees from undergraduate to doctorate and also certificate
and professional degrees. |
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| 2. University
Colleges : |
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As
a component of the Canadian university system, university
colleges offer students a choice of either academic oriented
university degree programmes or the more practical-oriented
college diplomas and certificates. As a part of the Canadian
college system, university colleges are distinguished
by their strong student support services, small classes
and strong campus environments. They also offer combined
degree/diploma programmes and university transfer programmes. |
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| 3. Community
Colleges and Technical Institutes: |
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They
typically have a more vocational-related curricula, with
small classes, off-campus course offerings, a greater
ratio of laboratory space to class room space, and an
interactive teaching style. The uniqueness of Canadian
colleges lies in the combination of employer-centered
curricula. These institutes have the primary function
of responding to the training needs of business, industry,
and public service sectors. Most colleges and technical
institutes offer diplomas and certificates rather than
degrees, however, more and more now grant degrees and
applied degrees. |
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| 4. Technical/Career
College : |
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This
is a privately owned and operated school with the main
objective of preparing students for the job market after
a short period of instruction. The emphasis at career
colleges is on practical skills over a broad range of
programmes. They specialize in such areas as business,
computers, and secretarial skills. Although privately
owned, these institutes are provincially approved and
regulated, ensuring that programmes standards and quality
are maintained. |
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The
academic year usually starts in September and ends in
May, and is normally divided into two semesters. Some
institutes operate on a semester or trimester system and
admit students in January and/or May as well as September.
Many institutes offer a limited number of courses and
special programmes during the summer session. |
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| Type
of Certification |
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1. Certificate is a qualification awarded upon successful
completion of a programme which is usually
one year in length, and is offered at colleges. |
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2. Diploma
is the qualification awarded on the basis of one or two
year’s successful study, and is
offered at colleges. |
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3. Undergraduate/bachelors
degrees are awarded by a university after four years of
full-time study, and lead to graduate
level studies. |
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4. Graduate/post
graduate degrees lead to advanced degrees, diplomas and
certificates. A pre-requisite
to participate in graduate studies is a bachelors/undergraduate
degree (4 years). |
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5. M.B.A.
programmes will typically require a minimum of two to
three years of relevant work experience,
GMAT score of 580-600, TOEFL score of 560-600, and a 4
year degree, and are generally
2 years in duration, though a few institutes offer a fast
track option. |
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6. Pre-requisites
to participating in a master’s programme is a four
year bachelor’s degree with high
academic standing equivalent to a minimum mid-B grade
in Canada (mid 70’s); at least two
academic letters of reference; and other qualifications
as specified, ie., TOEFL, GRE general
and/or subject test. Master’s programmes generally
require two years to complete full
time, and usually require a combination of course work
and thesis. |
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7. Doctorate
or Ph.D. is a degree ranking above a master’s degree,
and generally requires four to
seven years to complete full time. A combination of course
work, original research, and a thesis
is required. Prerequisites are typically a master’s
degree, although direct entry from a bachelor’s
degree to a Ph.D. programme may be possible depending
on the school and programme. Minimum
high-B grade in Canada (high 70’s) is required;
where relevant, demonstrated research
competence equivalent to at least a B+ grade; at least
two academic letters of reference;
and other qualifications as specified, ie., TOEFL, GRE
general and or subject test. |
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8. Post-doctoral
programmes are much more specialized, research oriented
programmes. One of the most important
factors in granting post-doctorate fellowships is the
personal network established between
the interested applicant and the faculty member within
the institution. |
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| Top reasons
to study in Canada |
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1. A
degree or diploma from Canadian educational institutions
is instantly recognized around the world
as being of the highest standard. |
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2.
Tuition fees for international students in Canada are
much lower than comparable countries. |
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3. Canada
spends more per capita on education than any other country
in the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) |
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4. There
are 100,000 international students from all parts of the
world annually in Canada. Your educational
experience is sure to be truly international. |
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5. Canada
is renowned all over the world for its tradition of hospitality
and tolerance. A remarkable
multicultural society ensures that you will be welcomed
and made to feel at home during
your stay in Canada. More than 600,000 Canadians trace
their roots back to India. |
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6. Canada is a world leader in software development,
telecommunications, aerospace, engineering,
urban transport, biotechnology, mining technology and
environmental industries. As
a student, you have a wealth of research and scholars
to draw upon a variety of disciplines. |
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7. Canada
offers a wide choice of over 90 universities and 150 colleges
and technical institutes,
featuring virtually every program imaginable. |
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8. For
all that it offers, Canada has a remarkably low cost of
living. Its inflation rate has remained
one of the lowest in the industrialized world.(Information compiled from infozee.com) |
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