|
| |
| UG
APPLICATION PROCEDURE |
 |
This
section explains the process of applying to Canadian universities
for Under Graduate (Bachelor Degree or equivalent) courses. |
|
Application
Process
|
|
|
In most Canadian universities
and colleges, the academic year is divided into two semesters,
the fall semester (Sept-Dec), and the winter semester
(Jan-May), with a short vacation at Christmas. Many colleges
also offer a summer semester beginning in May.
University deadlines for the September session vary
from institution to institution, though are generally
from mid December to the end of March.
Colleges may have a rolling admission policy and will
accept applications while processing time still permits.
If applying to a universities and some colleges in
the province of Ontario, you must submit your applications
through central application centres. The Ontario Universities
Application Centre (OUAC) deadline is March 1, those
applications received after the deadline will be processed
on a first come, first served basis. The Ontario College
Application Services (OCAS) deadline is March 1 for
admission the following September, applications received
after that date will be handled on a first come, first
served basis. Some Ontario colleges have applications
that can be submitted directly to the institute itself.
Some institutes have January admission, deadlines will
be the preceding September to November.
Dates can vary from institution to institution, and
should be confirmed by checking the relevant calendars.
|
|
There are
some differences in the application process if you are
applying to colleges and universities in the province
of Ontario and in the province of Quebec compared to colleges
and universities in the rest of Canada. Check out the
table below. |
|
| Ontario
Colleges and Universities |
|
| Universities : |
|
Complete the Ontario
Universities Application Centre (OUAC) application form
for upto 3 university/programme choices. Send the form
along with the fee (C$95), by the 1st March deadline to
OUAC. |
|
| Colleges : |
Complete the Ontario
College Application Service (OCAS) application form
for upto 5 college/programme choices. Send the form
with the fee (C$65), by the 1st March deadline to OCAS.
The OUAC/OCAS will acknowledge receipt of the application
and forward to the appropriate institutions.
Meanwhile, you have to send your academic Documents/supplementary
fees to the chosen institute(s) by their respective
deadlines
If there is any additional information that the institute
requires from you, it will be communicated to you. After
this the institute will make you an admission offer.
After you accept, the institute will send you an official
letter of acceptance.
You apply to the Canadian High Commission for a student
authorisation (Visa). |
|
| Quebec
Colleges and Universities |
|
Complete and send
the application form, official transcripts/ academic records,
plus application fee to the Registrar's Office of the
institute(s) you wish to attend.
If there is any additional information that the institute
requires from you, it will be communicated to you. After
this the institute will make you an admission offer.
After you accept, the institute will send you an official
letter of acceptance.
You apply to the Canadian High Commission for a student
authorisation (Visa). In addition to the student authorisation,
you must apply for a Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ)
from the Quebec Government.
The forms will be sent to you by the institute or they
can be collected from the CEC. |
|
| Colleges
and universities in the rest of Canada |
|
Complete and send
the application form, official transcripts/ academic records,
plus application fee to the Registrar's Office of the
institute(s) you wish to attend.
If there is any additional information that the institute
requires from you, it will be communicated to you. After
this the institute will make you an admission offer.
After you accept, the institute will send you an official
letter of acceptance.
You apply to the Canadian High Commission for a student
authorisation (Visa).
|
|
| Application Forms |
|
Send enquiries at
least 15 to 18 months before the proposed date of admission.
There are two ways to get application forms. |
|
| 1. Requesting
Application Forms via email |
|
You can request application
forms from the universities website. Most universities
have a form on their website which can be completed online
to request application material. |
|
| 2. Requesting
Application Forms via Air Mail |
|
The other way is to
send a request by airmail for application material. The
request should contain a brief description of your educational
background, academic objectives, source of financial support,
English proficiency and standardized test scores. |
|
| 3. Downloading
from the university website |
|
Many universities
have a downloadable and ready to print versions of their
application forms on the net. These can be used for applying
just as regular forms. |
|
| 4. Requesting
Applications from CEC in Delhi |
|
You can get application
forms for all the universities from Canadian
Education Centre
in New Delhi. You can either visit them personally or
email them for the forms. |
|
| Eligibilty |
|
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.
Consequently, the eligibility criteria for colleges are
also different in different provinces of Canada.
Most universities in states other
than Ontario and Quebec require a minimum of 12 years
of formal education for admission to Bachelor degree
courses.
Universities of Ontario and Quebec
require a minimum of 13 years of secondary school education.
This implies 12 years of schooling and one year of college
education in India, or 12 years of schooling in India
and one year of high school in Canada. If your academic
credentials are very impressive, some universities may
admit you in their Bachelor degree programs with 12
years of education.
There are no centralized
Canada wide entrance tests, each institute sets its
own admission standards and assesses the qualifications
of each applicant individually. The general criteria
is mentioned below:
|
|
Programs/Level
of study
|
Undergraduate/Bachelors
level |
| Business |
70% in
12th grade |
| TOEFL :
580-600 |
| 12th grade
level Maths |
Computer
Science
|
70% in
12th grade |
| TOEFL :
580-600 |
| 12th grade
level Maths |
| Engineering |
70% in
12th grade |
| 12th grade
level Math (algebra, calculus, geometry), Physics,
Chemistry, & English |
| TOEFL :
580-600 |
Fine
Arts
|
Min. 70%
in 12th grade |
| TOEFL :
580-600 |
| Portfolio/audition
or documentary evidence of creative skills |
Media/
Communications
|
70% in
12th grade |
| TOEFL :
600 mins. |
|
| |
Programs/Level of study
|
Undergraduate/Bachelors
level |
| Business |
Flexible
admission |
| TOEFL :
550 min. 12th grade level Maths |
Computer
Science
|
Flexible
admission |
| TOEFL :
550 min. |
| 12th grade
level |
| Maths |
| Engineering |
Flexible
admission |
| TOEFL :
550 |
| 12th grade
Maths |
Fine
Arts
|
Flexible
admission |
| TOEFL :
550 min. |
| Portfolio |
Media/
Communications
|
Flexible
admission |
| TOEFL :
550 min. |
| Proficiency
in keyboarding and/or Computer Studies |
|
| |
| Application Requirements |
|
| 1. Secondary
School Reports and Transcripts |
| 2. Standardized
Tests |
| 3. Letters
of Recommendation |
| 4. Statement
of Purpose (SOP) |
|
| Secondary
School Reports and Transcripts |
|
Students who
are applying for a Bachelor program or another undergraduate
course would be required to submit a secondary school
report and transcripts (report cards) of the final exams.
The report form should be filled out by a school official
like the principal, counsellor or headmaster. This form
should introduce you in the context of your whole school
experience in relation to the other students in your class.
Admission committees will be interested in learning how
you have performed in your own educational system. The
school report should talk about your accomplishments and
provide a prediction of your chances for success in university-level
studies.
Since there is
a variation between the styles of scoring used abroad
and the ones used in India, ask your school to include
a guide to the grading standards used in your educational
system and your school. If your school ranks students
by their level of academic achievement, make certain
that the ranking is included with the other details.
Also send the school / junior college leaving certificate
as and when it is available.
If the transcripts are in a language
other than English, then it must be translated into
English only by the issuing authority or university
otherwise it may not be acceptable. |
 |
| Standardized
Tests |
|
International students
are also required to take English Proficiency tests like
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS
(International English Language Testing). Every university
has its own minimum requirements and scores with respect
to standardized tests. |
|
| English Proficiency |
|
| TOFEL : |
This test is mandatory
for International students applying to a Graduate course
or University in Canada. The minimum score required by
most universities for admission is 570 (Paper-based test)
and 230 (Computer-based test). |
|
Some Courses and Universities
in Canada may require you to take SAT
I (Scholastic Assessment Test). |
|
| Letters
of Recommendation |
|
Letters of reference
or recommendation letters play a very important part in
your admission especially in courses that earn you a master’s
or doctoral degree. A recommendation letter is a signed
statement from a person who knows you well professionally
or has taught you in a subject that is related to the
course you are applying to. It should list your positive
and negative qualities, strengths and other such information.
The author or teacher
must indicate his position, how long he/she has known
the applicant and in what capacity. He/she should briefly
discuss the need, importance and usefulness of the study
the applicant proposes to undertake. Authors are usually
asked to rank applicants in their letters of recommendation,
which helps admission officers to interpret the academic
credentials of foreign students. Students should obtain
letters of recommendation (often on the prescribed forms
sent by the institutions) from teachers who know them
as a person as well as a student. You may like to request
your author to give concrete examples that may show
your qualities and help your case.
Many universities have their own
format and questions that have to be answered by the
person who is giving the letter of recommendation on
your behalf. Letters, which do not give enough information,
can jeopardize a candidate’s chances of selection.
|
|
Note
: Even if not mentioned, it is advisable to include at
least two letters of recommendation in your applications
as they increase your chances of getting admissions. |
|
| Statement
of Purpose (SOP) |
|
The personal essays,
and/or statement of purpose, play a very important role
in the process of evaluating your application for both
admission as well as financial aid because it gives the
faculty assessing your application their most significant
impression of you as an individual. This section is the
key to distinguish your application from other suitable
candidates and a chance to market yourself.
A personal statement should include your reasons for
choosing a particular course, the suitability of your
education and experience for the chosen course, your
personal interests and career goals.
Some courses like Business school
courses will have their own essay questions and format.
Others may ask for a résumé or reasons
for applying to that particular course. (Information compiled from infozee.com) |
|
