Canada is on its way to surpassing the USA as the #1 choice for Indian students who wish to abroad study in Canada. According to the Ministry of External Affairs in India, over 1,32,600 students chose Canada as their study destination in 2019.
The numbers dwindled because of the global pandemic, which led to the shutting down of borders.
But from dipping to 43,624 in 2020, the numbers skyrocketed close to pre-pandemic numbers in 2021. In fact, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada has issued 23,950 study permits in the first two months of 2022 alone, and almost half of them were for Indian students.
So, if you’re planning to jump on the bandwagon and avcılar escort pursue higher education in Canada, it’s best to be prepared because the competition will only get tougher.
Is the Application Process to Study in Canada Hard?
Applying to study in any country abroad can be a hassle because of the millions of paperwork and hassles you have to go through for months. The process can span 8 – 14 months, depending on how early you want to start working on the application.
The sooner, the better because you’ll have to go through innumerable steps, such as:
- Shortlisting the colleges or universities
- Preparing for tests like the IELTS, PTE, GRE, etc.
- Filling out application forms
- Getting your SOPs, LORs, and other documents in order
- Preparing for the interview rounds
- Applying for scholarships or education loans
- Figuring out accommodation options
- Applying for a student visa
- Interviewing for the study visa
- Finding the most affordable travel option
There’s so much to do within such little time that most students feel completely overwhelmed by the process. But instead of bearing all the burden, you can rely on education consultants to assist you with the process.
How Do Education Consultants Make the Process Simpler?
According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs, 5,86,337 Indian students went abroad for higher studies in 2019. Due to borders closing worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers went down to 2,59,655 in 2020 but slowly rose to 4,44,553 in 2021.
With 1,33,135 Indian students going abroad for studies within the first three months of 2022 alone, it’s safe to assume that more and more students are turning their dreams of studying abroad into a reality.
And one of the major contributors to these growing numbers of abroad education consultants like AbroadVice.com. These websites have taken the burden off students’ shoulders and made the process much simpler.
For example, almost every student who has hired a consultancy to help them study in Canada has highlighted their smooth journey. So, if you want to pursue higher education in Canada but are on the fence about hiring such services, let’s explore some ways they can make things smoother. Then, you can make a more informed decision.
1. Assistance with shortlisting institutes
Canada is home to leading global institutes renowned for their top-notch education and research facilities. In the QS World University Rankings 2023, 8 Canadian universities rank within the top 200, with 3 ranking within the top 50 universities of the world.
However, other than rankings, you need to consider the following factors:
- Tuition fees
- Admission chances
- Safety
- Atmosphere
- Research opportunities
Since professional educational consultants take all these into consideration when shortlisting universities, chances of successful admission increase.
2. Ensuring you meet the eligibility requirements
Every Canadian university has specific eligibility criteria determined by the institute itself. However, one of the criteria includes English language proficiency test scores.
The IELTS is the most commonly-accepted test, followed by the PTE Academic, DET, TOEFL, etc. However, it’s best to remember that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) prefers the IELTS over others.
Since sending in applications is quite expensive, these educational consultants review the eligibility criteria to ensure you avoid applying for an institute where you’re not eligible. You can also request them to find the best Duolingo English Test dates in India so you can give the exam without any worries.
3. Providing exam preparation sessions
Given the number of students applying to Canadian universities every admission season, you can’t afford to slip up in your exam preparations. That’s why several consultancy services offer preparatory classes for the top examinations like the IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, GRE, GMAT, SATs, LSATs, etc.
The sessions are personalised according to your needs and provide the following:
- Q&A sessions
- Mock test practice
- Doubt-clearing classes
- Overview of fundamentals
These websites ensure that students can rely on professional academic guides to resolve every doubt they might have regarding any topic.
4. Hands-on guidance
If you hire an academic consultant, you’ll receive constant updates regarding admission timelines for various universities. Due to the rise in admission demand, you must shortlist at least 5 to 8 universities.
Every institute demands a few Letters of Recommendation along with a Statement of Purpose (SOP). In the SOP, you must explain your reasons for choosing a particular university, your future goals, and the unique qualities that make you a right fit for the institute.
Therefore, these abroad education consultancies have also begun providing SOP and LOR writing services. If you hire such services, you can rely on top admission counsellors to help customise your SOPs according to the course and institute you wish to apply to.
5. Compiling all your documents
Students with poor organisational skills struggle to manage the hundreds of documents involved in the process. Some of the important documents you must always keep handy include the following:
- Application form
- English language proficiency test scores
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- Academic transcripts
- Application essays
- Visa application form
- Acceptance confirmation
Missing any of these vital documents can derail the entire application process. So, if you’re not confident in your organisational skills, it’s safer to rely on professionals.
6. Taking care of payments
When applying to universities in Canada, you need to send your application fees in Canadian dollars. However, if you’re unfamiliar with sending international payments, you can hire forex services from these online consultancy services.
Even if you were to unlock international payments on your credit card, your bank would charge a high fee. Therefore, when you send in multiple applications, these charges add up to thousands.
So, if you’re on a tight budget, booking forex services is a reasonable option since the additional charges are significantly lesser.
7. Guidance with visa applications
Just because you want to study in Canada doesn’t mean you need to always apply for a study visa. If your course is less than six months, you can apply for a visitor’s visa instead. But for full-time courses, a study permit is a must.
The application process is fraught with challenges. However, these abroad study consultancies assist students with filling out the application form and coach them for the upcoming visa interview.
Due to millions of pending visa applications accumulating for the past few years, the Canadian student visa rejection rate rose to 60% for several Indian states. However, consultants believe this is no cause for concern. According to them, the acceptance rate will increase as the backlogs begin to clear.
8. Finding good accommodation options
University dorms are the most affordable accommodation options in Canada. However, if you can’t secure a spot in the dorms, you can choose studio rooms, shared apartments, etc., with the help of abroad education consultancies.
These services have tied up with several realtors and offer affordable housing options for students. And this is usually better than finding a place yourself because these professionals offer better deals, more safety, and take care of the documentation.
9. Taking care of pre-departure needs
Before flying off to Canada, you would naturally want to research more about the country. While you can find several YouTube videos and blogs, you won’t be able to cover every point unless you know what to look for. That’s why a pre-departure session is crucial to prepare you for the cultural shock that awaits.
Avoid skipping a pre-departure session even if you don’t hire an education consultancy for other requirements. They’re usually conducted by professionals who’ve studied in Canada and are familiar with the issues you might face within the first few months.
10. Providing post-arrival assistance
Once you step foot in a foreign country, you’re all on your own to tackle the challenges that await. Or rather, that’s how it used to be before these consultancy services cropped up. Now, you don’t have to worry about being scammed or struggling through your days trying to fit in an alien environment. The post-arrival services take care of the common issues you might face after arriving in Canada, such as setting up a bank account, getting a SIM card, dealing with homesickness, etc.
Wrapping it up,
Applying to universities in Canada can be a hassle without professional abroad education consultancies lending you a helping hand. While you can certainly get through the process independently, the road won’t be easy. A tiny mistake can ruin your admission chances and delay your plans. So, if you want someone to guide you through the entire process, there’s no better option than relying on professional consultants.
Author bio:
Harry Thomas is a professional academic consultant at a reputable education consultancy. He has been assisting students in fulfilling their dreams of studying abroad for decades by providing SOP and LOR writing services.