Important Guidelines for High School Students Who Want to Study in Canada

Are you contemplating studying in Canada for post-secondary studies?  Are you wondering if you qualify or what you need to do to qualify to study in a Canadian university or college? 

Here is a general guideline as to what is accepted for admission requirements to study at most universities and colleges in Canada. 

Intermediate Certificate:  If you have completed your Matric and Intermediate program and have a 1^st division standing in the last 2 years, then you will most likely be eligible to study in Canada at one of its fine colleges or universities.  Some specialized degrees or programs or quota programs are very competitive and only students with the highest marks may qualify to study in these programs; but for the most part 1^st division is enough.  Some degrees may ask for stress in one area; for example if you want to study Engineering you may require more than one Math and/or more Science courses.  Students generally should have a Math, English, 2 Sciences and 1 Arts course to qualify for most programs. 

What is considered a Science course?  Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Calculus or Computing Science 

What is considered an Arts course?  A course from the Humanities, Social Sciences or Fine Arts will be considered.  Another language may be considered under the Humanities category. 

British Curriculum (GCE):  If you have grades of A or B in your O-Level and/or A-Level courses then you can meet the admission requirements to study at a college or university in Canada.  Some universities require a minimum of 2 subjects studied at the A-Level and the rest can be done at the O-Level. 

Advanced Standing:  For those students who want to study in Canada, some Canadian institutions consider advanced standing for those who present excellent marks in specific areas of their A-Level courses.  They may be eligible for:

·        Advanced placement – able to take an advanced course in the specified area

·        Credit by Special Assessment – write an exam, pass and be exempt from taking the course.

·        Transfer credit – get credit in some courses in your program of study 

English Language Requirements:  Students who want to study in Canada must demonstrate proficiency in English.  Outside of Quebec, all classes are conducted in English.  Unless you have obtained English language proficiency through the British Curriculum (GCE), you will most likely have to write the IELTS or TOEFL exam.  A Band of 6.5 may be considered by some colleges but if you want to attend a higher ranking university, then you must have a Band of 7 or greater on the IELTS.  For the TOEFL, many universities require at least 85 to 86 with no less than 21 on each section. 

Make Sure You Qualify:  For further details about requirement and specific program eligibly, contact your Canadian international student representative in Pakistan.  It is recommended to check with a qualified consultant prior to completing your Intermediate studies to make sure that you have met all of the requirements for the program you want to study. 

Even if you are only starting to study at the Matric or High School level and you know that you want to study in Canada; now is the time to make your inquiries to ensure you study the courses that will get you into your study area of choice.