Canada V/S USA: Which Country is the most suitable option for studying abroad?

For ages, the United States has always been a favorite and the best country to study abroad among most Indian students. Rather, the United States had been the only preference of Indian students as in the past it was an age-old tradition to pursue higher studies in the US. The moment, studying abroad was perceived, it was by default related to studying in the US and settling there in the future. Times have changed now. The US was and still is, one of the popular destinations for Indian students, but in the recent era, the US has got tough competition from its neighbor – Canada. Over the years, Canada has worked its way up as one of the most preferred countries to study abroad.

The US and Canada are the most prevalent and popular destinations for Indian students who wish to travel overseas to pursue higher studies. Compared to the US, Canada also offers superior quality education without creating a hole in the pocket. It has not only improved its stature in terms of quality education but also has a higher ratio of work opportunities. While deciding to study abroad, many things have to be considered, which course to study, employment options, financial aspect – the cost of living and studying in a particular country, but the primary factor to be thought and decided upon is which country you wish to opt for. Each student must decide where in the world he or she would want to study. There are a few pros and cons of studying in each country. A study abroad consultant plays a vital role here, it guides the students to analyze, and select the right destination among Canada Vs the United States. Flamingo Educare is one of the leading study abroad consultants in Ahmedabad that helps students to take the right step for their future.

Requirements / Eligibility

Eligibility for Study in Canada

While planning to study in Canada, the primary step would be to decide on a few options of Universities that you wish to apply for. Along with it, you should be aware of university entry requirements. For example, if you are planning to opt for undergraduate courses, the basic requirements are 12 years of schooling, and the SAT exam score, depending on the course and the university; IELTS score should be around 6 to 6.5. While planning for masters or postgraduate courses, if you are opting for management, then the GMAT exam and if opting for the engineering degree, then GRE scores are needed. Most of the colleges or universities do share the average score requirements for each course on their website as well. While applying for a course in Canada, it’s quite imperative to prove your language skills. Exams such as IELTS/TOEFL/PTE will help you to improvise and polish your language that is not just required in seeking admission in the college; it helps for Visa purposes as well.

Eligibility for Study in the USA

If a student is planning to study in the USA, to pursue an undergraduate course, the university entry requirements need him or her to complete 12^th class examination from any of the recognized board of the country along with an IELTS/TOEFL/UCLES certificate displaying the student’s proficiency in the English language. While pursuing a postgraduate course in the USA, the eligibility criteria include 16 years of prior education from any recognized university in India, some work experience will be an added advantage, and GRE scores too may be required by some universities.

Popular universities / colleges

Top Universities in Canada

There are many top universities in Canada that you can consider to opt for your study abroad programs. A few of the best Canadian universities are the University of Montreal, Mc Gill University, the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, the University of Montreal, and others.

Top Universities in the USA

Some of the top universities in the USA are amongst the top-ranking universities in the world. The Ivy League schools in the USA are considered the most coveted institutions around the world. Non-Ivy League colleges also are quite desirable for study-abroad programs. Some of the best universities in the USA are Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, and many others.

Visa details

Visa for Canada

The primary and the most crucial step while seeking a visa for Canada is to decide the course of study and the college or university. You need to apply to the university, once the application is accepted; the university shall send an acceptance letter which is one of the most important documents required for a Canada student visa. Apart from this acceptance letter, other important documents for Canada student visa eligibility are medical records showing good health, bank documents showing sufficient funds, confirmed nil criminal records, certificate of proficient English, valid passport, and others. The best way to ensure all documentation and formalities for a Canadian visa would be by consulting the Flamingo Educare team.

Visa for the USA

A student can get entry into the USA with a valid student visa for the USA. The immigration rules in the US related to foreign students have undergone numerous changes in the past few years; hence it is quite crucial to have the right info about the USA student visa eligibility norms. Some of the important documents that are required to process the USA student Visa are a valid passport, I-20 form, payment receipt of application fees, all the important certificates, financial records, Non-immigrant visa application, confirmation page for Form DS-160, and many others, students should double-check the list of documents required before their visa interview.

Cost of living

Cost of Living in Canada

Based on the statistical data, the cost of living in Canada is quite cheaper compared to the cost of living in the US. The cost of living depends on the university, such as the location of the university, tuition fees, as it varies a lot across Canada. Along with these factors, the cost of living also varies based on the option of accommodation chosen, food preferences, entertainment, transportation, and healthcare. One of the major benefits of living in Canada, most of the universities in Canada are funded by the government. To have a basic idea, the average cost of living in Canada is around 7500 to 12000 CAD per student per year.

Cost of Living in the USA

Once the student finalizes a particular country, and course of study, the other two important factors to consider are the tuition fees and the cost of living in the USA. The cost of living widely varies across the country. The location of the university and the city or state you choose to live in majorly affect the cost of living. Along with it, the type and location of the accommodation, whether on-campus or off-campus, food preferences, health insurance, entertainment, transportation, all these costs do add up to the total cost of living. Some of the benefits of living in the USA are the exposure to diverse cultures, lively campus life, and most colleges are equipped with advanced facilities to engage students outside the classrooms as well. The average cost of living in the USA is around 1000 USD per month excluding the tuition fees.

Climate

Climate of Canada

The topography of Canada covers 5 time zones; it stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Due to this, the climate of Canada varies throughout the country. High temperatures of summer and average winter temperatures vary according to the location. Winters are harsh in most regions of the country, wherein the daily temperature is around -15 to -30 degrees Celsius. Regions of the country that are far from the coast, have snowfall for almost half the time of the year. The weather in the coastal region of British Columbia is temperate with a mild winter. Canada’s temperature during summers on the east and the west coasts is around 20 degrees Celsius. Due to the climate in Canada, the temperature varies widely on any given day from one part of Canada to other.

Climate of USA

The weather in the USA is not the same throughout the country. The weather in the southern and the western parts of the US is warmer with extremely hot summers compared to the northern and eastern parts of the country that has severe winters with heavy snowfall. On average the temperatures in the USA during summers are around 27 to 32 °C and during winters are around −4 to 10 °C.

Post-study work permit

Post-study work permit in Canada

Canadian Post Graduation Work Visa is also known as the post-graduate work permit in Canada. Students who have completed their graduation are allowed to work in Canada for a period equivalent to their study course or a max of around 3 years. This work permit in Canada is given based on the duration of your course and the stream which you would have studied. Once they finish their studies, they can apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit within 180 days. Having a work permit enables the student with the required work experience in Canada and also a step further to obtain a PR in Canada.

 Post-study work permit in the USA

A post-study work visa or a post-graduate work permit means permission given to a foreign student to allow him or her to work as a full-time worker in that country, once he or she has completed studies. After completion of their course, the students are allowed to stay in the country for 1 year, wherein they can apply for OPT aka Optional Practical Training. Once the OPT expires in 12 months, then the student needs to switch to a visa that is sponsored by the employer. To know all the nitty-gritty’s related to the work permit in the USA, contact an expert team of Flamingo Educare to share the complete details with you.

Employment opportunities

Employment opportunities in Canada

The employment opportunities in Canada encourage students to excel in their study courses and ultimately are capable of their desired jobs. Once the student completes his or her study course, with the help of a post-study work visa, students can easily apply for jobs in Canada. With such a big country, Canada has myriad job opportunities. The most sought-after jobs in Canada are majorly in the healthcare sector, STEM jobs, followed by technical services, telecommunications managers, conservation officers, and many others. With the right kind of approach and an apt resume, students can find numerous job opportunities in Canada.

Employment opportunities in the USA

Seeking an education in the USA is not just about academics, it is equally focused on providing practical and research-based knowledge to students to learn the important skills to seek good employment opportunities in the USA. There are myriad options of jobs in the US for Indians.  There are many ways to look out for jobs in the US such as opting for on-campus employment, off-campus employment, through CPT – Curricular Practical Training, and OPT – Optional Practical Training.

PR opportunities

PR in Canada

Almost all the students opting to study in Canada have a dream to achieve a PR in Canada. As soon as the student completes his or her study course, the next important step is trying for a job in Canada. For this the student has to get a work permit program, through this program, the student can work for a period equivalent to the duration of the course of study. Canada pr requirements follow a point-based system, many immigration programs that encourage the students to work and gradually attain a PR in Canada.  Amongst the numerous options of immigration programs, one such program is the Canadian Experience Class program or the Express Entry that assists the graduated students to opt for a PR in the country.

PR / Greencard in the USA

There are many ways in which a student can avail a PR in the USA for example, if he or she get a job while studying, the employer can sponsor the student to gain a PR. Other USA PR requirements or may also try for the Green Card lottery or try through some sponsorship from a relative staying in the US, and many other ways. USA PR requirements are quite confusing and simple at the same time. To get a clear picture of all the essentials required to avail a PR in the USA, get in touch with the Flamingo Educare team to have a complete idea of it.

Why?

Why choose Canada to study?

While planning to study abroad, students may contemplate as to why choose Canada to study? Students generally opt to study in Canada, as this country offers high-quality education along with reasonably priced tuition fees, better prospects of post-study work, excellent quality of life, and easier immigration options. Students do take into consideration the various benefits of studying in Canada such as being one of the safest countries that are quite affordable, has rich and varied cultures, a vibrant and lively campus to study, enormous research opportunities, and the breathtaking natural beauty and amazing landscapes of Canada.

Why choose the USA to study?

The USA has been the number one destination preferred by most Indian students to study abroad. And still if ever a student ponders upon as to why choose the USA to study? The answer to this or rather the benefits of studying in the USA are many. The education system of the USA provides students with the most comprehensive course that emphasizes both theoretical and practical learning. The decision to opt for study in the USA provides students with a rich learning experience, myriad job options, greater diversity, quality education, unique curriculum, and multicultural environment.

USA and Canada are two very strong contenders as the destinations to study abroad for Indians. Both of them have pros and cons. The immigration process in the US is lengthy and stringent, whereas for Canada is relatively simple. Canada is a little cheaper compared to the US, but the universities and job opportunities in the US are more compared to Canada. The student needs to evaluate the entire plus and minus points of each country along with their preference and eligibility. To guide the students on the right path is Ahmedabad’s leading study abroad consultant, Flamingo Educare! The dedicated team at Flamingo Educare will help and guide the student at all stages to achieve their final career goals.