How to Apply for a University in Canada for International Students

Here are the required steps to apply to a university in Canada:

Start planning

The process of admission in Canada requires some common basic paperwork including: 

• Recommendation letter 
• Statement of purpose (Letter of motivation) 
• Proof of completion of previous studies 
• Evidence of how you will be funding your study 
• Portfolio of former work (If applicable) 

These are also the requirements to apply for a master’s degree in Canada or if you’re pursuing a PhD, in addition to sending the university an official transcript of your previous university.  

If you’re applying for your Bachelor’s, send an official transcript from your secondary/high school. An English proficiency test should be successfully passed if your mother-tongue language is not English. 

There could be specific documentation required depending on the university, so you should always contact the university office if you have any questions and check their specific university admission requirements on the website. 

Take the exam 

Since there are two official languages in Canada; you will mainly need to take an English language test to be able to study in the country, or a French one if you want to study in the French-speaking part of the country, and sometimes both languages are required. 

IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge English: Advanced are the best English language proficiency tests that all colleges and universities in Canada accept. 

The most common French proficiency test is TEF, but you can also take TCF, DELF, or DALF. 

Make sure to apply for the test in advance to have enough time to get the results and apply for your chosen university. Please check the required test and score on the university’s website. 

Select a university and find a course 

When applying for a university in Canada, you will have to apply for a specific major. However, don’t worry, if you change your mind, as Canadian universities tend to be flexible. 

You can easily apply online on most of the universities’ websites; all you have to do is pay the application fees, fill out the application form, and attach the required documents. 

The application fees for universities in Canada can range from 78$ (CA$100) to 195$ (CA$250), so make sure you meet all the requirements before applying. 

To obtain a student visa, make sure to choose and apply for a university that is on the (DLI) designated learning institutes list. 

Wait to be admitted 

Once you have applied, there is nothing left to do but wait for your acceptance letter. 

Apply for your study visa 

You can apply for your student visa online or at your local application visa centre. You will be required to pay around 117$ (CA$150) visa fee. 

You must provide the following documents to get your visa: 

• Current passport 
• Acceptance letter from DLI university 
• A proof you can support yourself financially during your study time in Canada 
• Your biometrics could also be required, which will cost you an extra 65$ (CA$83) 
• Certificat d’acceptation du Québec’ (CAQ) will be needed from you if you’re studying in the province of Quebec, which the university will send you 

For updates, make sure to get back to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. 

• If you’re pursuing a master’s degree in Canada for international students, the minimum GPA requirement is 3 on a scale of 4. 
• The minimum percentage required for applying to a university in Canada is 70-80% and above for the science/commerce stream XII and 65% and above for the humanities stream XII. 

• You must be a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 35 years of age to apply for a student permit in Canada.
• Although in some cases, the country accepts a study gap of 2 to 5 years for post-graduate and undergraduate courses. 

Many of Canada's world-class colleges and universities offer scholarships to international students to help and encourage them to pursue certificate degree programs, PhD, Master’s, undergraduate, and post-doctoral.  

Check this out to know more about the scholarships’ eligibility criteria, closing dates, and application process.