A parent’s guide to Canada: Why choose a Canadian education?

education • November 27, 2024

Are you helping your child prepare to study abroad? This is a time filled with pride and excitement as you look to the future. They (and you) may be a bit overwhelmed by the choices that lie ahead.

As a parent, you have important priorities: a world-class education, a safe environment and peace of mind. When you choose Canada, you get it all.

A quality education recognized around the world

Canada is one of the world’s top destinations for international students. At all levels of education, from elementary school to post-secondary studies, Canada has high quality assurance standards that will give your child internationally recognized qualifications.

“All universities in Canada share a common culture of quality excellence. Academic professors were supportive and always willing to help us. Canada is a safe country for living. This makes it easier to decide where to study.” – Supranee Lisawadi, PhD (University of Regina) and Associate Professor, Mathematics Department, Thammasat University, Thailand

Canadian colleges and universities offer work placement programs with Canadian employers to give students valuable career experience. Often called co-op programs or internships, these are paid placements over 4, 8 or 12 months, and they are open to international students too.

Personal and professional growth in a supportive environment

Every parent wants their child to discover their strengths, learn new skills, grow and ultimately… be happy.

Living and studying in Canada allows international students to develop confidence and become independent. They learn to navigate a new country, manage their workload, work in their second (or third) language and budget their finances. It’s a lot, but it leads to growth.

At the elementary and high school levels, your child will learn in a supportive environment. Schools offer resource centres and programs to meet your child’s learning needs. Canadian colleges and universities offer wellness support and student success resources like writing centres, tutoring programs and an international student office.

New friends and opportunities in a safe, peaceful society

Canadians are known for being welcoming and friendly. In fact, we have a reputation for saying “sorry” too much. But we won’t say sorry for being one of the best countries in the world: we Canada is also a safe place to live. We look out for one another, and there’s a real sense of community. We recently ranked #3 as the

“I love living with my host family because they teach me everything about Canadian culture and they are trying their best to make sure that I feel comfortable in their home.” – Minh from Vietnam and student at John Taylor Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba

We’re multicultural and diverse, so your child will find a “home away from home” with us. Canada has over It’s a nice soft landing for students coming from all over the world.

Checklist: How to help your child prepare to study in Canada

• Visit EduCanada.ca to do research on studying in Canada as an international student.
• Research college and university programs that align with your teen’s career. For grades K to 12, search the national directory of schools to find private and public school options.
• Prepare your child for success in Canada. If they need stronger English or French language skills, consider sending them to a Canadian language school Some families send their children to a Canadian high school to better prepare for college or university in Canada.
• Check the admissions requirements for international students with each school, including language proficiency tests and standardized testing.
• Review all school and scholarship applications and make sure to send in all supporting documents.
• Apply for a study permit or visa.
• Arrange travel insurance and healthcare (the requirements vary depending on the student’s province or territory of study).
• Apply for on-campus housing before the deadline. Living in a student residence is often the easiest choice for international students in their first year of college or university. For elementary or high school, your child may be able to live with a Canadian host family or at a boarding school.
• Talk to your child about the cultural differences they may encounter when they study and live in a new country. Encourage them to be open-minded and to get involved in their new community.

Your child will thrive in Canada!

“International students should come to Canada because there’s a lot of opportunities and it’s really fun.” – Paula from Spain and student at Westwood Collegiate, Winnipeg, Manitoba