Every year, more than 70 000 students around the world go to study in Canada.


The reasons are many. First, Canadians place great importance on education and would like to have the best qualities schools. A diplomas from a Canadian university is recognized around the world. In addition, for many years, Canada is in the forefront of countries that offer the best conditions of life according to a UN classification, in 2006, he came sixth. Finally, none can miss the wonderful environment offered by Canadian provinces: 42 national parks, which are among the most beautiful natural environments in the world. Finally, in economics side, Canada is an international leader in computer technology and information, and enjoys a reputation for excellence in areas such as telecommunications, transportation and engineering, aerospace, urban transport, microelectronics, medical devices, advanced software, hydroelectric and nuclear power, lasers and optoelectronics, biotechnology, food and beverage processing, geomatics, plus ocean and environmental industries.
But let's focus on what you want: the university system and the Canadian higher education.

An organization studies copied from the American model

Even if they are funded by the national government, universities, and schools remain a jurisdiction conferred to the ten provinces and three autonomous territories. Thus, each institution is free to choose its structure and programs! So, the only way to know the seriousness of an institution remains to verify membership in the AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada): www.aucc.ca. 92 universities have adhered to it.

Fortunately, despite their total autonomy, the majority of educational institutions provide the same type of qualifications, who are mostly those issued in US universities.
The 92 Canadian universities produce three grades that are the Bachelor (3 years of study it is usually 4 years if specialized "with honors"), Master or PhD (doctorate). Always like the Anglo-Saxon countries and as in Europe since the introduction of the Bologna reform, Canadian education works on the system of "credits" that must be obtained for each year spent diploma. You must get to know the system: each course is worth a certain number of credits depending on the number of hours, the required personal work and difficulty. The Bachelor asks between 90 and 120 credits, the Master in demand for additional 30 to 45. For the doctorate is variable depending on the selected studies department.

However be careful because universities are very selective. To get there, you must have a particularly good record, especially for law courses, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary and those engineers.

For universities, their characteristics and their contact information, see the www.canada-culture.org site.

Vocational education: community colleges

Those who intend to make a more specific occupational training in diverse and varied fields (industry, public service, business, arts, etc ...) will have to turn to the community colleges. They are 175.

Warning, these institutions do not deliver university degree, but certificates or diplomas specific to each school. Practices, these institutions provide pathways to university and even offer joint programs with neighboring universities.