Canada
Choosing a Canadian university
Canada has about a hundred universities, from large research universities to small undergraduate colleges. Rankings tell you little about the programme you will take, so start with the course.
Start with the programme
Read the course list for the degree, not only the faculty page. Two universities can offer a "computer science" degree with very different content, entry requirements and class sizes. Look at the first-year courses, the options in later years and whether there is a thesis or capstone project.
Check the institution
Every university you apply to must be a designated learning institution, or you cannot get a study permit. If you plan to work in Canada after graduating, check that the institution and programme lead to a post-graduation work permit. Public universities generally do. Private institutions vary, so ask.
Co-op and internships
Many Canadian universities run co-operative education, where students alternate study terms with paid work terms. The University of Waterloo is the best-known example. A co-op degree usually takes longer, but graduates leave with work experience. International students on co-op need a co-op work permit, which is issued with the study permit if the letter of acceptance shows the work term.
Tuition
International tuition varies widely by province, university and programme. Engineering, business and computer science usually cost more than arts and humanities. Each university publishes a fee schedule. Look up the total for four years, since fees for international students often rise each year.
Language
Most Canadian universities teach in English. In Quebec, McGill and Concordia teach in English, while Université de Montréal and Université Laval teach mainly in French. A few universities, such as the University of Ottawa, are bilingual.
Location
Living costs, part-time jobs and how far you are from home all depend on the city. Our guide to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver compares the three largest student cities.
Making a shortlist
Choose five or six universities across a range of entry requirements. The UniversitiesDB directory of Canadian universities lists institutions with their programmes, and our page on comparing universities explains what to look for side by side.