Living and Study in Canada can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but if you don’t have a high-level English proficiency, you may think it’s impossible to get into college or university in the country.
Fortunately, this isn’t the case! In fact, many universities across Canada offer conditional admission programs that give international students who don’t speak English as their first language the opportunity to study at an accredited institution without an IELTS score, which can make the process much easier and cheaper than it would be otherwise.
Study in Canada – Working Holiday Visa
Canadian immigration officials will usually require you to have at least an Intermediate-High level of English. This can be a bit of a problem if you’re not taking classes at an officially recognized school, such as a college or university.
If you’re simply studying on your own, it can be hard to show immigration officials that you have at least an intermediate level of English proficiency. But there is another option for students who want to study and work in Canada:
The International Experience Canada Working Holiday Visa program allows young people from many countries — including those who don’t speak English as their first language — to spend up to 24 months working and studying in Canada.
Study in Canada with IELTS
Like a lot of things, studying abroad can seem like a much larger undertaking than it actually is. When you’re getting started on your planning, we think it’s useful to break things down into manageable pieces.
The first step is figuring out what your end goal is, and for many people that involves passing an English language test (like IELTS) with a high score. It might be tough at first to figure out how you’ll manage without having to take that exam—but rest assured there are tons of ways you can make it work!
Study in Canada if you don’t speak English as a first language
If you’re not a native English speaker and you want to study in Canada, one of your biggest hurdles is going to be proof of your English language proficiency. Unless you studied at an English-speaking university or have previously studied abroad as an English speaker, it can be very difficult to get Canadian universities and colleges to accept you for studies.
Luckily, though, there are a number of ways that you can get around those roadblocks and still study in Canada with little or no knowledge of their national language. Here’s how.
Studying at Canadian University Vs Private College
If you’re a prospective student looking for a place to study and have no choice but to give up on your dream of studying at Oxford or Cambridge because of your low scores, don’t despair. There are still some great options out there that will allow you to live and study in different countries.
For example, many people aren’t aware that you can get into a top university like McGill, Toronto, or the University of British Columbia just by taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes before enrolling. While these programs aren’t cheap, they can be a great option if you want some time abroad and are willing to put in some work beforehand.
The 3 Best Universities In Canada
The Université de Montréal, University of Toronto, and McGill University are among some of the most prestigious institutions for higher education in North America.
McGill is one of Canada’s leading research universities, with 11 faculties and professional schools that offer a variety of programs. The UdeM has been selected as one of three World Leaders in Innovation by Times Higher Education and it is consistently ranked as one of the top 25 universities worldwide.
The UdeM has also received many awards such as Le Prix des Trois Poules d’Or 2012 for its contribution to sustainable development and environmental quality. On top of that, it offers more than 300-degree programs at all levels (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate) both on-campus and online.
4 Easiest Schools To Get Into For International Students
Studying abroad means leaving your home country and immersing yourself in a new culture. It also means making some big life decisions.
Where will you live? What will you study? And how can you afford it all? If you’re planning on studying abroad, consider these top 5 degree programs in Canada for international students
5 Top Degree Programs In Canada For International Students
If you’re interested in pursuing higher education in Canada, you’ll need to know about how degree programs work. Although all Canadian universities are free for international students, there are some areas of study where graduates typically earn more money than others.
If career success is a priority for you, consider applying for one of these five degrees that tend to be well-paid. A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) tends to lead to high-paying jobs after graduation with promising job security.
For students seeking full-time employment opportunities with solid benefits, a Bachelor’s degree is often what employers look for first when hiring new employees.
Conclusion
So if you want to study in Canada, and don’t have a high enough score on your IELTS exam, try a program that accepts another English proficiency test. Your best option would be TOEFL. If you do not have any English-speaking background whatsoever, then we recommend taking PTE Academic or CPE (Canadian Proficiency Exam).
It is also possible to apply with a Canadian college that doesn’t require an English proficiency test – although they are less common than schools that do.
And finally, if you only have an intermediate level of English knowledge and believe you could pass one of these tests with some practice and dedication, then there is no harm in giving it a shot!