Applying for study permit in Canada

In recent years, many foreign students are eager to continue their studies at Canadian universities, and as a result, applications to Canada have significantly increased.

Applying for education in Canada is essential for obtaining admission to Canadian universities, and it requires knowledge of the application conditions of the universities, the application process, necessary documents, application costs, and other related topics, which we will comprehensively address in this article.

If you are considering applying to Canadian universities, we recommend reading this useful article.

Familiarity with some common terms in Canada’s educational process

When applying for studies in Canada, you may hear terms which meanings you do not know. Here are some of these common terms explained so you can apply to Canadian universities with greater awareness:

Application: An online or paper form on the university’s website that you must complete with the program you are applying for, the academic term, personal, educational, and employment details, information about professors for recommendation letters, language scores, and other requested information.
Apply: What is applying to Canada? The process of filling out the application, uploading the required documents, and submitting it to the desired university is called applying.
Application Fee: This is the fee that universities charge you for reviewing and evaluating your application and documents, which is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
Submit: In most applications, there is an option called Submit. Submitting means presenting the application to the university for consideration, decision-making, or approval. After entering your payment information, you must click this option, and at this point, your application for admission is registered.
Deadline: This refers to the final deadline for submitting an application and applying.

Defer: Postponing the start of the academic term to the next term. For example, if you have been admitted to the University of Toronto for the September 2024 term but are unable to attend due to a visa rejection or other reasons, you can request to have your entry term moved to January 2025.

Deposit Fee: An amount paid to the university as a deposit to secure your place. At some universities, this amount must be paid before the final admission letter, which is necessary for the visa application, is issued.

Tuition Fee: The cost paid for course units. This fee is usually settled on a term basis.

Conditions for Applying to Canada

To study in Canada and obtain admission at various academic levels, certain conditions are required. If you do not meet all these conditions, you cannot apply to Canadian universities and receive academic admission. In this section, we will outline the conditions for academic admission to Canada at different university levels:

Conditions for Applying to Canada at Primary and Secondary Levels

Having a good academic record in school subjects:
There is no minimum GPA specified for admission to Canadian schools. However, it is expected that students have achieved acceptable grades in their academic subjects. Primary education in Iran is descriptive and does not have a grading system; therefore, if their report card indicates a “good” academic status, they usually have a chance of being accepted into Canadian schools. For middle and high school levels, it is expected that students have achieved acceptable grades in subjects like mathematics, science, biology, and language.

No language score requirement:
A language score is not required for admission to Canadian schools. Typically, students are assessed for their language proficiency before the start of their studies, and depending on their language level, they will receive additional English or French language classes.

Age requirement up to 18 years:
Some Canadian boarding schools also accept students up to the age of 19.

Interview:
Some Canadian schools request an interview with students before granting academic admission to assess their language proficiency and academic level.

For more information, please refer to the page on studying in Canadian schools.

Conditions for Applying for Academic Admission to College Diploma Programs

Requirements for applying for Bachelor's degree studies studies in Canada:

Minimum GPA for the last three years of high school: 12
IELTS score or other accepted language test scores
For direct admission: IELTS 6.5 and equivalent scores
For conditional admission to language courses: It depends on the university. Sometimes an IELTS score of 5.5 or 6 is required, and in some other universities, there is no need to provide a language certificate. For more information, visit the page on undergraduate studies in Canada.

What is conditional admission in Canada?

In undergraduate programs in Canada, conditional admission is possible. This means that if your IELTS score is below 6.5 or if you do not have a language score, you can enroll in the university’s language courses and improve your language level to meet the university’s requirements before starting the main course. Note that some Canadian universities do not offer conditional admission for language, so you should check this before applying.

Requirements for applying for master's studies in Canada:

Minimum GPA for bachelor’s degree: 13
IELTS score or other accepted language test scores
For direct admission: IELTS 6.5 and equivalent scores
For conditional admission to language courses: Conditional admission with language courses is also available for master’s programs in Canada. However, only a few universities offer this option, and your minimum IELTS score must be 5.5 for some management programs and at least 6 for some engineering programs.

GRE or GMAT score: Minimum 300 for GRE or minimum 500 for GMAT (required for some fields such as business, finance, management, and related disciplines). For more information, refer to the master’s studies page in Canada.

Conditions for applying for a PhD in Canada:

Minimum master’s GPA: 15
IELTS score of 6.5 (some fields require a higher language score, such as management, architecture, arts, and English language, which require an IELTS score of 7 or higher)
Identification of a supervisor at a Canadian university for guiding the PhD thesis
Having one or more research papers published in reputable foreign or domestic journals
Research proposal (if it is part of the university’s admission requirements)
For more information, refer to the PhD studies page in Canada.

What is the GPA requirement for applying to Canada?

GPA is one of the main and important factors for obtaining admission to universities and colleges in Canada. The GPA requirement for admission varies according to the university, level of study, and field of study, and a single GPA cannot be considered for all universities in Canada. Generally, prestigious and good universities in Canada require a higher GPA for admission.

GPA requirement for studying at universities and colleges in Canada.

GPA requirement for studying at colleges in Canada: minimum GPA of 12 and above
GPA requirement for studying at universities in Canada: minimum GPA of 13 and above
GPA requirement for studying at the diploma level in college: minimum GPA of 12 and above
GPA requirement for studying at the bachelor’s level: minimum GPA of 13 and above (however, most universities in Canada require a GPA of 14 and above at the bachelor’s level)
GPA requirement for studying at the master’s level: minimum GPA of 13 and above (however, most universities in Canada require a GPA of 14 and above at the master’s level)
GPA requirement for studying at the doctoral level: minimum GPA of 15 and above

Comparison of the Grading System in Canada and Iran

Now that you are familiar with the required GPA for studying in Canada, it is important to know that the grading system of educational institutions in Canada differs from that of Iran. Each of the 10 provinces in Canada has its own grading system, which varies in details, but generally, the grading system in Canada is a combination of:

Alphabetical letters (A-F)
Numbers (scale of 0 to 4 and scale of 0 to 9)
Percentage (100-0)
Additionally, across Canada, depending on the province, two GPA scales of 0 out of 4 and 0 out of 9 are used. In some provinces, a maximum GPA of 4.33 or 4.5 is also considered.

For example, Simon Fraser University, located in British Columbia, has indicated the minimum required GPA (GPA) for admission to the master’s program in Mechanical Engineering as a numerical value of 3.33 out of 4.33.

Calculating GPA in Canada and its Equivalent in the Iranian Grading System

In Canada, the percentage of using GPA based on a scale of 0 to 4 is higher. Therefore, in the table below, we have used this scale, where the maximum GPA is considered to be 4.33.

Score based on 20 scale (Iranian)	Score based on scale 4	Grede based on letter
20-16	4.0	A
14-15.99	3.0	B
12-13.99	2.0	C
10-11.99	1.0	D
Under 10	.0	F

However, as previously mentioned, each province in Canada has its own grading system, so depending on the university and province you choose for your study admission in Canada, you must adhere to its grading system.

How can I study in Canada with a low GPA?

If you are among the applicants with a low GPA and are concerned about getting admission to Canadian universities, do not worry. Years of experience of the RainCity executive team with Canadian universities and colleges have shown that it is possible to get admission even with a GPA below the minimum accepted by universities, but there are conditions!

Since GPA is not the only criterion for admission to Canadian universities, if you have good academic records and consider the following points in your application for admission to the university, you can largely compensate for your low GPA and increase your chances of admission:

Writing a strong Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Presenting good and relevant work experience
Personal skills and expertise
Providing strong letters of recommendation from professors or employers
Academic or professional honors or patents
Submitting GRE or GMAT scores (even if they are not among the minimum requirements for admission)
Submitting a high language score
Read more: Applying with a low GPA

Next, we will refer to a list of universities that accept low GPAs in certain fields. However, as previously mentioned, it is necessary to strengthen other aspects of your application.

Minimum financial capability for one year of student life in Canada

List of Canadian universities that accept low GPAs – 2024

University of Winnipeg

University of Laurentian

Prince Edward Island

Acadia University

Saint Francis Xavier University

Nipissing University

Trinity Western University

Thompson Rivers University

Brandon University

Royal Roads University

Language requirements for applying to Canada

Canadian universities and other educational institutions accept several types of English and French language certificates for admission. Most Canadian universities are English-speaking, but universities located in Quebec, as a French-speaking province, usually offer education in both French and English.

Accepted English language certificates for studying at English-speaking universities and colleges in Canada

Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System – IELTS)
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – TOEFL)
PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic – PTE)
Duolingo (Duolingo English Test)
CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language – CAEL)
MELAB (The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery – MELAB)
Note:

Accepted French language certificates for studying at French-speaking universities and colleges in Canada

DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) / DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française)
TCF (test de connaissance du français)
TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français)
TFI (Test de français international)

!Important

All language certificates for submission to Canadian universities and colleges are valid for up to 2 years.

What is the required language score for studying in Canada?

Study courses	IELTS	TOFEL	PTE	Duolingo	conditioned to language course
Schools	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required	❌
College	Score between 6.5-6	Score between 90-75	Score between 57-53	Score 105 and above	✔️
Bachelor’s	Minimum score between 120-105	Minimum score 60	Minimum score between 89-75	Minimum score 6.5	✔️
Master’s in Engineering	Minimum score 6.5	Minimum score 86	Minimum score between 60-57	Minimum score between 115-110	✔️
Master’s in Experimental Sciences	Minimum score 6.5	Minimum score between 92-79	Minimum score between 65-58	Minimum score between 125-115	❌
Master’s in Humanities	Minimum score between 7-6.5	Minimum score between 95-86	Minimum score between 125-115	Minimum score between 7-6.5	❌
Master’s in Management or MBA	Minimum score between 7-6.5	Minimum score between 100-95	Minimum score between 65-60	Minimum score between 125-115	✔️
PhD	Minimum score between 7-6.5	Minimum score between 100-85	Minimum score between 65-60	Score between 120-115 (this test is not accepted by most universities)	❌
Medicine and Law	Score 7 and above	Score between 109-100	Score between 76-68	Score 125 (this test is not accepted by most universities)	❌

Is it possible to study in Canada without a language certificate?

The answer to this question is yes, but there are conditions!

Several colleges and universities in Canada offer admission at the diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s level without requiring a language score, but their admission is conditional. This means that before studying in the desired main field or simultaneously with it, you must complete the language courses of that college/university to reach the language level accepted by that educational institution. It is worth mentioning that this type of conditional admission does not apply to master’s and doctoral programs.

In some colleges and universities, conditional admission is offered in a different way. In these educational institutions, admission is not granted without a language certificate; however, if your language score is below the minimum required by the university, there is a possibility of obtaining conditional admission. In this case, you will also need to complete language courses to bring your English or French language level up to the desired and necessary level for the university.

A few universities at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, and in some specific fields, offer this type of conditional admission, but there is no possibility of obtaining conditional admission at the doctoral level. In this type of conditional admission, each college or university sets a minimum language score requirement:

College: In colleges that require an IELTS score of 6.5 or its equivalent for direct admission, conditional admission is possible with an IELTS score of 5 to 6.
University:
At the bachelor’s level: In several universities that require an IELTS score of 6.5 or its equivalent for direct admission, conditional admission is possible with an IELTS score of 5.5 or 6.

At the master’s level: In a few universities in engineering and science fields that require an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for direct admission, it is possible to obtain a conditional acceptance with an IELTS score of 6. In a few universities in management fields that require an IELTS score of 7 or 6.5 for direct admission, conditional acceptance with a language course is possible by providing scores of 6.5 and 6, respectively.

We have had many cases where students obtained a visa without a language score and with conditional acceptance, but given the current situation at the Canadian embassy, where the number of study visa applications has increased significantly and since there is a specific capacity for study visas each year, immigration officers in Canada usually scrutinize cases with conditional study acceptance more rigorously.

Therefore, our recommendation is to apply for a study visa for Canada with direct and unconditional acceptance if possible, even though having a language certificate is not a mandatory document for obtaining a study visa for Iranians.

Required documents for applying to Canada

To apply for and obtain admission from Canadian universities, you need to provide the necessary documents related to each field and university. The required documents for applying to Canada are as follows, categorized by educational level:

Required documents for applying to schools in Canada

To study in Canadian schools and obtain admission at the elementary or high school level, you need to prepare the following documents:

– Translation of the report card for the last two to three years of study (if you are currently studying at the time of application, a translation of the enrollment certificate is also required)
– Scan of a valid passport
– Translation of the student’s birth certificate
– Translation of the parents’ birth certificates (if necessary)
– Completed custodian form for Canada (if the student’s parents do not accompany them to Canada and the student is under 18, a legal guardian must be designated in Canada, referred to as a custodian. The custodian form must include information about the custodian, their home address, and accurate information about the student’s parents)

Note:

At the application stage, translations of documents with the translator’s stamp are sufficient and do not require validation from the judiciary.
A copy of the Persian pages must also be included with the translated documents.

Required documents for applying to colleges in Canada

Translation of documents and transcripts for the last 2 to 3 years of high school (some colleges require the certificate and transcripts for the last 2 years, while others require the certificate and transcripts for the last 3 years of high school)
– Resume (if necessary – not mandatory for all colleges)
– Statement of purpose (if necessary – not mandatory for all colleges)
– Scan of the first page of the passport
– Scan of the language proficiency report (if available)

Required documents for applying to undergraduate programs in Canada

Translation of documents and transcripts for the last three years of high school
– Resume
– Statement of purpose
– Scan of the first page of the passport
– Scan of the language proficiency report (if available)

Required documents for applying to master's programs in Canada

Translation of the bachelor’s degree certificate and transcript (depending on the university’s requirements, the translation can be in English or French)
Resume
Statement of Purpose
2 or 3 letters of recommendation from university professors or workplace (requirements vary by university. Most Canadian universities require online letters of recommendation, meaning you enter the contact information of your professors or employers in the online application, and then an email is sent from the Canadian university to those professors, who must respond within a specified time and submit their recommendation online to the destination university)
Scan of the first page of the passport
Language test score report (during the application stage, a scan of the language test score is sufficient, but after receiving admission, you must request your testing center to send the score report to the desired university)
GRE or GMAT score (most management, business, and finance programs in Canada require GRE or GMAT scores)
Portfolio (a portfolio is a document of work samples that shows an individual’s work process, skills, and creativity over a period of time. Portfolios are mainly required for architecture, art, and graphic design fields)
Writing Sample (a sample of a research project, article, or sections of an academic thesis that you have previously submitted for a university class project or have sent to research journals for publication. A writing sample is necessary for research-based programs that require a supervisor and the completion of a thesis)

Required documents for applying for a study visa in Canada at the PhD level

Translation of documents and transcripts for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
Resume/CV
Statement of Purpose
2 or 3 online recommendation letters from university professors or employers (varies depending on university requirements)
Scan of the first page of the passport
Scan of the language test results
Abstract of the Master’s thesis
Research paper(s) (if available)
Research proposal (may be required depending on the professor’s and university’s conditions in Canada)
GRE or GMAT score (most management, business, and finance programs in Canada require GRE or GMAT scores)
Portfolio (a portfolio is a document showcasing work samples that demonstrates an individual’s work process, skills, and creativity over a period of time. Portfolios are primarily required for architecture, art, and graphic design fields)
Writing Sample (a sample of a research project, article, or sections of an academic thesis that you have previously submitted for a university class project or sent to research journals for publication. Some universities and doctoral programs require a writing sample).

For more information, you can visit the required documents page for applying to Canada.

Steps to Apply to Canadian Universities and Obtain Admission

Generally, the application process for Canadian universities varies in details, but they all have a few main stages, including creating an account, filling out the online application, uploading documents, paying fees, and submitting the application.

To learn about the details of applying to a Canadian university, you must visit the university’s website and read its application instructions. In this section, we have tried to comprehensively explain how to apply to Canadian universities so that you can learn the general steps and guidelines for applying and be able to apply to each specific university yourself.

The steps to apply to Canadian universities are as follows:

Step 1: Assess Your Situation
Evaluate your situation, including your desired budget and academic conditions such as GPA, language score, age, and your goals.

Example: To apply for a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, you need a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an IELTS score of at least 6.5. The tuition for one year in this program is CAD 23,000. Therefore, if you meet these conditions, you can apply to this university and program. Sometimes, even with the minimum requirements for admission to a university, your application may not be successful, and you may not receive admission. Other factors such as limited admission capacity and the competitiveness of the program affect this matter. Therefore, when choosing a university, consider these factors as well.

Step 2: Choose Your Desired City and Province
Consider important factors such as climate, population, job opportunities, and conditions for obtaining provincial permanent residency in the area where you intend to reside.

Step 3: Choose your field and university and get ready to apply
Your interest is an important factor in choosing a field, but we must not forget that this world is not always to your liking. Therefore, you need to be realistic and accept limitations, and choose the ideal university and field according to what you have.

For example, if you have a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a GPA of 12.5 and an IELTS score of 5.5, you cannot apply for your field. Therefore, the best decision for you would be to consider interdisciplinary fields such as Management.
Step 4: Check the application deadlines for your desired field
One of the important things to check before applying to Canadian universities is the application deadline. The deadline, or the maximum time limit for submitting applications, should be checked in the department of your desired field, as each field and level of education has a different application deadline. This information is usually written in the Admissions section of the department.

Canadian universities typically have three main admission terms, and each academic term has its own specific deadline.

University Terms in Canada	Duration of Each Academic Term	Application Deadlines
Fall Term	From September to late December	Most deadlines are in January, February, and March
Winter Term	From January to late April	Most deadlines are in June and July of the year before the term starts. A limited number of programs and universities have deadlines in August and September as well.
Spring Term / Summer Term	In some universities, it is called the Spring Term and in others the Summer Term. Note: Only some universities offer the Spring/Summer term.	Usually, deadlines are in October and November of the previous year. Some universities have deadlines in February and March of the same year.

Notes on the application deadlines for Canadian universities
The application deadlines vary depending on the program, level of study, and university. The most reliable way to find out about the application deadlines is to check the specific department at that university.
As an international student, and considering the student visa process, if you are applying to Canadian universities, you should apply at least 8 to 12 months before the start of the academic term.
Do not postpone your application to the last days of the deadline. The later you apply, the more likely it is that the capacity for your desired program for that academic term will be filled.
In some Canadian universities, the application submission deadline and the document submission deadline are different. This means that according to a specific date, you must first submit the online application and then you are given additional time to submit the documents.
Take university application deadlines seriously. If you do not submit the application and the required documents for admission by the application date, your admission request will be rejected.
Research-oriented programs at the master’s and doctoral levels usually have earlier application deadlines. Since most of these programs require correspondence with professors at Canadian universities, start the process of contacting professors a few months before the application deadline.

Step 5: Prepare the necessary documents for applying
Before starting the application process, carefully read the website of the department of your chosen field and see what documents and requirements are necessary for admission to that field. Information regarding the required documents is usually written in the Admission section of each department.

Prepare the requested documents and convert each document to a PDF file, naming it correctly in English. Some universities have their own specific instructions for preparing documents and usually set size limits for the documents.

The image below is part of the text on the Canadian Western University website that explains the size and format of documents:

Step 6: Visit the university’s website and create an account
In the menus of most university websites, the sections related to undergraduate studies are labeled “Undergraduate,” while the sections related to graduate studies for master’s and doctoral programs are labeled “Graduate.”

If you intend to apply for associate or bachelor’s degree programs, you should enter the Undergraduate section, and if you intend to apply for higher levels such as post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral programs, you should enter the Graduate section.

The image below shows the University of Ottawa’s website. As you can see, the Undergraduate and Graduate sections are in the menu, and by clicking on either of these sections, the available programs (Undergraduate or Graduate Programs) and the application process (How to Apply) for those levels will be displayed.

Step 7: Log into the online application and fill out the various sections of the application with the requested information.

After creating an account and logging into the main application, enter all requested information including personal details, home address and phone number, educational background, work experience, and if possible, your honors and academic achievements. Usually, in university applications, you need to select your field of study, level of education, and entry term from a list right from the beginning.

Other information you need to include in university applications includes your employment information and contact details of two or three professors from your home country’s university or your employer so that they can later write a letter of recommendation for you.

The requirements for admission vary by program and university, and depending on that, two or three letters of recommendation from professors may be necessary. Some universities are more flexible and usually accept one or two letters of recommendation from employers as well. Therefore, before starting the application process, talk to your professors and employer in advance and get their approval for sending the recommendation letters.

After entering the professors’ information, an email will be sent from the Canadian university to them, requesting that they send the recommendation form along with their letter of recommendation to the university’s email address.

For most research-based programs at the doctoral and master’s levels, it is necessary to enter the name of the supervisor who will become your advisor in the future in the application. You should find your advisor before the application process through correspondence with university professors. Be very careful when entering your name and information, and do not write anything incorrectly.After submitting the application, it is difficult to correct the information. After filling out each section, click on the Save option to save the information. Otherwise, you will have to enter your information from the beginning. In most university applications, it is possible to log out after filling out each section and saving that information, and you can log back into your application whenever you want to continue completing it. Typically, university applications in Canada remain active for one month, during which time you must complete and submit them. After one month, there is a possibility that your account may become inactive.

Step 8: Upload the required documents in the application.
In some university applications, there is an option to upload the required documents. However, in others, this option becomes available after submitting the application. Therefore, check what type of application your desired university has.
The documents that you usually need to upload in Canadian university applications include a resume, a statement of purpose, language proficiency certificates, and academic transcripts.
If the application you are interested in does not allow document uploads, after submitting the application, you should wait for an email from the university containing instructions for activating the university portal and uploading documents there. The process of activating the student portal varies by university. Usually, you will need to create a new username and password.
For example, the application process at the University of Windsor is as mentioned, and after applying, you will receive an email containing the necessary instructions for uploading documents. The image below is from the University of Windsor’s website regarding this matter:

On the websites of some universities, the steps after applying are outlined, according to which you can activate your account, upload the necessary documents, and check the status of your application. Therefore, according to the application system of these universities, no activation email will be sent to you after applying, and you must follow the instructions provided on the university’s website.

Step 9: Pay the application fee and submit the application at the end.
After entering all the required information, pay the application fee and finally submit it. You will need an international credit card, either Visa or MasterCard, to pay the application fee. At the end of all applications, there is an option called Submit, which you must click after entering your card information.

By clicking on the Submit option, your application will be sent online to the university. Always take a screenshot of the payment page and the page that confirms the submission of the application, and keep it for yourself so that you can show the confirmation to the university in case of any potential issues.

Step 10: Wait for the university’s email and receive your application number.
After submitting your application, you will receive a number called the Application Number or Student ID or Student Number. This number is specific to your application to that university, and it is very important to keep it safe and include it in the subject line of all your correspondence with the university.

Step 11: Activate your university account.
After applying, you will receive an email from the university on the same day or a few days later containing the necessary information to activate your university portal. As explained in step 8, the application process may vary at some universities, and this email may not be sent to you. Instead, you should read the university’s website to see how to activate your portal after applying.

By activating your university portal, you can upload necessary documents if required (depending on the university’s application rules) and check the status of your application to see if all documents have been received by the university and if the application is complete.

Step 12: Receive your initial acceptance letter.
One or several months after applying to a Canadian university, you will receive the results. If accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter along with your Student Number and DLI number.

Universities that require a deposit will initially send a letter called an Offer Letter, which is not the final acceptance letter and cannot be used to apply for a Canadian study visa. To receive the final acceptance letter, known as the Letter of Acceptance (LOA), you must first pay the university’s deposit.

Some other Canadian universities do not require a deposit. If accepted by these universities, you will receive the LOA from the beginning.

Step 13: Pay the university deposit if necessary.
If your chosen university requires a deposit payment, you must pay this fee in order for the final acceptance letter or Letter of Acceptance to be sent to you.

Each university has different payment methods for the deposit. Usually, all of them have an online payment option. Due to the sanctions on Iranian banks, you cannot make your payment directly from Iran to Canada. Therefore, you need to get help from someone who has a Canadian bank account.

If you have relatives in Canada, you can ask them to do this for you. Otherwise, another way is to seek help from a currency exchange office in Canada.

After paying the deposit, you need to send the receipt to your chosen university.

Step 14: Receive your final acceptance letter.
After sending the deposit payment receipt to the university, it usually takes one to two weeks to receive the LOA. When the final acceptance letter is sent to you, read it carefully. Check that your first and last name, the name of your program, and your degree level, as well as other relevant details, are correctly written.

If everything is perfect, and if you are prepared and have the necessary documents, proceed to apply for a Canadian study visa in the next step.

Step 15: Mail your official documents in paper form to the university.
After receiving the LOA, almost all Canadian universities will ask you to mail your educational documents to them. Be careful not to send the original educational documents; only the original translations of the documents and the official transcript of your previous degree are required.

The following image from the Western University website refers to the same thing:

In the application stage, the translation of documents does not require a court seal, but when you want to send your academic documents to a university in Canada, it is necessary for your documents to be officially translated, meaning they must have the translator’s seal and the court seal.

The submission of documents must be done by the university where you studied. Take the translated documents along with copies of the Persian pages to the international office of your university and ask them to send the documents to the address of the destination university. If the originating university does not do this for you, obtain an official envelope from them. The envelope must have the university’s seal. Then place your academic documents in the university envelope and seal it.

The sender’s address must be the address of your university, and in the recipient’s address section, you should write the address of the Canadian university mentioned in your acceptance letter. Be sure to write your full name and student ID on the envelope.

Note: You can postpone sending your academic documents until after receiving the visa result.

Canadian Universities for Applying

There are about 97 universities in Canada, and when considering colleges and other educational institutions, that number is even higher. Canadian universities are categorized into three levels—excellent, good, and average—and include both public and private universities.

Depending on your academic background and language scores, you can apply to different types of universities in Canada. Generally, getting admitted to private universities is easier than to public ones.

Next, we’ll look at a list of some of the most important universities in Canada to apply to, based on the U.S. News website in 2024:

University Name	National Rank	Global Rank
University of Toronto	1	18
University of British Columbia	2	35
McGill University	3	54
University of Alberta	4	136
McMaster University	5	138
University of Montreal	6	156
University of Calgary	7	157
University of Waterloo	8	191
University of Ottawa	9	215
Western University	10	300
Dalhousie University	11	314
Simon Fraser University	12	317
University of Victoria	13	334
University of Manitoba	14	372
Laval University	15	397

What kind of educational institution should I choose for applying to Canada

The answer is simple: choose an institution with DLI status. There are over 1,500 recognized educational institutions in Canada that meet the requirements set by the Immigration Department for applying for a Canadian student visa. Each of these institutions has a DLI code, which indicates that the institution is approved. Having a DLI number is essential for your visa application.

How can I be sure about the ranking of the institutions I’m considering?

To ease your mind a bit, it’s important to mention that the Canadian government ensures the validity of the educational programs at these institutions to promote fairness and accessibility to quality education for everyone. So, regardless of the ranking of the institutions, all colleges and universities meet a basic acceptable standard.

So, does that mean there’s no difference between institutions? Yes, there definitely is.

It’s true that universities like the University of Toronto, McGill University, the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, the University of Waterloo, Simon Fraser University, the Université de Montréal, Queen’s University, Dalhousie University, and McMaster University are much stronger in terms of ranking, but that doesn’t mean that studying at many other universities is less credible.

So don’t stress too much about this and apply based on the realities in your own case. No employer in Canada will question your university or college, so don’t worry about that and focus on improving your skills.

And of course, Canadian public colleges also adhere to minimum educational standards. There are over 150 community colleges in Canada offering job preparation programs that will get you ready for the targeted job market.

How do I apply for a PhD program in Canada?

Applying for a PhD takes more time compared to other educational levels.

All the points mentioned in the section “Steps for applying to Canada and gaining admission to Canadian universities” also apply to PhD applications, but applying for a PhD in Canada has one additional step that needs to be completed before applying, which is selecting a supervisor.

To apply for a PhD in Canada, you need to carry out two main steps:

One: Finding a Supervisor

The difference between applying for a PhD compared to master’s programs (course-based) and undergraduate degrees is that in most fields, you need to find a supervisor for your doctoral thesis before you apply.

Two:Applying and Submitting Documents to the University

Once you get approval from one of the university professors, you can start your application process for universities in Canada. Make sure to include your professor’s name in the application and then submit it.

After being accepted into the university, there’s a chance to receive scholarships from the professor and the university.

For more information, check out the PhD study page in Canada.

Applying for Scholarships in Canada

Scholarships in Canada come from various sources, including the Canadian government, non-governmental organizations, and Canadian universities. As an international student in Canada, you have the opportunity to receive funding from these sources and study in Canada for free or at a lower tuition rate.

Applications for Canadian scholarships are usually possible in two ways:

Separate Applications

Scholarship opportunities provided by government agencies and non-governmental organizations in Canada require separate applications. This means that in addition to the main application you submit for your program at your chosen university, you need to submit another application separately for scholarship requests at government or non-government organizations in Canada.

For instance, the well-known Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program is offered by the Canadian government to both domestic and international students and requires a separate application.

Some university scholarships also require a separate application. Many universities in Canada offer various funding options for international students at different levels of education, most of which require a separate application.

For example, Simon Fraser University Financial Aid and Awards are available for graduate students in research-based master’s and PhD programs, which requires a separate application from the program.

How to apply:

To apply for scholarship opportunities like this that require a separate application, you first need to visit the website of the relevant government, non-government organization, or university, and prepare the necessary documents for applying for that scholarship according to the conditions and guidelines mentioned there. Then, create an account, fill out the online application, and, similar to the university application process, submit your scholarship application.

Your application will be reviewed by the scholarship team of the respective organization, and they will eventually inform you of the outcome.

Simultaneous applications

Some scholarships offered by universities in Canada do not require a separate application. In this case, the application for these types of funds is done simultaneously with the application for the academic program at the Canadian university, and only one application is submitted. If you have strong qualifications and an impressive academic or research status, the university will automatically allocate a certain amount as a scholarship fund to you and will mention it in your acceptance letter.

For example, the University of Toronto in Canada automatically offers awards and scholarships to both domestic and international students, so there’s no need to apply separately for them. The following note from the University of Toronto’s website refers to this topic:

How long does it take to get accepted by Canadian universities?

From the time you apply to a Canadian university until you receive a response and admission, it may take anywhere from 1 month to 5 months. This duration completely depends on the circumstances of each university and the process of reviewing documents within it.

Applications are usually reviewed in chronological order, but this is not a strict rule and varies according to each university’s policy.

Cost of applying to Canada

When applying to universities in Canada, you need to consider several types of fees:

Application fee

The cost of reviewing admission applications varies among different universities in Canada. Here are some examples of application fees at Canadian universities:

University Name	Application Fee (Canadian Dollars)
University of Toronto	125
University of British Columbia	168
McMaster University	110
University of Windsor	125
McGill University	120.99
University of Alberta	125

Cost of Document Translation

For applying to study in Canada, the cost of translating educational documents with a judicial stamp ranges from 500,000 to 1,000,000 tomans.

Language Test Fees

The average cost of international language tests is about $300.

Mailing Documents to Canadian Universities

The postage fee for sending documents varies based on the weight of the package, but on average, you should expect to pay between 500,000 to 1,000,000 tomans to mail documents to universities in Canada.

Credential Evaluation Fees

Evaluating educational documents through credential evaluation organizations in Canada, such as WES, costs between $300 to $350. A few Canadian universities require degree equivalency.

Lawyer Fees

The cost of immigration lawyers for applying to Canadian universities, obtaining admission, and securing a Canadian student visa typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,000. The exact amount depends on the lawyer’s skill, experience, and working policies.

Which is the Easiest University in Canada for Admission?

Brandon University, Memorial University, University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Manitoba are among the universities where admission is easier. But don’t delay your application!

When applying to Canada, you need to consider various factors like your GPA, language test score, residency conditions of the program, and the annual admission rate of the university. The easiest university for admission in Canada may not necessarily be the best choice for you; you should select the option that aligns with your own admission criteria.

Acceptance Rates for Canadian Universities 2023-2024

The acceptance rates at the best universities in Canada typically range from 40% to 58.7%. This means that, for example, if a university receives 4,000 applications for admission in a year, only about half of them, or around 2,000 applications, will be accepted. Therefore, competition for entry into these universities is quite high.

Canadian universities with average rankings often accept more students; however, you need to be careful to choose a suitable university for your student visa process.

We will mention the acceptance rates of a few of the best Canadian universities for the 2023-2024 academic year:

Applying for a Canadian Student Visa After University Admission

After being accepted by Canadian universities, it’s now time to apply for a Canadian student visa.

Applying for a Canadian Study Permit After Getting Accepted to a University

Once you’ve been accepted into a Canadian university, it’s time to apply for a study permit. Plan to submit your visa application at least three months before your semester starts.

To get a Canadian study permit, you need to meet certain criteria; without them, your chances of getting the visa will be low:

You should have enough financial resources to cover a year of tuition and living expenses in Canada;

You must be accepted by a recognized Canadian university or college that has a DLI number;

You need to demonstrate that your stay in Canada will be temporary and that you will return to your home country after graduation;

You should have strong emotional, job, financial, and social ties to your home country that justify your return;

You must not have a criminal record and should be in good health.

All the necessary information for applying for a student visa can be found on the Canadian study permit page.

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What are the best universities in Canada to apply to?

University of Toronto

University of British Columbia

McGill University

McMaster University

University of Alberta

University of Montreal

University of Calgary

When should I apply to Canadian universities?

Deadlines vary but you should apply at least 8-12 months before the start of any academic term. Canadian universities have three main intake periods: September, January, and May (not all universities participate).

Do I need to mail my academic documents when applying to Canadian universities?

It depends on the requirements of each university. Generally, most universities accept scanned documents for Canadian applications, and there’s no need to mail physical documents. Only a very limited number of universities, especially at the undergraduate level, might require you to send your academic documents by mail alongside your application process.

Is it necessary to send the original degree and transcript for applying to Canadian universities?

No. After you get accepted by a university, they’ll ask you to send your diploma and transcripts from the university you previously attended. Keep in mind that you should never send the original documents to the universities; instead, you need to send the original translated diploma and transcripts that have the translator’s seal and the seal of the Judiciary, along with their Persian copies to the destination university.

How many times can I defer my acceptance during the Canadian application process?

It depends on the educational policy of each university. Usually, Canadian universities allow you to defer your admission 2 to 3 times and move your admission term to later semesters.

Can I get a scholarship with an acceptance offer from Canadian universities?

It is possible, but obtaining a scholarship in Canada depends on many factors, and having a strong resume and impressive academic background along with a high language score are essential requirements. Scholarships are generally more available for graduate programs like research-based master’s and PhDs. There is a slight chance of receiving a scholarship at lower levels as well, depending on your resume and the university’s conditions.

Does having a significant study gap reduce the chances of getting accepted into Canadian universities?

You can’t say for sure that a gap in education will hinder acceptance, but this gap should be supported by work experience.

What is the age requirement for acceptance into a PhD program in Canada?

There are no specific age requirements for admission to a PhD program or a master’s program, but naturally, the younger the applicant is or the smaller the gap in their education between graduation and the current date, the better their chances of acceptance will be, both by the professor and the university.

How much does work experience impact acceptance rates in management programs?

Having work experience enhances the chances of admission to a management program.

How much does having a published paper affect acceptance into Canadian PhD programs?

Having a paper is one of the very important requirements for acceptance into a PhD program.

Is it possible to be accepted into unrelated fields at the PhD level?

There is no possibility of being accepted into unrelated fields for a master’s program at the PhD level. Professors and universities attract students for PhD positions who have a relevant academic or research background.

Is applying for a master's program in Canada better as thesis-based or course-based, and which has a lower visa risk?

Not everyone qualifies for acceptance based on a thesis. In thesis-based programs, the individual’s research background is very influential; therefore, a general answer cannot be applied to all individuals. Regarding the visa process, whether it is course-based or thesis-based does not specifically affect it.

Does the acceptance into a thesis-based or course-based master's program impact job market entry in Canada?

Can I apply to Canadian universities with a general IELTS score?

To gain admission, you definitely need to present an academic IELTS score.

Is a portfolio mandatory for acceptance in artistic programs?

For applying to most art programs, a portfolio is required.

I have been rejected from engineering programs with a 16 GPA and an IELTS score of 6.5. What could be the reason for the rejection?

Generally, universities mention the reason for rejection in the rejection letter, and competitiveness is one of the key factors that contributes to being rejected.

Is it possible to apply to a Canadian university for both a master's and PhD simultaneously?

If you apply to a university for both a master’s and a doctoral program at the same time, the master’s application will impact the doctoral application, and it’s better not to apply for both simultaneously at the same university.

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