By Fiona Williams

Interested in studying at a Canadian university?

With six different time zones from west to east, Canada is a multicultural country that has a lot to offer. From the temperate climate of rainy Vancouver, to the bustle of Toronto's Bay Street and Montréal's music festivals, Canada is becoming an increasingly popular destination for international students seeking a high-quality and affordable education. In fact, the three metropolises--Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal--are home to the "big three" Canadian universities: the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia.

While applying to universities in Canada can seem daunting, we at Hale Education Group UAE are here to help.

The Canadian Admissions Counseling team at Hale is composed of graduates from top Canadian universities. Our university counsellors in Dubai have first-hand experience with the Canadian applications process. The process differs quite radically from the US, and below is an outline of the main things to keep in mind when applying to universities in the Great White North.

1. Decentralized portals

Unlike the US Common App, the application portals in Canada are decentralized and are based on region. For example, to apply to schools in Ontario, students must use the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) platform. Applications to UToronto, YorkU, and UWaterloo (amongst others) are completed through OUAC. And to apply to schools in British Columbia, the EducationPlannerBC platform is used. Applications to UBC, UVictoria, and Simon Fraser are completed through this platform. However, for schools in Québec (like McGill and Concordia) students must apply directly to the university; there is no central portal for this province.

2. Timeline

Due to the decentralized structure of the application process, timelines for the various portals differ. While the OUAC portal opens mid-September, the EducationPlannerBC and McGill portals open in October. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but it is advised to submit by early November. As mentioned on the OUAC website, popular programs may reach capacity and the portal may close! Students are also encouraged to submit early if they are applying for scholarships.

3. SAT / IELTS

Students studying at a Canadian high school are not required to submit standardized test scores. Whether or not international students need to submit SAT/ACT scores depends on the high school curriculum they are enrolled in. For instance, students enrolled in a standard American curriculum school, or taking AP exams, would need to submit SAT/ACT results. However, students in the IB program would be exempt from the SAT/ACT requirement. (aside: I dont know why this is) Hale Education offers SAT Classes at the Dubai office and we are here to help students prepare for their SAT/ACT exams.

Another standardized test that international students may be required to submit is an English Language proficiency test. With the exception of francophone universities in Québec, English is the language of instruction for the vast majority of universities in Canada. The IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo English Test are examples of the English Language proficiency tests students can register for to meet this requirement. Alternatively, some universities accept grades from IB or GCSE/IGCSE/GCE/AICE English courses as demonstrated proficiency in English. I advise students to confirm the admissions requirements for each program by looking on the university's website.

Applying to Canadian universities need not be an arduous task. The Canadian Admissions Counseling team at Hale is here to support students through the entirety of the application process.

Come find home away from home in the Great White North.

- Hale Education Group