Students Head North To Save on Cash

December 4th, 2008

This week we welcome Robin Levinson, the content editor for CampusCompare.com, as our guest blogger. If you’ve ever considered higher education in Canada, or just wondered what the fuss is about, today’s post is for you.

Many students like to spend a semester studying abroad, while others journey abroad for all of their college degree work. The majority of U.S. students abroad aren’t heading to Europe or some exotic locale, however; they’re traveling to our friendly neighbors to the north, Canada. So what are the perks to getting your bachelor’s in the land of maple syrup, lumberjacks, and hockey?

1. Savings: The average tuition in Canada for international students hovers around 15,000 CAD, depending on your program. With the U.S. dollar currently strong, that price tag equates to just under $12,000 a year. Even room and board come at bargain rates. The cost of living in big college towns like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver is lower than similarly-sized U.S. cities like Boston, New York City, LA, and Chicago.
2. Prestige: McGill University, the #1-rated university in Canada, was voted #12 in the world in 2008, and is often called “the Harvard of Canada.” Close contenders, University of Toronto, Queens University, and University of British Columbia, also have stellar international reputations. On CampusCompare.com, you can search colleges outside of the U.S. and get college info for many schools in Canada.
3. Independence: Ask students who dorm there: Canadian college life tends to be a bit more independent than the typical American college dorm experience. The drinking age is 18 in Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta, and 19 everywhere else. Most students live off campus after their first year, affording them even more freedom. This is not always a good thing: those of you looking for a cozy college experience might feel lost on a big campus living in an apartment. Figure out what you want in a school, and search for colleges that match your lifestyle needs.
4. Diversity: Going abroad for college is an eye-opening experience to a new culture and other ways of life. Canada is a multi-ethnic bilingual country. Students who choose schools in Montreal, for instance, will be able to learn or practice French, and benefit from the almost-European character of the city.

Choosing to study in Canada is a big decision, and it is not without its repercussions. Distance is obviously a factor. There is also the added hassle of immigration: Canada requires that you apply for a student-visa if you plan to study for more than six months in the country. So is studying in Canada right for you? Only you can know for sure.

What’s your take on studying abroad? Is it something you’d consider – for one semester, two semesters? The whole endeavor?

– Robin Levinson

Entry Filed under: Budgeting, College Trends, General