Higher Education in Canada

Canada offers a wide choice for international students including more than 89
universities, nearly 175 community colleges and several other technical and
vocational institutions. With a large choice of graduate and under graduate
degree programs, the faculty in Canada can be compared to the best in the
world.

Universities in Canada range from urban colleges, to multi campus and
research focussed universities to smaller campuses each offering specialised
education in fields as diverse as business and agriculture!

Being a bilingual country, Canada’s medium of education is English as well as
French. Universities take an active role in community enhancing activities and
students conduct concerts and plays regularly.

Being a highly academic country nearly 25% of Canada’s research happens in
Universities and students are encouraged to indulge in research projects.
Canada has given the world several innovative contributions including Insulin
(treatment for diabetes), Pablum, the artificial pacemaker, improved strains of
wheat, and the identification of the genetic causes of diseases such as cystic
fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease. Canadian researchers
are world leaders in areas such as helping people cope with pain and stress,
improving human memory, pulp and paper chemistry, dealing with the impact
of technology in the workplace, and finding new treatments for cancer,
osteoporosis and arthritis.

There are currently 500,000 full-time undergraduates at Canadian
universities, 200,000 part-time undergraduates, 75,000 full-time and 40,000
part-time graduate students. Social sciences remain by far the largest field of
study in Canada, followed by education and the humanities. Biochemistry and
computer science have been among the fastest growing disciplines at the
bachelor's level in the last five years, closely followed by nursing, sociology
and psychology.

Several universities support students with special needs, including single
parents, women, physical/sensory/ learning disability students, aboriginal
students and even part time students. Some universities offer for-credit
courses aimed at integrating students to university life and studies. Many
universities provide such assistance on an on-going basis throughout the
academic year, with workshops in areas such as essay and exam writing,
study and research skills.