The UK and Canada are rich in history when it comes to providing an excellent learning environment and top ranked universities. Global Vision 2024 report highlighted that by 2024, Canada could host more than 7.53 million foreign students. Nevertheless, The Pie News reported that the UK Indians student population has increased sharply to 680000 for the 2021-22 academic year.
Both Canada and the UK (UK) share similarities including great cultures, varied landscapes, a livability, free healthcare, among others. After that, finding Canada Vs UK on some key factors like cost of living, tuition fees, permanent residence, job opportunities, etc. could help a lot international students.
Canada Vs UK
| Major aspects | Canada | UK |
| Total International students | 7,53,000 | 6,80,000 |
| Top courses offered | Health & Medicine, Engineering, Hospitality & Tourism, Business Management | Law, Medicine, Engineering, Business Management, Biotechnology |
| Course durations | Undergraduate- 3 to 4 years Post graduate- 1 to 2 years Ph.D.- 6 years | Undergraduate- 3 to 4 years Post graduate- 1 to 2 years Ph.D.- 3 to 4 years |
| Test scores required | IELTS- 6.0+ GRE- 300+ GMAT- 600+ TOEFL- 90+ DET- 105+ | IELTS: 6.5-7.0 GRE: 310-315 TOEFL: 90+ GMAT- 650+ DET: 105-120 |
| Student visa fees | 150 CAD | £490 |
| Student admission intakes | September and January | September and January |
Canada vs UK: Education and Grading System
United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom comes with a unique higher education grading system. It is far better than the traditional grading system to describe a student’s academic performance.
- The UK grading system focuses more on student’s specific skills and academic strengths. It helps employers to have a better idea of one’s true potential.
- UK Universities use a ‘Letter Grade Scale.’ It ranges from A to F. Letter ‘A’ stands for outstanding knowledge. The letter ‘F’ means failing with a low score.
Here is a table to explain the UK grading system :
| Letter Grade | Score in Percentage | Grade Meaning | Degree Class | ||
| Honours Degree | Foundation Degree | ||||
| A | 70% – 100% | Excellent to Outstanding | PASS | First | Distinction |
| B | 60% – 69% | Good to Very Good | Upper Second 2:1 | Merit | |
| C | 50% – 59% | Satisfying | Lower Second 2:2 | Pass | |
| D | 40% – 49% | Sufficient | Third 3 | ||
| E | 30% – 39% | Unsatisfactory | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL |
| F | 0 – 29% | Unsatisfactory/Very Poor | |||
Canada
- International students have to meet the Grade Point Average (GPA) criteria while applying for Canadian universities.
- Canadian GPA system determines the academic skill and eligibility of the students. This system was designed to know whether a student is fit for a particular course or not. So, foreign students need to understand their GPA before applying for Canadian universities.
- GPA, followed by Canadian universities, is unique. It is very different from the standard GPA system of other countries.
The following tables show the basic percentage equivalency for Letter Grade and GPA :
Scale-I
| Letter Grade | Score in Percentage | GPA Grade |
| A+ | 92-100 | 4.33 |
| A | 88-91 | 4 |
| A- | 85-87 | 3.67 |
| B+ | 82-84 | 3.33 |
| B | 78-81 | 3 |
| B- | 75-77 | 2.67 |
| C+ | 72-74 | 2.33 |
| C | 68-71 | 2 |
| C- | 65-67 | 1.67 |
| D | 55-64 | 1 |
| F | 0-54 | 0 |
Scale-II
| Letter Grade | Score in Percentage | GPA Grade |
| A+ | 90-100 | 9.0 |
| A | 80-89 | 8 |
| B+ | 75-79 | 7< |
| B< | 70-74 | 6 |
| B- | 65-69 | 5 |
| C+ | 60-64 | 4 |
| C | 55-59 | 3 |
| C- | 50-54 | 2 |
| D | 40-49 | 1 |
| F | 0-39 | 0 |
Top Universities in Canada and UK
Top Universities in Canada
| University Name | QS World Ranking 2024 |
| McGill University | 31 |
| University of Toronto | 34 |
| University of British Columbia | 47 |
| University of Alberta | 110 |
| University de Montreal | 116 |
| McMaster University | 152 |
| University of Waterloo | 154 |
| Western University | 172 |
| University of Ottawa | 237 |
| University of Calgary | 242 |
Top UK Universities
| University Name | QS World Ranking 2024 |
| University of Cambridge | 2 |
| University of Oxford | 4 |
| Imperial College London | 6 |
| University College London | 8 |
| The University of Edinburgh | 15 |
| The University of Manchester | 28 |
| King’s College, London | 37 |
| The London School of Economics and political science | 56 |
| University of Bristol | 61 |
| The university of Warwick | 64 |
Canada vs UK: Popular Courses
| Popular Courses to study | |
| In Canada | In United Kingdom (UK) |
| Business Management | Nursing |
| Engineering, IT & computer science | Law |
| Health and Medicine | Business and Management |
| Dentistry | Sociology |
| Hospitality management | Medicine, Biotechnology, Bioscience |
| Tourism, Media and Journalism | Engineering, Design studies |
| Economics | Hospitality and Tourism |
| Psychology | Psychology |
| Agricultural science & Forestry | Sports and Exercise science |
Canada vs UK: Admission Requirements and Eligibility
Canada
- If you want to get admission in an undergraduate course (UG), you need to complete the 12-years of schooling. International students have to sit for the SAT Exam.
- The average duration for degree courses in Canada is four years. The diploma course duration in Canada varies from 2 to 3 years.
- Canadian education system allows different types of vocational courses along with regular courses. It also comes with many regular classes at a Master’s degree or postgraduate (PG) level. Securing admission to vocational courses is a lot easier than traditional courses.
- To get admission to a management degree program, you must sit for the GMAT exam. GRE Exam score is a must to seek admission for engineering degrees in Canada.
- Canadian education format doesn’t have any cut-off concept. Colleges publish the average scores required for different courses. Aspiring students can check their websites for average scores to have a fair idea of what is good.
- To apply for a Canadian course, you have to take language exams to
prove your language skill. TOEFL or IELTS scores are accepted irrespective of the course. A few Canadian colleges allow admission to Indian students without a language test. - We recommend you take the TOEFL or IELTS test as they are also important to get the visa. You may be denied a Canadian student visa if the visa interviewer is not sure of your spoken language skill.
UK
- Unlike Canadian institutions, UK undergraduate courses used to require 13 years of pre-university education. Recently this rule was modified. Now UK universities consider 10+2 CBSE certificate holders for admission to UG courses.
- You have to complete a 3-year UG degree course to apply for a postgraduate course in UK universities.
- You have to appear for GMAT to get admission in management courses. GRE score is mandatory for admission in science courses.
- A good score in GMAT or GRE test can improve one’s chance to secure admission in reputed UK colleges and universities.
- UK universities also prefer to take students with work experiences. Having work experience is incredibly helpful in securing a place in UK management courses.
- Universities in the UK no longer consider TOEFL or IELTS exams as mandatory admission criteria. But these language test exams play a crucial role in getting a UK study permit.
Canada vs UK: Cost of study and living expenses
It is important to have an idea about the cost of study and living expenses in both countries. The study cost in Canadian universities is significantly lower than in UK universities because
- The cost of tuition fee is usually lesser in Canada and hence the tuition fee in Canadian universities are much lesser than UK Universities.
- Canadian dollar has a lower exchange rate compared to other currencies.
Let us dive deeper into the major expenses international students have to bear.
| Study cost and Living expenses for Undergraduate (UG) courses in Canada and UK | ||
| Main Particulars | Canada | UK |
| Tuition fee | CAD 10,000 to CAD 30,000 (INR 6,10,845 to INR18,32,536) per year | £8,000 to £15,000 (INR 8,22,602 to INR 15,42,380) per year. |
| Cost of living | $10,000 to $12,000 per year. | £12,000 to £15,000 per year. |
| Duration of the course | 3 to 4 years | 3 years |
| Study cost and Living expenses for Postgraduate (PG) courses in Canada and UK | ||
| Main Particulars | Canada | UK |
| Tuition fee | CAD 15,000 to CAD 35,000 (INR 9,16268 to INR 21,37959) per year | £18,000 to £35,000 (INR 1,800,000 to INR 3,500,000) per year. |
| Cost of living | $10,000 to $12,000 per year. | £12,000 to £15,000 per year. |
| Duration of the course | 1 to 2 years | 1 to 2 years |
Scholarships availability to study in Canada and UK
Canada
Irrespective of the course you choose, securing a scholarship in Canada for Indian students helps to manage your expenses. Here are some scholarships offered in Canada for international students and check your eligibility before applying
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Canadian Government scholarship namely, Vanier
- Canada Graduate scholarship
- International Research Linkages
- For Masters Programs- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- Canada Memorial scholarship for Indian students
- India First year Excellence scholarship – University of Alberta
United Kingdom (UK)
Here is a list of scholarships in the UK for Indian students to cater to your financial needs and fund your higher education.
- Sri Ratan Tata Fellowship for South Asian Students at LSE
- British Council Great Scholarships for Indian students
- Cardiff Business School of Scholarships
- Edinburgh Global Research scholarship
- Government-funded scholarships like Scotland’s Saltire
- Scholarship, Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
- Oxford and Cambridge Society of India scholarships
Canada vs UK: Student Visa Requirements
Canada
The Canadian student visa has following rules and regulations
- Applicants have to take Medical test as a part of visa application process
- You have to apply for post-graduation work permit within 90 days of completing your studies
- Your work limit should not exceed 20 hours per week. A waiver is given during holidays, breaks and summer sessions, where students may work up to 40 hours per week.
- Spouses can work full-time if their stay duration is a year or more.
- The Canadian student visa fee is around CAD 150.
- A separate permit is required to work as an intern or participate in Co-op as per your course requirements.
UK
International students planning to study in the UK have to apply for a formerly Tier 4 UK visa. The UK government relaxed UK post-study work visa rules for international students. To apply for a UK student visa, the rules to be followed are
- Visa is granted only on a full-time study program
- Students can work part-time, only 20 hours per week (on Campus or off-Campus) during their studies. During the vacation period, they can work full time only on-Campus.
- The tier 4 visa costs £490. If the family accompanies you an additional charge of £363 has to be paid for a dependent visa. Also, An international health surcharge of £705 should be paid.
- For a short term study visa, you need to leave the UK within 30 days of completion of the course.
Permanent Residence Opportunity
Canada
Canada welcomes more and more immigrant students to stay and work there. This country allows students to apply for PR when they are on PGWP. This country also allows PR visa holders to bring their families with them. So, securing a permanent residence visa in Canada is more profitable and straightforward.
UK
Several changes in terms of UK government policies happened due to Brexit. It is very difficult for international students to stay and look for a UK job upon graduation. So, chances for permanent residency in the UK is low.
read more- https://www.gov.uk/
