 When going to study in Canada, students are faced with two options: university or college? Many students do not know whether to choose a specialized college or an academic university. So, what is the difference between a Canadian university and a college? Here is a brief video explanation.
Key points of university education in Canada
Key points of college education in Canada教育侧重点
 Colleges in Canada mainly have 2-3-year programs, with some majors that offer undergraduate degrees. Canadian college programs are very different from our Chinese college programs as they focus more on vocational training and applied skills. The college curriculum is more practical, comprehensive, and coherent, and students can quickly learn from a progression of easy to difficult. In addition to theoretical foundation courses, there are vocational training courses, university transfer credit courses and accessible professional certification training. In other words, employment goals are clear, making it easier for students to find the right job.
 Whenever we mention college, people naturally associate it with vocational schools and lower levels of education in China. In their eyes, college is for students with low grades, and it will be hard to find a job after graduation. They think that there is no point in studying if a degree cannot be obtained. Whether it is a Chinese college or a Canadian college, they have all been labelled as "Useless!" Also, we have heard some people say, "If I can only get into college, I would rather not go to study in Canada." In their sense, they think it is “better to die in glory than to live in dishonor” as if the college is really that bad! Many students and parents shook their heads in disapproval when they heard the word "college," and felt that going abroad to study in a college was shameful and a waste of time. This misconception is untrue because Canadian colleges are actually very good!
There are more than 150 public colleges in Canada, located all over the country, focusing on developing students' practical expertise.
At this point, we feel the need to emphasize that Canadian colleges are the same as colleges in China!
[How are they different from Chinese colleges?]
 Canada and China have different national conditions, so the demands of the labour market and the perception of the people are also very different. In the eyes of Canadians, universities and colleges are not distinguished by level, let alone by education level. Instead, they are distinguished by the content of their programs and academic goals.
The courses in universities generally focus on theory
The courses in universities explain complex and profound principles from a macro perspective, which can be used to train students' method of thinking in a certain professional field. Most of the students who choose to apply to Canadian universities are basically preparing themselves for future scientific research or further studies. In Layman's terms, it can be understood that university students are determined to become scientists or want to continue studying.
Colleges mainly develop students' professional skills in a certain field.
 In other words, the purpose of applying to a Canadian college is to find work right after graduation, and you will not need to take extra time out to participate in on-the-job training. The programs offered by the college are relatively more hands-on and diverse. There are more programs offered in colleges than you can imagine! In addition to the conventional accounting, finance, and business administration; there are also programs like automotive business management, golf management, winery management, ski resort management, culinary arts, precision machining and tooling, electrical engineering – automation systems, renewable energy engineering, marine technology, refrigeration and air conditioning, auto repair, aircraft repair, medical aesthetics and cosmetology, opticianry, jewellery design, fashion management, interactive media design, landscape design, massage therapy, funeral directing, etc.
 Therefore, we must avoid the misconception of Canadian collegesbeing equivalent to Chinese colleges or vocation schools. It is not true that people go to college because they cannot get into university. Going to college is solely a choice based on the career plan of an individual after graduation. For this reason, many students who have graduated from the Toronto Universities、 University of Waterloofor example, will choose to enterSeneca College、 Humber Collegefor professional training.
 In Canada, college graduates often find jobs faster than university graduates, and starting salaries are not low, especially for technical majors. Thanks to the co-op programs offered in colleges, starting salaries can be as high as $20 per hour.
 When looking for a job in Canada, interviewers assess your work experience more so than your education. More than 50% of the programs in colleges offer co-op opportunities, and some are paid positions. The college's curriculum is different from the university's "extensive education" and pays more attention to improving skills that are relevant to the workplace. Internships during the vacation period not only allow students to flexibly apply what they have learned in class to their work, but also allow students to be in touch with professionals in the field in order to build their network and prepare for graduation.
[Continuing your undergraduate and master's studies]
 All public colleges in Canada have different types of agreements with different universities. Students have the opportunity to transfer credits to the university after graduating from the college in 2-3 years. They do not need to provide language scores. For schools that have signed a cooperation agreement, they can even transfer all their college credits to the university, greatly reducing repeated studies. After graduating from college, the student not only holds a college diploma, but also a university bachelor's degree. Students studying for a bachelor’s degree (undergraduate) at a college can also continue to study for a masters (graduate degree) after graduation.
 So, don't look down on those students who are studying in college! Maybe in 5 years, they will be your immediate supervisor.
At this point, you must be wondering, is it going to be difficult applying to college?
The answer is "No."
 In fact, colleges have no cut-offs. For the application of a diploma/advanced diploma, applicants who graduated from high school with an average score of at least 60% plus an IELTS score of 6.0 (no less than 5.5 in each section) can apply for direct admission. If you did not graduate from high school, it does not matter, because colleges have the Mature Student Stream (for applicants over the age of 19 without a high school diploma or transcript.) If you do not have a 6.0 in IELTS, there is no need to worry, because colleges also offer conditional admissions.
 For college bachelor degree programs, as long as the average score of your six grade-12 courses is around 65% (some majors require higher averages) and your IELTS score is 6.5 or above (no less than 6.0 in each section), you can apply for direct admission. University undergraduate programs also have the Mature Student Stream, but the age requirement is 21 years old and the student has to have left high school for more than two years (some colleges offer exceptions, as long as you are 19 years old or over). If your English language score is not enough, you can opt for conditional admission.
Flexible start times at Canadian Colleges
 Moreover, the start dates of colleges is also very flexible. Unlike universities, the start dates of college programs are not limited to Fall (September), Winter (January) and Summer (May) semesters. For students who receive a conditional offer, their language programs may start at different times depending on the school. The dates can be summarized as follows: if it is a 2-months-per-level language program, the start dates are in January, March, May, July, September, and November; if it is a 4-months-per-level program, the start dates are in January, May, and September. If the major’s courses start three times a year, a two-year program can be compressed into a year and a half. Similarly, a three-year course can be compressed into two years, and after graduation, you would still be eligible for a 3-year work permit. Flexible study terms help students avoid long gaps between semesters and also allows for students to transition from their language programs to their undergraduate programs seamlessly.
[ UtoCanada rovides a summary of the advantages of studying in Canadian Colleges]】
1.Shorter time
Canadian colleges offer more two-year college programs and a few three-year programs. Postgraduate diploma courses can be one-year or two-year programs. These programs are much shorter than university undergraduate programs. Not only can you save time, but you can also save a lot of money and be employed sooner.
2.Lower costs
Shorter time to complete a program is a factor that saves on the cost of studying abroad. Also, college tuition is generally lower than university tuition. Some students with average family income who have excellent grades still choose college instead of university, because going to college can them a lot of money than university. Additionally, colleges offer more paid internship programs, so that students earn income while studying.
3.Lower requirements
The application requirements are lower than those of universities. Compared with many universities that explicitly require high school averages of 80% or higher, the requirements of colleges are indeed lower. However, students should not think that they can be accepted regardless of how poor their academic performance is. Many colleges require students to have a passing average of 60%. Some majors offered by prestigious colleges still require 70% or more to enter. So, please don't take it lightly!
4. Strong practicability and high employment rate
Universities focus on theoretical knowledge and academic research, while colleges focus more on students' practical skills training to increase the students' chances of being employed. The employment rate of Canadian colleges can reach more than 90%, and some majors can reach 100%. The college's curriculum is close to the needs of society, and many colleges have close cooperation with enterprises. Students can directly work in cooperative enterprises after graduation.
5. Paid-internship opportunities
Many of the college's majors have co-op programs. Co-op provides paid internship opportunities for students. Students who select co-op programs can work in a company in an internship position during their studies and get paid. There is still an excellent opportunity to stay in the internship company after graduation.
6.Credit transfers are possible, making Canadian university applications smoother
Most public colleges have a cooperative relationship with one or more universities, and in the professional setting, they also recognize each other's credits. If the student's grades are not high enough to apply to their desired university, you can apply for the college that cooperates with him. After studying in the college for two years, you can transfer the credits earned to the university by transferring credits. This method can also be a money-saving option!
7.Get a work permit
A two-year college degree at a college in Canada makes the student eligible for a three-year work permit upon graduation. Many students choose to study to immigrate to Canada in the future because it is the fastest and most convenient way to immigrate to Canada. Studying in a college is the most time-saving, energy-saving way to study abroad.
8. Suitable for a wide range of people
Colleges can accept a much broader population than universities. In addition to high school and undergraduate students, transfer students, college students, and vocational high school students are also eligible to apply. In contrast, to apply for an undergraduate in Canada, you must be a high school graduate, and to apply for a master's degree in Canada, you must have a bachelor's degree.
UtoCanada can help you apply for a Canadian college for free, receive an offer quickly, and save you time and money.
[Application Materials]
1.Proof of identity
There are many documents that can prove who you are, for example: a driver's license, ID card, PR card, Hong Kong and Macau Pass. Certification documents submitted when applying for colleges and universities must be internationally recognized. So, for Chinese international students, a passport is required.
2.Academic documents and transcripts
When applying for a diploma, advanced diploma, or a bachelor's program, you need to submit a complete high school/vocational high school transcript and a high school graduation diploma (if you are currently in high school, you should submit a certificate of enrollment). It does not matter if you completed high school a long time ago because colleges have the "Mature Student Stream." Applicants who have reached the age of 19 years old (21 for undergraduate applicants who have left high school for more than two years) do not need to provide a high school transcript and graduation certificate. All application materials must be the official version, translated and notarized.
3.English Proficiency
Your high school English grade from China cannot be used to prove your English level. You must submit an internationally recognized language test—for example, IELTS, TOEFL, or the language assessment test set by the college. IELTS is the highest accredited test in Canadian universities and standards. TOEFL is recognized in Canadian schools too. Also, the score requirement may vary slightly from school to school.
The results for your college's language assessment test is only recognized by the issuing college. High school students in Canada have a superior benefit when applying for college because of their "length of study." If the applicant is in a country where English is the native language or English is the primary language of instruction, there is no need to submit a language score as long as the student has completed two consecutive years of study.
If none of the above four conditions are met, you should not be discouraged, because colleges also offer Conditional Admissions. All public colleges in Canada have language centres to provide pure language-learning opportunities for students with insufficient or no language proficiency. The goal is to help improve the applicant's English ability in four aspects: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
If you feel that the college's language centre does not fully meet your needs for improving English, you can also go to a language institution that cooperates with the college to take its Pathway / EAP program.
These language centres are accredited by Language Canada and provide small classroom learning environments for more opportunities for oral practice. The excellent language environment can help to improve your English skills faster. At the same time, it can help to reduce study time and costs (For details, please consult UtoCanada's education consultants for an estimation).
If you feel that the above methods are not suitable for you, do not worry. Take Ontario as an example. The language centres of 14 public colleges have signed joint agreements. If you graduate from a language centre of any of the 14 colleges, you can apply for 13 other colleges using your transcript and graduation certificate.
