Study Abroad 2023: Canada vs the UK

Canada and the UK are two of the most popular study abroad destinations for Indian students. Both countries offer high quality education, great job opportunities and a multicultural environment. To help you make this decision, we’ve made a comparative analysis of what’s on offer to prospective students in these countries. By the end of this article, we feel sure you’ll know which country is for you!

Indian Presence in the UK and Canada: A Comparison

The United Kingdom and Canada offer quality education to international students. And when it comes to the presence of Indian students in both countries, the numbers are nearly the same!

According to the IRCC, in 2021, the total number of international students in Canada stood at 621,656, while the Higher Education Student Statistics for the UK reported the number of Indian students in the UK, in 2020-21, at 605,130. 

Also read our article on the top 10 universities in the world based on the Times Higher Education ranking. 

If your desire is a study abroad destination with a significant Indian community base, both countries make a good choice. 

Top Universities- Global Index

If we are to compare the two countries from the perspective of global excellence, there are many rankings that will help us decide. For example, based on the Time’s Higher Education rankings for 2023, 3 UK universities make it to the top 10 universities worldwide. There are no Canadian universities in the top 10. 

However, 1 university from Canada makes it to the top 20 best universities worldwide on the same list and 4 Canadian universities make it to the top 100. 

However, on their own, Canadian universities offer a world class education in general and do well on several global education scores and rankings. 

Top Universities- The UK

The Times Global rankings list the following 3 universities in the top 10, 7 universities in the top 50 and 10 universities in the top 100 universities of the world.

The UK’s universities took the number 1, 3, and 10 spots, with the University of Oxford taking the crown. 

Top Universities- Canada

The Times Global rankings list the following 7 universities among the best in the world. It’s important to remember that since the sample size is large (nearly 1799 universities were surveyed for the listing), having 7 universities among the top 200 indicates a very high quality of education on offer.

Popular Courses- The UK and Canada

Listed below are the most popular courses in the UK and Canada. So, for instance, if you are a student of business and management, the UK might be a better destination for you than Canada. On the other hand, if you’re a student of medicine, Canada might be your preferred destination. 

Admission Requirements

The UK

To be eligible to apply for a postgraduate course in the UK, you need to have successfully completed a three year undergraduate degree in India. There may be additional eligibility criteria on which undergraduate courses qualify based on the field of study you apply to. 

You may also be expected to provide scores for the following tests:

1. GMAT– Management courses typically require a GMAT score for eligibility. 
2. GRE– Some Masters programs in science may require you to give the GRE exam. 
3. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE- Most universities in the UK require English language proficiency test results as part of their admission process. Check with your university on which test in specific you need to provide. 

UK universities can be extremely specific about which English test results they accept, so make sure to check on this. 

Canada

To be eligible to apply for a postgraduate course in Canada, you need to have successfully completed a three year undergraduate degree in India. There may be additional eligibility criteria on which undergraduate courses qualify based on the field of study you apply to. 

Admission to vocational courses tend to have relaxed criteria. However, all other courses require a bunch of test scores including

1. GMAT– Management courses typically require a GMAT score for eligibility. 
2. GRE– Some Masters programs in science as well as engineering programs may require you to give the GRE exam.
3. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE- Most universities in Canada require English language proficiency test results as part of their admission process. Check with your university on which test in specific you need to provide. 

The concept of cutoffs doesn’t apply to Canadian colleges. Colleges provide average scores accepted to different courses on their websites. That will give some idea about what’s considered a good score. 

Costs for Postgraduate Courses in The UK and Canada

Student Visa – UK and Canada

The UK

As a student accepted to study abroad in the UK, you will need to apply for a UK Student visa (formerly Tier 4 UK Visa). Recently, UK Post-Study Work Visa Rules were relaxed for international students. To be eligible for the visa you need to prove that:

• You have been accepted to a full-time study program
• You can make a payment of the £363 visa processing fees to apply for a UK Student Visa.

The UK student visa allows you to work part-time up to 20 hours per week (on campus or off campus), and full-time during vacations (only on-campus). 

Canada

As a student accepted to a Canadian study abroad program you will need to consider the following:

• The visa application process to Canada requires a compulsory medical test for Indian applicants.
• It costs CAD150 to apply for this visa.
• You will have to apply for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of finishing your studies.

You cannot work more than 20 hours per week. During holidays, breaks, and summer sessions, the student may work up to 40 hours per week.

Except for the visa processing fee costs, where the UK has a higher fee than Canada, both countries have similar rules regarding visa application procedures, work regulations for those on a student visa, and the necessity to convert your visa to a post-study work visa upon graduation. 

Post-graduate Work Visa in UK and Canada

The UK

The Graduate Route Visa allows international students who have earned a degree from a recognized university in the UK to stay in the country for up to 2 years and look for gainful employment. If you want to work there after your studies, then you need to apply for a Graduate Visa (PSW UK). 

The application for the Graduate Route visa happens once you can prove successful completion of your study program. Once your application is accepted, your UK Student visa converts to a Graduate Route Visa. 

Canada

Canadian Post Graduation Work Visa allows students graduating from any post-secondary institute to work post-studying for an uptime period depending on the duration of their course to a maximum of three years. Under this work permit, the student can work in any field or industry.

So, Canada allows international students graduating from their universities to stay and look for work in the country for a maximum period of 3 years, whereas this is 2 years in the UK. 

Popular Jobs in The UK and Canada

The UK

Data Scientist, average base salary £41,345 

Project Manager (unspecified), Average base salary £41,349

Software Engineer, Average base salary £39,182 

Business Analyst, Average base salary £37,846

Accountant, Average base salary £30,133

Mechanical Engineer, Average base salary £32,363

Graphic Designer, Average base salary £24,075

Software Developer, Average base salary £31,911

Data Analyst, Average base salary £28,979

Executive Assistant, Average base salary: £33,165

Canada

Data Scientist, Average salary of CAD 81,668

Project Manager, Average salary of CAD 78,207

Software Engineer, Average salary of CAD 80,528

Business Analyst, Average base salary CAD 68,692

Accountant, Average base salary CAD 54,397

Business Development Manager, Average salary CAD 70,986

Mechanical Engineer, Average base salary CAD 70,002

Graphic Designer, Average base salary CAD 47,694

Software Developer, Average base salary CAD 69,847

Data Analyst, Average base salary CAD 59,972

Executive Assistant, Average base salary CAD 57,356

Electrical Engineer, Average salary of $77,400

Residency in UK and Canada

The UK

Getting a Permanent Residence in the UK is popularly known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Because of this, students can reside and work in the UK permanently. After getting ILR, one will have no restrictions on working and no time limitations on your stay. 

Canada

During this period of Post-Graduation Work permit, you can apply for Permanent Residency under the Canadian Experience Class. Since the country is sparsely populated, there is a shortage of highly skilled employees. Compared to most other countries, getting PR in Canada is very easy.

Scholarships to Study in UK and Canada

The climate in the UK and Canada

For some students who feel they cannot handle extreme temperatures or climatic conditions, the weather might be another important factor to consider when applying to the two countries. 

The UK

In the UK, average temperature in the summer months ranges from 15-25°C. 

Winters in the UK are characterized by cold weather, rain, and sometimes snow and fog with winter temperatures ranging from 0 to 7 degrees Celsius.

The UK is known for its unpredictable rain.

Canad

In Canada, temperatures can go below -30 degrees Celsius in specific locations during winter months. 

The summers can be hot and dry in Canada on the Prairies, humid in Central Canada, and milder along the coasts. 

Spring is known to be extremely beautiful and with pleasant weather across the country.

Which One’s For You- The UK or Canada?

As you can see, the answer to this question will depend on your situation and individual dreams. Those who are looking for relaxed post-study visa norms and an affordable postgraduate education are likely to choose Canada. Those looking for specialized education in specific fields such as business and law, are likely to choose the UK. 

 

If you have trouble making a decision and need more clarity, feel free to contact our student support team, who will work with you to bring the clarity you need. 

All the best!