How to pick your program of study in canada?

Written By Saodat

One of the most important aspects of your study permit application is the program you've chosen to study in Canada. I often see that students pick programs completely irrelevant to their interests, educational background and work experience. And most of the time, these applications are refused. So what's the right way to pick the right study program to increase chances of your study permit approval?

Here are some tips to help you pick the right program.

Tip #1: the program reflects your career aspirations

The program of study should reflect a growth path of your career. It should be the "logical next step" of your career. If it doesn't match your previous education, it should fill in a certain knowledge or skill gap that's necessary for your career growth. To help you determine which programs would be right for you, try focusing on the following:

  • determine your current skill set and experience

  •  explore possible employment opportunities and career paths

  • think which skills might be missing or might offer you a better chance of excelling in your chosen career paths.

Tip #2: the program is at the same level or higher than your current level of education

This is often an issue with lots of applicants. If you have a master's degree, you really shouldn't be applying for an undergraduate diploma in the same field. This just doesn't make sense. Make sure that the program level is justified based on your current level of education. And if you're going a level down, make sure you have a very strong argument to support your choice. In some cases when you can justify a career switch, you can definitely go a level down. But you have to be prepared to explain your choice to Increase chances of your study permit approval.

Tip #3: be realistic about the cost

Can you actually afford this program? Are there alternatives in your home country that are cheaper? An immigration officer reviewing your application will be asking these same questions. And you need to be prepared to address these questions. If the program of study is more expensive than a similar alternative in your country, how can you justify that you're spending all this money to study in Canada? How much will you be earning after completing this program? Is this program much different than the alternative in your home country? Do your homework, research and make sure you have answers to all these questions.

Tip #4: CO-OP options?

Co-op, or work placement is often a great opportunity to get that valuable Canadian work experience and may be even make connections with potential Canadian employers. In addition, it's a differentiating criteria that you can use as an argument when comparing the Canadian program of study with the alternatives in your home country. It's hard to argue against valuable Canadian work experience as part of your program of study.

Overall, it's not just about getting an approval for your study permit application. It's also about thinking long term and analyzing what field and which career will serve you best when you're in Canada. Do your research and don't take this lightly. Here are a few websites that can help you with your research:

Finding the right program will definitely increase chances of your study permit approval. Do your research and don't skimp on it.

Saodat
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