International students are expected to start planning for their studies in Canada one year in advance. All Canadian universities process applications from international students independent of one another. Additionally, deadlines vary from programme to programme and university to university. In some cases, where a programme offers two start dates in an academic year, two deadlines will be offered i.e., October 15 for admissions to January and April 15 for September. Some universities will operate a rolling admissions process specifying a start date for the application process rather than a final deadline.

As with many other countries, popular Master’s programmes at the best Canadian universities tend to fill up much quicker than other universities and so early application is encouraged. Depending on whether a university or academic faculty operates a deadline for applications or a rolling admissions process; decisions take up to 10 weeks to be made. Almost all universities charge a modest application fee and rarely waive this requirement.

Modes of Application

• Requesting Application Forms via email: You can request application forms from the universities website. Most universities have a form on their website which can be completed online to request application material.
  
  
• Downloading from the university website: Most universities have an option on their website to download form and also to take a print out of it.
  
  
• Requesting Applications from CEC in Delhi: You can get application forms for all the universities from Canadian Education Centre in New Delhi. You can either visit them personally or email them for the forms.

Admission Formalities

Application Form

Each programme requires that you fill out their specific applications. By now, most colleges have made their application available on-line. If you choose not to download the application, you can call or write to the institution to have one mailed to you. Be sure that your application is impeccably neat. A messily filled out form reflects badly on you. You should type the various pieces of personal information on the page rather than writing them by hand. Write out the responses to short answer questions on a separate sheet first, so as not to have crossing out or white-out on the final application sheet.

Application Fee

When you apply to a university abroad you have to attach along with the application form other documentation like academic certificates, extra curricular activities, recommendation letter, grade transcripts, essays, statement of purpose, etc. To process all these documents the university asks for an application fee, which ranges between $50-150. You can send this money through a dollar draft.

Statement of Purpose

The personal essays play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for admission because it gives the faculty assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual. This section is the key to distinguish your application from other suitable candidates and a chance to market yourself. A personal statement should include your reasons for choosing the MBA program, the suitability of your education and experience, your personal interests and career goals.

Most Business schools have their own essay questions and format. Others may ask for a résumé or reasons for applying to that particular course.

Letters of Recommendation

As colleges want to receive a consistent overall impression of the candidates they are considering, references for confirming or augmenting your credentials, strengths, and aspirations. Meaningful recommendations should contribute specific information that demonstrates your ability to excel in both the programme to which you are applying as well as your ability to succeed in your career.

When selecting individuals to write recommendations on your behalf, choose a good cross-section of people who can vouch for your dependability and who know about your plans for study. These people may include college principal, employers, colleagues, associates or peers.

Resume

Most applications ask you to include your resume or a summary of your work history. Most institutes seriously consider work history when making admissions decisions. Include information about any papers or articles you have published, awards, membership in professional societies, volunteer work, or anything else that can give an admissions committee a clear picture of you. Include any necessary supporting documentation, but be cautious – admissions committees are already reading through stacks of applications.

Standardized Test Scores

These include GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS

Your scores in these tests are considered as predictors of academic performance in future years of study. Some schools require minimum scores. Others only have minimum score requirements. Find out the minimum standard at a particular school. People often take these tests more than once. Many schools will consider your best score rather than your most recent score, but you should check with the individual school regarding their policy on multiple scores.

Academic Records & Transcripts

Your past academic record is one of the most important deciding factors in securing admission to a college abroad. Most schools require you to have a reasonably good academic record especially for programs and courses offering a master’s or doctoral degree. Each university has its own minimum requirement for its programs, which are flexible depending on the candidate’s profile.

Universities in Canada have their own marking and evaluation systems, which are considerably different from the Indian system. It is advisable not to convert your marks in the Indian system of grading to the Canadian Grade Point Average system or any other system since the conversion may not be accurate. You may attach an explanatory note from your college to indicate your rank in your class and/or university. The letter may also indicate your place as compared to the class and the university average and the number of students in the class and the number of colleges and students in the university. You may also provide any other information or documents that you feel may help you in the admission process.

Students applying for Graduate courses (MBA, MS etc) are required to submit an official transcript (mark-sheets) from each college or university that they have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects/credits involved (for each year) and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc. Most universities ask for the transcript (mark-sheets) to be sealed in an envelope and signed and attested across the seal by the registrar. This procedure is to be done for each and every college that you have attended. Some universities may ask for more than one copy of the transcript.

If the transcripts are in a language other than English, then they must be translated into English only by the issuing authority or university otherwise it may not be accepted.