What are study options after PR ?
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An immigrant applicant is a person who was not born in Canada, but now considers Canada to be their permanent home. All university programs in Ontario are open to immigrants, and the application process is much the same as for Canadian-born applicants. The difference, however, is that you will be asked to provide proof of landing when you apply for immigration, and you will be asked to provide proof of your education during the application process.
The definition of proof of landing and the type of evidence required varies from university to university and program to program. You will therefore need to check the criteria of each university individually. In this post, I will cover some of the education programs that are available for new immigrants in Canada
Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (CAPLA)
If you are already in education related to your field of specialization, you may not need to start your program from scratch. Many institutions offer Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), but you will need to contact the institution directly to find out if you qualify. The Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (CAPLA) site, called Experience Matters, gives contact data to specialist organizations who can help you with earlier learning acknowledgment. Here you will find links to employment agencies, educational institutions and regulatory bodies that can help you assess and recognize your knowledge, skills, qualifications, and language – not only in Ontario, but in all provinces and territories across Canada.
Study abroad programs for immigrants
In addition to the standard programs, Ontario colleges offer programs and services designed to help immigrant students improve their specific skills. These programs not only improve academic, language and other skills, but also provide vocational training to help immigrants obtain meaningful employment and licenses in Canada.
The following categories of programs have been described. Please note that except for the Graduate Certificate, many of the programs in these categories require you to apply directly to the college offering them, rather than through ontariocolleges.ca.
Bridging Programs for Internationally Educated Immigrants.
Programs of varying lengths that “bridge” the gap between prior education and experience in a particular occupation and the requirements of the Canadian workplace. Bridging programs are available for regulated and unregulated occupations through colleges, universities, and community organizations.
Graduate Certificates
Certificate programs that provide the specialized training required in the Canadian workplace. These programs require prior education and experience in a particular field and are often relevant to immigrants who have education and work experience in another country. They typically run for a time of one year. Applications for postgraduate certificate programs are processed through ontariocolleges.ca.
Academic Enhancement
Courses and programs designed to improve communication, computer, science, and math skills for entry into post-secondary programs, many of which led to a degree. The availability of academic upgrading varies from institution to institution. Please contact the individual institutions directly for more information.
Please note: Academic upgrading courses, which focus on communication skills, are not the same as courses designed to improve your English language skills. For more information on these courses, please see the section on Language Skills and Training.
Information on colleges for immigrants
Many Ontario colleges have websites that highlight their programs and services for immigrant students.
Collège Boréal – Education for Immigrants
Conestoga College – Welcome to Canada
Confederation College – New to Canada
Fanshawe College – Newcomers to Canada
George Brown College – Education for Immigrants
Humber College – Welcome to Canada
Mohawk College – Free Program for New Students
Niagara College – New Canadians
Seneca College – Specialized Services for Skilled Immigrants
Sheridan College – Newcomers to Canada
St. Lawrence College – New to Canada?
Counselling Services
Many Ontario colleges offer counselling services to immigrants and other prospective students in areas such as academic and career pathways, academic achievement and language training, admissions requirements and procedures, and second-career information and support. There are number of community organizations that offer career advice, assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications and other support. For more information on these areas, please visit the relevant college’s website.
Employment and career services
Ontario colleges offer employment services to help you find a job while you are in a college program or after you graduate.
