Pathway Programs Canada
Pathway Programs Canada
International students may experience some fears when planning their future education in Canada. Among their main concerns is the requirement to study in a foreign language, English or French, and possibly, lack of basic knowledge about the culture and other peculiarities of the new country. However, there are special pathway programs in Canada that prepare prospective international students for life in Canada and the conditions of their future main study program. Shortly, pathway programs in Canada are introductory or prerequisite programs that prospective students, who wish to study in Canada, attend. As a rule, they are designed in the form of language courses and are combined with some extracurricular activities.
Before you apply, it is important to know that international students have to meet the language requirements of the main study program to be eligible to enter the chosen Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. That is why many schools require international students to complete a language course in the form of a pathway programs in Canada rather than just in the form of a recognized language test. Usually, pathway programs consist of two stages. The first stage is the language course, known as the actual pathway program. The second stage is called the main study program. For instance, it can be a study program for completing a college or university diploma, or a bachelor’s degree in one of the Designated Learning Institutions. In other words, the main study program is the one that the prospective international student has chosen to study. Remember, that international students can apply only to the Designated Learning Institutions since they are the accredited schools in Canada that have the right to admit international students. You can find more information about the Designated Learning Institutions online.
You probably know, that prospective international students have to receive a Letter of Acceptance from the chosen school in order to submit their application for the Canadian study permit. In some cases, the letter may include the condition that the international student has to complete the pathway programs in Canada and prove their language ability in French or English. Please also remember, that Canada is a bilingual country with two official languages and the choice of language course depends on the language used in teaching in the Designated Learning Institution.
If you receive the Letter of Acceptance with such requirement, do not worry since it is a great opportunity to improve your language skills, adjust to life in Canada, and meet other international students. Moreover, you will be immediately immersed in the culture of your second language that will help you to overcome many obstacles in the future. As it was mentioned above, you will have to attend a pathway program in the form of a language course. When you complete the pathway programs in Canada at your chosen institution, you will be transferred to your main study program.
It is worth mentioning, that there are two types of pathway programs in Canada for language courses: standard and seamless. The first type is simply called a standard pathway programs in Canada. In this case, an international student has to attend a language course and then pass one of the recognized language tests, such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (the International English Language Testing System), or another test required by the receiving institution in Canada. As a rule, the standard program includes preparation sessions for these tests. In other words, the program helps international students to improve their language skills, pass the test, and pursue study in the chosen Designated Learning Institution.
The second type is known as a seamless program. Within this program, international students do not have to pass one of the recognized language tests. Generally, some Designated Learning Institutions cooperate with accredited language schools and accept international students who have completed the required language course there. In other words, international students have to obtain the required language level to study at the institution without problems.
So, if you receive a conditional Letter of Acceptance as an international applicant, this means you can be admitted to the Designated Learning Institution, but only after the fulfillment of the requirements stated in this letter. For example, your Letter of Acceptance can entail completing one or several academic upgrading courses. International students can be also required to fulfill this condition if the secondary schools in their countries of origin are not equivalent to the educational level of the Canadian secondary schools; or when the applicants have not completed the prerequisite courses for the main study program. Consequently, the international students have to complete the academic upgrading courses in the form of pathway programs in Canada and only then transfer to the main study programs in the receiving Designated Learning Institution in Canada.
It is worth mentioning, that most Canadian colleges and universities have agreements with accredited language schools and other learning institutions that guarantee international students a comfortable transfer from the pathway program to the main study program. It is also important to highlight, that typically, international students complete pathway programs in Canada and continue to their main study programs in different Canadian institutions. But sometimes they can attend pathway programs and their main study programs in the same Designated Learning Institution.
The next important step to consider is whether you, as an international student have to apply for a study permit to complete the pathway programs in Canada. Remember, that prospective international students are required to apply for a Canadian study permit if the duration of their pathway program is longer than six months. However, international students do not need to get a study permit if the duration of their pathway program is less than six months. The main requirement in both cases is to have a TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). If you do not know what document you need, please visit the official website of the Government of Canada to learn more about these requirements. There you can always find the updated information on this topic and other important materials about the studies, work, and life in Canada.
It is also worth mentioning, that international students have to apply for a new study permit for the main study program after the completion of the pathway program in Canada. It is an obligatory condition for all international students and does not depend on the length of the pathway program or the main study program in the chosen Designated Learning Institution.
To sum up, Canada is one of the most welcoming countries for prospective international students. The country offers various innovative study programs and plenty of possibilities to achieve your cherished career desires. Moreover, the Canadian Designated Learning Institutions give international students a chance to improve their language skills by attending pathway programs and meet even the advanced requirements of their main study programs by completing high-quality academic upgrading courses. All the Canadian Designated Learning Institutions try to satisfy the needs of each prospective international student and simplify their admission to the chosen school, college, or university.
Sometimes international applicants fear that the requirement to complete a pathway programs in Canada means they will never be able to study in the chosen institution. However, it means just the contrary, that their chosen Designated Learning Institution wants to be sure its prospective international students have the advanced language level and are able to cope with the academic workload of the main study program. If you want to know whether your chosen Designated Learning Institution in Canada offers its international applicants to complete the pathway program or other additional prerequisite courses, you can find this information on its official website or by contacting its admission committee directly.
If you need help with admission to pathway programs in Canada and further to college and university, please contact us or fill in application below.
