Student exchange canada – costs, deadlines and more (2023)

 

 

According to a recent Weltweiser study, about one fifth of all participants choose Canada as the destination for their student exchange program.

Here's why. So Canada not only shines with excellent results in the PISA study, but also has a lot to offer geographically as well as culturally.

In our article we have compiled all the essential information about the student exchange in Canada for you.

How to find out: Why a student exchange in Canada makes sense. When the application deadline for 2022 ends. How much the year abroad will cost you and how you can pay for it.

In addition to all this, you will also receive an expert tip on saving money from us!

 

 

Why should you do a year abroad in Canada?

Travel to Canada for up to 12 months during a student exchange (Weltweiser study on student exchange 2022). You will spend the year abroad with a local host family who will provide you with room and board.

Reasons for a student exchange can be very versatile. For example, you can master two languages at once in Canada (English and French). Another reason is to get to know the way of life in another country.

However, many students opt for Canada because of its multi-layered school system. Among other things, the second largest country in the world consistently delivers excellent results in the PISA study (results of the last PISA study).

Student exchange Canada – dates and application deadlines

You can apply for a student exchange to Canada 4 to 6 weeks before the semester starts. The First Semester begins in September and runs through the end of January. The second starts in February and ends in June (More information on application deadlines).

 

 

What you need for a year abroad in Canada?

How good must your English and French be to do a student exchange in Canada?

Canada is a bilingual country, so depending on the province you have to know either English, French or even both. Prerequisite for a student exchange in the English-speaking part of Canada are at least three years of English lessons.

In the French speaking part of Canada it is 2 to 3 years of French lessons. In both cases you have to show a grade of satisfactory or better.

• Tip: Apart from student exchanges, you can also improve your language skills during a language study trip. You can find out how such a language trip works in this blog article.

Which visa do you need for a student exchange in Canada?

You do not need a visa for a stay of up to six months (with a nationality from the EU). However, if your stay is longer than six months, you will need a study permit. This one is a student visa.

To apply for the Study Permit, you will need to provide your biometrics and some notary certifications. Issuing your visa can take between 2 and 4 weeks and is done online.

How old do you have to be to do a student exchange?

The minimum age for a student exchange in Canada is 15. At the latest you are allowed to take part in the year abroad at the age of 18.

For whom is a student exchange in Canada suitable?

Canada is characterized by bilingualism, a lot of unspoiled nature, sportiness and interculturalism. If one of these things appeals to you, Canada is certainly the right country for your student exchange. In addition, you yourself should have open-mindedness and a willingness to compromise.

How much does a student exchange to Canada cost??

Depending on the region, the duration of the stay and the organizational costs, a student exchange will cost you between approx. 7000 and 30.000 euros. British Columbia and Alberta in the west of the country, for example, are very expensive, while you can get away relatively cheaply in Quebec or Ontario in the east.

By the way, a six-month trip is just 10 to 20 percent cheaper than a one-year trip (Read more).

You do not need to pay for accommodation and meals, these costs are borne by the host family. Speaking of host families, if you find your host family yourself, you can save some of the service fee for your organization.

The following costs will be included in your bill:

• Flight
• Visa
• Pocket money
• Travel insurance (health insurance, accident insurance and liability insurance)
• Placement with the host family
• Host family fee and administration fee
• Service fee for the exchange organization
• Pre- and post-study seminars

Is school free in Canada?

Tuition at public schools and colleges is free in Canada. So there are no school fees for you. However, this does not apply to private schools, here you have to pay school fees.

Who pays for a student exchange? – Student Exchange Canada Scholarship

You can finance your student exchange in Canada through the following means:

• Savings
• Sponsors
• Partial scholarships and full scholarships from companies, exchange organizations or government institutions (student exchange scholarship comparison calculator)
• Foreign BAfoG (max. 504 € per month)
• Child benefit (allowance of 200 € per month)

Save money with this expert tip

Accidents abroad can have high financial consequences, because the insurances at home no longer apply there.

Save the costs quite simply, in which you secure yourself in time. With a student exchange insurance you protect yourself against hospitalization, loss of luggage and many other damage events during your student exchange in Canada.

Often, the conclusion of a foreign health insurance is therefore mandatory for a student exchange.

Our insurances for a student exchange

• Single tariff from 0,23 € per person and day
• Group rate from 0,99 € per person and day
• Individual insurance benefits
• Online travel management
• Worldwide scope

Student Exchange Canada Organizations

The most important task of the student exchange organization is the planning of your year abroad. Here's how they organized the following aspects of your trip:

• Book outbound and return flights
• Contact the host family
• Mediation to partner schools
• Organization of the visa

On site the host family serves as a contact person for all kinds of problems.

Seminars for the exchange in Canada

Some organizations also offer preparatory seminars, follow-up seminars and orientation seminars, which you can complete digitally or on site. Typically these take 2 to 3 days to complete

With the right organization to Canada

First get an idea of different organizations. This goes for example with info events.

• Step 2: Compare and apply

Pick out a few favorites and compare them using a comparison calculator. Once you have found the most favorable conditions, apply online via an application form to your desired organization.

A selection interview follows. Here a first personal meeting takes place. So you can report here among other things about your motivation. In addition, your English skills will be tested in a test and your application documents will be checked.

If you were able to shine in the selection interview, the actual planning begins. For example you apply now with your host family. You can find out how this works in this article.

 

 

Organize your own student exchange in Canada

It is also possible to organize the student exchange to Canada yourself. Both public and private schools have programs that describe all the necessary information about the country and the school system. In addition, the costs for the student exchange are also listed here (Infoportal zum selbstorganisierten Auslandsjahr).

If you have found a suitable school, you can send your request via the contact form of the school. The support at Canadian schools is very reliable, so that you can basically get along well without an exchange organization.

The biggest advantage of organizing it yourself is that you save the service fee for the organization. Often you can get away cheaper this way than with organization. The disadvantage: the independent organization is very time-consuming and takes up a lot of time.

You also lack a local contact person. In addition, you need to make sure that the host school abroad is equivalent to the German school. Otherwise your year abroad will not be recognized.

• Tip: Apart from the organization, you can also save money on airfare. How to save up to 30% on airfare if you book at the right time. Find out when and how you can save the most in our travel blog.

You can choose the place for your student exchange in Canada?

Whether you can choose the location for your student exchange depends on your student exchange organization. Some organizations charge a premium for the choice of province or city. Others offer no choice at all. If you organize your student exchange in Canada independently, you can choose the location as you wish.

What advantages can you gain from a student exchange in Canada??

• Gaining experience abroad
• Get to know new ways of life
• Improving your English and French skills
• Specialization in unique subjects
• Expanding your own network

School in Canada

In Canada, each province regulates its own school system. Generally there are 12 grades. The last 4 years are called high school. These are roughly comparable to a German comprehensive school.

The school year is divided into two semesters. It traditionally starts on Labor Day in September. As an exchange student, you will be placed in year 10 or 11.

In Canadian schools, a lot of emphasis is also placed on having the right technical equipment. So it's perfectly normal to use a laptop, tablet and smart screen in class.

You will also take a variety of courses. Including traditional courses such as English, French, mathematics and history, but also special courses that do not exist in Germany. For example nutrition, law or journalism.

In addition, the school program is supplemented by outdoor activities such as field hockey, dance or tennis. But also artistic offers, like singing and film are available to you.

Year Abroad Canada Host Family

Family plays a particularly important role in Canada. For example, eating together is a daily ritual and Sunday is reserved as a family day. Saturday is often used as "game day. This means that the whole family watches a game together. Mostly the national sport field hockey.

Canadians are also very keen to be active in sports themselves. So get ready for lots of outdoor excursions and activities. Kayaking, field hockey, skiing and many other sports are incredibly popular here.

In addition, Canadians are always open-minded and very proud of their own diversity. Your host family will certainly be pleased if you also report on Germany from time to time

What happens if you don't get along with your host family?

If you have problems with your host family, you can contact your organization. In case of emergency they will find you a new host family. If the change must happen urgently, you will be provided with a transitional family.

 

 

This is how life in Canada differs from everyday life in Germany

The biggest difference between Germany and Canada is the size of the country itself. Although only about 37 million people live in Canada, the area of Canada covers a proud 9.985 million km². This makes the North American country the second largest in the world.

For example, it is common that sometimes there is a whole day distance from one place to another.

Nature in Canada

In addition, Canada has a lot of untouched nature. Countless landscapes and unique national parks adorn the country. Accordingly, there are many animals that you do not see in this country. You can see moose, grizzly bears and even mountain lions in the wild.

Does Canada meet your expectations for a student exchange?

Whether Canada meets your expectations depends on where you want to travel to. Canada has 3 territories and 10 provinces, each with its own unique characteristics.

For example, Quebec in the east of the country has a French influence, so it is worthwhile to have a French-speaking exchange here. Ontario in the southeast, on the other hand, is a metropolis and offers everything you could want from big city life.

And southern Alberta is best known for its nature. So if you like to spend time outdoors, Alberta is the best choice.

With these tips your student exchange in Canada will be a success!

• Bring a host gift
• Be open and communicative
• Be prepared for exchange brothers and sisters
• Report from Germany
• Take a trip to the U.S

Year Abroad Canada Experiences

Testimonials about the year abroad in Canada can be found here:

• Forums
• Social Media Groups
• On the pages of the exchange organizations
• Travel blogs
• Comparison sites

Our insurances for a student exchange

• Single rate from 0,23 € per person per day
• Group rate from €0.99 per person per day
• Individual insurance benefits
• Online travel management
• Worldwide coverage