Canada
is among the preferred destinations for Bangladeshi students to pursue
higher studies. Every year a good number of boys and girls get admission
in various universities across Canada. There are some highly
professional agencies in Bangladesh that are offering the required
services to students in their search
“Even today where one can find virtually anything by a
simple keystroke, mouse click and or touch pad - the lack of knowledge
about studying in Canada among Bangladeshis is staggering. Of course
it's not that Bangladeshi students, parents and teachers have any more
real insight into institutions in the US, UK and Australia - but Canada
really stands apart as misunderstood among study abroad options.
It
may be said that few know that virtually all Canadian universities are
public. Unlike the US, private education (and medicine) is mostly a
foreign concept in Canada. So all those Canadian universities one may
have heard of, including the most popular names in Bangladesh - Toronto,
McGill, Alberta, Saint Mary's - are all public institutions. Unlike the
USA which has almost 5,000 universities and colleges, Canada only has
about 75 universities - a very small number for a country of 35 million
people. Then again, many Canadian universities are among the larger
campuses in the world and are home to tens of thousands of students.
With
Canadian universities being public, few in number and supported by a
very rich country, they are almost all of extremely high academic
quality and world-class standard. This is probably the biggest
misconception about Canada among Bangladeshi students. For a bachelor
degree, it does not matter which public university one studies at in
Canada. Canadians do not write entrance exams to attend their own
undergraduate/bachelor degree programs. Most Canadians simply attend the
university (or college) where they live. Unlike in Bangladesh where the
difference of which campus one goes to, can broadcast one's own
socio-economic status, Canadian universities have similar tuition fees
for all Canadians, and are attended by Canadians of all economic
classes. Again, this is dramatically different from the United States,
which has some of the most expensive private (and public) universities
in the world, and generally for those going to a prominent US
university they are bright students, and in most cases they are also
rich.
Thus for the cost, the reward of doing one's bachelor
degree in Canada are excellent. It means a terrific education, and
commonly not as expensive as similar quality options in the USA, UK and
Australia. Anyone finishing a bachelor degree in Canada leads directly
to an official three-year work permit, then status as a Canadian
permanent resident, and eventually a citizen.
The challenge
however, is that for admission to most Canadian universities (not all),
one should be a very good student. For example - for engineering
hopefuls to Canada - Canadian universities only offer absolute
world-class degrees. It's not like Bangladesh, where the few very best
go to BUET and the rest must settle for much less. Thus for the vast
majority of Bangladeshis who are dreaming of a Canadian university
degree, the fact is, one needs to be a very good student, whether in a
Bangladeshi or foreign curriculum.
However,
another key aspect of Canadian education is that for those who are not
suited for a university, Canada has a very large college sector, which
is fundamentally different from universities. In Canada, colleges offer
diplomas (with some exceptions where certificates and degrees are
awarded) which focus on applied and practical education to prepare
students more directly for working careers. For example in hospitality,
many technical areas, basic business skills, etc - it's Canadian
"community colleges" which service this area. Again, what's
misunderstood in Bangladesh, is that it's a Canadian college diploma
which best suits the majority of Bangladeshi students. The challenge
however, is that obtaining a student visa for a college diploma is more
difficult because this pathway to Canada is often abused by those who
see it as an easy route to enter Canada without any real intention to
study.
What about the myriad of Bangladeshis who already hold a
degree from their own country? Is Canada an option for further study? Š
for a Masters?
Again -it's yet another misunderstanding about
Canadian universities. Given that Canada's public university sector is
of top quality, it serves to reason that its post-graduate/masters
degrees would be of a very high standard. This is indeed the truth and
it's fabulous news for the top Bangladeshi bachelor degree holders.
Canada offers tremendous avenues for advanced study, research and
careers in Canada. The best and brightest grads in Bangladesh may avail
themselves of Masters degree opportunities which will even fund most of
their costs in exchange for research and teaching assistantships. But
for the average and good student (and the reality if most students are
not exceptional), then a Masters degree in Canada is not a realistic
option with the one exception of the few course-based Masters which will
entertain students who are merely 'good' but not great.
So when
it comes to the biggest global market for study abroad - pursuing
post-graduate education - Canada is actually not a major destination.
Not because Canada is not interested and welcoming, but because in the
main, it's a destination for only the top students who are fewer in
number.
For those seeking quality at a relatively affordable
cost, and all in a country where peace, prospects and potential are all
in abundance - Canada is an exceptional option. For serious and sincere
students, at a minimum, it should be a consideration.
Written
with information provided by Mr. Mel Broitman, the Managing Director of
the Canadian University Application Centre. He can be reached by
writing to dhaka@canada123.org)
Collected from Thedailystar
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