For international students, both Canada and the United States can provide excellent prospects. When deciding a country to study as an international student, there are a few important factors to consider.
This blog article will answer the million-dollar question by detailing what you may expect from studying in each country honestly. Consider higher education quality, higher education cost, quality of life, employment possibilities, and immigration regulations to determine which country is best for you.
Higher Education in the United States vs. Canada
When comparing the quality of higher education in the United States and Canada, the two countries’ university rankings differ dramatically.
Only two Canadian universities are among the top 100 universities in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings of 2022.
The United States, on the other hand, dominates this rating, with 29 universities in the top 100. (with 18 universities in the top 50).
When considering university rankings, keep in mind that they are mainly based on the output and quality of academic research at these institutions, which is easy to assess. And not so much on the instructional quality.
As a result, it is reasonable to conclude that the United States outperforms Canada in terms of academic research quality.
However, when comparing the teaching quality of US and Canadian universities, you’ll discover that they’re approximately the same.
If you’re an international student who doesn’t care about attending a prestigious research university, the United States and Canada are a close second.
However, if you’re looking for a top-ranked university that focuses on research, the United States has more to offer.
When it comes to international students’ education costs, Canadian education is much less expensive than an American education.
When the average cost of higher education at public and private universities in the United States is compared to public and private institutions in Canada, this is true.
An international student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta – the top and largest public university in the Canadian province of Alberta – will pay roughly 32,000 USD per year in tuition as of 2021.
In contrast, an international student studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan – the state’s best and largest public university – would have to pay around $56,000 USD per year intuition.
This means that an international student studying in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta will spend roughly one-third less than an international student studying in Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan
We can acquire a single comparison element by combining the cost of higher education and the quality of higher education: the value of higher education.
To put it another way, how much value do you get for your money studying in Canada vs. the US?
Studying in Canada is more useful for your money as an international student because the average cost of education is much lower than in the United States. At the same time, the quality of higher education in both countries is similar.
Life Quality in the United States compared. Canada
It is critical to evaluate the quality of life when deciding where to study. This includes things like health care, the cost of living, and the weather.
When comparing the expenses of healthcare in the two countries, there is an obvious winner.
Health-care costs in Canada are, on average, much lower than in the United States.
This is due to the fact that Canada’s health-care system is publicly supported. The American system, on the other hand, is largely private.
In both countries, there are major differences in the cost of living between regions. As a result, there is no obvious winner
In both countries, heavily inhabited areas have a substantially higher cost of living than less densely populated places.
For international students studying in Toronto, Canada, or New York City, USA, for example, the cost of living will be significantly higher.
International students studying in Guelph, Canada, or Birmingham, Alabama, on the other hand, would save money.
Other advantages of studying in a heavily populated area of the United States or Canada include: For example, consider the cost of public transit.
If you’re studying in a city with a well-developed metro system, such as Toronto, Canada, as opposed to Birmingham, Alabama, you’ll have a lot more economical options
The United States has a variety of climate zones, such as warm and dry California or humid Florida. In contrast to the United States, Canada has a more consistent climate that is cold but has less variance in weather.
In general, many international students choose the United States to Canada because of its diverse climate possibilities.
If having pleasant weather all year is important to you, studying in the United States is a better alternative than studying in Canada.
Canada’s Job Opportunities vs. America’s
When it comes to deciding where to study, employment options for international students are critical.
For many international students, the option to work in another country before or after their degree is a fantastic return on their investment in international education.
When comparing the two countries in terms of population and GDP, the United States has 320 million people and a GDP of USD 21.4 trillion (2019), whilst Canada has just 35 million people and a GDP of USD 1.7 trillion.
As a result, because the United States has a considerably larger economy than Canada, there are far more job prospects in the United States than in Canada.
Immigration Policies for International Students in Canada vs. the United States
Depending on your demands as an international student, your immigration experience in a foreign country could be divided down into distinct parts.
The first is the process of getting a student visa to study in another country.
Once you start your education, you’ll have new immigration requirements, such as the ability to work abroad before and after graduation.
Finally, once you’ve started your professional job, you may desire to switch from a temporary to a permanent visa.
You’ll discover that each of these immigration requirements has its own set of problems.
Getting a Student Visa in the United States vs. Canada
In comparison to the United States, obtaining a student visa in Canada is substantially easier.
As an international student, obtaining a work permit can be difficult.
International students are permitted to work before and after their education in both Canada and the United States.
Canada, on the other hand, has an open work permit policy that allows international students to work in jobs unrelated to their program of study.
In contrast, international students in the United States are required to have a job offer connected to their degree of study.
Furthermore, you can use the Canadian Post Graduation Work Permit to find work after completing your Canadian education. This allows international students who have spent more than two years studying in Canada to work in the country for up to three years.
International students from the United States, on the other hand, can only work for three years after completing their program if they have a degree in a STEM discipline.
