What makes you different as compared with domestic students? Let’s have a look!

Domestic vs International Students in Canada

Since you came into Canada, you are no longer a student. I’m talking about your occupation, now, you are an international student.

• Language

Try closing your eyes and recalling the days you became an international student when first landed in Canada: People are talking in other languages, not yours. Obviously, as a student from a foreign country, your speed, pronunciation, usage etc. of speaking English which is mainly used here are not as good as domestic students. You might find it hard to communicate confidently with people here at the beginning, but don’t worry, you will get used to it soon.

Eventually, as long as they can understand, you survive! It is not a big deal, is it?

• Transportation

Buses and SkyTrain probably are your main transportations to commute. Due to many different reasons, we don’t have our own vehicles. One hand we – international students prefer public transports owing to many benefits we take for granted, on another hand we might find hard to afford a car and its other maintenance fees.

Travelling by public transports never bother you until you face these situations: waiting for delayed buses, seeing the bus cross in front of you regardless your running efforts to catch it, or trying to fit a small vacant left on the SkyTrain. And then you missed class, meanwhile, look at your classmate who is a domestic student, he drives to class without even caring what time the next bus comes.

Be honest! How many time you were late because of these public transits?

• Restrictions

It’s like living in other person’s house, international students as us must conform some restrictions which domestic ones don’t have to do. Working – hours prescription and term – break rules are some typical restrictions; you can learn more about those policies on government website http://www.cic.gc.ca/

In addition, international students in Canada are limited in some studying programs: there are some programs offer few seats for international students, some even don’t open for foreign students. Therefore, you should carefully select proper sections which are for international students to plan your studying program, each institution has its own restrictions, you can find more information on its website.

• Expenses

Last but not least, money is the most consideration of international students. Tuition, renting, other subsistence fees are what international students have to take into account every month. One of those expenses is tuition fee which is a big difference between international students and domestic ones.

Depending on specific institution, the tuition fees vary. However, no matter what, we are – international students in Canada – paying way higher fees than domestic students, approximately three to four times. Other fees in general also cause the differences, while domestic students have their families’ supports with shelters, foods and utilities bills (well, independent domestic students are exceptions), international students have these all in their to-pay-lists.

Looking for a new future in a foreign country has never been easy, but in return, we believe in what will we get. And it it worthy, am I right?

How about you? Share with us if you have many more experiences about international vs domestic students differences!