Canada vs USA

Canada and the United States have long been regarded for leading the world and pioneering high-quality higher education. The perfect blend of culture and cutting-edge technology instilled in both the Canadian and American school systems is what makes both of these countries a popular choice for every student. Now that we know the educational quality of both of these countries, students from all over the world prefer to pursue their higher education here, which brings us to the dispute between Canada and the United States. If you are one of those students who is torn between these two world leaders in higher education, this blog is for you. Continue reading to learn more about Canada vs. USA comparisons, which will help you make an informed selection. But first, consider the overall statistics for international students who choose one of the two study locations.

THIS BLOG INCLUDES:

1. Why Choose Canada or US for Studying Abroad?
2. Eligibility/Entry Requirements in Canada vs the USA  
3. Canada
4. USA
5. Canada vs the US: Education System
6. Popular courses
7. Courses in the USA
8. Courses in Canada
9. Admission requirements
10. USA Admission Requirements
11. Canada Admission Requirements
12. Costs & Expenses 
13. Cost of Studying in Canada vs the USA

1. Why Study Abroad in Canada or the United States?

Learn why both of these countries are the top choice for millions of students before debating whether Canada is better than the US for international students.

1. Students of all ages have regarded the United States as the best study abroad option, particularly for MS in the United States and other master's programs. It has established a global reputation as a technological and scientific leader, attracting students seeking a top-tier education. Furthermore, features such as excellent R&D prospects, cutting-edge infrastructure, technological breakthroughs, rising businesses, and so on have increased its appeal as a final study abroad location.
2. Canada has recently surpassed nations such as the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and others in attracting foreign students to Canadian colleges. This is primarily due to lax immigration laws, reasonably priced, high-quality education, solid employment prospects, quick processing of study permits, and a large number of scholarships, among other factors. These factors, combined with a high standard of living, make Canada a popular destination for international students.

2. Eligibility/Entry Requirements in Canada vs the USA

The eligibility criteria differ slightly between Canada and the United States. The eligibility parameters of the course and the university offering it are determined by the course the candidate wishes to pursue and the level of education the candidate currently has. The following table compares the entry requirements of Canada and the United States.

Canada

Those wishing to study at the undergraduate level in Canada must have completed at least 12 years of schooling and passed the entrance exam. For admission to postgraduate courses, aspirants must have excelled in their graduation as well as international entrance exams such as the GMAT or GRE. Most Canadian universities place a greater emphasis on the student's merit and IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo scores than on their GMAT/GRE scores.

USA

Adding fuel to the fire between Canada and the United States, admission to American universities is more difficult than admission to Canadian universities. Undergraduate applicants, like those at Canadian universities, must complete 12 years of schooling and take the entrance exam, as well as IELTS,TOEFL or Duolingo. In contrast, to be admitted to a master's program in the United States, an aspirant must have completed 16 years of education (10+2+4), implying that the majority of universities accept a 4-year bachelor's degree, as well as the GMAT or GRE for management or science programs, respectively. Because educational institutes in Ethiopia typically offer three-year undergraduate programs, candidates wishing to study in the United States must fill in the one-year gap.

3. Canada vs the US: Education System

1. Both counties have educational institutions of comparable quality. However, the features of these institutions can change.
2. In Canada, universities grant degrees, whereas colleges confer certificates and diplomas. If you want to get a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree in Canada, you should look for a university rather than a college.
3. A college in the United States can be any institution that grants degrees. A university, simply put, is a larger organization with more options and programs. As a result, in the United States, the terms college and university are used interchangeably.

4. Popular courses

Here is the list of popular courses in Canada and the USA:

Courses in the USA

1. Engineering,
2. MBA,
3. PhD,
4. IT and allied fields
5. Sports, Sports Management,
6. Computer Science,
7. Electrical Engineering,
8. Biotechnology,
9. Physiotherapy,
10. Hospitality

Courses in Canada

1. Business Management
2. Media Engineering
3. Nursing
4. Computer Science
5. Hospitality

5. Admission requirements

Following is the admission requirements to study in Canada and USA:

USA Admission Requirements

1. To enroll in undergraduate (UG) courses, you must have completed 12 years of education. However, in order to be considered for admission, you must take the entrance exam.
2. Postgraduate (PG) programs require 16 years of schooling. It equates to 12 years of education and 4 years of undergraduate study for Ethiopian students. Because three years of undergraduate study is the norm in Ethiopian universities, you may need to enroll in a one-year course to make up the difference. Although it is unusual, if you attended a prestigious Ethiopian institution, certain US institutions may accept your three-year degree. You can discuss your situation with the institution's admissions department. To be admitted to business programs, you must take the GMAT, whereas scientific programs require the GRE.
3. Because there are no cutoffs for admission to institutions, you must score the highest possible on each exam. Colleges list the typical test scores accepted for specific courses on their websites. That will give you an idea of what a good score is. Regardless of your degree, you must also take language exams such as the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. Certain universities may not require a language exam for Ethiopian students, but you should still take the Duolingo, TOEFL or IELTS because they are required to obtain a visa. For an MBA, you may need to have a few years of work experience.

Canada Admission Requirements

1. To enrol in undergraduate (UG) courses, you must have completed 12 years of education. However, in order to be considered for admission, you must take the entrance exam. A diploma program is two to three years long, whereas a degree program is four years long.
2. Acceptance into a postgraduate (PG) vocational program is much easier because the entrance requirements are much more lenient. To be admitted to social study programs, you must take the GMAT, and to be admitted to Natural science programs, you must take the GRE.
3. Cutoffs are not used in Canadian colleges. Colleges list the typical test scores accepted for specific courses on their websites. That will give you an idea of what a good score is. Regardless of your degree, you must also take language exams such as Duolingo, TOEFL or IELTS. Even if some universities do not require a language exam for Indian students, it is still recommended that you take the Duolingo, TOEFL or IELTS because they are required for obtaining a visa. If the visa interviewer has any doubts about your verbal abilities, they may refuse to issue you a visa.

6. Costs & Expenses

Obtaining a higher education from abroad is an expensive proposition. While a student looks forward to studying at the world's top universities, the cost of education and living is one of the most important factors to consider in the debate between Canada and the United States. The table below compares the estimated education and living costs in Canada and the United States.

Cost of Studying in Canada vs the USA

The cost of tuition fees varies from one university to university in both countries. The estimated costs of studying at various levels of education in the United States and Canada are as follows: