Career lane Comparing Canada USA and Australia for Undergraduate Education Photo by Charles DeLoye on Unsplash

Picking which country to move to study in is undeniably a life-changing decision. While Canada, the USA, and Australia are all very popular study destinations, each one naturally has its own set of pros and cons. 

Here's a comparison chart to help you assess the different variables that are critical to consider:

Factors

Canada

US

Australia

Number of colleges in the top 100

(as per usnews.com)

               3

  • University of Toronto
  • University of British Columbia
  • McGill University

                     41

  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  • Stanford University
  • University of California Berkeley
  • University of Washington Seattle

and more.

                   8

  • University of Melbourne
  • University of Sydney 
  • University of Queensland
  • Monash University 
  • University of New South Wales Sydney
  • Australian National University
  • University of Adelaide
  • University of Western Australia

Admission requirements

For undergraduate courses, you must have completed 12 years of schooling.

To get admission, you must appear for the SAT or ACT exam.  

IELTS scores of 6.5

American universities require transcripts, test scores of standardized tests like SAT/ACT, and English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS)

All universities expect 12 years of pre-university education. 

TOEFL or IELTS is required, but not mandatory. 

Length of undergrad

Three to five years

It is usually four years of full-time study.

A bachelor’s program in Australia is for three years. 

Cost of education 

$6,800 per year for international undergraduate students.

 

$21,100 for international graduate students,

American universities are expensive. No doubt about that. It still remains the world’s most popular destination for international students. 

 

The tuition fee for an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in the US is estimated to be anywhere between $20,000 and $40,000 per year. 


 

The estimated cost for an undergraduate degree in Australia is AUD $ 15,000 to $33,000 per year. 

Scholarships

Below are some of the popular scholarships in Canada:

 

Gold Standard Scholarship

 

International Major Entrance Scholarships

 

Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED)

 

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Below are some of the popular scholarships in the US: 

 

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

 

Preply Scholarship

 

East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships

 

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme 

Below are some of the popular scholarships in Australia:

 

Endeavor Postgraduate Scholarship Awards

 

Macquarie University International Scholarship

 

International Postgraduate Research Scholarship

 

Australian Leadership Awards

Cost of living

On average, you need around $7,000 to $10,000 to cover your living expenses.

Student living costs in the US depend on the city they reside in. On average, the estimated living cost for a student is anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 per year. 

You have to shell out at least $14,000 for a year in Australia. 

Part-time work opportunities

Students can work 20 hours a week in a part-time capacity. 


 

Students can work up to 20 hours a week during the course of the semester. 

International students can work up to 20 hours every fortnight during the term. They can take unlimited hours during the term break. 

Job opportunities after graduation

Canada provides 3 years of work permit after your education. Students can work in any industry under this work permit. It is the best option for students who want to stay back after their studies. 

The USA is strict in terms of students staying back in the country after graduation. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is one way using which students can stay back. 

18 months is offered by the Australian government as a work permit. 

Immigration opportunities

International students are entitled to apply for Canadian permanent resident status while studying in Canada, or after completion of studies. 

 

Express Entry makes international students eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.

 

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit for international studies who have graduated from designated learning institutions. It qualifies you for other programs that can help with permanent residency. 

Once your OPT status expires, you shift to the H-1B visa, which is applied for by your employer. 

 

After the end of the maximum 6 years on H1-B, your employer must apply for a green card. Green card holders are eligible to apply for naturalization after 5 years. 

You can apply for the SkillSelect migration program. It can result in permanent residency. 


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