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Canada has a strong migration history which can be seen today as much as ever before. Increased migration accounted for 1.2 million of the 1.6 million increase in Canada’s population between 2001 and 2006. On average, 200,000 people migrate to Canada every year.
Immigration has been a key factor in the growth of Canada’s economy over the last decade.
Anyone who enjoys the wide open spaces will love Canada, with its population density of 3.5 people per square kilometre – the lowest in the world.
Canada is one of the world’s richest nations, boasting an impressively high income per capita of US$35,500. It is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co†operation and Development (OECD) and Group of Eight (G8).
The quality of life in Canada is absolutely firstâ€rate, and Canada is constantly receiving awards and accolades to affirm this. In 2005, Vancouver won the global award for overall quality of life, with Canada as a whole being ranked 11th out of 114, and Calgary was awarded world’s most environmentally friendly and cleanest city. More recently, the Heritage Foundation in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal ranked Canada 10th out of 161 in the 2007 Index of Economic Freedom, and the Economist named Canada as the world’s 8th most peaceful country in 2007.
The opportunities for employment in Canada are plentiful, and potential migrants with a skilled trade behind them will find that their chances of successfully applying for migration to Canada are significantly increased. Opportunities are also rife for businessmen and investors whose work will help to increase Canada’s already flourishing economy.
The price of housing in Canada is significantly cheaper than other western countries, and migrants are always able to buy the house of their dreams, at cheaper costs.
Migration has been a key factor in the evolution of Canada’s culture, and as a result, multiculturalism is embraced throughout the country. People from various countries throughout the world are therefore welcome in Canada, and migrants can be sure that they will feel accepted whatever part of the country they chose to settle.
Sports and outdoor life are very popular in Canada. The national winter sport of ice hockey is a national pastime and by far the country’s most popular spectator sport. Lacrosse, curling, Canadian football, golf, baseball, skiing, snowboarding, soccer, basketball and volleyball are also widely played and supported.
As a Country that boasts breathtaking scenery as well as firstâ€rate urban life, Canada is one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations. Owing to its size, many Canadians choose to holiday within the country, and with eyeâ€opening cities such as Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal, as well as the stunning scenery of Niagara falls and Gatineau National Park, this is hardly surprising.
Australia is a nation founded on immigration. Of the 20.6 million Australians, the vast majority are descendents of nineteenth and twentieth century European settlers, mainly from the UK, Ireland, and Asia. The country’s population has quadrupled since the end of World War I, due to the introduction of an ambitious immigration program still in operation today.
Australia has a prosperous, westernâ€style economy, with a GDP per capita estimated at US$32,900, slightly higher than that of the UK.
Despite the country’s healthy economy, a shortage of skilled workers is a major problem which Australia is currently addressing through its aggressive migration program. Jobs abound for skilled tradesâ€people and investors and the opportunity to become part of Australia and enjoy its unparalleled lifestyle is wide open to anyone who PGOSsesses the required skills or business knowledge.
Tradesâ€people in Australia can earn substantial wages. In some areas of Australia, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics can earn up to AU$1,200 per day. Tradesmen and women routinely receive $2000 a week on contract work, and this in not just a passing phase.
Australia’s deâ€regulated economy makes it an ideal country for business investment. The country also benefits from substantial natural resources and technical strength and a tax system that competes with all other western economies.
Housing is of an affordable, high standard compared to other countries, and the quality of schools, hospitals and public transport reflect the exceptional quality of life that Australians enjoy.
The landscape of Australia is stunning and highly varied. Ranging from the lush rainforests of Northern Queensland and the Northern Territory to Sydney’s Blue Mountains, from the vast outback to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia has diverse scenery that attracts thousands of tourists and residents alike every year.
English is the national language and is spoken at home by 80% of the population. Virtually all of those who do not speak it at home are bilingual, so communication with others is never a problem.
Australians are sportâ€obsessed and love living an outdoor lifestyle. Major sports in Australia include the country’s national sports of cricket, rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football, as well as hockey, netball, soccer and fishing.
Despite all that goes on in Australia, the lifestyle is in fact extremely relaxed and laid back. Even business meetings are generally informal, with ties very seldom being worn. Class boundaries do not exist is the same ways that they do in countries such as the UK, and a sense of everyone contributing to society in their own way prevails.
Studying abroad is more than just attending classes and doing assignments and projects. There are many other aspects that an international education, especially from the US caters to, that you cannot get trained in your home country. For example, one learns to communicate with people confidently, especially with people from different nationalities.
For all you prospective international students who’ve been dreaming of pursuing your further studies in the U.S., this time of year often is the crucial, anxiety-ridden time of submitting applications and waiting for admission decisions. It can be safely said that you haven’t ever been busier in life than what you’ve been in the last 6-8 months - taking your GRE/GMAT/SAT tests, to writing your Statement of Purpose essays to filling out an assortment of applications. Also, amidst the anxiety and the excitement, many of you have been scratching your heads trying to tackle that one universal concern – How to avail funding for your U.S. degree? The cost of living and studying varies across the length and breadth of the United States. With the right amount of planning and research, it can be made within your means with high returns on your investment.
You would be happy to know that one out of every five international students studying in the U.S. has their education funded by the school they are attending! While scholarships are great, not everyone can bag them. Scholarships are given out to international students only on meritorial basis and NOT on a need basis. Need-based scholarships are only given out to US students and not international students who attend university on a temporary visa. There are several options a student may look into when seeking financial aid or scholarships for studies in the United States.
Here is a short list of them that we’ve compiled just for you:
U.S universities want to maintain an international, diverse, student so many of them offer financial aid/scholarships to international students based on academic excellence and their scores in competitive entrance exams such as SAT, GRE and GMAT.
Roughly 10% of undergraduate (Bachelor’s) international students and 40% of graduate international students receive funding directly from U.S. universities. Most international undergraduate aid is “merit-based” and in rare cases international students can avail “need-based’ aid too, however, in both cases, the aid is extremely competitive and it is essential that prospective students research their opportunities and options carefully.
Most international graduate students (who apply for Master’s degrees) are offered financial aid in the form of Assistantships - teaching, research or administrative. If a student who is offered an assistantship is usually expected to work up to 10-20 hours per week carrying out their assigned duties. Although competitive, these assistantships may often cover the entire cost of graduate education in the U.S. and international students are, therefore, advised to research and apply for such assistantships. Often it has been seen that there aren’t any separate application forms for assistantships/scholarships; students can respond with the scholarship/assistantship question with a “yes” at the time of application to their program.
In order to compete for these awards, prospective graduate students should not only produce proof of academic excellence, but also take the TOEFL or IELTS and the GRE or GMAT prior to applying to the graduate programs of their choice. Please note that the standardized tests are MANDATORY to take and anybody who tells you they’re optional is trying to misguide you. Having not taken the standardized tests could also be a reason for Visa refusal, in case you manage to get an admission without it.
It is also important for the prospective graduate student to research each university department thoroughly in order to determine their best fit. Sometimes, it’s also a good idea to communicate with students studying on campus through social networking forums and get an idea of the admission trends of the previous years. Not all university programs are the same and each department will have different areas of focus in terms of ongoing research. Know that at graduate studies level, you must have identified your area of research and your university selection should go in line with the same. In most cases, the department makes the decision to accept/reject the graduate application; therefore it is crucial that the research interests of both the student and the department should coincide. International graduate students may also consider applying for “fellowships” awarded by some U.S. universities. These are similar to academic scholarships and do not have any work obligations. “Grants” to support various research projects may also be available in some departments if a graduate student is seeking funding for a specific project, however, these maybe pursued after joining the program any may take up to 6 months to materialize. In these cases, the student may have to show funding from their own family in India in order to apply for their student visa.
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State supported network of hundreds of advising centers around the world for international students wanting to study abroad in the U.S. Students can have access to resources and counsellors by visiting the Embassy of the United States website in your country. There is also financial aid information on the EducationUSA website highlighting any financial opportunities from time to time.
Another recommended U.S. scholarship program is the TOEFL Scholarship Program. TOEFL looks for students who have high academic achievement as well as:
This scholarship is currently open to the international students who live in China, Taiwan, India, Japan and Korea.
The TOEFL Scholarship Program in India is open to any student currently living in India who will start an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university listed in TOEFL’s data search directory. The applicant should hold a grade point average of 80 or higher on a 100-point scale, or a 3.0 grade point average or higher on a 4-point scale. Students should keep track of announcement of the 2018 scholarship on the ETS website and apply online.
The Dr. Bhagwan Gajwani Fellowship, established in 1998 by Dr. Bhagwan Gajwani, has two purposes:
to promote educational and cultural relationships between Binghamton University and the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda, Gujarat, India
to help students from Dr. Gajwani's homeland, develop the expertise and skills to enhance the quality of life for the people of India
The scholarship is awarded annually to selected graduates of MSU currently residing in India. Applicants must have fulfilled Binghamton University's admission requirements and be accepted into a master's program in one of the following fields:
The Gajwani Fellowship provides a stipend of $10,000 for the academic year and a full-tuition scholarship.
Applicants must complete both the application for Graduate School admission and the Gajwani Fellowship application.
For priority consideration, students may note that application should be submitted much ahead in advance. For more information on Study Abroad, Visas and Scholarships, contact us at Pulse Global Overseas Services.
All the best!!