Busy January

Sorry fellas,
                     January 2015 have been  busy so far. Lots to catch up with. I promise to publish something soon in the month of February about affordable Universities (updated version of this).


A very Happy New Year and keep the emails and comments coming.

Working and Paying your Tuition: The Myth

How students intend to fund their tuition is a vital ingredient when it comes to a University or College education. While working and paying tuition remains a viable option, other sources  that may or may not be available to prospective students include; family sponsorship, student loans, scholarships and grants, etc.

Although most of the tuition funding options mentioned above are readily available for a student who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, the same cannot be said for an international student in Canada. The option of government student loan is not available for international students in Canada even though there are international students loans mostly available in the United States.

The other option which is not readily available to international students is working and paying for tuition (individual funding), which brings us to main premise behind this topic. Is it possible to fund your international student fees in Canada through part time or full time work?

Working while studying can be stressful especially if you are in a program that has a heavy course load. A good example of this type of program is Engineering. Engineering programs tend to easily pile up lengthy projects, assignments and tutorials for the student outside the normal lecture slot. This situation requires extra study time in some cases, leaving the student with very little time for part time work.

Hence, time is of essence for an international student who intends to work and fund his/her tuition in Canada. For the 20 hrs/week cap required for work during the regular study session (Sept. - April) by the immigration, it is simply not enough hours to make enough money to fund your tuition. 

Working and paying your international differential fees will require full-time work during the regular study session. You will not only be breaking the 20 hrs / week cap set for part-time work but you will also be undermining the main reason you are in Canada which is to study.

If you exceed the part time hours required, you could be spending more time working than studying, which can affect your grades. Remember poor grades can lead to disciplinary action from your faculty; academic probation, suspension and dismissal.

If you are dismissed from your school and unable to register in another program or school you will not only have a hard time explaining to the Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) why you are not in school, but will also be putting extra time on your study permit. Academic suspensions can take up to a year before you are allowed to return to your program. Academic dismissals just means you are indefinitely suspended from studying in your program.

Is it really worth it spending more time working to fund your tuition? Think about it.

Lets discuss the differential tuition, the wage from part time work and monthly expenses in the regular school year for an undergraduate international student.
The table below is a summary of the undergraduate international student rate (per course) taken from the University of Manitoba website. See full table here .

 Lets say an international student named 'John' is taking Engineering at the University of Manitoba. According to the immigration (CIC), John must maintain a full time study during the regular session (Sept. - April).
During my undergrad years, a full time study at the University of Manitoba was considered 9 credit hours (3 courses minimum) and above. Most courses in Engineering are 3 credit units and above.
That means, at any point in time, John cannot take less than 3 courses.

In addition, for a program like Engineering, John needs to take more than 3 courses to be able to graduate in 4 - 5 years. The faculty of Engineering require that you must complete your degree in less than 7 years. But who wants to spend 7 years in school.  John will need to take 5 courses per semester to be able to graduate within 4 - 5 years, assuming he doesn't fail any of the courses.

Based on the table above, if John takes 3 courses (all 3 credit hours) per semester he pays
$1240.65 x 3 courses = $ 3721.95
Remember with this option he won't be able to complete his program within the time frame of
4 - 5 years.
However, If  John wants to graduate on time (4 - 5 years), he needs to take at least 5 courses
 ( all 3 credit hours) per semester which means he pays $1240.65 x 5 courses = $ 6203.25.

Keep in mind that, any time John takes a 6 credit hour course his tuition goes up. See table above for 6 credit hour rate for Engineering.

By the way, this calculation can be made for other courses in the table. I am just using Engineering as an example.

Also note that, not included in this tuition amount are other fees like technology fee, laboratory fee, student union fees etc.

Working is the only means John plans to fund his tuition, so lets examine how much money he can make through part-time work and full time work. By the way, a job is never guaranteed.

Part-time work

John works as a salesman in a fancy electronic store for $13 / hr for 20 hrs / week (Remember the immigration requires 20 hrs / week for work, during the regular school year). $13 / hr is a very good pay rate for a student part time job by the way, but lets just assume John is very lucky.

John makes: $13 x 20 hrs = $260 / week before taxes and say $200 / week after taxes.
 ( tax calculation is a rough guess here)

In a month John, makes $200 x 4 weeks =  $800

And, $800 x 4 months (one semester )    =  $3200

Full-time work

Same as part-time work except the number of hours is now 40 hrs / week (full time as recommended by the immigration) from May - August (summer months).

John makes: $13 x 40 hrs = $520 / week before taxes and say $400 / week after taxes.

In a month John, makes $400 x 4 weeks      =  $1600

And, $1600 x 4 months (summer months )  =  $6400

John's Monthly Expenses

Room in a house -  $400

Food                    -  $150

Phone bill            -  $80

Bus pass              -  $70

School Supplies  -  $50 (could go higher if textbooks are included)

Miscellaneous     -  $50 (depends on individual life style)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                   -  $800

Monthly expenses for 4 months = $800 x 4 = $3200

Summary for one semester (Sept. - Dec. Or Jan. - April)

Tuition - $3721.95 (3 courses) Or $6203.25 (5 courses)

Work Income - $3200

Monthly Expenses - $3200

As you can see John's work income = his monthly expenses. ***Myth Busted***

John is still left with a bill of $3721.95 (3 courses) Or $6203.25 (5 courses) and therefore cannot continue until he pays up. 

Summary for the summer months (May - August )

Tuition - $0 (Assuming John doesn't take any classes in the summer months)

Work Income - $6400

Monthly Expenses - $3200

John saves $6400 - $3200 = $3200

John's $3200 is not enough to pay for his tuition when he returns to school in September. He is still left with a bill of:  $3721.95 - $3200 = $521.95  Or $6203.25 - $3200 = $3003.25           

***Myth Busted***

Some graduate students might not have worry so much since they get funding from grants, scholarships and paid teaching assistant positions. Besides graduate student's tuition is generally more affordable than an undergraduate's tuition. 

Either ways, it is not still advisable to expect to work and pay your tuition as an international student whether as an undergraduate or graduate student. 

The Canadian High Commission offices abroad make it mandatory for potential international students to present a formal financial documentation at the time of visa application. The financial documentation will demonstrates how the student intends to fund their education and living expenses while in Canada. 

The Canadian Consulate Officers expects all potential international students to fund their tuition. No student tells the Consulate Officers they intend to work and pay for their education while in Canada otherwise their visa application could be refused.

On a personal note, I know an international student who tried to work and pay his tuition. He worked the night shift for 8 hrs and would come to lectures in the morning only to sleep through the lecture and fail all his exams. Hence, he was back to square one; repeating the class and having to fork out the same tuition. Talk of chasing your own tail.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous Happy New year. 

The Importance of Work Experience for International Students

The importance of work experience in Canada couldn't be stressed any more by the new immigration programs rolled out by CIC and am glad I wrote about Job Search in my last post.

Immigration rules changes all the time but in the case of CIC, work experience remains one of the primary requirement. Take for instance, the Express Entry route to permanent residence (P.R). Based on my understanding, priority will be given candidates with a Job offer or work experience.

While it is good to have a Masters or Ph.d, I wouldn't turn down work experience especially If I look forward to residing in Canada permanently. Like I stated earlier, immigration rules changes all the time but work experience still remains a key ingredient, so just merely furthering your educational ambitions might not cut it for a P.R status.

In my opinion, no work experience is lost, it only matters the most where it is needed. Some employers prefer a related work experience from a previous job whether as a student or a graduate. I personally had to transfer experience from an un-related field to my field to be hired.

At the end of the day, your employer or the immigration will require some proof of work experience, so make sure you strive for it especially if you intend to be a landed immigrant.

I like to thank everyone for their emails. Please don't forget to write down comments for any corrections or clarifications. Enjoy the rest of your week. 

Preparing for Canada - Part 3 (Job Search)

      Welcome to the long awaited part 3 of this topic. I like to thank everyone for their emails and please if you are just reading this for the first time look for the earlier versions part 1 & part 2.

      I will be giving a few tips about job search and work experience before and after graduation as an international student. These tips won't necessarily have an order or lists but will make sure it begins just before graduation.
Ask a question
Before Graduation

     One of the key things in a job search is a resume. While you are in school studying and attending classes be sure to make out time from your busy schedule to attend writing workshops or the career services department of your school. Talk to someone about how to write a resume or at least ask them to go over your resume for you.You will get good tips on how to write one or fix the problems in your resume.
When applying for a job whether in your field or not you will be asked to present a resume so make sure you have one irrespective of your academic year or work experience.

      It is good to have some kind of a part time job while studying but don't forget your goal should be to get experience in your field of study or at least some professional experience before graduation. Hence, do not get caught up in part time work. I will give a short example. Lets say you get a job as a Library attendant on campus to support yourself (rent, bills, groceries, etc). If you don't make out the time to apply for jobs in your field during the summer months it may be tough to get a job without any form of professional experience upon graduation.

      Join your student groups to meet other students who have gained some work experience and ask plenty of questions. An experienced student once told me to avoid a certain company because their pay cheque got delayed for a month and it was same case for everyone who worked with them. For example, lets say you are studying Engineering at the University of Manitoba, you can join the University of Manitoba Engineering Society. Get involved and talk to a lot of people. Sometimes, you can get access to past exam questions and answers in some of these groups.

     Talk to your professors, they might just have answers to where you should be applying for jobs. Some of these professors are research consultants or some how know a colleague or a former student who works for a company that offers services in your field of study. In addition, some professors get funding to work on a research for months and might just hire you as a research assistant which is a good way of gaining professional experience. Don't forget to show interest in their field when you talk to them (profs.). They might just get the idea that you are looking for experience and not interested in their research so be smart about it.

      If your program of study offers the Co-op option make sure you do your best to be admitted, as it can easily get competitive. Some Co-op programs have a duration of 16 months industry experience which is a great way to gain experience before graduation. Aside from work experience, you get to come back to school and have more understanding or appreciation for your field of study.

      Some professions have professional associations and do encourage student memberships so make sure you join and start enjoying the benefits available to students. Associations like CSEG, SEG, APEGA, APEGM to name a few, all have great scholarships, grants and mentorship programs for students. Also make sure you attend their functions to connect with professionals in your field. It is good to have contacts in your field while you are studying, they might just be able to recommend you for a position in the future or at least point you in the right direction. Don't forget to keep in touch with your contacts regularly.

      Always make you do a follow-up for any jobs you apply for and please do it in a respectful manner so you are not considered a stalker.

After Graduation    

Graduation comes with excitement but it also leaves you with the question "NOW WHAT?"

While some graduates get a full time offer after a summer position or Co-op work experience, others just get hired after their first interview. Sounds promising right?

The truth is, they are lot of students who graduate without any work experience and this is where I had a major roadblock to getting a job.
It is frustrating to apply for jobs with no single call or interview but don't go to sleep just yet. Use the tips below.

First of all be very motivated. You spent a great deal of effort staying up all night studying for your assignments, midterms, exams or putting together a final year project for a grade, so why not spend extra time for job search. Why not do a better job at job hunting that you will eventually get paid for. Be prepared to write 100s of resumes and cover letters. Be prepared to get out and talk to people a.k.a networking. Consider it a full time job irrespective of where you are or what you are doing.

        Keep yourself busy at all times and not Idle. If you eventually get an interview, employers will like to know what you have done since graduation. Get extra skills and certification by taking a short workshop in your field. Volunteer if you have to, but don't just sit at home. Whatever activity you get involved in while searching for jobs please indicate it in your resume and get ready to explain it to employers during the interview. It won't look good on you if all you did 9 months after graduation is just sit at home and watch tv and look for jobs. Get out and do something and encourage yourself while looking for a job.

       Some of these jobs won't be across the street from your house so have a "Go-Getter" mentality and be prepared to move if you have to. Remember you have to do something different from what every other job seeker is doing, so get creative too. In my situation, I made a business card with my name, program of study and a small note that said " recent graduate looking for first opportunity".
It was easy to hand out the cards whenever I met people in networking functions as opposed to resumes.

       Use your LinkedIn profile as an electronic resume. Employers also use LinkedIn a lot to post new positions or just browse profiles for potential employees so make the best of it. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is very professional. In addition, before an interview employers will always look for any recent online activity and that includes all social media pages. Make sure you clean up any indecency on your social media page as a potential employer may come across it. What is acceptable and not acceptable is really up to you but make sure you ask someone.

      Keep in touch with classmates and friends as they may have been recently hired and may be in a position to recommend you for a job or at least give inside information on which company may be looking soon.

      It is possible to find a professional job that is not directly related to your field and when you do please do not turn it down unless you really have something lined up. The key is getting your 'foot by the door' - get into the work environment and gain some experience while looking. When you do this, you can easily find yourself closer to people in your field or at least get to understand how the job market works. Either ways, it is better than sitting at home because you are gaining some experience and also earning some income.

     The sad part of job search is when someone takes a job at some convenient store and then gives up on job search in their field. Just remember the years you spent working hard in school for a degree and you will  be motivated to get back into it. You did not do a 4 year program to give up on your vision so get on with it. Remember you can achieve your goals if you don't give up on your self. If you give up on yourself no one else can encourage you, so be mentally strong while looking.

The Moment You Land Your First Opportunity  

      Once you get your first job its ok to rest a little bit, but don't completely go to sleep. Don't stop networking with professionals irrespective of background, nationality or ethnicity. Update everyone including classmates where you work and stay connected. Your LinkedIn profile should reflect this. Expanding your network can sometimes help bring business to your company and make you a valuable employee. In addition, during economic downturns professionals in your network might just be able to help you out in the case of layoffs. Stay connected with everyone.

      Seize every opportunity to learn new roles at work from experienced professionals to gain experience. Enroll in your company's educational program if there's any and talk to your boss about new opportunities at work.

      Remember with trust comes favour. Hence, employers like honest, reliable and trustworthy employees. To be gainfully employed you must have these three qualities. You keep them? you stand a chance of getting a job through referrals during tough times.

      If there is any thing else I would add, I did like to say 'Never Ever' leave  a good boss/workplace/co workers for a bigger paycheque somewhere else unless you are sure you will be getting a better treatment. It is hard to find a good boss, good co workers and a good pay cheque all at the same place. I will take a good boss over a bigger pay cheque any day because happiness is not easy to come by at work sometimes.


Don't forget to leave comments or send me an email at emakgaga@gmail.com for any corrections or general comments. Have a great week ahead.

Preparing for Canada- Part 3 : Coming soon

I like to use this opportunity to thank everyone who sent me emails about the part 1 & part 2 of this topic.

I am happy the little information I provided have helped a lot of you immensely.

Now to your request of part 3.

The part 3 of this topic will be more focused on how to get yourself ready for your field before graduation and right after graduation. The part 3 of this topic will be posted within a week of this notice.

Stay tuned.

Preparing for Canada - Part 2

      Hello, welcome to the second part of of this write up (Please Read Part 1 first). I hope the first write up has helped someone out there.

Sorry for being away for a while, keeping a balanced life style is no easy task.

Now to the rest of the write up.

- After you make your way passed the consular officer with the necessary documentation;
            * Get some Canadian funds in case you intend to get a taxi. A bureau de change should be around some where, just ask the airport information desk.
         
           *Buy a calling card - Your family will need to know you have arrived safely first. You can either call them when you arrive your residence or just use the airport pay phone. If your phone has a WiFi capability, you could use the airport's free wifi to call your family via Skype.

           *Remember to have your address handy for the cab driver again if you intend to take a cab. If you ever get lost in the airport look for the closest airport staff they will be glad to assists you.

If you plan to live off campus make sure you choose a place as close as possible to campus so you can save money on transportation and commute time. I never bought a single bus pass in school ($70 savings monthly). I used to live 15mins walk from campus and didn't have to take the bus for any reason, except for grocery shopping a few times. Besides the bus was always packed with students during peak hours. I enjoyed walking from home to school without having to worry about the crowd. The down side is on cold days you will have to dress really warm (in layers). To search for places for rent close to your campus type in " places for rent close to (name of my school)" on google.com You should see a list of places close to campus. Choose the closest place if you can see it on a map.

- It is important to inform campus residence or your landlord/guardian when you will be arriving so they can be around to help you move in. Missing this step can be problematic if you don't have their phone number or a working cell phone handy.

- Once you are settled and have called your family, you want to get to know your new environment so transportation is next.
         
             * Get a map or perhaps use Google maps to find out the proximity of your school, the hospital, the grocery story, etc. Ask your campus residence/landlord lots of questions about getting around.
     
            * Learn how to get around by your self. Take a bus and learn how to use the bus schedule. If it is just a walking distance then master your walk routes correctly especially before classes begin. Also take time to know your way around campus. Sometimes, the size of the campus can be overwhelming. Know your lecture halls, university center, food court etc.

- If there is an international student center in your school make sure to drop by and say hello. They will have a lot more specific instructions on how to adjust to your knew environment so take it seriously. By the way, ask them how to go about getting your student health card.

- Get to know your student groups and join which ever appeals to you; remember you are in a new country and need to make friends, so in the words of James Brown -"Get involve" .This is a good way of getting to make new friends. In some of these student groups you will get to meet students from different backgrounds. Please pay attention to the older ones or the locals who have been around the university as they might just be able to help you adapt quick with information.

- Get to know your professors and where their offices are located. Also look up your professors on www.ratemyprofessors.com. That web page really help prepare me for what to expect from a professor based on some student's personal evaluation. That being said, a student's personal experience with a prof. might not be the absolute case for everyone. Get to know your professor your self.

- Make sure you look up text books you will need for each class. Some classes might not require a text book but make sure to confirm with your instructor first. Before classes begin make sure you take advantage of the school's used book store or websites like www.abebooks.com for a bargain on text books. If you can also get in touch with students who have previously taken a certain class. They might sell you their text book at a discounted price than the school's book store.

- If you are not living on campus residence then you will either have to make your own food or eat in restaurants. Remember simply learning how to make your own food regardless of gender will help you save a tonne of money. If you intend to cook your meals make sure you make a grocery list and buy enough food so you don't have to make frequent trips to the grocery store every weekend. Remember time will be of essence as you progress and you might not have time due to the overwhelming course work loads.

- On the first day of class the instructor will give the course break down which will include names, locations, dates, office hours and what is expected from you as a student. Be sure to mark your calendar for specific dates and also write down the names of the teaching assistants and perhaps laboratory or tutorial time slots.

- If you can please get to know your class mates from day one. I always noticed in each of the classes I attended they were all kinds of students. The A+ ones to the not so serious ones. Be sure to choose carefully.

- Don't forget you are in a new country. The weather, culture, the people and environment might seem a little challenging while you are also trying to study so don't give up on yourself if you don't do so well in your first year of study. Think goals instead of some new year resolution and grade yourself personally as you progress. See your instructor and teaching assistants for help if you need help in any area of your study. Also make 'good' study group friends.

- Also keep an eye on www.cic.gc.ca. The immigration laws do get changed or updated all the time. Please know what you can and can't do with your student status while you study. Some people who have broken the rules have been deported or simply removed before graduation so please take extra care. Again mark your calendar for the expiry date of your study permit and passport.

- While you study keep an eye out for Canadian work experience in your field (especially as your approach 3rd year of study). If you gain some work experience as you study it might help you understand some principles taught in class a little better or perhaps help you gain full time employment after graduation.

Ok folks that is all for now. I can't promise a part 3 just yet but if it comes up it will be more focused on what to do just before and after graduation. Hope you enjoyed the write up. 

Remember you can always email me at emakgaga@gmail.com for any corrections or clarity. 

Preparing for Canada -Part 1

       So you have survived all the visa and admission hurdles in your home country and the big day has come; travelling to Canada for your post-secondary education.

Some of the basics you want to know before you board the plane are as follows:

- Book your flights on time. Leaving your flight up to the last minute before booking might mean expensive air fares especially during the peak periods of August to mid September or mid December.

- Perhaps you must have done this during your research for a school, but it also good to read about where you are going to study. Read about the city, the people, environment, social life , politics and current events, etc. Your new environment is going to have some impact on your life style so it is good to have an understanding of what potentially lies ahead.

- Get some Canadian funds. Your local bank might have this option readily available at some reasonable fee. If you carry large sums of a foriegn currency, your only source of exchange might be a Bureau de Change which might carry hidden fees, handling charges, etc. The bottom line is you might lose too much money by the time your money is converted. If you must take this option perhaps change enough to be able to afford a cab ride and to buy a few things if the need arises. Also look into a travellers cheque option.

-  Your school's address and phone number

-  Address of residence you will be staying and contact of land lord.

- Arrange a pick up from the airport if you can; some schools might offer this service otherwise ask your landlord to pick you up. The other option will be getting a taxi so make sure you have the right address handy. Also watch out for luxury taxi services which can be more expensive than regular taxi service. If you choose a limosine, Escalade, etc as your taxi ride you could be paying too much.

- Carry a thick sweater and socks, it might get cold in the plane. Also bring some snacks just incase you don't like the food served on the plane.

- Know your flight Itineary like your birthday to avoid missing your boarding time or a potential connecting flight.

- The time of the year you choose to travel matters so carry a winter jacket with you if its winter or dress warm for the spring weather. In my opinion the best time to visit Canada is in the summer months especially if you are from a tropical country. If you resume in September and you can make it here by August you can actually help your body slowly adapt to the weather by the time winter comes around.

- Always have your passport and other documents handy. Do not leave them in your luggage. They have been cases where the individual arrives before the luggage. Don't forget the Consular officer might asks for documents that support your visit to Canada. Do not leave your hand luggage un-attended by any means at the airport and be alert at all times.

So when your plane arrives in Canada.

You want to make your way through CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency). Remember if you don't know where you are going, please asks always.

You will eventually make it to the Consular officer who will be issuing you a study permit (remember all you have at the moment is just a visa). The consular officer might asks you several questions pertaining to your stay, as the CBSA did and will eventually read all the rules governing your study permit. Please listen to this rules carefully.

- Take note of the expiry date on your study permit, visa, passport and write it down some where you can never forget. If you over stay your study permit or for some reason cannot renew it past a few months you will be running into issues with the CBSA. Trust me you don't want to be that person. Its really a nasty experience.

...Stay tuned for part 2. 
*** Read Part 2 here.