Lifestyle
Foreign study
Winter 2010 |
Travel is an educational experience, and many young people double their learning experience by studying in a foreign country. There are hundreds of ways to have an “exchange” experience when you are 13 (or even 63!)
The best known high school in Europe for Ontario students is the CCI, the Renaissance School in Lanciano, Italy. Students can study Grades 10 through 12 at CCI, which offers a high quality English education under the supervision of the Ontario Ministry of Education. (905. 508. 7108 or 800. 422. 0548.)
The Learning Traveller in Guelph, (519.821.3202) arranges summer study programs in Europe as well as a year-long program for students who take a gap year off between high school and post-secondary school. These include French immersion programs in Quebec, France and Switzerland for students aged 13 to 18, and learn Russian program in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The International Summer School of Scotland (ISSOS) offers three-week summer school programs for international students aged between 13 and 18. The summer school programs are held in July and August in St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. Students choose one academic subject such as creative writing or the International Baccalaureate (IB program) and one elective subject such as film-making, theatre or golf to study during their three-week stay.
There are numerous options for pursuing your education abroad through Cambrian College. Cambrian has articulation agreements with universities in the United States, Australia, and Switzerland. The staff at the Cambrian International offices on the fourth floor of the college can help students learn about available placement, employment, and internship opportunities abroad.
Students considering post-secondary education in another country, should start their research at least a year in advance and to make sure they have their passports, student visas and any other necessary paperwork well in advance.
Even attending a school in the United States comes with some red tape. Canadian students are no longer allowed to begin study there without a valid Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20). This document is issued by the U.S. school and sent directly to the applicant. Students must have their Form I-20 in their possession each time they enter the United States for presentation to Customs and Border Protection officers. They should also have documentary evidence of sufficient funds to cover travel, tuition, and living expenses in the United States for at least the first year of schooling, such as a notarized bank statement or letter from a parent/guardian attesting to the funds.
Australia has become a Canadian haven for those who haven’t been able to break through the competitive Canadian medical school market. In Ontario alone last year, more than 5,600 candidates applied for the 857 spots available, according to the Ontario Application University Centre.
In Australia, graduate-entry students receive a bachelor of medicine/bachelor of surgery (MBBS) degree in four years, followed by a one-to-two-year internship followed by a specialist residency. Currently there are 19 Australian universities that offer medical school programs, seven of which accept international students.
The downside to attending university or college outside of Canada is that Canadian students cannot apply for student loans. In some cases, students might be eligible for assistance if they are attending a foreign school on an exchange program with a Canadian school.
There are some individual fellowships and scholarships offered on a limited basis by the host institution to foreign students. Information about such sources of financial assistance can be obtained by writing directly to the office of financial aid and awards of the institution you plan to attend. Students may also find sources of financial support for study abroad within their own university or college by contacting their school's office of financial aid and awards.
