Important Points to Consider

April is a very busy month: This is the time when the Canadian universities have responded to applications sent by students and the offers are on the table. Students must select their final choice of Canadian university and pay their registration down payment by late April or early May.

This can be a very stressful time for many students and their families. You need to identify what factors are important in choosing a university and what likelihood there is that these values will come to fruition at the university you choose. We encourage a 'Best-Fit' model: By this we mean, where do you see yourself thriving?

While most Canadian universities do not traditionally require information beyond basic demographic data and grade 12 marks for admissions, there are several universities and competitive faculties that ask students to fill out what is called an Application Supplement.

Good jobs in the 21st century require a good education.

Choosing your education is now one of the most crucial choices you will make in your life. You need to do your homework well and you need to be strategic.

For years, James Scott wanted to become a pharmacist. When the opportunity arose to complete the Bachelor of Pharmacy program in an Australian University, he knew he could fulfill his long-time career dream.

"My intention was to pursue my education in Canada, until I found out about the possibility of studying in Australia," he said. "I realized that the journey to getting into a Canadian pharmacy school could be a long and uncertain one. I applied to James Cook University in Townsville and was accepted." While exciting, this meant another thing: Moving his entire family from Canada to Australia for four years.

James said it took him and his wife, Jennifer, a month to make the decision to accept his offer of admission.

"In the end we realized that the journey would be more difficult, but the road was more certain, as I had a position to study in my chosen field," he says. "It was difficult to leave family and friends behind but we hoped it would be worth it in the end."

Preparing for their trip meant applying for his student visa and setting up a bank account, all of which James said was a smooth transition.

Arriving in Townsville six weeks prior to his program start date, it took two weeks to find a place to live. James said they were glad they gave themselves so much time to get set up in Australia. "It takes time to adjust to living in a foreign country and everything takes longer because you need time to understand how everything works," he says. "We are glad we did that."

James admits the first year was difficult, with homesickness often cropping up.

"The first year is very difficult to transition, meet people, get settled in and feel like you have a little understanding of the culture here," he said. "If you can press through the homesickness and adjustment period, the second year is much easier."

Now that he's into his second year of study, James explains his daily routine, trying to balance out life as a student, father and husband. "This has been a difficult thing to learn to balance," he says. "I feel like there is always more to learn and more to study. I'm not sure if I have mastered this one yet."

James says he tries to be home from school by 5 pm every night. Once he and Jennifer bathe and feed their children, they put them to bed and follow it up with some quality time together as a couple. But his day doesn't stop there. He then spends a few hours behind the books before he hits the hay.

To better balance school and life, they take one day a week for family time. "We have also decided to take Sundays off as a day of rest and to spend time together as a family," James explains. "Lately, we try to go to a park and have a BBQ or something along those lines."

When moving a family to Australia for school, James offers some advice: "It is a good idea to take advantage of the Australian 'way," he says. "They are very friendly and will send invitations or try to connect with you. Follow through and make friends with these great people!"

Tips for Moving your Family to Australia

1. Learn your visa options
Do the necessary research to discover what a student visa entails, and how it works with your spouse and children coming overseas, especially if your spouse plans to work in Australia.

2. Organize accommodation
You will most likely need short term accommodation before you settle into your own place. The homes of friends or family are ideal for this or you can rent hotel accommodation by the day, week or month. Try to stay somewhere close to where you plan on living permanently. This way, you will get a feel for the place before you commit to a long term rental or property purchase.

3. See to the paperwork
Ensure your will is in order, obtain references, get your medical and vaccination records, and collect professional and personal contact details.

4. Packing to Australia
Packing and shipping is time-consuming and costly. Get quotes and use a reputable supplier. Don't pack anything that will be confiscated or hold up your goods in quarantine unnecessarily – visit the Australian Government's Quarantine and Inspection Service so you can familiarize yourself with the rules and restrictions.

Contributed by:

OzTREKK educational services
Website: www.oztrekk.com
Phone: 1-866-698-7355
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Elementary & Secondary Education

Government of Yukon
Department of Education
Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6
Phone: (867) 667-5141 Fax: (867) 393-6254
Toll free (In Yukon): 1-800-661-0408, local 5141

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.education.gov.yk.ca

There are over 5000 students in kindergarten through grade 12 in 28 Yukon public schools, 14 of them in the capital city of Whitehorse (eight elementary schools, two Catholic elementary schools, two secondary schools, one Catholic secondary school, one K-12 French First Language school).

Yukon K-12 School directory
Yukon Education Student Network
Gadzoosdaa Student Residence
Yukon Secondary School Apprenticeship Training

Post Secondary Education

Government of Yukon
Advanced Education
Box 2703, Witehorse, Yukon
Canada Y1A 2C6
Phone: (867) 667-5298 Fax: (867) 667-8555
Toll free (In Yukon): 1-800-661-0408, local 5298

Yukon College is the only public post secondary institution in the Yukon. It cooperates with the University of Regina in the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program and the Bachelor of Social Work Degree Program. It also works closely with the University of the Arctic.

Quick Links:
Yukon College
Kia School of Visual Arts (Sova)
Yukon Tradesperson Qualification Program
Polar Institute of Technology

Your GoStudy Team
www.gostudy.ca

As the fastest-growing province in Canada, Saskatchewan habours an exciting range of opportunities for education, quality careers, and entrepreneurship. With our safe and friendly communities, competitive cost of living, and the natural beauty of our prairie, lakes and forests, we invite students from across Canada and around the world to experience Saskatchewan's energy firsthand.

The program has been expanded by the Government of Saskatchewan to include graduates from across the country and beyond who pursue their careers in Saskatchewan!

What is the Graduate Retention Program?

Saskatchewan is thriving and opportunities for graduates have never been brighter. The Graduate Retention Program (GRP) rewards you for building your future in Saskatchewan by providing a refundable income tax credit to rebate up to $20,000 of tuition fees paid by eligible graduates who live in Saskatchewan.

Elementary & Secondary Education

Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport
1035, rue De La Chevrotière, 18e étage
Québec (Québec) G1R 5A5

In most educational institutions in Québec, French is the language of instruction. Under the Charter of the French Language, instruction is to be given in French at the preschool, elementary and secondary levels. However, some students who meet specific requirements of the Charter may receive their schooling in English. These students account for approximately 11.2 per cent of the total enrollment in Québec's elementary and secondary schools. As for college and university students, they can enroll in either English- or French language institutions.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada's smallest province and is located on Canada's East Coast in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Island is known for its natural beauty and gently rolling landscape, surrounded by miles of sandy beaches and red sandstone cliffs. Among such natural beauty is a diverse and welcoming community of people and a prosperous economy. Island and visitors alike can enjoy exceptional cultural life through live theatre, museums, art galleries, great restaurants, regular festivals and events, concerts, spectacular beaches and swimming, world class golf and scenic walking trails.

Ontario is home to more than 400 registered private career colleges.

These colleges are independent businesses and not-for-profit institutions that are regulated by the Ontario government.

Private career colleges often appeal to people who need specific job skills to join the work force or who want to upgrade their skills to be more competitive in the job market.

Private career colleges offer enrolment throughout the year. They also offer flexible learning schedules and deliver training over a short period of time.

Ontario offers you far more than a world class education. We offer you the experience of a lifetime, inside and outside the classroom. Join more than 37,000 international students from around the world who are studying in Ontario universities and colleges right now. You will get the education that you want, with 47 publicly funded colleges and universities in Ontario, there are thousands of programs to choose from both in English and French languages.

Ontario has 24 colleges of applied arts and technology. Our colleges offer one, two and three-year certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs. Some colleges also offer four-year applied degree programs. Ontario colleges offer more than 2,400 programs in almost 600 subjects. That’s a lot of choice!

A group of 21 Inuit women will graduate with a Masters of Education from the University of Prince Edward Island, July 1, in Iqaluit.

An innovative partnership between UPEI, Arctic College, the Nunavut Department of Education and St. Francis Xavier University has allowed these students to study without leaving the Arctic. Most of these women are mature students who are already working as educators in some capacity in their communities.