What Is The CREPUQ Canada Program?

The CREPUQ (Conférence Des  Recteurs Et Des Principaux Des Universités Du Québec) program, or the Conference of the Vice-chancellors and the Main Head teachers of the Universities of Quebec, aims at helping the French students to make a mobility within universities of Quebec. French students can, thus, leave every year within a partner university to Quebec, and study for one year there.

Conditions to enter the CREPUQ Program:

To be able to enter CREPUQ program, you must have been registered at least in a French university connected with this program and have studied during one year. In case you would like to join an English-speaking university from Quebec, you have to prove your English level through an internet test within the French university, or by an official test of English, such as the TOEFL (approximately 80/120 in the TOEFL) or the TOEIC.

What are the advantages of the CREPUQ Program?

There are two major advantages of the CREPUQ program:

1/ The major advantage of the CREPUQ program is that you will not have to pay the tuition fees of universities in Quebec, during your registration, which will make you save approximately €2500 compared with a classic student, although Quebec has an agreement with the French students so that their tuition fees are either at the level of the students from Quebec or Can$3000 approximately. You will have to pay the registration fee, which is €400, to the French university.

The CREPUQ program doesn't grant scholarships to the French students, although it is always possible to apply for scholarships assigned by the Canadian government, but only on the level of Master's degree.

2/ The second advantage of the CREPUQ program is the simplification of the procedures with regard to the students off the program, and your university will take care of the majority of administrative procedures for you.

The procedures of the CREPUQ program:

If you wish to study in Quebec through the CREPUQ program, you have to go to the office of the international relations of your university and discuss it directly with the person in charge of this type of partnerships. The best thing to do is to discuss it first with your teachers, to estimate your chances of departure, to contact by e-mail the office of the international relations, and secondly to book an appointment after you are being informed.

Your university also risks to set up one or several conferences concerning this program, with teachers, participants coming from universities in Quebec, and from alumni having participated in the program, to explain to you better its functioning and what it is necessary to expect from it.

The deadline of deposit of application files is often in mid-January  through end - January, so do not, thus, hesitate to take your steps towards Quebec as soon as possible.

What universities have participated in the CREPUQ program?

There are various accessible universities via the CREPUQ program. According to the French university which you join and its partnerships, only a part of these universities from Quebec will be accessible to you. The following is a list of those universities:

- Ecole polytechnique in Montreal

- Concordia university in Montreal 

- Laval university in Quebec

- Mc Gill university in Montreal 

- National institute of the Scientific research

- Public École nationale d'administration

- School of Superior Technology

- The network of the university of Quebec

- University of Sherbrooke

- University of Bishop 

Categories: Canada

How To Follow Master Stuides In Canada?

International students, who wish to pursue a post-graduate study in Canada, have several options to choose from. If a Master's degree is the diploma to be favored, there are other programs that can be taken in cinsideration such as: micro-programs, certificates, professional degrees, and cooperative programs. To be able to join a post-graduate program in a Canadian university, there are some procedures to follow.

Master Studies In Canada:

To make a Master's degree in Canada, the first thing to be known is that, as everywhere else, there is only one procedure identical to all the universities to proceed to a registration. Every establishment, and every program has its requirements.

Since the implementation of the Bologna Process, most of the Canadian universities accept the students having a French Bachelor's degree to apply for a Master's degree program. However, it is not still the case in all Canadian universities. Certain universities require another additional year of studies to join their program of Master's degree. Also, for certain programs, the universities which accept, as a rule, the dismissed students are going to require the a minimum of four year of studies.

Students in business school or in engineering school, in particular those who have integrated joined these schools after two years of preparatory courses, will have to complete their program before applying. But there exist some exceptions in this rule.

To join a Master's degree program in a Canadian university, it is also necessary to have a good undergraduate record. An overall average of 12/20 is, as a rule, the minimum to have a chance to be accepted, but it is not surprising to find establishments which ask for an average of 14. It is the case in the University of British Columbia.

If you want to join a Master's degree program in an English-speaking Canadian university, the results in a test of language as the TOEFL or the IELTS are required.

There are generally two entry-terms in Canada and the dates to apply can vary according to universities. It is possible to apply before February, 1st, through March, 1st, for an entry-term in Automn strating in September. It is also possible to apply before September, 1st, through October, 1st, for an entry-term in Winter starting in January.

Other post-graduate study options in Canada: 

A Master's degree is not the only post-graduate study option accessible to international students, who wish to pursue their studies in Canada after they get a graduate degree (Bachelor's Degree.)

Canadian universities provide microprograms, certificates, and professional Bachelor's degrees.

Another way to be able to go and study in Canada for a half-year or a year after you get your graduate degree, is to join a French university or school, and so you will be able to leave to study in Canada within the framework of an exchanges program such as the CREPUQ, or an integrated program.

Finally, it is also possible to join a Canadian university as a visiting student after you get your Bachelor's degree. This formula allows you to take classes at the university, to be noted, but does not allow you to obtain a diploma.

Categories: Canada

What Are The Steps To Study In Quebec After High School

French citizens, who have got their high school diploma (Baccalaureate,) and wish to study in Canada, have to choose between two types of educational studies: the university studies or the technical studies.

A French student can join a Canadian university with his baccalaureate (called "high school diploma" in Quebec) or join a community college with he has diploma of technical studies, which is called "CÉGEP" in Quebec (COLLEGE OF GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.) 

How To Get Access to a Canadian University:

Go to study in Canada after graduating from high school, is thus, possible for French students. However, contrary to France where a registration at the university is worth automatic acceptance, the access to bachelor studies in Canada is made on file. The quality of marks obtained at the high school, in particular those of final year of high school, are essential to hope to be accepted. The selection is sometimes so rough for certain sectors, that students with the average of 16 do not get a place.

Most of the time an average of 12/20 is sufficient. In the case of an application sent before having obtained results of the high school diploma examination, the university will ask, in most of the cases, for the school reports of three trimesters of the first year to handle the demand of registration.

The Canadian universities accept high school students' applications in sector(network) S, ES and L. Students in the technology sector can apply, but the acceptance of the file is treated individualy case by case. Generally, the vocational high school diploma is not sufficient to study in a Canadian university. And generally speaking, it is recommended to apply to several universities to increase your chances to be accepted.

How to get access to a university in Quebec:

In Quebec, the students from Quebec leave the high school earlier than the French students and the other Canadian students. So, before joining the university, they should have necessarily joined a community colleges, which delivers, after two years of additional studies, a Diplôme d’Etudes Collégiales (DEC) which allows to join the university.

There are two types of Diplôme d’Etudes Collégiales: those who allow the access to the university and those which, more technically, correspond rather to the BTS and the French DUT.

The French students graduated from high school with a high school diploma, do not need to have a Diplôme d’Etudes Collégiales to get access to the university to apply to an establishment in Quebec.

Study in English language in Canada:

To study in an English-speaking university in Canada, you will have to give evidence of your English level through satisfactory results in English tests such as: TOEFL or IELTS.

How to apply to a Canadian university:

Each university in Canada has its own procedures and requirements for application. However, in Alberta, in British Columbia and in Ontario, it is necessary to make an application for admission in a regional center. The regional centers centralize all the applications of a state.

The start of new term in Canada is generally in the begining of September, but it is also possible for certain programs to begin in January.

It is, thus, necessary to prepare yourself very early in the year if you wish to go to study in Canada after you graduate from high school and get your diploma. Universities fix the periods of applications which suit them. Thus, it is necessary to verify the dates on the website of every establishment and respect them.

How to choose a program of Study in Canada: 

To choose a program, you can check the website of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. This website has a database that allows you to look for a program in all the Canadian universities. Click here to go on the website of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Categories: Canada

What Are The Conditions To Get A Canadian Study Visa

If you want to pursue your higher studies in a good country , then Canada can be a very good choice for you. To study in this country, it is necessary that you to obtain a "Study Visa," or as it is officially called: a "Study Permit."

A study permit is not necessary for certain the citizens of certain countries, if they plan to study in Canada for less than 6 months. For example: French citizens do not need a temporary residence visa as well as a study permit, if their duration of study is less than 6 months. 

Conditions to obtain a Canadian study visa: 

 To get you a study permit, it is necessary to fulfill the following conditions: 

1- You intend to leave Canada at the end of the authorized period of stay.

2- You were accepted by a Canadian educational establishment.

3- You have sufficient financial means to pay your tuition fees, to meet your needs and of every person at your expense who accompanies you, as well as to pay your return journey and that of the people at your expense who accompany you.

4- You do not present any security risk to Canada.

5- You submit all the documents asked by the agent of visas to study your application.

6- You have to take a medical examination if your studies in Canada have to last more than six months.

7- You pay the due rights (they are nonrefundable).

How to get a Canadian study visa: 

To be able to obtain your study permit, you have to consult the official website of the Canadian government. You will find at the bottom of their website a list of documents to be downloaded, to be read and to be very attentively filled.

To study in Quebec you will need not only a student visa but also an Acceptance Certificate of Quebec (CAQ). You have to ask for your CAQ before your study visa.

Notes to help you:

- You can consult the official website of the Canadian government here to get your study permit.

- To get an Acceptance Certificate of Quebec, click here.

Categories: Canada

How To Get A Training Employment Pass In Singapore?

People who want to make a training in Singapore have two very specific choices of visa: the Training Employment Pass (TEA) and the Training Work Permit (TWP). The latter does not generally address students, unless if they study at present in Singapore. 

Obtain a visa of internship in Singapore

To make an internship in Singapore with a Training Employment Pass (TEA), it is necessary that you fulfill some conditions:

- You should be at present a first cycle university student (i.e., Bachelor's degree); the students in Master's degree will have to apply for the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) or be at present in internship, a training course or apprenticeship, within a company implanted in Italy for example and want to leave for an internship in an office of the same company In Singapore.

- You should be a student or a graduate of an establishment recognized by the government of Singapore.

- The internship should be connected to the studies of the trainee.

Note: In Singapore, the trainees have to receive, necessarliy, a minimum monthly salary of $2800, which is approximately €1700.

The different steps to get internship visa to Singapore

1/ In order to be able to leave for internship to Singapore, it is necessary to be sponsored by a company in Singapore. It means that it is necessary to have found a host company for your internship and that this company completes a number of formalities to allow the student to come. The detailed procedure is explained in English on the website of the Ministry of Employment of Singapore here.

2/ Having found a host company, it is necessary to download the form allowing to apply for the Training Employment Pass on the website of the Ministry of Employment of Singapore. The student has to fill in the part, which concerns him and to send then this document to the host company, so that it completes completes it, signs it and seal it. Other documents must be sent to the company so that it can make a demand for the Training Employment Pass. Documents to be sent which are not in English must be accompanied with certified translations. These documents can be sent by e-mail but it is necessary to make sure that they are in very high resolution.

3/ The company has to complete then the part of the form which concerns it, then subject this form along with the secondary documents to an on-line service (EP Online) to make the visa application of internship. The fees for the applmication are 20 Singaporean dollars, paid, in principle, by the company.

4/ The processing time of the application is 7 days maximum in most of the cases. Once the application is approved, the company obtains an In-Principle Approval letter. The trainee is also supposed to receive it in his place of residence. This letter is valid 6 months as from its date of issuance. It means that the trainee will absolutely have to go to Singapore for his internship during this period. It is then useless to make a visa application of internship 12 or 9 months in advance.

5/ The pick your Training Employment Pass, you will be charged 120 Singaporean dollars, which is paid by you, the trainee, once you are in Singapore. The student thus has to leave his country of residence, and carry with him his passport, the letter of acceptance and a round-trip ticket.

Categories: Asia

How To Obtain An S-Pass Work Visa Type In Singapore

In a previous article, we talked about how you can get an Employment Pass (EP) to be able to work in Singapore. In this article we will talk about a nother kind of work visas in Singapore, which is called "S-Pass."

The S-Pass is similar to the Employment Pass (EP) but less strict on the qualifications and the experience. It is necessary to have a salary of at least $2000 a month. You do not have the right to make a Dependent Pass (DP) unless you earn $2800 a month.

The main disadvantage of the S-Pass is that you are subjected to quotas, which depend on many criteria and which evolve all the time. Thus, a company cannot freely hire foreigners on an S-Pass. On the contrary, the Employment Pass (EP) is not subjected to the quotas).

In addition to that, you have to have a health care insurance otherwise you will not get the S-Pass. The health care insurance is to protect yourself against the unpaid medical invoices in the case of an accident. Generally, this insurance is provided by the employer and it is simpler for everybody.

So you can meet salespeople who are on S-Pass but earn more than $15,000 a month through commissions and are waiting for the renewal of their work permit to switch to an Employment Pass EP, because with an S-Pass you are not entitled to apply for a Permanent Employment Pass (PEP.)

You may think that only PMEs use the S-Pass for their sales people, but this absolutely not, even the very big companies do it because it allows to put the pressure on the small businesses ones and to get rid of them very easily.

Note: 

What is a PME?

In general, professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) refer to workers:

- Whose highest education qualification is a diploma or above.

- Who have been employed and have had work experience in a PME job.

Categories: Asia

How To Get An Employment Pass In Singapore?

The Employment Pass (EP) is the most common working visa in Singapore for French people. The conditions of obtaining it are rather simple, it is just necessary to possess what the government calls up "Acceptable qualifications" or a significant experience (in the case of the EP-Q1.) The government is allowed to refuse more or less easily the EP without valid reason, even if most of the time that goes easily.

Besides that, there are some financial criteria. It is necessary to have a monthly salary (without counting bonuses) upper to $3000 for an EP Q1, $4500 for an EP-P2 and more than $8000 for an EP-P1.

There is no big difference between P1 and P2, which allow to make Depending Passes (DP) for the married spouses and for the children less than 21 years old. You can even bring your parents, your parents-in-law, your children more than 21-years old. You can check the website of the Ministry of Man Power for a complete list  of Ministry of on a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP).

On the other hand for the EP-Q1, you can make only a Depending Pass (DP) and not a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP), thus it is impossible to bring your mother-in-law to live with you. The Laws in Singapore are very strict.

You should know that if you lose your Employment Pass (EP), all people who depend on your EP (i.e., DP or LTVP) will lose their visa and everybody returns on a tourism visa.

You should rather find a work quickly otherwise that is going to be back to the start without getting $20,000. And here you will regret not having read your local contract of employment when your employer told you the virtues of the local contract, when he cancels your French contract.

Categories: Asia