Hello! I have a little dilemma that I need people's advise. I am planning to go to study abroad in around September and I have not applied yet so I have to get a move on but I am torn between UK or Canada.I am 19 and I want to pursue a degree in IT then eventually my Masters. I got my Diploma in Malaysia in a Canadian course.To be perfectly honest I would love to work and live there (Canada/UK) after my studies and I am not planning to go back home any time soon (just my decision). I am leaning more towards UK because I love the history, culture and weather of UK but I also heard the living expenses are very high (taxes) compared to Canada and it's very cramped. But I also heard Canada offers very little jobs to immigrants but the crime rate is low and it's very clean and you get a work permit after you complete your studies or something like that? Living abroad is not easy- I cant claim to know because I have barely lived there much but I have heard/seen horror stories. I would rather try now when I am young, rather when I have kids and married and have all sorts of commitments. What country should I choose? A place which is easier to immigrate and make a decent income? I cant decide, would people chime in please? It would be even more helpful if I got info from some one who has schooled there?
Thank you

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Canada is good but the tuition rang btw 9-19k CAD. Per annum or two semesters precisely. And most schools only permit to work within the campus unless you get a work permit. Canada can be really tough for you if you aren't got no good sponsor who's gonna fund your tuition,feedings, accommodation etc. Let someone else add their ideas

Thanks for your response symbian03, yes i have heard Canada is very expensive and my parents are the ones who are sponsoring me. So it wont be easy for them considering my bro also wants to go study abroad.

Between Canada, UK and US, Canada has the cheapest school fees and foreign student friendly
plus, you r allowed to work on campus but can work outside campus after you must have completed 2 semesters

Really? So UK is more expensive then Canada?

Yes, UK is more expensive, if u bought sumthing for 2 pounds in UK, its 4 dollars in Canada, most times higher depending on da market

@ Hotstepper are you in CA?

sadlily
  uk is more expensive than canada my advise for you is go to canada when you graduate you will have a better chance of becoming a resident in canada than in uk
  but bear in mind canada is very cold, if you search properly you cn find a decent uni in canada for 6-7000 pounds or cheaper whereas in the uk you will have to pay considerably more

you do get a 2 year work visa after you graduate in uk but its very difficult to switch from the 2 yr post study work visa to a proper work permit

Thanks for the info joxiri, I didn't know about that

I fink I'l choose canada,
Though we all av different
reasons for goin abroad,

I mean after grad. So for me
Canada will be berra.

SHALOM

well sadlily u dnt get it automatically u have to meet some requirements but not too stringent

Based on your choice of wanting to live in abroad after your program, I will advise you to choose Canada. Tuition wise, Canada is cheaper than UK. In addition to that, after finishing your program in Canada, provided it's not ESL and it's more than 6 months, you will be qualified for a three years open work permit. The immigration law changes often so, I can't guarranttee that after 4 years undegraduate program, the law will still be in effect. The other issue in Canada is that during your 1st 2 semesters you will not be able to work off campus. After the 2 semesters, jobs are not available and in Canada, jobs availability differs from province to province. So, while seeking admission, you may want to check http://www.jobbank.gc.ca for the province with more jobs and for more detail on immigration rule http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp. Another advantage of Canada is that after working for one year full time (I'm not sure if you have to work for one year to qualify) you can apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/cec/index.asp. That's my 2 cents.

@lanresz , good info
hows da weather in Edmonton now?

Currently snowing which is normal 4 dis time of the year.

Thank you so much people, u are being very helpful to me! Also this is so off topic but I was wondering if I were to study Business studies if my chances of securing a job will be lowered. I heard that IT and medicine graduates are more in demand than other sectors. So I have decided to do IT(to be on the safe side) but I really would have enjoyed doing something like International Business, Human Resources or Marketing/advertising. What is your take on this issue? What areas seem to be more in demand than others?

you can get any job with what you do but in the Uk there are shitloads of it gaduates men i dnt think it has as much job prospects as it did 6 or 7 years ago
cos right now you can be an it professional without necessarily going to university, samething with hr even though it is in demand, u could do some professional courses and join the Chatered institute of personnel and development (in the context of uk)
so i suppose in summary no course is unique really in my opinion

Thank you for your response once again joxiri and everyone else. I will take close consideration what u told me. I guess I am just anxious and I want to do the right thing. Nothing worse than ending up miserable in a dead end job and living in a place you don't even like.

International Business and HR r excellent courses plus job market too, its beta u do what u have interest in so it will be easier for u to get through, have in mind that u will be paying int. fee so u gotta take every cent like its golden, having said that, u can do a double major say IT/HR or a major and a minor, so u have da 2 courses/degree (dont be scared as doing a double major or a major and a minor will take u da same time to complete if only u were doing just one major) so that if one doesnt work for u, da other will, hope this info helps

@lanresz, yea, its the time, enjoy

Wow!You guys have been so patient and helpful I couldn't thank you enough . Now that I have heard your opinions I definitely see that Canada is the better choice. In Canada I am very interested in York University. It offers IT and other business studies so I can major do a double major or minor in IT and business as you guys have suggested. I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket so I think I will apply in other Unis too (like Thompson Rivers University, Bishops). Now I know I am thinking way too head of myself ( cause I haven't applied yet) but I don't want to be stuck in a rock and a hard place but I stupidly forgot to mention that I am currently in Malaysia. I am about to start my degree here ( I wasn't planning on going to Canada/UK due to financial reasons) but now thank to God almighty I got the funds and I think I will cut my studies short here if I get accepted to Canada. But will I be able to apply for a visa in a foreign country? I am a little hesitant, I always apply through agents and the fact that I am in a foreign country (with their student visa) makes me feel like I wont get the Canadian visa? Will I have to go all the way home to apply for the Canada visa? Or maybe I worry too much?

it is very likely you might have to go back to Nigeria, but still try t see if you can apply from malaysia, a friend whom was in a similar situation in uk had to go back to nigeria to apply for his student visa

Thank you joxiri for your reply

You may not need to go to Nigeria to apply for study permit provided you are a legal resident in Malaysia. You can apply in the country or region where you live. I was on working holiday in UK when I applied for my study permit and I applied in London. Since you are a student in Malaysia, I assume you are there legally so, you can apply in Malaysia. For more information check this site: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-how.asp. If not sure, you may contact Canadian High Commission in Malaysia.

@Hotstepper we are enjoying the snow and the cold lol while it last.

All you guys have been so informative, God bless you all. Thank you so much for the info lanresz ,it would be so expensive if i will have to go all the way back home. The link really helped, i got hold of the phone number of the Canadian High Commission in Malaysia and I'll give them a ring.

Hope u guys are not changing
the subject matter?

Canada or Uk which
one to choose plz?

SHALOM

@SADLily, York gat a good business and IT programs

I just found out the deadline for York University for international students is 15th February !!I didn't know it was THAT early.OK, now I definitely need a move on,

OK, now I read somewhere else it says the deadline for York September intake is 1st Feb so that means I'm too late. Darn! I feel so disappointed.

SADlilly,

I fink d best fing is to look at dia
site and get infos dia.

Dey might even allow u send in docus
if you are lucky.

SHALOM