HELP ME PLEASE! Studying abroad

zendagi

PLEASE!!! has anyone got any information they can give? I've been researching my options for months now and seem to have gotten to a point of going in circles.

I want to study in Canada (Douglas College BC), I know exactly what courses I want to take, I know the enrolment dates and deadlines for fee payments. And obv. picked what college I want to go to.

The only problem is funding. I have been searching endlessly for a student loan that I can take abroad but am unable to find anything relevant. Also, I will be looking to work in Canada post graduation, so info on how the loan works if I dont return to the UK would be helpful.

Can anyone point me in the direction of anyone that provides such loan types?? I'm desperate so any help is massively appreciated!!

PS CIC regulations state that a foreign student to Canada needs to be able to prove that they can fund themselves for the entire course (tuition, books, accommodation, living expenses etc.) unless anyone knows how I can validly obtain a Study/Work permit (which they only tend to issue after you have proven the afore mentioned, but out of your means have run out of cash), the problem being here is that the UK loans I have seen don't cover that much so need info on high lending student loans.

Sorry to rabbit on for so long but as I said I really am desperate for help now.

Thanks.

The_One_Who

The UK government will not fund you to study abroad. Generally the only real options are to get funding from the university you want (scholarships, etc) or manage to get some sort of charity-funded scholarship. They'll be hotly contested and the deadline will probably have already passed.

Or you could go to a university in the UK and so a year abroad if possible. Then you would be entitled to student loans.

zendagi

Are UK government loans the only source? or are there loan companies that provide these?

also, do you (or anyone else know in fact) if there is any possibility of getting a student loan from Canada? See I'm thinking that I wouldn't be eligible for a scholarship as stupidly (although it was necessary at the time) dropped out of college in the UK.

PS 'The Man Who' do you have any info on scholarships/charity funding, as this would still be worth looking into.

Thanks.

The_One_Who

For UK students you'd go to the Student Loans Company, there's no other non-commercial loan available. I know in the States there's a private loan company (Sallie Mae?) but I don't know if they reach in to Canada, you'd need to look into them.

I doubt the Canadian government would give you a loan, but there might be some sort of aid available. Again, you'd need to do some digging around. The website of the college you want to go to should have information about possible funding for international students.

cazziebo

This would have to be self funded. Canadian universities and colleges do give scholarships to outstanding students, but that is outstanding students who have usually graduated high school in Canada. (a lot of Canadian schools take overseas students in senior year) Fees tend to be very high. Similarly, on a student visa (which must be applied for via the educational institution) you are prohibited from working, and must return to your home country as soon as it expires. If you want to return to Canada after studies are complete, then you have to re apply via the usual immigration route. Canadian immigration is ruthless - it's not worth the risk.

My daughter was on a Canadian student visa and this had to be renewed annually. She was quizzed every time she re entered the country. We had to provide proof of funding, and that's full living expenses funding.

Any other funding sources tend to offer a small contribution - I can't think why a student's course would be fully funded.

I think your options are either to raise the funds yourself, or do as the man who says and go to a UK uni, and do a year exchange.

zendagi

Grrr this is headache central! lol. Thank you guys so much for your pointers, I will continue looking into it. Any other advice/pointers/reference points are HUGELY welcome from you guys and anyone else!!

Cazziebo, how tough were they on your daughter? because as you say, and I have researched, they are brutal when it comes to immigration. Because the worry I have here is that, obviously I would stick religiously to the Immigration laws, I would be stupid not to, I kind of want to get an idea of what things like "Satisfy an immigration officer that you will leave at the end of your studies" and "show you have strong ties to the UK" really mean, like, how would you prove this?

The_One_Who

It's The ONE Who.

(Sorry, just had to done. I'm female for a start )


Strong ties can be anything really. Having family there can be enough sometimes.

zendagi

OMG I'm so sorry!!!!! please accept my apology!

OK so basically strong ties kind of would be sufficient if say, my family are here and if I was to do something like keep a bank account open here, just for example.

god this so difficult, I knew there were going to be challenges, but I've seriously been looking into this for about 3 months, day in day out!

As I say, I'm pretty much sorted on everything apart from the funding, but if anyone has any other clever ideas or things I can do to make it possible I would kiss you if i could! lol.

cazziebo

The_One_Who wrote: »

It's The ONE Who.

(Sorry, just had to done. I'm female for a start )


Strong ties can be anything really. Having family there can be enough sometimes.

SORRY! (hate when people get my name wrong)

The funding is pretty critical I'd say! Why have you chosen this particular college?

My daughter didn't have a hard time at all, my sister has been deported in the past - caught working illegally, taken to a detention centre, and sent home with no chance to call anyone or collect any belongings. (she lives in Canada now - legally). However, my daughter tells me that students are consistently under threat of the visa being revoked- they can't fail, have to attend every class, no changes to course. (no bad thing, my other daughter is drinking and partying her way through a funded degree here!)

If you are going to study on a student visa I don't think you have that much of an issue with Immigration. I only mentioned it because you said in your first post that you were looking to work during and after study, and that's strictly not allowed.

Honestly, this is all academic. The Canadian government do not sponsor their own students never mind international ones. The UK government will not fund the whole programme - certainly not for this kind of college. This college does offer a range of scholarships, none of which apply to overseas students. Unless you have access to serious private funds, then this might have to remain a bit of a dream.

I do know several people who have studied in the US on sports scholarships (usually soccer, but that's because it's a girls' game there :rotfl: ) and some real high achievers who have gone to prestigious universities - McGill in Montreal for example - because of debating skills. There's not much assistance for ordinary students to do ordinary courses.

This is a good website for international students contemplating Canada http://www.studyincanada.com/English/finance/index.asp?Preference=undergraduate

The scholarships mentioned range from $200 - $1000 - not a lot.

Sorry I'm not giving good news.

zendagi

Its no problem, bad news is a part of this game! lol.

Yeh from what I've gathered getting in and studying is the simple part. As you say. as long as you stick to your courses and such.

How did your sister do it legally? was it with work permits and so on. or was she a skilled worker? I'm quite curious as to this avenue of emigrating as well, I've looked into it, but I'll be damned if I can work out how to emigrate straight as a worker. My theory was that if I got there, studied, came back, then re-applied I would have near on met the residency requirement, and have a Canadian qualification(s) to support my entry.

Why do I want to go? well....this is the bit where you all go "AHHHH its like that is it?!?! goddamn!!!" lol. My girlfriend lives and studies there, she is being a great help, but theres only so much she can do from her side. Hence the only obstacle I have now is bloody funding!

cazziebo

My sister went over as an entrepreneur - she had a business here and sold it for a huge sum, and planned to open one in Toronto. She was caught working in a friend's place (she's a chef) before she had set up. that experience would have put me off, but she had no hesitation in going back. She now has several restaurants.

I'd like to find a way to help true love run smoothly, but without the cash I don't think the student route is a goer. What about finding out what the skills gap is, getting qualifications in the relevant fields, and going the skilled worker path? Will take longer, but if she's worth it...