Pre-university program in English in Canada for international students

For some, university is the starting point of an academic career, for others it is a vector for achieving career goals. But what about those who feel that they are not quite ready for a university program yet?

Especially for such applicants, there are pre-university preparatory programs: they equally help to study the available career scenarios, develop skills and theoretical training, and improve a foreign language. In addition, the pre-university program is a help for those who, for one reason or another, have not acquired a certificate of a complete English-speaking school: a certificate of completion of the courses will help to make up for the lack of this document and eliminate gaps in knowledge.

Preparatory courses can either be organized by English language schools or by the universities themselves. The rationale behind universities offering these courses is twofold: they can identify and select the most promising students and then provide targeted preparation using specialized teaching methods and techniques. Consequently, there are dozens of prep-course options available: Access Courses, Pre-Sessional English Language Courses, Foundation, International Foundation Year, and University Preparation Program. Additionally, there are special programs for international students that allow them to earn a High School Diploma (or an equivalent provincial diploma) at a standard or accelerated pace, which they need for university admission. These programs, diverse in duration, content, and cost, share a common goal: preparing expatriates for English-medium instruction.

This has led to the emergence of a popular course title, "Foundation." This certificate serves as a comprehensive alternative to a national or provincial high school diploma, provided the student achieves a sufficiently high average score. This is especially relevant for Russian students because the school curriculum in Russia and Canada differs not only in duration but also in subject matter. As a result, some topics from the school syllabus might be unfamiliar to them.

Furthermore, preparatory programs often include mandatory or optional specialized modules. Within these, students learn vital academic IT skills, master bibliographic searches and note-taking, get trained in essay writing, annotation, and formatting of academic papers. They also get introduced to a vast range of specific academic vocabulary, not to mention the student slang, which helps them avoid misunderstandings when interacting with peers.

Foreign education consultants, online research, meetings and presentations, higher education fairs, exhibitions, or exchange programs can assist in your search.

If you have a clear plan for the next four or five years, the search becomes more targeted. For many, the best choice would be a preparatory program offered directly by the desired university or through a partnering (or nearby) language school.

Program durations typically range from six months to a year. Most students reside in student dormitories and have access to student-specific facilities like sports clubs, libraries, and dining halls. They can attend seminars and lectures. Some courses even allow students to complete certain first-year modules and earn academic credits, which can be invaluable later on.

Some universities have partnerships with preparatory courses and reserve spots for students who excel in these programs.