The following bilingual (Persian, English) website can be usefull for the Iranian students who are applying to canadian schools:
http://www.canadagrad.com/
Explanations from the website developers:
This website contains information regarding applying for and attending graduate schools, specifically for students in Canada and the United States. For many undergraduates, the decision to attend a Graduate school is one that occupies most of their last year and is a difficult one.
It should be noted that while there is no magical guide that would guarantee your acceptance into graduate school, this guide will attempt to concisely give you important tips and information that are essential for successful graduate school applications.
Please note that each university usually has its own set of requirements. This guide only attempts to provide tips and information regarding the components which are most common in all graduate school applications.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ)
As a general rule, all persons, other than Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, who wish to pursue their studies in the province of Québec, must obtain a Québec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ) issued by the “Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration (commonly called Québec Immigration) and a Study Permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. However, if your course or program of study is six months or less in duration, you are permitted to study in the province of Québec and in Canada without having to apply for a CAQ or Study Permit provided you complete such studies within the authorized period of your stay in Canada.
To read more about CAQ use the following link:
http://advocacy.concordia.ca/pdf/ISOinfo2k4.pdf
To download the form and read about the procedure of application, use the following link:
http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/anglais/immigration/students/step.html
After sending your CAQ application form, you can track your status, using the following email:
etudiants.dsiq@mrci.gouv.qc.ca
To read more about CAQ use the following link:
http://advocacy.concordia.ca/pdf/ISOinfo2k4.pdf
To download the form and read about the procedure of application, use the following link:
http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/anglais/immigration/students/step.html
After sending your CAQ application form, you can track your status, using the following email:
etudiants.dsiq@mrci.gouv.qc.ca
Thursday, December 16, 2004
What should I do when I first arrive in McGill University?
1: You should try to meet your supervisor as soon as possible if you can. If you manage to do that, he/she would let you know most of what you should do which may be dependent on the department you are from or the program you are doing. You should also ask him/her whether he can provide you with a computer, office space and internet access. Don’t forget to consult him/her about the courses you should take. This is important since the date you arrive may be very near to the deadline for taking the courses and if you can’t meet the deadline, you have to pay an extra charge for each courses and sometimes you can’t take that course at all. This is very important particularly if you want to do Master’s.
2: At McGill website, visit http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/ . This helpful website would give you useful information regarding registration periods and other events. You may find the answer of lots of your question relating awards and scholarship, thesis and non-thesis programs, convocation and graduation, etc there. For more information, search for GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES CALENDAR which is a PDF document updated each year. Through this document, you will find a full collection of information such as registration and some other critical deadline you may need. At the moment, (for the academic year 2004-2005), the file is available at : http://upload.mcgill.ca/courses/GPS0405.pdf .
3: During registration period, first of all, you should try to attend James Administration Building which is near the Milton gate of McGill (the gate which opens to the University Street). You should go to the second floor to the office below:
Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar’s Office
James Administration Building
Room 205
In the website below, you can find the office hours and the emails of the persons responsible for helping you regarding different registration affairs:
http://www.mcgill.ca/student-records/contact/
You must take your CAQ, passport, study permit and your letter of admission with you there. You probably have received also a Permanent Code application form with your package from McGill. If you have not posted that form once you have been in Iran, you should fill that form out and submit that as well. In that office, your photo will be taken and your McGill ID card will be issued on the spot.
If you haven’t received your CAQ once you were in Iran, before doing the above step, you should go to the address below:
383, rue Saint-Jacques, 4th Floor
Montreal (Quebec) H2Y 1N9Phone: (514) 873-2528
with your passport and study permit and the CAQ number you probably have. They will issue your CAQ and then you can attend the office mentioned above in McGill University with other documents mentioned.
4: After you finish your primary registration in James Administration Building, you have to register for the courses you want to take each semester. Generally, when you arrive in McGill, you already have an account in Minerva website which is created for you once your file in the admission committee has been processed. At the moment, the website address is:
http://www.mcgill.ca/minerva-students/
where you can login, then go to Students Menu and then click on Registration Menu and there you can start registering for the courses. For any question regarding Minerva, you can use the Minerva student help service available at:
http://www.mcgill.ca/minerva-students/help/
One of the important things is that you should try to contact your department graduate secretary who is responsible for helping you registering for the courses. The most tricky thing is that, in some departments, even if you don’t need to take any courses (which is usually the case for PhD programs), you have to register for a code usually named as Confirm Grad Reg. which is to confirm that you have registered as a full-time student. Sometimes the secretary forgets to remind you about that. You should ask him/her if such thing exists in your department and in case it does, ask him/her to give you the code you should enter in Minerva to register for that.
5: If you are supposed to work as a research assistant, you can defer the deadline to pay your tuition fee. To do so, you should attend
Student Accounts OfficeJames Administration Building, Room 301Tel.: 514-398-3900
http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/hours/
(for office hours)
You should take your research assistantship letter (which usually your supervisor is supposed to provide you with that) to that office and ask for deferral of your payment.
6: If you arrive in Fall semester, you will be charged for health insurance service fee which composes the regular fee and the dental plan fee automatically (both are obligatory in Quebec). All you should do is that a week after registration, having your McGill ID card, attend the address below :
International Student Services
William & Mary Brown Student Services Building (known as Brown Building)3600 McTavish Street, Room 3215Tel : 514-398-6012
And pick up your Health Insurance card. Try to do it as soon as possible since after a while, not picking up your card may bring a HOLD to your Minerva file which would not let you register for the courses you want.
However, if you arrive in winter semester, you will only be charged for your regular health insurance and as above, you should go and pick up your card in the mentioned address. But regarding the Dental plan (which is optional), you should go to :
Thomson House
3650 McTavish St.
Montreal Qc H3A 1Y2
Tel.: (514) 398-3756
www.pgss.mcgill.ca
And on the Third floor, you should pay about 300 $ and will have the dental plan insurance. (Don’t forget to have enough cash with you because they don’t accept debit card or credit card).
7: A helpful document for international students is available at:
http://upload.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/ISSHandbook2004.pdf
which is updated each and every academic year.
Finally, don’t forget to visit McGill Persians ,where you can find lots of who would welcome you to join and are ready to help.
2: At McGill website, visit http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/ . This helpful website would give you useful information regarding registration periods and other events. You may find the answer of lots of your question relating awards and scholarship, thesis and non-thesis programs, convocation and graduation, etc there. For more information, search for GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES CALENDAR which is a PDF document updated each year. Through this document, you will find a full collection of information such as registration and some other critical deadline you may need. At the moment, (for the academic year 2004-2005), the file is available at : http://upload.mcgill.ca/courses/GPS0405.pdf .
3: During registration period, first of all, you should try to attend James Administration Building which is near the Milton gate of McGill (the gate which opens to the University Street). You should go to the second floor to the office below:
Admissions, Recruitment and Registrar’s Office
James Administration Building
Room 205
In the website below, you can find the office hours and the emails of the persons responsible for helping you regarding different registration affairs:
http://www.mcgill.ca/student-records/contact/
You must take your CAQ, passport, study permit and your letter of admission with you there. You probably have received also a Permanent Code application form with your package from McGill. If you have not posted that form once you have been in Iran, you should fill that form out and submit that as well. In that office, your photo will be taken and your McGill ID card will be issued on the spot.
If you haven’t received your CAQ once you were in Iran, before doing the above step, you should go to the address below:
383, rue Saint-Jacques, 4th Floor
Montreal (Quebec) H2Y 1N9Phone: (514) 873-2528
with your passport and study permit and the CAQ number you probably have. They will issue your CAQ and then you can attend the office mentioned above in McGill University with other documents mentioned.
4: After you finish your primary registration in James Administration Building, you have to register for the courses you want to take each semester. Generally, when you arrive in McGill, you already have an account in Minerva website which is created for you once your file in the admission committee has been processed. At the moment, the website address is:
http://www.mcgill.ca/minerva-students/
where you can login, then go to Students Menu and then click on Registration Menu and there you can start registering for the courses. For any question regarding Minerva, you can use the Minerva student help service available at:
http://www.mcgill.ca/minerva-students/help/
One of the important things is that you should try to contact your department graduate secretary who is responsible for helping you registering for the courses. The most tricky thing is that, in some departments, even if you don’t need to take any courses (which is usually the case for PhD programs), you have to register for a code usually named as Confirm Grad Reg. which is to confirm that you have registered as a full-time student. Sometimes the secretary forgets to remind you about that. You should ask him/her if such thing exists in your department and in case it does, ask him/her to give you the code you should enter in Minerva to register for that.
5: If you are supposed to work as a research assistant, you can defer the deadline to pay your tuition fee. To do so, you should attend
Student Accounts OfficeJames Administration Building, Room 301Tel.: 514-398-3900
http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/hours/
(for office hours)
You should take your research assistantship letter (which usually your supervisor is supposed to provide you with that) to that office and ask for deferral of your payment.
6: If you arrive in Fall semester, you will be charged for health insurance service fee which composes the regular fee and the dental plan fee automatically (both are obligatory in Quebec). All you should do is that a week after registration, having your McGill ID card, attend the address below :
International Student Services
William & Mary Brown Student Services Building (known as Brown Building)3600 McTavish Street, Room 3215Tel : 514-398-6012
And pick up your Health Insurance card. Try to do it as soon as possible since after a while, not picking up your card may bring a HOLD to your Minerva file which would not let you register for the courses you want.
However, if you arrive in winter semester, you will only be charged for your regular health insurance and as above, you should go and pick up your card in the mentioned address. But regarding the Dental plan (which is optional), you should go to :
Thomson House
3650 McTavish St.
Montreal Qc H3A 1Y2
Tel.: (514) 398-3756
www.pgss.mcgill.ca
And on the Third floor, you should pay about 300 $ and will have the dental plan insurance. (Don’t forget to have enough cash with you because they don’t accept debit card or credit card).
7: A helpful document for international students is available at:
http://upload.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/ISSHandbook2004.pdf
which is updated each and every academic year.
Finally, don’t forget to visit McGill Persians ,where you can find lots of who would welcome you to join and are ready to help.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
What are Administrative Fee Bursary and Capital Campaign Fee exemption programs?
You can save almost $250 per year by applying for these two awards. They are quite easy to get and almost everybody who applies will get it! Here, you can find more information about Administrative Fee Bursary program and Capital Campaign Fee exemption program. Application forms for these awards are available from the Financial Aid and Awards Office located on the SGW Campus, McConnell Library Building, LB-085, and from the Forms section of the Financial Aid and Awards website. Applications are also available at the Dean of Students Information Centre located on the Loyola campus, AD-121.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
What should I do when I just arrive in Montreal?
- Consult your friends to find out if you should buy a monthly pass, a weekly pass or bus tickets. For more information on public transportation in Montreal please see this post.
- Contact your supervisor and sign the contract as soon as possible (if you get any financial aid).
- Apply to get your permanent code.
- Register and get your student ID card at LB 185 (Have your passport available for identification).
- Give a copy of your CAQ, study permit or passport to the ISO (For students who begin their program in FALL 2004, the deadline is – September 21, 2004 and for those who begin their program in WINTER 2005, the deadline is – January 17, 2005).
- Get your health care card from ISO.
- Search for an apartment.
- Open a bank account and let Payroll Office (ER building, 5th floor) know your acount info.
- Get your Social Insurance Number card at the office related to your address.
- Get your International Student Identification Card (ISIC).
Friday, September 10, 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
How is the public transportation in Montreal?
Société de transport de Montréal (STM), the 15th largest corporation in Québec, is the public transportation company of Montreal. Montreal has an excellent public transportation system based on a network of bus and subway (or Metro, as it is known in Montreal) routes which quickly carry commuters to their destinations.
For any information you want to know about bus and Metro routes and its schedule, you can use STM website. Since its inception in 1997, the number of visitors to this Website has been steadily increasing, reaching 4.3 million in 2002! It's a respectable number, I think.
Entre deux arrêts (the Between Stops) service is available to women travelling alone on bus routes in the evening, including on nighttime routes. The Between Stops service allows a woman to get off the bus between regular bus stops.
Just one more point about the buses in Montreal. When you want to get off from the rear door, you should open it by yourself! When the bus stops, a green light above the rear door turns on and then depending on the type of the bus, you should either push a touch-sensitive bar or step down on the lower stair to open the rear door. Don't blame the driver for not openning the door for you :)
For any information you want to know about bus and Metro routes and its schedule, you can use STM website. Since its inception in 1997, the number of visitors to this Website has been steadily increasing, reaching 4.3 million in 2002! It's a respectable number, I think.
Entre deux arrêts (the Between Stops) service is available to women travelling alone on bus routes in the evening, including on nighttime routes. The Between Stops service allows a woman to get off the bus between regular bus stops.
Just one more point about the buses in Montreal. When you want to get off from the rear door, you should open it by yourself! When the bus stops, a green light above the rear door turns on and then depending on the type of the bus, you should either push a touch-sensitive bar or step down on the lower stair to open the rear door. Don't blame the driver for not openning the door for you :)
Saturday, July 31, 2004
How can I find temporary residences in Montreal?
These are a few temporary residences in Montreal recommended by Concordia University. I haven't been in any one of them but they should be good.
1. Auberge Alternative du Viex-Montreal, Tel: 282-8069
2. Auberge de Jeunesse Internationale, Tel: 1-800-663-3317843-3317
3. Auberge de la Fontaine, Tel: 597-0166, Address: 1301 Rachel E.
4. Auberge de Paris, Tel: 1-800-567-7217/522-6861, another website
5. A Montreal Oasis, Tel: 935-2313
6. Welcome Bed and Breakfast, Tel: 1-800-227-5897/844-5897
7. YWCA (women only), Tel: 866-9941, Address: 1355 Rene Levesque
Number 2 and 7 are located in very good places for SGW campus of Concordia University. You can find more in this website. Make sure to reserve a temporary residence before your arrival in Montreal.
1. Auberge Alternative du Viex-Montreal, Tel: 282-8069
2. Auberge de Jeunesse Internationale, Tel: 1-800-663-3317843-3317
3. Auberge de la Fontaine, Tel: 597-0166, Address: 1301 Rachel E.
4. Auberge de Paris, Tel: 1-800-567-7217/522-6861, another website
5. A Montreal Oasis, Tel: 935-2313
6. Welcome Bed and Breakfast, Tel: 1-800-227-5897/844-5897
7. YWCA (women only), Tel: 866-9941, Address: 1355 Rene Levesque
Number 2 and 7 are located in very good places for SGW campus of Concordia University. You can find more in this website. Make sure to reserve a temporary residence before your arrival in Montreal.
Does Concordia University have an on-campus residence?
Yes, it does. Concordia’s Residence, Hingston Hall, is located at the Loyola Campus. This type of accommodation is ideal for those with the bulk of their courses at Loyola, or who prefer sharing living quarters with other relatively new students in a friendly but enclosed environment. Space is limited, however, so see the details and fill out an application form by visiting the Residence’s web site.
(From Concordia University website).
(From Concordia University website).
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
How to wear in the day of visa interview?
It might seem an inportant issue to the visa applicants that how it's better to wear in the day of their interview. I'm not gonna say that it's not important at all, but you don't need to be worried about that so much. The thing I'm going to mention is based on my own experience for the US visa.
Some people wear formally; let's say a suit and a tie and stuff like that while the others ( in my opinion, majority of applicants ) prefer to put on just a T-shirt and jeans.
The thing is this :
No matter what you wear; they just need to be tidy and clean.
I remember that I just had a plain shirt, and my pants were what I was regularly wearing.
Oh! something which might be important; when I was inside the US consulate in Istanbul, that was too hot there, and I had a sweater or something. I couldn't dare to put it off, and I had to tolerate the situation for nearly two hours :))
Relax, whenever you think it's necessary to do somthing, do it!
The funny thing was that I saw some turkish people who had some clothes which seemed to be nightdress!
NOTE : The thing I told was just about what I experienced at the US consulates in Dubai and Istanbul; any comment about any other US consulate or Canadian Embassy is very welcome!
Some people wear formally; let's say a suit and a tie and stuff like that while the others ( in my opinion, majority of applicants ) prefer to put on just a T-shirt and jeans.
The thing is this :
No matter what you wear; they just need to be tidy and clean.
I remember that I just had a plain shirt, and my pants were what I was regularly wearing.
Oh! something which might be important; when I was inside the US consulate in Istanbul, that was too hot there, and I had a sweater or something. I couldn't dare to put it off, and I had to tolerate the situation for nearly two hours :))
Relax, whenever you think it's necessary to do somthing, do it!
The funny thing was that I saw some turkish people who had some clothes which seemed to be nightdress!
NOTE : The thing I told was just about what I experienced at the US consulates in Dubai and Istanbul; any comment about any other US consulate or Canadian Embassy is very welcome!
Monday, July 26, 2004
How do electirc plugs in Canada look like?
There are two types of electric plugs and they look like this. Nominal voltage in Canada is 120V and the frequency is 60Hz.
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Saturday, July 24, 2004
Friday, July 23, 2004
Community Weblog of Persian Students in the UK
Community Weblog of Persian Students in the UK was born on 19th of May 2003 after four students - two of them already active bloggers at the time - discussed the idea of a group weblog in their university halls of residence. Their intention was to create an online environment where its members could:
- Share their thoughts and experiences of student life.
- Write in English, so the content of the blog would become accessible to everyone. In this way members could also have the chance to practice writing in English in areas other than their university studies.
- Learn from each other.
- Practice team work.
- Get to know about other students.
- Find new connections and links.
- Help newcomers to find useful links and information.
- Create a “virtual” identity in Britain.
- Maximise the fun of being a student in the UK.
This introducation was from the Weblog. They also have a PhotoBlog. Congratulations and Good luck!
How much financial support should I show to the embassy to get my visa?
You should have $10,000 for twelve-month period, prorated at $833 per month, plus cost of tuition. If you are married you should also have $4,000 for twelve-month period prorated at $333 per month for your spouse and $3,000 for twelve-month period per dependent child of any age, prorated at $255 per month. Please read section 7.5 of OP12 Students.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Studying in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia
For those who are interested to continue their educations, one of the choices is good schools in Europe. Sweden is also one of the countries in Europe that plays the leading research in the areas of Internet and Telecommunications ( Ericsson ), Environment and Mechanical Engineering ( Automative companies such as Volvo, SKF , Scania).
For more information about the top five university in the above mentioned fields in Scandinavia ( Sweden, Denmark ,Norway and Finland), you can check the web-sites, and look for International Masters Programs available for international students.
All the programs are in ENGLISH and there is NO Tuition fees for studying . Students must cover their living expenses approximately 700-1000 US$ per month. Deadlines vary between January to April.
Finland :
Helsinki University of Technology
For more information about the top five university in the above mentioned fields in Scandinavia ( Sweden, Denmark ,Norway and Finland), you can check the web-sites, and look for International Masters Programs available for international students.
All the programs are in ENGLISH and there is NO Tuition fees for studying . Students must cover their living expenses approximately 700-1000 US$ per month. Deadlines vary between January to April.
Finland :
Helsinki University of Technology
Sweden:
Chalmers University of Technology
Royal Institute of Technology
Lund University of Technology
Denmark:
Technical University of Denmark
Norway:
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Best wishes and good luck
Kamyar Kazemi-Moud
Helpful resources for Persian students who intend to study abroad
"How to Apply to Graduate Schools" was the first resource that I used to start the procedure of applying to foreign universities. I should express my deepest gratitude to Hazhir Rahmandad and Mehdi Yahyanejad who were pioneers in helping Persian students to continue their education abroad. You can find more resources here.
Information for Persian students in the UK and Irland
If you're going to the UK, you can find very useful information here. Special thanks to Hossein Shahverdi.
FAQ for students of University of Alberta
You can find a nice FAQ file here. It is provided by Iranian Students Association of the University of Alberta.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Beside the CN Tower sits the Skydome, a large stadium with a roof that can be opened when the weather is good.
Downtown Montréal from the top of Mont Royal. Montréal has been named after this mount. Of course, in this picture you cann't see the mount! and if you could see, you would say "maa tou keshvaremoun be in migim tappeh!".
Mehran Ghafourian in Montréal Gazette! I took this picture in a metro station in Montréal. He is quite like himself!
To rent an apartment in Canada
The best way to find an apartment in Canada is to be here, find a location, call them, go there, see the place, and then rent it. Unfortunately, this is not possible from Iran!
You can also look for an apartment in the internet. Here are a few possible ways:
- All of the universities have a webpage for international students and housing. Make sure you check this information on the webpage of the university you are intending to study at. They usually provide you with a quite a bit of useful of information about the cost, location, etc.
- Check the classified section of the local newspapers, e.g. Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg or Edmonton Sun in Edmonton. You may check http://www.canada.com/ and then check the classifieds related to your city of interest.
- check http://www.rentcanada.ca or similar webpages.
If you are single, there is another type of accommodation besides renting an apartment or suit. You can consider renting a room in house with a few other guys. This way, you will save some money since you pay less for rent and you do not buy the furniture (at least in the beginning). You will also be in a Canadian environment which helps you to get accustomed to the culture. The drawback is you may need to share the bathroom, kitchen, and dishes. If you are not too picky about the details, I would highly suggest this. The good thing is if you find out that the place was not as you thought, or you do not want to be there for any reason, you may leave with a one month notice to the landlord. If you have lived in dormitory in Iran, this way of living should not be that difficult (in fact, it may be a lot of fun, as well as learning experience).
Last point that I want to mention is about renting an apartment (or suite) is subletting. In Canada, you have to rent an apartment for one full year. "Subletting an apartment" means that somebody else had signed the contract and rented the apartment for a year, but for any reason, has decided to move before one full year (usually within the last 2 or 3 months of the contract). In this case, he/she will look for somebody to transfer the contract to him/her for whatever time that is remained on his/her contract with the landlord. If you find a sublet advertisement and you think the place is good enough, it is preferable to an empty apartment for which you have to sign a contract for a full year. If you like the place, you can extend the contract at the due date. However, if you decide to change your place, you do not have to stay there for one year.
Good luck
Behraad Bahreyni
You can also look for an apartment in the internet. Here are a few possible ways:
- All of the universities have a webpage for international students and housing. Make sure you check this information on the webpage of the university you are intending to study at. They usually provide you with a quite a bit of useful of information about the cost, location, etc.
- Check the classified section of the local newspapers, e.g. Winnipeg Free Press in Winnipeg or Edmonton Sun in Edmonton. You may check http://www.canada.com/ and then check the classifieds related to your city of interest.
- check http://www.rentcanada.ca or similar webpages.
If you are single, there is another type of accommodation besides renting an apartment or suit. You can consider renting a room in house with a few other guys. This way, you will save some money since you pay less for rent and you do not buy the furniture (at least in the beginning). You will also be in a Canadian environment which helps you to get accustomed to the culture. The drawback is you may need to share the bathroom, kitchen, and dishes. If you are not too picky about the details, I would highly suggest this. The good thing is if you find out that the place was not as you thought, or you do not want to be there for any reason, you may leave with a one month notice to the landlord. If you have lived in dormitory in Iran, this way of living should not be that difficult (in fact, it may be a lot of fun, as well as learning experience).
Last point that I want to mention is about renting an apartment (or suite) is subletting. In Canada, you have to rent an apartment for one full year. "Subletting an apartment" means that somebody else had signed the contract and rented the apartment for a year, but for any reason, has decided to move before one full year (usually within the last 2 or 3 months of the contract). In this case, he/she will look for somebody to transfer the contract to him/her for whatever time that is remained on his/her contract with the landlord. If you find a sublet advertisement and you think the place is good enough, it is preferable to an empty apartment for which you have to sign a contract for a full year. If you like the place, you can extend the contract at the due date. However, if you decide to change your place, you do not have to stay there for one year.
Good luck
Behraad Bahreyni
How is the weather in Montréal?
It has 3 months of very cold harsh winter and a very nice and sometimes hot and humid summer. Weather in Montréal is unpredictable. It's usually said that Montréal is WWW crazy where WWW stands for Weather, Work and Women. You can predict none of them! Fortunately, there are some websites that you can find weather predictions. One of them is: http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/city_e.html?yul . You can also find average temperature and also more detailed info on weather in Montreal in this website.
Good to know about tuition fee and your RA/TA salary
If you get an RA or TA, you'll get your money biweekly or monthly. However, you should pay your tuition fee at the begining of the semester when you register. Make sure that you have enough money to pay your first semester tuition fee. Otherwise, you have to talk to the office of student account services and ask them to get your tuition fee in installments. In this case, you should pay interest.
Moreover, it took about TWO MONTHS for me to get my first payment. I had to pay my tuition in installments and I had to pay my expenses for two months from my savings which wasn't too much. Make sure that you have enough money just in case you face a problem.
Moreover, it took about TWO MONTHS for me to get my first payment. I had to pay my tuition in installments and I had to pay my expenses for two months from my savings which wasn't too much. Make sure that you have enough money just in case you face a problem.
If someone has an admission, can his/her spouse get visa?
If the student has financial support, usually there is no problem for her/his spouse's visa. As you may know, spouse of a student can get an off-campus job and usually when the student has enough financial support, they can make ends meet.
Never send cash for your CAQ application fee
Never send cash for CAQ application fee, they will
return your money and your documents.
return your money and your documents.
One important thing to do before your departure
As You may know, most of Canadian universities do not offer dental health insurance. It is better to make your teeth checked before coming to Canada.
How can I get a certified check?
You can get certified checks from the main branch of Bank Melli in front of Germany Embassy in Istanbul intersection, Jomhouri Ave. You pay the amount you like to them in US Dollars and they will issue a certified check after 1 day. It is valid for every purpose in Canada including university and CAQ application fee. Remember you should mention the name of recipient. You can see a sample certified check in "Files > 02- CAQ" section of irancanada2003.
How can I get a job as a student?
You can work on-campus but not off-campus. However, a spouse of a student is able to get off-campus jobs. There are centers in each university that help students to find part-time jobs inside the university. One of the most common jobs for the students is teaching assistantship (TA). Your department informs you how you can apply for a TA position.
How can I find an apartment in Montreal?
You can reserve a temporary residence before coming here and if you spend some time you'll find a good apartment very soon. In order to start, just join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iraniansinmontreal and take a look at "Links > Montreal > Apartments". I recommend the following links:
http://classifieds.canada.com/montreal/
http://www.mcgill.ca/classified
http://english.montrealplus.ca/portal/index.jsp
http://hojo.csu.qc.ca/dev/
http://www.mcgill.ca/offcampus/
http://www.laberge.qc.ca/default.asp?Lg=en
Off-Campus housing (from Concordia University Website)
If most of your classes are downtown, or you’re an older student, or you simply prefer choosing your own type of living accommodations, then the off-campus option may be best for you. The Concordia Student Union (CSU) maintains an off-campus housing bank.
While Montreal is still surprisingly affordable for a major North American city, rents have been increasing steadily and apartments have become harder to find than in the past.
In general, apartments can be found close to both Concordia campuses (NDG and around Guy St. downtown, or in areas nearby). Here is a short description of some popular student areas:
NDG and environs: This is an affordable, fairly clean and quiet residential area, with a good sense of community. It’s great for students at Loyola, not as convenient for those studying downtown. Public transportation is available, however. Note that there’s not much of a nightlife here.
Downtown: Apartments near Guy St. are usually in high-rise type buildings, and a couple minutes’ walk to campus. Further east, there’s the ‘McGill ghetto,’ where walk-ups are available. Downtown apartments tend to be expensive, and their level of cleanliness varies greatly. However, you have access to great nightlife and transportation.
Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile End: The Plateau is many students’ preferred location because of its access to nightlife, shopping and more attractive living spaces. However, gentrification has meant that prices have increased dramatically, yet apartments are harder than ever to find. The spillover has gone further north, to Mile End.
Little Burgundy/St. Henri/Verdun: These areas still have cheap housing available, and they’re near metro lines.
Montreal peculiarities
1- Find out if major appliances, such as refrigerator and stove, are included, or if you will have to find your own.
2- Apartment sizes come in the following: a 1 1/2 is a large room with kitchenette and bathroom; a 2 1/2 is larger, or has a double room or is L-shaped; a 3 1/2 has a separate bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom; a 4 1/2 has two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom; a 5 1/2 usually has three bedrooms, and so on.
3- Find out whether heating is included. If not, plan for winter costs.
http://classifieds.canada.com/montreal/
http://www.mcgill.ca/classified
http://english.montrealplus.ca/portal/index.jsp
http://hojo.csu.qc.ca/dev/
http://www.mcgill.ca/offcampus/
http://www.laberge.qc.ca/default.asp?Lg=en
Off-Campus housing (from Concordia University Website)
If most of your classes are downtown, or you’re an older student, or you simply prefer choosing your own type of living accommodations, then the off-campus option may be best for you. The Concordia Student Union (CSU) maintains an off-campus housing bank.
While Montreal is still surprisingly affordable for a major North American city, rents have been increasing steadily and apartments have become harder to find than in the past.
In general, apartments can be found close to both Concordia campuses (NDG and around Guy St. downtown, or in areas nearby). Here is a short description of some popular student areas:
NDG and environs: This is an affordable, fairly clean and quiet residential area, with a good sense of community. It’s great for students at Loyola, not as convenient for those studying downtown. Public transportation is available, however. Note that there’s not much of a nightlife here.
Downtown: Apartments near Guy St. are usually in high-rise type buildings, and a couple minutes’ walk to campus. Further east, there’s the ‘McGill ghetto,’ where walk-ups are available. Downtown apartments tend to be expensive, and their level of cleanliness varies greatly. However, you have access to great nightlife and transportation.
Plateau Mont-Royal and Mile End: The Plateau is many students’ preferred location because of its access to nightlife, shopping and more attractive living spaces. However, gentrification has meant that prices have increased dramatically, yet apartments are harder than ever to find. The spillover has gone further north, to Mile End.
Little Burgundy/St. Henri/Verdun: These areas still have cheap housing available, and they’re near metro lines.
Montreal peculiarities
1- Find out if major appliances, such as refrigerator and stove, are included, or if you will have to find your own.
2- Apartment sizes come in the following: a 1 1/2 is a large room with kitchenette and bathroom; a 2 1/2 is larger, or has a double room or is L-shaped; a 3 1/2 has a separate bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom; a 4 1/2 has two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom; a 5 1/2 usually has three bedrooms, and so on.
3- Find out whether heating is included. If not, plan for winter costs.
What should I bring to Canada?
1. Documents: Have all of your important documents/certificates/licenses translated and bring them.
2. Your books and notes: Bring your essential books and notes. You know that books are really expensive over here. Although, even here, some people use copies of books.
3. Clothes: I think clothes are the most important thing you'd better to bring with yourself. By clothes, I mean regular trousers, jeans, T shirts, Formal and sport clothes. Don't bring many warm clothes because you won't need it. You'll buy a very good winter overcoat when you get here and all you need after is normal clothes which you can wear in normal room temperature. The main problem with clothes here is the sizing. You can hardly find something which fits you and usually you should pay about $15 to make it fit. Of course, this is my experience. I'm not sure if ladies or my tall athletic friends have the same problem.
4. Food: You don't need to bring food or any other eatable stuff :) Just bring "tanaghollat" if you like. I don know how to cook but I know that you can find almost every thing needed for any kind of Iranian food here, Halal Meat, Lappeh, Adas, Sabzie Ghormeie, Zard choube,Darchin, Limo Amani, Sauce Mahram, Ablimouie Yek-o-Yek,...You may want to bring Pistachio, Zereshk and Saffron. You may also want to bring a rice-cooker. Rice-cookers that you can find in Canadian stores are not as good as Iranian versions :) However, electricity voltage in Canada is 110V. I think a 110V Pars-Khazar rice-cooker is a good option.
It's also recommended to take a look at this page (Thanks to Hamid Younesy).
Comments by Alireza Tadayoni
Everything that behzad has told is true, except about bringing "Sabzijat" (because he does not cook ;) ). Vegetables are VERY VERY EXPENSIVE here. A packet of only 100g of any kind of "SabziKhoshk" like "Ghorme Sabzi", "Sabzieh Polo",.... is about $3 or $4, it means 30$-$40/kg. While you can buy or make it in Iran for only 0.1$/kg. So in my opinion the most important thing you must have is "Sabzi Khoshk". Bring cloths and trousers for your mid-term use only and not long-term, because you can find cloths a much lower price that what is in Iran in auctions. I saw so many auctions in Montreal from the time I have arrived (about 2.5months). You can buy Lee trousers for only $15 or less. Or T-shirts for only $2!!!!! It's true $2....
Everything that behzad has told is true, except about bringing "Sabzijat" (because he does not cook ;) ). Vegetables are VERY VERY EXPENSIVE here. A packet of only 100g of any kind of "SabziKhoshk" like "Ghorme Sabzi", "Sabzieh Polo",.... is about $3 or $4, it means 30$-$40/kg. While you can buy or make it in Iran for only 0.1$/kg. So in my opinion the most important thing you must have is "Sabzi Khoshk". Bring cloths and trousers for your mid-term use only and not long-term, because you can find cloths a much lower price that what is in Iran in auctions. I saw so many auctions in Montreal from the time I have arrived (about 2.5months). You can buy Lee trousers for only $15 or less. Or T-shirts for only $2!!!!! It's true $2....
Good Luck
Alireza Tadayoni
Friday, July 16, 2004
Living costs in Montreal
Gernerally, you can have a normal life with $7000-$10000 a year (without university tuition which is about $8000). It depends on your life style. You can compare Montreal with a few other cities here or here. More details are as follows:
Apartment: The rent will be about $300 if you share an apartment and about $500 and more, if you choose to live independently. You can check this website to find more detailed data.
Food: about $150
Transportation: $59.00 ($31.00 if you're under 25 years old). In montreal, you buy a monthly pass and you can use metro and bus services as much as you want. That's why your transportation expenses are fixed. For more information see http://www.stm.info/.
Apartment: The rent will be about $300 if you share an apartment and about $500 and more, if you choose to live independently. You can check this website to find more detailed data.
Food: about $150
Transportation: $59.00 ($31.00 if you're under 25 years old). In montreal, you buy a monthly pass and you can use metro and bus services as much as you want. That's why your transportation expenses are fixed. For more information see http://www.stm.info/.
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