Scholarships for Chinese Students in Canada

How Chinese students can offset the cost of studying in Canada

There are more Chinese students studying in Canada than those of any other nation. One reason that attracts Chinese students to Canada is that they can obtain study scholarships that offset course fees and living costs.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told a Chinese audience there had been a remarkable increase in the number of Chinese students studying in Canada.

“Following our 2009 agreements, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of Chinese students studying in Canada.

“There is no better place in the world to study than Canada. That's why more than 60,000 Chinese students now attend Canada’s world-class colleges and universities, a 35 per cent increase in four years …and the number is growing.”

Many Canadian universities and colleges offer scholarships for gifted students, including those from China. The kind of award and financial benefits varies. Applications should be made directly to each university or college. 

Here are 5 Canadian scholarships that are suitable for Chinese students:

1) Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research and CIHR Fellowship, from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research (STIHR) is a way for Canada to increase its competitiveness internationally in attracting new, bright, creative research talent and to ensure innovation and excellence in the next generation. Individual training programs receive funding towards supporting research trainees through stipends. 

2) Industrial Research and Development Internship Program, from the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada

The Industrial Research and Development Internship (IRDI) program is a federal program where successful recipient organisation can gain funds to match graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with private sector host organisations for private sector research internships. The interns work on research projects jointly developed by the private sector host organisation and their academic supervisor. 

The goal is to introduce graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to practical business problems and provide them with the opportunity to apply their scientific and technical expertise to address the needs of participating businesses. It is open to all research areas.

3) Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program aims to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally, to develop their leadership potential and to position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada's economic, social and research-based growth.

The fellowships are administered by Canada's three research granting agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

The Banting fellowships are among a group of programs that provide support to highly qualified research personnel at all stages of their careers:

• Canada Graduate Scholarships provide financial support to outstanding eligible students pursuing master's or doctoral studies in a Canadian university. 
•  Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships support world-class doctoral students who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies as well as leadership skills.
• Canada Research Chairs provide support to new and established investigators for five- and seven-year terms.
• Canada Excellence Research Chairs, a highly prestigious program, is intended to attract world-class researchers to Canadian universities to work in priority research areas and conduct world-leading research.

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4) Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories Program

The Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories (VF) Program provides promising emerging scientists and engineers with the opportunity to work with research groups or leaders in Canadian government laboratories and research institutions. Fellowships are awarded for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second and third year, at the discretion of the government department concerned.

The number of awards varies according to the budgets of participating departments and agencies. There are no deadlines for application to this program. Applications are processed and reviewed as they are received.

5) Trudeau Fellowships, from the Trudeau Foundation

Every year, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation selects up to five fellows who have set themselves apart through their research achievements, creativity and social commitment. After a rigorous selection process, the fellows are chosen by an independent jury of eminent researchers and intellectuals.

The Foundation does not accept direct applications for these prizes, but establishes a list of candidates based on suggestions put forward by an extensive nomination network in Canada and abroad. The Trudeau Fellowships are of a total value of $225,000. Trudeau fellows are appointed for a mandate of three years.

The Foundation considers candidates from all disciplines in the social sciences and humanities and all domains of creative arts. It focuses its efforts in four fields: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada in the world, and people and their natural environment.

 Additional Canadian scholarships available to Chinese students include:

• Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program, from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Canada-China Norman Bethune Health Research Scholarships Program from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
•  The Sauvé Scholars Program, from the Jeanne Sauvé Youth Foundation
•  Trudeau Scholarships, from the Trudeau Foundation
• Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships Program from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
•  Research Associate Program, from the National Research Council Canada
•  Research Development Initiatives from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
•  Professional Development Awards and The Pearson Fellowship, from the International Development Research Centre

In Canada, the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada oversees the government’s involvement in major International Scholarship Programs and supports international scholars in the country.

ENDS

About the Author: Adrian Bishop is a national award-winning journalist who writes for the world’s leading visa company, GlobalVisas.com. Its free Visa Wizard helps clients assess their chances of gaining study visas.

Selecting the Right Study Abroad Program for You

The day has come: You're ready to tightly pack your suitcase, book that overseas plane ticket, and jet off to a study abroad and have the time of your life. But, wait a minute. Just where are you off to?

Finding the right study abroad program is like tracking down the ideal spouse. The program needs to meet your needs, wants, desires, and hopes. For those of us all too familiar with the dating scene, we know it's difficult to find all of these criteria, but does that mean finding the right degree program is treacherous and nearly impossible? Absolutely not! You just have to know what to look for.

In selecting your study abroad program, there are four criteria you should pay the most attention to: program cost, program location, degree compatibility, and cultural compatibility. Finding the program that meets your needs in these four categories will help you decide where you belong. And whether it's Barcelona, Rome, Florence, Mexico – you name it – there is a program out there that is right for you. Just consider these specific points when you're selecting your destination.

Program Cost

Your favorite program may not be the most affordable, but that doesn't mean you can't somehow make it work. Peruse scholarships for days if you have to, because the number of scholarships that go unapplied for is rather astounding. You may not think you will receive a specific one, but it's still worth the shot, especially if it's from a small organization or charity. And don't think you have to be a star athlete or honor roll student to receive one. In fact, a recent study shows that for every fifteen scholarships you apply for, you're likely to receive one of those, so just keep applying!

Program Location

Where would you like to go? Consider this main point when searching through your options. Is there a place you've always wanted to visit? Did you go on a trip with your family one time and remember having a blast? Study the history, population, and attractions of various countries and cities to see what appeals to you most. Also, talk to people who have traveled to the area you're considering and see what their feedback is. It's easy to think something looks desirable reading through promotional websites and brochures, but find out what a friend or acquaintance thought about the place.

Degree Compatibility

The last thing you want to do is throw your degree off track in your study abroad program. Sure, going to Brazil for Rio Carnival may sound exciting, but are you going to meet some of your degree requirements by doing so? Here's a tip: choose your five favorite degree programs then compare which ones are moving you along most thoroughly to graduation. If you find that your top pick only meets one or two of your required classes, it's probably best to move along to option two or three.

Cultural Compatibility

This point is probably the most overlooked. When visiting a foreign country there is an inevitable period of adjustment. But, does that mean you should try to find a place that is somewhat compatible with you? Of course not! Here's a tip: Try writing out a list of qualities about yourself, such as languages you speak, your sense of direction, the type of cuisine you like, etc., and compare that list to the characteristics of the destination you are considering. Knowing what characteristics sum you up as a human being will aid you in knowing where you fit in best.

When starting your study-abroad search, don't be tricked into thinking that you're going to drown in options and confusion. It's a lot of work to choose the perfect study abroad program, but pacing yourself and considering these four main points will help you decide where you belong.

Barbara Jolie is a full time freelance writer and blogger in the Houston area. She enjoys writing about education and the advantages of onlineclasses for all students. If you have any questions email Barbara at barbara. jolie876 @ gmail.com.

Going to School Online, Is It Right for Everyone?

If you are thinking about going to school online you may want to think twice. Going to school online is a completely different experience than going on campus. We've got a few tips and tricks to help you decide if going to school online is right for you and your education. 

For many, going to school online is ideal because it’s so convenient. You can study when and where you want. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection for most courses. This means you can easily fit your academic obligations around other commitments, like work and family. Also, since you’re able to attend class from home, you won’t have to spend time and money commuting to campus. 

It can be effective for self-disciplined workers who are keen to dig into a task without being slowed by less diligent classmates. It’s a good option for people who are shy to ask question in large groups, as well. Since correspondence with the instructor happens through emails or messaging systems, it’s easy for everyone to ask any questions that may be on their mind. 

Taking classes online has its benefits, but it also has downsides. You should consider the following questions before enrolling in an online class: 

Are you computer literate? In order to do well, you have to be pretty comfortable with computers. While systems are growing to be more user-friendly each year, it would still be daunting for someone with a limited background in computers to jump into online learning. 

Are you self-disciplined? Going to school online is great for its flexibly, but that can also lead to your downfall. Honestly assess yourself as a student. 

Do you have a track record of independent learning, or are you more of a dependent learner? If you’ve been primarily a dependent learner in the past, it could be difficult to adjust to the independent style required for most online courses. 

Are you studying a subject that requires hands-on experience? Some fields require a considerable amount of face-to-face time in order for the student to master the subject, whether it’s spending time in a lab, delivering a presentation to a large audience, or working with patients. If you think you need plenty of practical, hands-on experience to truly learn what your field of interest is about, think twice about online courses. 

Is the institution committed to providing quality online instruction? Some online classes are better than others, and sometimes it can come down to the institution offering them. Research whether the school has upgraded its online learning programs, and whether facility is trained to instruct using it. Well-maintained online classes lead by a well-trained instructor can be very good; poorly-organized programs manned by under-prepared teachers, on the other hand, usually don’t offer the best learning experience. 

Do you think you learn better in a physical classroom? This question is very subjective, but important. Ultimately, you are in control of your education. If you feel that you retain more information and that your overall learning experience is superior when in a physical classroom, stick with classes on campus. Online learning comes with plenty of advantages, but it has its problems, too. When considering online versus offline classes, get the most out of your tuition money by going with what works for your life and your learning style. 

Guest post contributed by Andrea Jones for ChilliSauce.co.uk - Event coordinators and  providers of hen weekends and stag weekends.

Surviving Abroad - Tips for Staying Focused in a Foreign Country

Studying abroad in a foreign country is a privilege and an adventure that many lucky students embark on in their college days. There is really no better time for world travel and studying abroad than college. The four years that young students spend on a college campus build them into strong-minded and confident young adults. It is through regular course study and consistently challenging situations that young college students discover their passions in life and their motivations for the future.

Many students decide to study abroad during their college years. Exploring new cultures, languages, and regions is a wonderful way to learn more about yourself and your interests. While studying abroad as a college student can be extremely rewarding, it can also be very academically challenging. With so many new experiences to have, new places to explore, and new people to meet, maintaining academic focus can be a real challenge. Consider these tips for more successful studying abroad.

Set a Schedule

Creating a consistent schedule can make all the difference in your academic and social life while you're in college. One of the most difficult aspects of college is managing the amount of freedom you have. You will have academic responsibilities that require your time and social obligations you'd like to fit in—it's all about finding ways to balance both. Studying abroad can add to the challenge of creating a balanced schedule. With so many new places to explore, it can be easy to put off your studies time and time again. Create a weekly and monthly schedule. Successful studying really boils down to a little forward thinking. Look at due dates and test times and plan a schedule around them. Try to schedule a 2 hour session of studying at least 3 times a week where you will only focus on your coursework. Leave spots open for searching the city, traveling, and other abroad activities.

Create a Work Space

Your study space plays a huge role in how successful your academic life is as well. Just as it is important to focus your daily schedule for your studies, it is also essential that you have a focused study space. Attending college in a foreign country can make even your study area feel foreign. Work hard to find an area on campus or in town that helps you stay focused for studying. Find a spot that is secluded and quiet. You want a space that is comfortable and distraction-free, but also inspiring and motivational. It's a good idea to try to work in the same space every time you study. By having one spot that you study in, you can get your mind and body used to this area meaning "work time".

Designate a "Fun" Day

While, of course, your studies are essential in college whether you are abroad or not, it is important that you recognize the importance of experiences as well. Studying and completing your classwork is important, but so is experiencing new things and taking advantage of all that a situation has to offer you. Going abroad is about expanding your horizons and creating new experiences. While this might not be challenging for many, it is important that you schedule some time to actually go out and explore your new "home". Designate one day a week or a month (whatever your schedule allows) to just explore and have fun. Try new things, travel, make new acquaintances, and see new things. Take the time to learn about the new culture that you are submerged in. Take in the history of your surroundings and expand your body of knowledge. Studying abroad gives you the perfect opportunity to try something new and live in a way that is very difficult to replicate in any other point of life—take advantage of it.

Aniya Wells is a freelance blogger whose primary focus is writing about online degree programs. She also enjoys investigating trends in other niches, notably technology, traditional higher education, health, and small business. Aniya welcomes reader questions and comments at aniyawells@gmail.com.

Getting Ready For the GREs!

If you are considering graduate school after finishing your bachelor’s degree, then you should expect to take the GRE. The GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, is similar to the SAT in that it tests your verbal, writing and quantitative analysis, demonstrating that you have the basic skills and the knowledge of a college graduate. Most university graduate programs require that you take the GRE for admission; in some cases, you may be required to take a subject test as well to prove your preparedness for entering the program.

The GRE test itself is offered all year round in testing centers nationwide. Most people take the computer-based test, although some testing centers still offer the paper-based exam. When you register for the test, you choose a date and time that works for you and visit the testing center at the designated time to complete the test in a controlled environment. Like the SATs, you can take the GRE as many times as you need to improve your score. While many students opt to take the exam in the fall of their senior year, before graduate school application deadlines, some take the test in the spring of their junior year or even over the summer in order to leave plenty of time for a re-take if necessary.

What to Expect

The GRE consists of three sections: verbal, quantitative analysis and analytical writing. In the verbal and quantitative sections, you’ll answer a series of multiple choice questions. Verbal questions include reading comprehension and vocabulary-based questions. In the quantitative section, you’ll need to perform math problems based in geometry, algebra, and basic math. For the writing section, expect to write short essays on assigned topics to demonstrate your ability to articulate and support an idea as well as your grasp of basic writing mechanics.

The test is timed; if you take a computer-based test, the test averages about 3 hours and 45 minutes. The paper-based test takes about three and a half hours. In either case, the analytical writing section comes first, and the remaining subjects are divided into sections that are randomly mixed up for each individual test taker.

What You Need to Know

For most people, the general knowledge that you gained from four years of college will help you do reasonable well on the GRE. However, if it’s been four years since you took a math class – you’re an English major, for example, and only took the minimum requirements for math – you will probably want to brush up on your formulas and calculations to be prepared for the quantitative section. If you’re taking a subject test, be sure to study the basics of your field, including important people, places and dates. You won’t encounter those specific types of questions on the GRE; you aren’t trying out for a trivia show. Take some time to study Latin roots of common words. You might not know exactly what a particular word means, but if you know the root prefix or suffix, you can generally infer the meaning and the correct answer from the available choices.

How to Study

Like most tests, the more time you have to prepare for the GRE, the better. With several weeks or months to get ready, you can break your study time into manageable chunks and focus on the areas you need to brush up on.

While test preparation courses can help you improve your score, you can still do well studying on your own. Review the preparation guide provided by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and take the free practice tests on the ETS website to get a baseline score and a plan for what do study. Visit the bookstore and pick up one of the many available test prep guides. Most include several practice tests as well as study plans and a review of basic concepts. If you’re really struggling in one area, consider working with a tutor to build your skills. The time and expense will be worthwhile when you get a great score.

While the GRE is an important part of your graduate school application package, remember that it’s only part of the story. Admissions committees also consider our undergraduate record, recommendations and supporting materials when making a decision. Just take time to prepare – and not just the night before the test – and do your best. Soon, you’ll be part of a new class of graduate students.

This guest post article was written and provided by Marissa Krause who longs to be part of women in leadership and has just finished her degree online this last fall and to begin her own online marketing company.

Why is Cultural Immersion an Important Part of Studying Abroad?

All study abroad programs and foreign language programs are combined and offered to students as an immersive experience that would help them learn more. The question that arises is why it so important to visit a place to understand its culture. Communication has gone global and it has become easy for everyone to view video footage from around the globe. So what is it that necessitates a travel experience? 

Cultural Immersion: An Unforgettable Impact

Study abroad programsand gap year programs continuously focus on the cultural immersion aspect. No matter where a student goes, whether it is Europe or Asia, emphasis on this aspect is evident and so much so that home stays are arranged to help a student experience the lifestyle of the resident of that country.  What is it that makes this aspect of study overseasand student exchange programs so important?

The answer lies in experience. One cannot describe completely how a certain experience is just by reading or looking at videos. One has to “be there” to experience firsthand something that has been described as different. Books and common knowledge suggest that lifestyle and culture are different in other countries and despite all videos on YouTube and other media, this fact cannot be ascertained, unless of course one spends a few days in the place ‘real time’. 

One aspect that is a deep rooted cause for emphasizing on cultural immersion is usually not considered when explaining the importance of study abroad and student travel programs. This elusive aspect is empathy. A person should have the ability to stand in another person’s shoes and view a situation from a different perspective. This is a quality that becomes imperative when one goes to a different country where the way of living and doing things are different. Today in the era of global interaction, this quality allows frictionless communication and a feeling of bonhomie in international interactions. This is something that can never be taught in a class. One has to leave the familiar environment and travel abroad to study to learn this. This also explains the inclusion of language programs in the study abroad programs.

When the concept is viewed from a different point of view, it is seen that those who are learning a foreign language find living in the country (which that language is native to) particularly useful. The reason is that it is the natural environment for that language and hence it becomes easy for a learner to shed any inhibitions and learn with ease. A sense of adventure is involved because of the newness of the place and a student willingly utilizes all mental faculties to adjust and learn as much as possible. This also boosts a student’s confidence. This idea has been derived from the maxim which says that experience is the best teacher. 

If one looks at it, the idea behind the cultural immersion in study abroad programs can be compared to any field of study. No matter what one learns, there is invariably field work or practical assignments involved to put that knowledge to test. This widens students’ understanding of the subject, taking into account other factoring elements which can be understood only when applying the knowledge practically. After all, the aim of all knowledge lies in its application and evolution. 

Tom Hopkins is an Editor in Chief, working for Minds Abroad your informed counselor for studyabroad & travel programs in China. Learn Mandarin in China and enrich your cross-cultural experience. For more posts and information on places of cultural and historical interest that we take our students to, visit www.mindsabroad.com

The Fail-Proof Guide to Studying

Studying usually conjures up images of frantic students in the small hours of the night, surrounded by textbooks, notebooks, and snacks, rubbing their eyes and staring hollowly at notes they’ve read a hundred times in preparation for a test the next day.

This method of “studying” has a better name, a moniker oft-used and much loved by students: cramming. But is cramming actually effective?  It might help you — and I should stress might — scrape by whatever test you’re cramming for, but, as an article in Popular Science states, “hurried memorization is a hopeless approach for retaining information.”  

This conclusion came from a UC San Diego study in which scientists asked 1,354 volunteers to memorize trivial facts and then tested their recall of that information after varying periods of time for different groups, “anywhere from several minutes to several months after first learning [the material].”

The scientist unsurprisingly found that, “students perform better when they space their study sessions rather than when they try to cram everything into their noggins during one sitting.”

And yet, students everywhere, including those who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees and other degrees online, continue in their binge and purge study habits.  You might even conclude that they do so because they actually don’t know what proper studying looks like.

Keeping in mind that an education isn’t about grades, it is about engaging with the intellectual world in a meaningful way that leads to retention and synthesis of that knowledge to better yourself as a person and increase your skill set, cramming for classes is not only ineffective, it is also harmful to your potential future success.

Follow this guideline to studying to consistently score higher on exams, and get better jobs once you graduate (partly because you’re more likely to graduate with honors if you follow the guide, and partly because you’ll just be more intelligent in general):

1.      Don’t Fall Asleep in Class

Studying for a test actually begins as soon as a professor starts lecturing.  You do yourself and a teacher a great disservice by not paying attention in class.  Professors work to condense important, relevant information into their lectures, summarizing and restating key concepts in more direct ways than most textbooks.  Furthermore, professors usually base exams on their lectures, not textbooks, so you are at a disadvantage by not paying attention and taking notes in class. 

2.      Take (Good) Notes

Some students do pay attention in class but are confident that they will be able to remember the material the professor presents in class and don’t take notes.  Or if they do take notes, they are the kind of notes that you write when you feel obligated to take them: half-hearted, distracted, irrelevant.  Try to focus on the key concepts, and summarize points the professor makes in your own words.  

3.      Study at Regular Intervals

There is an old saying in education that has proven true time and again when it comes to knowledge retention: “The more you see it, the more you hear it, the more you write it, the more you know it.”  To truly get knowledge to stick, you have to interact with it on a regular basis, not just once.  When the professor delivers lectures you are interacting with the knowledge, and again when you are taking notes.  But that isn’t enough.  You should be re-reading your notes, ideally every day, but at least every few days after you take them.  

4.      Seek a Tutor

Even if you think you understand the material, and especially if you don’t, you should get a tutor to help you clarify anything that remains unclear after you’ve studied several times.  It is alwaysa good idea to get another voice in the situation, and find new ways to interact with the knowledge.

5.      Tutor Someone Else

When you think you have a handle on the material, offer help to someone you know that needs it.  Nothing cements information in your brain better than teaching it to someone else.

If you follow these steps, you can rest easy the night before a test and actually get a decent eight hours of sleep instead of staying up all night cramming.  And you will remember the information for years afterward, at that, allowing you to recall it when you need it.  

About the Author:

This guest contribution was submitted by Samantha Gray, who specializes in writing about online bachelors degree. Questions and comments can be sent to:  samanthagray024@gmail.com.

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