Why choose Canada to study English?
Every season you'll start a new experience: Watch the colourful flowers bloom in spring, Swim in lakes in the warm summer air, experience the dramatic forest colour changes in autumn, and ski the slopes over metres of snow in winter. The year is a journey in Canada.
Being international is the norm: 30% of students in Canadian cities are international. You’re joining a huge existing community of students, each with their own story, and Canada is known for embracing this diversity!
Politeness is the culture: Canadians hold doors, strike up conversations at coffee shops, and help you figure out the bus system without being asked. You couldn’t ask for better hosts.
Nature that belongs in a screensaver: Whether it’s breathtaking mountain trails, swimming in waterfalls surrounded by fragrant pine trees, or watching bears (from a safe distance!) Canada offers you the type of shots most people will only see in National Geographic.
Learn English in Canada: Experience The Great White North
Everyone wants to live the good life, but Canadians? They’re already living it! Canada is home to 4 of the 20 most livable cities in the world (according to Forbes), and it’s not hard to see why.
Clean streets, reliable public transport, and parks you'll use multiple times a week, living like a Canadian means waking up in a city that works. It means visiting galleries and museums, catching a free outdoor concert in the summer, and ice skating on a frozen lake in the winter.
Each city has its own unique neighbourhood experiences you've probably never heard of. Whether it’s bargain hunting for vintage antiques in Kensington Market in Toronto, or trying out fresh seafood and local art in Vancouver’s Granville Island.
From glacial lakes to the haunting beauty of the Northern Lights—you should say yes to every trip you can, your Insta feed will thank you! Canada’s great outdoors is the stuff of legends, and every weekend will give you something new to discover.
The best English schools in Canada to hit your goals inside and outside the class
Every school we partner with has been handpicked to fit your goals. Want IELTS preparation in multicultural Toronto? Business English with mountain views in Vancouver? Intensive courses in a small mountain town like Whistler? We've got all the options you need.
English study destinations in Canada
Accreditations and memberships
What's it like to be a student and learn English in Canada?
Student life in Canada
Canadian student life revolves around coffee shops, study groups that turn into friendships, and spontaneous weekend plans. You'll find yourself at a Tim Hortons at 8 AM comparing homework with classmates, then at a local bar by evening debating hockey teams you'd never heard of a month ago. International students don't stick to their own groups here; Canadians actually want to hang out, invite you to house parties, and include you in their weekend road trips.
Safety and Healthcare in Canada
Canada consistently ranks among the world's safest countries, and you'll feel it immediately. Walking home late after studying at a café? Not a concern. Taking public transport at night? Completely normal. Crime rates are low, cities are well-lit, and you can always find a friend to help walk you home after a long night.
Healthcare is pretty straightforward as well. International students typically need private health insurance (which ESL can arrange before you arrive), but the facilities are of the highest quality.
Getting around in Canada
Public transport in Canada is a traveller’s dream. Everything just works. Toronto's got subways and streetcars that run frequently, Vancouver's SkyTrain connects the entire metro area, and Montreal's metro is fast and affordable. Most students buy monthly passes (around CAD 100-150) and forget about transport costs for the rest of the month. But outside of transport, most cities are easy (and a pleasure) to walk around, with plenty of footpaths and bike-rental apps for you to use.
We’ll be with you at every step of your English course abroad
Why choose ESL for your English course in Canada?
Start learning English with ESL and enjoy professional assistance free of charge.
We’re passionate about languages, and since 1996, we’ve been helping others feel that same thrill we get from learning and travelling! Learning English in Canada is exciting, but it can take a lot of work; that’s why it helps to have an experienced agency by your side to help you navigate the challenges of your time abroad.
Getting your visa for an English course in Canada
After you've signed up for your course, the visa situation depends on how long you're staying. Courses under 6 months? Most nationalities just need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) - takes minutes online, costs CAD 7, and is approved within days. Easy.
Courses longer than 6 months will need a study permit, which can be a little more complicated, but our team will guide you through it! You’ll be able to apply online through the IRCC website and will need to upload:
Your ESL acceptance letter
A valid passport
Proof of finances (bank statements showing you can cover tuition and living costs)
Letter of explanation for why you want to study in Canada
Depending on where you're from, you might also need educational transcripts or a medical exam. The application fee is CAD 150, and processing takes anywhere from a few weeks to 90 days, depending on your country.
We know visas feel overwhelming, but we've walked thousands of students through the process, and our team are waiting to help you too! Contact us, and we'll help you get it sorted.
Learn about our programmes from your fellow students
Too many destinations to choose from?
Contact our team of experts, and we’ll find out more about you to pair you with the perfect school that matches your preferences, budget, and language goals.
