Higher Education Institutions
In Canada, university colleges and community colleges constitute the
tertiary or higher education sector. Canada has 51 universities and
almost 180 community colleges. While universities conduct degree courses,
community colleges are post-secondary institutions granting diplomas
for course of two to three years duration. From community colleges
students can transfer to universities very often with an advanced
standing in the second year.
Community Colleges
Community colleges popularly known as Colleges of Applied Arts and
Technology (CAATS) in Ontario and College of Enseignement General
et Professional (CEGEP) in Quebec or known as Institutes of Technology,
Technical Institutes, Institutes of Applied Arts and Sciences in
other parts, are post-secondary non-degree granting institutions.
These offer a wide variety of 2/3 years diploma programmes in the
area of Technology, Business, Applied Art and Science. There are
180 such community colleges in Canada. These colleges offer vocational
and technical courses and university transfer programmes equivalent
to the first or second year university courses. International students
are granted admission to these courses.
University Colleges
University Colleges combine university and college traditions offering
applied and academic programmes. They offer degrees, diplomas and
certificates. Combined degree/diploma programmes as well as university
preparatory and transfer programmes are also offered.
Universities
There are 51 universities in Canada and most of them come under
the administrative control of the provincial education ministry.
There are, however, a few private universities. Most universities
are members of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
as well as of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The
medium of instruction in Canadian universities is either English
or French. University of Alberta, University of Manitoba, University
of British Columbia, University of Toronto and McGill University
teach in the English Language. The University of Ottawa is the nation's
largest bilingual institution.
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