International Students:
Welcome to Study in Canada 

"My name is Vadim, and I’m from Russia. I started studying English in Canada because, at the time, my English level was quite low and I knew I needed to improve in order to succeed in school here. I joined CES (formerly Global Village) for a full-time English program, which turned out to be the perfect foundation. For other international students just beginning their journey, I highly recommend starting with a language school. It gives you time to adjust to the culture and helps build the confidence you’ll need for academic life.

After improving my English, I enrolled in Braemar College, a private high school in Toronto, and started in Grade 10. It was a crucial step for me — Braemar helped me understand the Canadian education system, the grading structure, and how to manage my studies effectively. For those who are new to the Canadian system, choosing a high school that prepares you for university-level expectations can really smooth the transition.

While in high school, I also joined Tutoring Club@EduXperience Canada. This gave me an academic advantage, especially in math and computer science — key subjects for the field I wanted to pursue. The tutoring helped me prepare for university-level coursework and develop good study habits. If you’re planning to study something technical, I’d strongly recommend getting academic support early on. It saves a lot of stress later.

After high school, I was accepted by three universities: McMaster University, University of Waterloo, and University of Manitoba. I ultimately chose the University of Manitoba because it’s part of the U15 (Canada’s top research-intensive universities) and has one of the lowest tuition fees among them. It also has a strong Computer Science program with supportive faculty and a diverse student community.

I chose Computer Science because I enjoy working with computers and finding ways to simplify complex tasks through code. It’s exciting to turn ideas into working applications and tools that people can actually use.

While studying, I’ve worked on several small projects. One of the most meaningful ones is a web-based engineering toolkit, which includes simulations, formula sheets, and graphing tools for students. I’m also currently contributing to a larger project on CanStudyHub.com, where I help develop web applications focused on organizing data into a more user-friendly interface for students searching for educational institutions in Canada. This kind of work has helped me apply my learning in real-world situations and build a solid portfolio for future opportunities.

Looking ahead, I hope to join a startup company where I can work on innovative projects, grow my technical and business skills, and one day launch something of my own. For students thinking about their future careers, I’d say: don’t wait until after graduation. Start now — build projects, join communities, and gain real experience."