In search of greener pastures people, especially the youth, immigrate to first world countries from developing or under developed countries. The main factors being the education, the future job prospects and the quality of life in these nations. Each country has its own benefits and attractions that help them lure global citizens.

Some of the favorite options for those who migrate are Canada and Germany. Here is a one-on-one comparison of these two nations on the perquisites and advantages these nations have on offer are discussed in complete transparency.

Germany Vs Canada

Canada

In the case of Canada, it is no.1 in quality of life in the global ranking at the most affordable cost is the main attraction of the nation. Being a multicultural nation with a stable economy, students have apparently no second thoughts for choosing the country. The welcoming attitude of the government and people set students on the path to a promising future as well. 10 of the top 250 universities in the world are in Canada, which makes the nation one of the recognized nations in the globe for the outstanding quality of education it provides.

Germany

When the factors favoring Germany are taken into account, it is the quality of education from the most reputed universities in the world. The education paradise for the scholars the world over, offers countless number of courses to choose from which have global recognition for employability and affordability. Those who have a good academic background reach out to German universities without hesitation as they have low or no tuition fees and scholarships for those in need. According to recent statistics, more than 350000 international students pursue their education in Germany, with the number steadily rising over the years.

Now that a quick overview of comparison is over the need for a detailed discussion need not be over emphasized. The factors such as ease of securing admission, overall cost of education, PR friendliness, quality of education and what not are taken into consideration as choosing between these two study abroad destinations is a tough task. The expected outcomes of global education would vary from person to person which makes the scrutiny on the aforementioned factors relevant.

1. Climate

Most provinces in Canada would be experiencing snowfall for 8 months or more in any year. Even the summers are chilly in Canada, which necessitates an adaptation towards cold climates to survive in Canada.

On the other hand, the European counterpart has a slightly better climate than Canada with warm summers measuring 35^oC and cold winters marking negative temperatures, but only for a couple of months. While in some cities there can be a drastic change in weather throughout the year.

If you love handling extreme winters, you can choose Canada and if it is something that annoys you or is something that you can live with, then Germany will be the obvious choice.

2. Cost of education

The cost of education comprises two factors; one being the tuition fee and the other one is the cost of living.

As you would have known the tuition fees in Germany is nil or nominal, but the Canadian education would cost around ₹ 10 lakhs per year on an average. This would be a major consideration for scholars as most of them would depend on finances when it comes to abroad education. Even though the Canadian universities facilitate scholarships for those in need, it wouldn’t be enough to cover the whole tuition fees.

The cost of living would be the next significant expense one could encounter in the foreign land. It is clear that living expenses are high in Germany when compared to Canada as it would require a sum of around ₹ 75000 per month to live in Germany and a 60% of this amount will be sufficient to live in Canada. The cost of accommodation being the prime factor that shoots up the overall living expense, is high in Canada but it is the food cost and the bills such as the utility and internet makes it expensive in Germany.

Altogether, for a student relocating to a foreign land would find it difficult to arrange the finances for survival, but considering the overall cost of education into account, Germany would be a wiser option.

3. Popular courses

Both countries are known for the extent of courses that it offers. Engineering is the expertise of German universities as they offer a wide variety of courses tailor made to meet the employability expectations of the global economy. Though Canadian universities offer similar courses, they lack global recognition. Canadian universities concentrate on other disciplines like business management, nursing and hospitality to list some but a few.

In short if you are looking out for science subjects Germany would be the best bet provided you have the academic qualifications necessary to get an admission in the esteemed universities in Germany. If that is not the case, then you can choose a Canadian university.

4. Ease of securing admissions

German admissions tend to be very competitive in its nature. Those who have a strong academic background stand a better chance at securing admissions in German universities. While having a good GRE or GATE score is preferable as it boosts your chances of getting into one of your dream German universities, a good percentage in an undergraduate program would suffice it.

It is not the case with Canadian universities, as there are a lot more universities in the country which offer similar courses. Unlike German counterparts they rank comparatively lower in global ratings which make the chances of getting into one of the Canadian universities less tiresome. Population in comparison is lower as well which will reduce the local competition as well.

5. Language           

Irrespective of the country you decide to migrate to, it is recommended that you know the local language as it can make life easier for you.

English is the most popular language in Canada though the majority of Canadians speak French. International students are required to score a minimum band in the English proficiency exams such as IELTS and TOEFL. An overall score of 6.5 with no individual band of less than 6 is the requirement for post graduate students in Canada.

To get admission in a German university you need to prove your proficiency in English or German depending on the language of study of your choice. For courses offered in German language you would need to take either testDAF or DSH to secure an admission. Similarly, if you plan to work in Germany you need to have a B1/B2 level proficiency in German. The certificate issued by GLS is to be provided to the employers to get your work visa stamped.

6. Evaluation system

In Canada, your grades of a semester depend on continuous evaluation including the assignments, quizzes and discussions apart from the end semester examinations. You have ample time in your semester to build a strong score. But Indian students as such are not used to this system as it could possibly take time to adapt to the situations there.

As in Germany, the system of examinations is similar to that in India, where the end semester ones are the only matter of concern. All that you need is to prepare for the exams and complete the assignments given in semester breaks.

7. Visa process

Visa process differs from one country to the other. Let’s have a closer look into the details.

In order to stay in Canada as a student you should have a valid study permit which entitles you to stay in the nation. Without the possession of this valid document no international student is permitted to study in any of the Canadian universities. Your visa permits you to study at the designated learning institution which you enrolled.

While applying for the study permit or the visa you are supposed to produce a proof for the tuition fee paid to the college or university you enrolled. Moreover, you need to have a sum of 10000 CAD which is approximately ₹ 5.75 Lakhs towards your living cost in the country during your period of stay.

In the case of Germany, if you are supposed to stay in the nation for more than 90 days, then you must get a residence visa. As evidence of finances to support your living expenses in Germany you need to show a sum of € 8,640 per year in your account in Germany which is approximately ₹7.5 Lakhs. A student residence visa has a maximum validity of two years, if the duration of the course exceeds the same you will have to renew the issued permit.

8. Job availability

If you are from a science background, there are a lot of opportunities awaiting you in Germany. Once you graduate and you have a good academic background there is a high chance you get a job in Germany. But in Canada the employment market is quite competitive. You need to submit references preferably from teachers, professors or university itself to get an opening job related to your stream of study.

As far as part time opportunities are concerned, in Canada a student can work up to a maximum of 20 hours a week. An average of 22 CAD per hour is the pay rate of part-time jobs there and a minimum of 15 CAD. That amounts to 300 CAD per week and 1200 CAD in a month. Students can amass their living expenses from their job time in Canada.

 In Germany, an average of 12 € is paid to a part time employee and a minimum of 9.5€. You can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week in part time and you can work fulltime in the semester breaks. You will need to get a work permit from the “Agentur für Arbeit” (Federal Employment Agency) and the foreigners’ authority for the same.

9. PR friendliness

There is a common notion that Canada is open and more welcoming than other nations across the globe. But there are some other countries which possibly match their Permanent Residence friendliness as well. Germany is once such a country that welcomes more professionals to their citizenship status. There is no argument against the number of people Canada admits into their nature, but provided you have the quality, Germany would be a better match.

With more than 80 different immigration programs, one can process his permanent resident status in Canada in as low as 6 months.  Whereas, Germany only has two programs that you can apply for:- 

1. The European blue chip card
2. Employment visa program

The fastest you can obtain a German residence permit is in 21 months, once you have the EU Blu chip card or the temporary residence permit. Moreover, you should know German as well. Getting a temporary residence permit itself is a cumbersome one as you need to have a valid job offer from an employer in Germany.

10. Post study work permit

A Canadian post work visa is for up to 3 years depending on the course duration and in Germany it is an 18 months residence permit for you to seek a job which is related to your area of study. The provision of stay back is not included in the student visa, but should be applied separately before your student visa is over. Once you receive a valid job offer, you can apply for a temporary residence permit or the EU blue card upright.