STEP BY STEP GUIDELINES FOR

GRADUATE STUDIES
PBS ADAM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

This document is originally written by Dr. Abdullah Al Maruf (University of Toronto) who
is the Founder of Prospective Bangladeshi Students in Canadian Universities (PBSCU)
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC) and Canadian Alumni Association of
Bangladesh (CAAB) (https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadianAlmuniAssociationBD).
The writer acknowledges all the input given by students throughout the years to keep the
document up to date. However, guidelines changes every now and then. Therefore always
follow latest CIC and VFS guidelines.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. This license allows you to use, share and modify the
document for noncommercial purposes only as long as it is redistributed under the same
license and attribution to this work is made according to the license rules. We request that
you cite the paper the original writers name and the groups name in all cases. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This
document is NOT an official guideline. For official guidelines, please consult
www.cic.gc.ca. Everything that is mentioned in this document are personal
experiences from Bangladeshi students. This should NOT be taken as an official
guideline. Neither the writer nor anyone involved in the group have taken any
money for this document. This is a FREE peer-to-peer general guideline for
Bangladeshi students. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This document may contain grammatical errors or unstructured sentences. For corrections,
suggestions, improvements, please contact pbscuadm@gmail.com
First of all read this:
WHY CANADA?

1. http://www.canadian-universities.net/Campus/Graduate-Studies.html
2. http://www.livingin-canada.com/why-canada.html
STEP-1: MIND SET UP The first thing you need to do is set up your mind about higher
studies in Canada (or any other place). REMEMBER dont take any decision out of
frustration. NOT everyone needs to go for higher studies. If you have potential in doing other
stuff, you should do that. And never confuse immigration with higher studies. When you
want to pursue a M.Sc. or Ph.D., you should consider the after study-job/immigration
opportunities, but NEVER go for higher studies just to leave the country.
So how to set up your mind? (a) Check your academic qualifications and typical
qualification of an applicant [you can get idea about this after reading the document].
(b) Discuss with senior graduate students about the responsibilities of a graduate student.
Check if those things seem interesting to you.
(c) Determine your aim in life depending on your academic qualification, financial status,
family issues and overall your own desire.
Web resources:
1. http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/are-you-ready-for-graduate-school.aspx
2. http://www.uleth.ca/education/programs-degrees/graduate-studies/mcounselling/resources/self-assessment
3. http://www.american.edu/sis/undergradadvising/bamafaq.cfm
Step-2: Subject Selection
Obviously, you may want to pursue your higher studies on your undergraduate subject.
However, not everyone may feel like that. Some may want to switch or go to different but
relevant subjects. In those cases, you have to a lot of research on the criteria for admission on
those subjects. However, in life, you may not always get what you like, so sometimes second
best is the best option.

Web resources:
1. http://gradschool.about.com/od/choosingaprogram/f/choose2.htm
2. http://www.seekingsources.com/choosing_graduate_programs.htm
3. http://www.grad.ubc.ca/handbook-graduate-supervision/choosing-subject-study
Step-3: Program Selection
M.Sc. or Ph.D. or MBA? Its a tough question. For some engineering subjects, you can
get a good job after M.Sc. And this also applies when you want to work in the company. If you
want to be in academia, you have to a PhD. However, now-a-days, companies prefer PhD
graduates if that involves drug research and development. However, in most of the
Canadian Universities, Professors try to take international students as M.Sc. Because if you
are good, then they can let you to convert to PhD (very easy), but if you turn out to be bad
(not suitable for working in a Lab), they can give you a M.Sc. and POLITELY ask you to leave.
My advice, don't try for PhD unless you are overqualified. Try for M.Sc. which will increase
your probability of getting an easy admission.
Goals for Academia-bound Grad Students in Research-oriented Psychology:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/418751428163433
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/418751428163433
Web resources:
1. http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/graduate-degree-masters-phd.aspx
2. http://scientopia.org/blogs/science-professor/2010/12/07/msc-en-route-to-phd
3. http://www.findaphd.com/student/study/study-16.asp
4. http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/ragibhasanblog/29279262
5. http://www.sachalayatan.com/mahbub/39267
Step-4: University Selection

University selection is very important. You have to decide which University you best fit.
During choosing a University, several factors must be considered:
(a) Is it Public or Private?
(b) Whats the world ranking?
(c) Geographical location and its financial status
Web resources:
1. http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011
2. http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2011-2012/top400.html
3. http://www.webometrics.info/top12000.asp
4. http://www.aucc.ca/canadian-universities/our-universities
5. http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/ragibhasanblog/29237266

Step-5: Self-Evaluation and Requirement Check Now you need to evaluate yourself.
Please read the following documents to get idea what is required for admission and how to
prepare for that. And also browse different University's relevant subject's webpage to get idea
about what you need. Check who got admission in Canada!
PBSCU HALL OF FAME: Form Link: https://goo.gl/forms/6BHtiBEOwmBMLAcJ2
Responses: http://bit.ly/2agSeQb
Web resources: 1. http://www.canada-city.ca/canada-universities.php 2.
http://www.4icu.org/ca/canadian-universities.htm 3.
http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/current/enrichment/gradinfo.shtml 4.
http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/students/prospective/resources.cfm 5.
http://gradschool.about.com/od/admissionsadvice/u/preparation.htm 6.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4494226_prepare-graduate-school.html 7.
http://www.howtodothings.com/education/how-to-prepare-for-graduate-school 8.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/humsci/cgi-bin/gus/content/diversity-grad-prep 9.
http://alumni.georgetown.edu/career/career_7.html 10.
http://www.princeton.edu/engineering/undergraduate/current/jobs/preparing-graduate 11.
http://math.arizona.edu/ugprogram/mcenter/gradprep.html 12.
http://westoahu.hawaii.edu/pdfs/career/graduate_school_information.pdf 13.
http://gradschool.about.com/od/interviews/Graduate_Admissions_Interviews.htm 14.
http://www.studygroup.com/isc/ucd/graduate_preparation.html 15.
http://www.admissions.graduate.ucf.edu/about_ucf/preparing_for_graduate_school 16.
http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/application_tips.shtml 17.
http://www.financialpost.com/executive/canadian-mba-programs/index.html
Step-6: Application process There are two types of application processes: (A) Through
Professor managing (B) by central processing
WHAT PROFESSORS ARE LOOKING FOR?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/432036790168230
(A) Through Professor managing: Initial Professor knocking E-Mail:
Knocking Period: Usually Canadian Universities open their admission for fall about 12
months earlier. Most universities open admission activity at the month of September. For
this reason the best time for approaching to professors is the month of August continuing to
final deadline which is mid December to mid-February
Email ID Preference: Normally Canadian professors receive more than hundreds of mails
every day. It is better to mail them from an email ID which is associated with one's
university. Because this looks rather authentic than mailing from other mail services like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc. If it turns out to be impossible then always send emails from an
ID which resembles your name like - if your name is Ahmed and you are from BUET then try
to go for Ahmed_BUET@yahoo.com.
Web resources-1:
1. http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/ragibhasanblog/29355304 2.
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~evans/advice/prospective.html 3.

http://theprofessorisin.com/2011/07/25/how-to-write-an-email-to-a-potential-ph-d-advisor
4. http://projectgraduateschool.wordpress.com/tag/how-to-write-to-professors-2 5.
http://ask.metafilter.com/100275/Advice-on-Emailing-Professors-When-Applying-to-GradSchool 6. http://gradschool.about.com/od/admissionsadvice/a/contact.htm 7.
http://gradschool.about.com/od/admissionsadvice/a/contact.htmredbus2us.com/sampleemail-template-to-professors-in-usa-for-graduate-school-research 8.
http://chrisblattman.com/2010/11/08/students-how-to-email-to-your-professor-employerand-professional-peers 9. http://mcnaircsueb.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/guide-how-tocontact-faculty-at-the-graduate-school-of-your-choice 10.
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/agep/advsopstem.pdf
Web resources-2:
1. http://www.careers.utoronto.ca/myCareer/resumeInterview/cv.aspx 2.
http://gradschool.about.com/od/curriculumvita/Writing_Your_Curriculum_Vitae.htm 3.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4881344_write-curriculum-vitae-graduate-school.html 4.
http://www.eduers.com/Graduate/Resume.html 5. https://www.eeducation.psu.edu/styleforstudents/c8_p9.html 6.
http://workbloom.com/resume/sample/student-graduate-school-admissions.aspx 7.
http://www.eastern.edu/campus/career/pdf/How%20To%20Write%20a%20Resume%20fo
r%20Grad%20School.pdf 8. http://www.indiana.edu/~psyugrad/gradschool/apply.php 9.
http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/career-development/put-your-qualificationswriting/sample-resumes 10. http://www.students.ubc.ca/careers/students/get-careerguidance/job-search-skills/resumes 11.
http://www.swarthmore.edu/documents/administration/careerservices/resume.pdf
(B) Central processing: It's easy, but all departments do not go through this process. Go
to their website. There you will get proper instructions. Usually, the steps are: preapplication, Final Application, Approved by admission committee and final admission. This
process usually takes 6 months.
GRE OR GMAT OR IELTS? https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshistudents-in-canadian-universities/misconception-about-gre-and-admission-in-canadianuniversities/375518992486677
IELTS PREPARATION: http://bit.ly/2dw13WL

SOP Format: https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-incanadian-universities/sop-general-guidelines/393356340702942

Applying to Canadian Universities (Statistics):
https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/applying-for-admission-in-canadian-universities-especially-statistics-relatedco/457639594274616
Application Process (Regina): https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospectivebangladeshi-students-in-canadian-universities/u-of-r-graduate-admission-processapplication-status/624479667590607
Business Schools and MBA: http://bit.ly/2evCThq
Apply to Canadian Universities (Chemical Engineering):
https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/canadian-university-selection-for-chemical-engineers/563425083696066
Apply to Canadian Universities (Life Sciences):
https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/applying-to-canadian-universities-for-graduate-studies-with-full-funding-myexpe/795436527161586
Courier List Bangladesh: https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshistudents-in-canadian-universities/a-short-guide-on-international-couriers-indhaka/777180892320483
Step-7: VISA
Congratulations! You have done it. You have got conditional or unconditional offer of
graduate/undergraduate admission. Now you have to start preparing for VISA.
VFS-Canada, Bangladesh
STUDY PLAN FORMAT: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/426564230715486
PROCESSING TIME:

1. PBSCU VISA TIMELINE: 2015 - ONWARD: http://bit.ly/2b5tGb8

CAQ: https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/how-to-crack-the-caq-in-10-days/599257970112777
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/726833854021854
Top Ten Reason for Canada Visa Denial:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/top-ten-reason-for-canada-visa-denial/639621776076396
Step by Step Guidelines to Canadian VISA application (latest version) is now only available
through e-mail. If you get an admission to a Canadian University, send us the offer letter with
your name (blackening any other personal information) to pbscuadm@gmail.com. We
will send you a copy within 48 hours. Do not share it with anyone. This file can be misused
and even with full funding you may be rejected due to that.
Web resources: 1. http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/bangladesh/visas/studyetude.aspx?view=d 2. http://www.vfs-canada.com.bd/index.aspx 3.
http://www.students.ubc.ca/international/international-students/before-you-arrive/applyfor-or-extend-your-study-permit
VISA STATUS AND EXPERIENCES: https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospectivebangladeshi-students-in-canadian-universities/visa-status-andexperiences/400574619981114
Step-8: Preparation to go to the University
1: Contact or browse International Center's webpage to get all pre-arrival
information https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/417108291661080
2: look for Accommodation:
On-campus: Go to the housing website of your University and explore different options
Off-campus:
(a) Check how to choose off-campus housing or what to check:
http://www.housing.utoronto.ca/rentalHousing.htm

(b) Take help from Bangladeshi students Bangladeshi Students Association in

Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/bangladeshi-student-associations-in-canada/399666176738625
3: Book your flight Try to book flight as soon as possible. If you can book 1-2 months
earlier, there is a chance to get discounted offers. Don't go directly to the agents first. Try to
get an idea by using internet. To come to Canada, there are two main routes: (1) Over Pacific
Ocean (2) Over Atlantic Ocean. The shortest distance is over Pacific Ocean. The shortest
distance means, relatively less cost.
4: Shopping Shopping List (Before coming to Canada)
MALE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/462150870490155
https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/grand-shopping-list-for-students-proceeding-abroad-colder-areas-of-the-usaelsew/593598727345368 https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/602387503133157
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/486873621351213
FEMALE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/1154017657970136
5: Arrangement of pre-arrival documents
DOCUMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO SHOW AT YOUR PORT OF ENTRY: 1.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-arriving.asp 2.
http://www.students.ubc.ca/international/international-students/before-you-arrive/applyfor-or-extend-your-study-permit
First Time Entry to Canada (TO DO LISTS):
https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshi-students-in-canadianuniversities/first-time-entry-to-canada-to-do-lists/421797201192189
Web resources: 1. http://www.sachalayatan.com/kingkong/17040 2.
http://www.iss.ualberta.ca/en/PreparingForUAlberta/PackingforlifeinEdmonton.aspx 3.
http://www.iss.ualberta.ca/PreparingForUAlberta/ArrivingInEdmonton.aspx 4.
http://www.iss.ualberta.ca/PreparingForUAlberta/PackingforlifeinEdmonton/WinterinEdm
onton.aspx

Step-9: Life in Canada

I think, if you come here, you can judge it. As life philosophy and perceptions vary person to
person, it will not be good to give comments. From my understandings, its quite, systematic,
well organized (relative to Bangladesh), healthy and secure enough. But you will miss your
dearest ones obviously.
How to survive winter in Canada:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/481663061872269
Job prospectus after graduation: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx
What to do what not to do: http://www.sachalayatan.com/udash/44026
... !!! ??? ( - ) http://bit.ly/2cVkXLI
DURING STUDY:
1. PR Application http://cie.utoronto.ca/Coming/Living-Here/PR.htm
2. Work-permit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work.asp
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSAAC/doc/447895998582309
3. Social Insurance Number http://cie.utoronto.ca/Coming/Prepare-for-Arrival/SocialInsurance-Number.htm https://www.facebook.com/notes/prospective-bangladeshistudents-in-canadian-universities/how-to-obtain-sin-number/447897851915457
4. Income Tax http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/internationalstudents
5. Study Permit Extension http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-extend.asp
6. Bringing your parents or grant parents to Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/supervisa-how.asp
Web resources:

1. Post-MBA salary: http://www.financialpost.com/executive/canadian-mbaprograms/index.html

2. Salary of Professors:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/2011/univer11b.html
Step-10: Help others Our initiative is a movement to help talented Bangladeshi students
to get worldwide vision especially in Canada. Its not brain drainage at all. If they cannot
come out side, they will spoil themselves in nasty politics. First of all its for survival of
potential future leaders of Bangladesh, who will return in future to Bangladeshi and will
transfer the recent concepts and technologies which will be helpful for my motherland
"BANGLADESH".
Join our team or just start to help.
After you get your visa, please join this group:
Canadian Alumni Association of Bangladesh:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadianAlmuniAssociationBD
*All Web-resources mentioned here are referred to the original website and we appreciate
and acknowledge them by directly linking their website address. If you have any questions,
you can e-mail us at pbscuadm@gmail.com
This document is NOT an official guideline. For official guidelines, please consult
www.cic.gc.ca. Everything that is mentioned in this document are personal experiences
from Bangladeshi students. This should NOT be taken as an official guideline. Neither the
writer nor anyone involved in the group have taken any money for this document. This is a
FREE peer-to-peer general guideline for Bangladeshi students.