Road to University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

1. Pre-application:
Pre-application is mainly required to manage a Professor/Supervisor. Normally, after submitting
pre-application, all of them are forwarded to faculty members of respective department from the
graduate admission office. If a faculty member selects your file then graduate admission office
will ask you to apply accordingly. BUT, if you manage a Supervisor through email for your
M.Sc./PhD then pre-application is not mandatory for you (Depends on department to
department, and I didnt submit any pre-application). In that case you should ask Graduate
Administrator of the respective department. Believe me; they are very friendly and helpful.

## If you manage a supervisor and you have very short time for all processing, then go for
direct application and inform Graduate Administrator of your department as soon as possible. In
that case dont forget to use your supervisors email address on cc.

2. Online Application for Admission and Documents Submission:

http://grad.usask.ca/
After online application you have to submit all documents to university (For details see
graduate application requirements)
IELTS:
The College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies may waive the requirement to provide proof
of English language proficiency for applicants who have completed a minimum three
consecutive years of study exclusively in English. In order to be considered for exemption, the
foreign college or university must be listed in the International Association of Universities'
World Higher Education Database as providing instruction solely in English. Institutions can
be looked up by using the search function below:
http://grad.usask.ca/admissions/english-countries-institutions.php#EligibilityforExemption

1|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.

 If you are under this condition then please inform your Supervisor and Departmental
Graduate Administrator as soon as possible. They will inform you details. But if Supervisor
wants you to take IELTS then you have to go for it.
I had IELTS score but its validity was out of date and I informed my Supervisor and
Graduate Administrator about the Waive Option of IELTS and they helped me in that case.

### Whatever your IELTS score is you have to be fluent in English to continue your new life
here.

3. Visa Application and Processing: Details of this section can be found from PBSCU.

4. Some Important Notes after Visa Approval:

Make two files, one for all original certificates and important documents. The other one for
photocopy of all certificates + passport size photograph (Canadian passport and stamp size)
+ University offer letter and scholarship/funding letter (original/printed copy form
pdf/photocopy) + Photocopy of passport + Original passport + Residence permit letter (for
student arriving at university residence only).
Bodna!: Its 6$ here. If possible bring one.
Calendar: Bring two, one for room and one for office, so that you can maintain your day
planning. Most of the people use mobile apps here.
Bring winter clothes as much as possible, its too expensive here and most of them are from
Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi boot wont work, you have to buy winter boot here (Boots are cheaper than
Bangladesh)
Bring minimum two heavy jackets but most of them wont work here. Its expensive in
Canada (80-150$) but with good quality and strong enough.
For details of shopping go through the files available at PBSCU file section.
Course Registration Online: Ask your Supervisor and Departmental Graduate
Administrator about this. You can do this after coming here but it will delay (3-5 days) to get

2|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.

 student ID and bus pass. If you register at least one course from Bangladesh you can get
your student ID very quickly.
Cost: Living cost (456-1000 CAD at residence, depends on family size. For single its $456
at residence and outside its app. $350-500) + Tuition fee (depends) + Food ($120-200) +
Pocket money (depends, $50-100) + Mobile bill ($20-50).
Driving License: Dont forget to learn driving and bring your driving license. You may
drive here with your Bangladeshi driving license until you are a student of U of SK.

5. Welcome to Canada: Study Permit and SIN at Toronto Airport

Whatever your flight is, you will be at Toronto first and your immigration will be there.
Immigration sometime takes long time (1hr-4hr), even more, so ensure on you have
sufficient time between arrival at Toronto and your connecting flight to Saskatoon.
During immigration you have to show your documents (depends). Therefore, maintain two
files: one for all original certificates and other important documents. The other one for
photocopy of all certificates + passport size photograph (Canadian passport and stamp size)
+ University offer letter and scholarship/funding letter (original/printed copy form
pdf/photocopy) + Photocopy of passport + Original passport+ Residence permit letter (for
student arriving at university residence only). If you forget University offer letter and
scholarship/funding letter, then make sure you have soft copy with you or in your email.
Otherwise, immigration officer will create a problem; in that case they will call your
university for verification (normally).
After immigration ask the officer where you can get your SIN (Social Insurance Number).
It will take 10min to1hr, so dont forget to collect SIN. However, still if you are not able to
get you SIN there, you can manage it at Saskatoon. So dont worry!
You have to collect your luggage at Toronto which is a large airport. So be careful about
your luggage. Submit a missing report at airport missing luggage reporting booth if
necessary. Toronto airport has many terminals and each terminal away from each other. So,
always see your flight number and terminal number.

3|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.

6. Arrival at Saskatoon:
Toronto to Saskatoon will take approximately 2 hr, 45 min fight duration. Collect your luggage
carefully and manage someone from here to receive you. Dont worry! you will find someone
for sure.

6.1 Graduate Student Office: Take one day rest and go to graduate student office to inform
them that you are in Canada now. Its a sign in process. You have to submit your SIN here, so if
you collect SIN from Toronto you can submit on the first day. (Graduate Student Office,
Engineering Building, 2nd floor, For Engineering Student only).

6.2 Course Registration Form: May be you already completed online course registration or
maybe not, but have to complete paper based registration again. You will get details instruction
from Graduate Student Office.

6.3 Application for Lab and Others keys: You have to submit paper based application for
key collection as most of the time you will stay at your lab. You can collect the application
form from Graduate Student Office.

6.4 Apply for Student ID Card: First day at university? Go and apply for student ID.

6.5 Apply for Bus Pass: When you get Student ID, apply for Bus pass.

6.6 Professor Meeting: Inform your supervisor that you are at Saskatoon and take an
appointment to introduce yourself.

6.7 Bank Account Opening and Credit Card Application:

You will get your funding/scholarship money through your bank account. So opening a bank
account is essential. You cant open account whenever you wish, first you have to take an
appointment from bank, and then you can open bank account. You have to show them your
original passport, passport size photograph, university offer letter, study permit and SIN to
4|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.
create an account. You can apply for credit card at the same time. Ensure that you are giving
correct mail address because you will get your credit and debit card through mail address.
However, you can collect physically if you inform them earlier.
6.8 Submit Account Information to Graduate Student Office: After opening a bank account,
submit your account information to graduate student office otherwise you cant get your
monthly salary.

6.9 Apply for Monthly Payment Plan for Tuition Fee: Most of the students from Bangladesh
dont have the capability to pay all tuition fees at a time. So, Monthly Payment Plan is a good
way to save you. For this, you have to go to Student Finance and Awards section in the
Administration building and apply for this plan. It will cost $40.
https://students.usask.ca/money/tuition-fees/pay.php#Contact

6.10 Application for Monthly Payment Plan of Residence (For University Residence
Only): Student who is staying at university residence can also apply for monthly payment plan.
Application system is online and its free.
http://livewithus.usask.ca/currentstudents/paymentinformationandfees.php#SecurityDeposits
(Bottom of this page)

6.11 Saskatchewan Provincial ID: Its a Photo Identification Card provided by The
Government of Saskatchewan. Its one kind of identity card and you dont have carry your
passport always if you have this one. You have to go their office with three documents which
will prove your present address at Saskatoon. Details can be found in below address:
https://www.sgi.sk.ca/individuals/licensing/getyourlicence/acceptabledocuments.html

6.12 Application for Saskatchewan Heath Card: For basic free treatment! Apply online.
https://www.ehealthsask.ca/residents/health-cards/Pages/Apply-for-a-Health-Card.aspx

6.13 Application for University of Saskatchewan Health and Dental Plan: If you are
coming at fall (September) semester this opportunity will be automatically activated as a part of

5|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.

student services. Otherwise you have pay and activate your plan at University health center. For
details:
http://www.studentcare.ca/View.aspx?locale=en&uid=UniversityofSaskatchewangraduatestude
ntsGSA_Home&

6.14 Collect RA/TA Confirmation Letter: After some days (normally 7-10 days) you will get
your RA/TA confirmation letter. You have to collect this document by giving a signature.
Without signature you wont get your salary. (Deans Office, Engineering Building, 3rd floor,
For Engineering Student only)

6.15 Setup University of Saskatchewan Email ID: Modify your email ID if necessary and
update your profile in your PAWS account. You will get all updates regarding class time,
course materials and others in this email address.

Now You Are Ready for the Journey

Important Tips:
New place: If you have relatives at Saskatoon thats good. But still asking every time is
annoying as most of the people are very busy. In that case, Google Maps and Transit App
could be your best guide for you.
Shopping: Walmart Supercentre is best for Grocery as its very close to university (Just
write Walmart Supercentre, Preston Crossing on your mobile apps, they will show
everything). For electronics, Best Buy is famous here. In addition, there are lots of options
here. So dont worry!
Bangladeshi Shops:
Swadesh Super Market: http://www.swadeshsupermarket.com/
Green Super Market: https://www.facebook.com/greensupermarketinc/
Religious Activities:

6|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.

 You can use apps for appropriate timing of namaz i.e. SALATUK and Salath (Write in
Bangla) are good apps for that case. For Jummah, there are many opportunities both in and
outside of campus (See the below website).
For best details information you may go through this website:
http://www.saskatoonmuslims.com/content.php?page_id=15
Hindu Society of Saskatchewan: Best place to practice religious activities. All information
can be found in the given website: http://saskatoontemple.net/index.html
Call to Bangladesh:
Whatever sim service you take, calling in Bangladesh is expensive. Most of the people use
some third party sources to talk with family. Tatg is one of the best options for that.
https://www.ttag.ca/

7|Syed Mustakim Ali Shah, MSc Student in Civil Engineering, U of SK.