According to the Consulate General of Canada, 2018 was a record year with regard to the amount of resident visas granted to Brazilians. As the numbers show, Canada is one of the preferred destinations of those who leave Brazil, whether for a temporary exchange, or for beginning a new life, as a home. For students, the city of Montreal is an excellent choice, since the second largest city in Canada has a relatively lower cost of living than other Canadian cities. Located in Quebec, the city lends its name to the main local teaching institution, the Université de Montreal (UdeM), which also offers more moderate prices to Canadians and immigrants.

The selective process

You must write an acceptance letter in order to study at UdeM. The tip is to be agile: being in advance is the keyword, since it takes the university up to 6 months to answer the acceptance letter sent by candidates. During this time, a valuable tip is to invest in learning English or French.

Tips for exchange students at UdeM

After approval, look for a place to live, even before travelling to your destination country. If possible, travel a month ahead of the start of classes, in order to settle in: know public libraries, buy appropriate winter clothes, learn how to move around the city on public transportation, and even discover more affordable shopping places. A week before the start of classes, UdeM promotes 7 days of activities for the students’ adaptation.

Cost of living as an attraction

Cosmopolitan and multicultural, bilingual Montreal, where both French and English are official languages, is also famous for its welcoming of foreigners. Starting with rent, which goes from CAD$600 to 1000 a month, depending on the district. Don’t worry about living near the University of Montreal, since the public transportation system is very good, and the monthly ticket for its use is CAD$85.60.

Working in Montreal

According to Canadian laws, foreign students must be enrolled full time during their stay in the country, but this does not keep them from working up to 20 hours weekly during the academic year. During vacation, you can work up to 40 hours weekly, either inside or outside the university.

Life outside the university

The exchange student doesn’t live only to study. Montreal is ideal both for those who have a lively lifestyle, and love bars, restaurants and nightlife, and those who prefer a calmer routine, going to public parks, museums and cafés. Festivals in public spaces are common in the city.

The post Tips for studying at the University of Montreal appeared first on Fink.

Rivalry between Brazil and Argentina? Forget it! If inside a football field the disputes between the South American brothers are intense, outside the limits of the field the fraternity offered by the continental currency makes Brazilians and Argentineans have as their favorite destination each other’s territory, not only for vacations but also for professional opportunities. Proof of this is that, according to a survey undertaken by the online reservation site Booking.com, Buenos Aires was elected as the favorite destination of Brazilians for their first trip abroad, surpassing strong competitors such as Orlando and Miami (USA), Berlin (Germany) and Las Vegas (USA) respectively on the list of the 5 favorite places, considering the year of 2017.

The geographical and cultural proximity, as well as the similarity of the languages, make Argentina an excellent choice for those who wish to go on a student exchange. There are no fewer than 131 institutions of higher education, 66 of them public and free, sheltering 80% of the country’s students. The University of Buenos Aires (UBA) is outstanding. This public university is on the list of the 20 best in Latin America. This is affirmed by the ranking of the QS, a highly regarded British consultancy.

Cost of living X cost benefit

Let’s consider Buenos Aires. Although the cost of living in the nation’s capital is relatively high, at around 2 thousand reais per month – similar to São Paulo – the city offers vast opportunities for free education in the public universities, besides significantly lower prices in private colleges, if compared to Brazilian ones. Due to this, depending on the desired course, it is worthwhile studying in Argentina, even considering the costs added to the monthly college fees.

Inside Argentinean universities

In the public Institutions of Higher Education, as well as in the private ones, there’s no need for an entrance examination. Instead, it is necessary to conclude the subjects of the Common Basic Cycle (CBC) related to the desired course.

Just as in Brazil, the enrollment period for the academic year, which begins in February, must be made between the months of October and November. Meanwhile, the second semester begins between the months of July and August, ending in December. Check out the list of Institutions of Higher Education: https://bit.ly/2nlayWH

Student Visa

If you want a short exchange of up to 90 days, the visa is unnecessary. All you need is an ID or a valid passport, thanks to a Mercosul agreement. For a longer stay, you must request a residence permit from the Direccion Nacional de Migraciones. Requirements, besides paying an emission tax: proof of enrollment in a teaching institution, ID or passport, and proof of criminal record.

The post A vast option for free teaching and low prices in private colleges are also attractive for Brazilians appeared first on Fink.