(left to right) Sheril Morgan, Gurpreet Kaur (photo by TaLeesha) and Hanh Nguyen
It’s difficult enough to leave your hometown for school, but leaving your country comes with even more layers of difficulty. Sheril Morgan, an academic advisor at Alberta University of the Arts, and two international students – Gurpreet Kaur and Hanh Nguyen – share advice they would give students coming to Canada for art studies.
Where should you go?
Many students thinking of studying overseas aren’t really sure where they want to go. There are a lot of options, and it’s important to research them as much as you can.
Kaur was ready to go to OCAD University in Toronto for her master of fine arts when she stumbled on some information about AUArts. “I really liked AUArts’ interdisciplinary approach,” she says.
A lot of students go where they think they should go, Kaur points out, but they’d do better to think about what they really want to do. Go somewhere where you can do what you want to do, she advises.
It took Nguyen some time to find the program for her. Just a year out of high school in Vietnam when she started in the fine arts program at MacEwan University in Edmonton, she says it took her years to realize it wasn’t what she wanted to do. Now she is studying character development in the AuArts animation program.
Paperwork and planning
Morgan recommends starting the application process as soon as possible. In addition to the usual application forms, transcripts and portfolios, international students need to:
- secure funding for the higher international tuition fees and for their living expenses
- potentially demonstrate proficiency in English and arrange for translation of documents
- get a student visa.
The first step is to contact the institution you want to attend. They will be able to give all the information you need on what to do. It is also important to get the visa application process started as soon as possible — the process can take longer in some countries than in others. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has information available on their website, but it’s also a good idea to contact the nearest Canadian embassy directly.
Arriving in Canada
Your school will provide you with a lot of information and help, but be prepared for a shock. A new country means big adjustments. Kaur recommends researching much as you can ahead of time. Morgan sees many international students who benefit from student mentoring programs, as well as from friendships with other international students and from getting in contact with Canadians from their home countries through community groups.
Nguyen urges students not to rely too much on others. Staying with her cousin when she first arrived in Edmonton, she found herself expecting to have everything done for her. Getting her own place was a big step in becoming more independent.
Finding somewhere to live can be difficult, especially in larger, high-rent cities. Neither OCAD University in Toronto or Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver have their own student residences, but both institutions, like other Canadian art schools, provide information and support for international students looking for a housing.
Feeling at home
Getting used to a new country is a process, says Morgan, and it can take a long time. Students need to prepare for the ups and downs that come with being separated from everything you’ve known, plus getting used to Canadian ways and winters.
Nguyen concurs. She didn’t really start to struggle with loneliness and depression until a couple of years had passed. Your institution will have resources to help you when you’re low, from academic advising to counselling and social groups.
And, as Kaur points out, making art and getting to know your instructors and fellow students will make the transition easier. Nguyen concurs: “School is the easiest place to breathe.” ■
Also see: Fund Your Visual Arts Education
Visual Arts Grads Can Find Jobs, Life Satisfaction
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