We are not your average education agency WE r MORE!!

Student agencies are associated with placing students in schools and then not caring what happens to these students once they are on the plane to a new place with no sense of security at all!
We cant blame them completely as they are located in your hometown and far from the place you are going to.
When you come to Canada through One World Agency the best thing is your agent is local and knows more about the Canadian Education System, laws and immigration policies than the agencies back home which claims to know all about it but has little knowledge about it.
We as a agency not only help students get placed in the most reputed schools in Canada we are there with them all the way till they complete their education or till they feel they are better on their own. We provide a wide variety of services to students and listed below are some of them!

1) Place students in the best schools in Canada.
2) Arrange Homestays in close proximity to the schools you go to.
3) Pick you up at the airport and drop you at your homestays.
4) Purchase medical insurance for the first 3 months and apply for BC Provincial medical insurance (for students who is attending Elementary school, Secondary school, High school, Career College and University)
5) Help students with visa renewal.
6) Help with study permit extension.
7) Airport pick up and hotel arrangements for family and friends.
8) Advise students and family on elementary schools, secondary schools, high schools, career schools and university applications.
9) Help students with insurance claim related issues.
10) Help students open bank accounts.
11) Help them in getting cell phone connections as well as purchase international calling cards at reasonable prices.
12) We provide them with an orientation on life in Canada and give advise on studying and living in Canada.

For further details please feel free to contact us on the contact page on our website at http://oneworldagency.ca/contact_english

Street food hits Vancouver!

We all love street food. They are cheap, have a wide variety and fills your stomach and heart. But Vancouver is still kinda warming up to the idea mostly because of the strict laws on street food places. It used to be only hot dog stands and pop corn places atone point of time, but now it is changing and that too at a fast pace!

But we still have a long way to go when compared to cities famous for food carts and street food where different types of food carts come and set up shop in a single location which makes it easier to choose what you want to have!

Now as a part of the Dine Out festival conducted this month, 8 of the city's top food carts would gather up and provide their best food for 3 days. From Jan 24- 26 these food carts would give us an extravaganza of street food!! So be ready to turn your palates and have a yummy day savouring the taste of Vancouver!!

Co op work permit- How it works

Today I am going to talk to you about the co op work permit available for students who come to study in Canada. Co op work permits are issued to students who have in their education, a work component as an integral part of their education. Depending on the school, the length of the co op component differs, but usually the co op component can not be more than 50% of the total education period. For eg if the program length is for 2 years the co op part of the program can be a maximum of 12 months. Althought most of the students get the work permit issued along with the study permits  for the entire period of the program, they are legally expected not to work when they are in class and can only work when their cop op period starts!!

Co op programs are good as they help students to work while they are here in Canada and also as they gain invalauable canadian experience which is useful both if they intend to stay here in Canada or move elsewhere. Another advantage of the co op program is that co op is a paid unlike other internship programs where it is unpaid. So you are actually earning full time while you are a student here.

Here is a list of schools which provide co op as a part of their program.

Private Career Schools

·         Arbutus College of Communication Arts, Business and Technology

·         Ashton College

·         Brighton College

·         Canadian Tourism College

·         Canadian College

·         Eton College

·         King George International Business College

·         New Image College Of Fine Arts

·         Sprott-Shaw Community College

Public Colleges and Universities

·         College of the Rockies

·         Conestoga College

·         Douglas College

·         Langara College

·         Lethbridge College

·         Medicine Hat College

·         Niagara College of Applied Arts & Technology

·         Okanagan College

·         Vancouver Community College

·         George Brown College

·         BCIT

·         University of Fraser Valley

If you feel interested  to know more about this feel free to send a question anytime!!

Free Ice Skating at Robson Square

Its winter now and a very good time to go or learn skating! Where else to go but the only Free Ice Rink in Vancouver which is at Robson Square. It was re opened 2 years ago in honour of the Vancouver Winter Olympics is now opened again for the public. Located in the heart of Downtown Vancouver it is the best place to be at during the winter.

It is open from December 1st,2011 to Feb 29th, 2012. Skate rentals at $4 and helmets and ice cleats at $2,  this is the cheapest that you can get. The Robson Square Ice Rink is open Sunday to Thursday, 9 am- 9 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays its open from 9 am - 11 pm. Sounds like a good deal right!!

One World Agency- We are an agency apart!!!

Yes I know I have aready written about who we are earlier but that was just tip of the ice berg. I would like to introduce you to the other services that we provide students and families who like to move to Canada!!!

Apart from the usual things like helping students choose schools and programs and career guidance to students who are still confused on what they want to doin life,  we do provide round the clock support not only to students but also to families who want to migrate to Canada.

The students who have already applied to schools through us do get most of these services for free but if a student wants to use us only for these services then there might be a slight charge for it.  ;-)

Student Support package includes:

•  Canadian travel, career and life counselling
•  Introduce inexpensive Canada and US tours
•  Job Search Assistance
•  Assistance with work permit and Labour Market Opinions
•  Educational Counselling and School Placement
•  24 hour support – Dedicated support number
•  Free Conversation club (which is free for all!!)
•  One World Agency trips, tours, events
•  Assistance with setting up cell phone and other Canadian services
•  Assistance registering for government medical insurance
•  Visa and work and study permit applications and extensions
•  Mail receiving, luggage storage
•  Unlimited Computer, wireless Internet, printer and scanner access in office
•  Free international calls from One World Agency Office
•  Assistance with problems with landlords and employers

All this for only $20 a month!!!

We also provide a family support package to families who want to migrate to Canada for a one time fee of $1600.00.
Family Support package includes:

• Assistance in finding family doctor
• Assistance in setting up Medical Services Plan 
• Obtain British Columbia Driver’s License
• Assistance in purchasing automobile
• Assistance in opening Canadian bank account.

Also we have other things that we help students with, like the following features:

• Airport pickup/drop-off:  $70
• Volunteer placement fee:  $200
• Homestay placement fee: $200
• Homestay Fee (2 meals/day): $750/month
• Unlimited calling to Japan from Canada: $15/month

I know this might not be appealing to a lot of students back in India but we are an international agency which provide services to students all over the world!! Thats what sets us apart a lot from other conventional agencies!!
Hope to hear from you all soon! Take care and have a safe holiday!!

A Bright Future in Brighton!!

Brighton College is one of the premier vocational/ career schools in Vancouver, Canada. Vocational education is the best way to start a career in Canada. You spent around 2 years having a focussed education on specific areas of a trade or business ad you have a higher chances of being hired by a reputed company.

One of the advantages of studying in Brighton is the fact that only 30% of the students tere are internatonal students. You have a chance of studying with local students, have a better understanding of the local culture and you are better prepared to be a part of the Canadian workforce. Also studying in Brighton for a course which is 8 months or longer garuntees you a post graduate work permit, as they are a part of the Pilot Project.

They provide a variety of programs in business management, hospitality, IT and engineering subjects. Most of this programs are with hands on practicum or Paid Co op.The programs which are the most advantageous for Indian students are the Advanced business management diplomas which are 80 weeks to 84 weeks. These programs help you get  a 3 year work permit after completing school and also have a co op work permit while in school which is neede for the co op. Co op is a paid internship which is integral part of the program . The school makes sure that you get a co op placement in the field of your choice.

Apart from Business Management, they do have programs in hospitality, international trade, health care and information technology. The school has a  dedicated placement department which makes sure the students get placed in a good company.

The school has campuses in downtown Vancouver as well as in Burnaby.

Fairleigh Dickenson University- A quick Overview

FDU is a private university in the USA. It is the largest private university in New Jersey with more than 12000 students. It was founded in 1942 and is well reputed and rated quite highly. It has two campuses in New Jersey, one in England and they started their most recent campus in Vancouver, Canada.

Fairleigh Dickinson University is the first non-Canadian institution to gain approval under the stringent standards adopted by British Columbia in 2003. The Vancouver Campus was started in September 2007 and has quickly grown into a well established educational centre here in Vancouver. It provides bachelor's programs in Business Administration, Information Technology and Individualised Studies and Master's in Adminstrative Sciences.

The University has a mix of students of different nationalities, almost 33 differenet countries, who study here as full time students. They provide a wolrd class education and at the same time a better understanding of living in a global society with cultural harmony.

Studing here in FDu is not all about classroom education. There is a healthy blend of classroom studies, seminars from well reputed individuale and of course a whole lot of fun activities.

FDU is one of the private universities in BC, Canada which has  EQA, an accreditation which enables the students here to get a Post Graduate Work Permit, that is the oppotunity for them to work in Canada after completing studies. Also they get the off campus work permit which enables them to work part time while studying here after 6 months of classes.

The location of the university is in the beautiful city of Vancouver.Vancouver is consistently rated one of the most livable cities in the world. It is surrounded by some of the most stunning natural beauty in the world, including mountains, the Pacific Ocean, a rainforest, parks and beaches.Unlike many cities in North America, Vancouver has no highways cutting through it, making it possible to walk almost anywhere. The city also boasts an outstanding public transportation system that features buses, SkyTrain, SeaBus and a commuter rail service.

This University is a heaven for students who want to study, have a career and enjoy life.

Canadian Study Permit - A brief intro

Getting a Study Permit

More than 130,000 students travel to Canada every year to attend school. There are also many more students that come to Vancouver from around the world to improve their English language skills.

One World Agency can help you to get a Study Permit quickly and easily so you can start school in Canada right away. We can also assist you in finding the perfect school for you.

What is a Study Permit?

A study permit allows students from countries outside Canada to attend schools in Canada for a specified period of time.

Most international students will need a Study Permit to study in Canada.

There are some exceptions to this rule:

You do not need a Study Permit if you take a course or program in Canada with a duration of 6 months or less. You must complete the program or course inside the period authorized for your stay in Canada.
You do not need a Study Permit if you are a child classified as a "minor" and already resident in Canada as long as your parents are not classified as "visitors" in Canada.
If you are a family member or a member of the staff of a foreign representative in Canada who is accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, you do not need a Study Permit to study.
Benefits of Having a Study Permit

You should apply for a Study Permit before you come to Canada if there is a possibility that you may wish to continue your studies in another program after you complete your short-term course or program. If you wish to continue your studies after the 6 month period expires you may have to leave Canada in order to apply for a Study Permit.

Requirement to Enroll in School

Before you can apply for a study permit, you must have been accepted at a school, university or college in Canada that is formally recognized by the Canadian Government.

One World Agency can assist you in finding a school and then get you the required Study Permit if you will be attending school for 6 months or more.

Medical Examinations

If you are planning to be in Canada for more than 6 months as a student you may require a medical examination. Students from Japan do not require a medical examination but students from India, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Mexico and other countries do require a medical examination.

Secondary School System in Canada

Canadian secondary schools provide an opportunity for students outside of Canada to enter Canadian schools where they can learn English while pursuing academic and career programs. Students from countries around the world receive invaluable learning experiences by studying in Canada. International students improve their English language skills, immerse themselves in Canadian culture and make lifelong friends during their stay.

Secondary schools (also known as "high school") are the second required step in the Canadian educational system. Students in Canada first complete Primary (also known as "elementary school") and then continue to secondary school at about age fourteen. Secondary school in Canada is normally completed by age eighteen. In order to continue on to a university or college, students in Canada must first complete their secondary school education.

Canadian secondary schools are among the best in the world. Many countries are adopting the curriculum of Canadian secondary schools. Parents from around the world send their children to Canadian secondary schools. The graduation certificate obtained from Canadian public schools is respected and accepted by post-secondary institutions such as universities and colleges in many countries.

Canadian Secondary Schools fall into two categories: public and private:

Public Secondary School (Public High School)

Canadian public secondary schools are completely funded by a provincial government (e.g. British Columbia). These schools offer a standardized lesson plan and are administered by a "board of education" or "district school board."

Admission to these schools by Canadian children is free. International students pay a fee to attend these schools but the fee is very low by international standard.

Private Secondary School (Private High School)

Canadian private secondary schools are funded through student tuition payments and sometimes partially funded by a provincial government. These schools are operated as a private organization. Private secondary schools may be for-profit or non-profit. All private secondary schools in Canada are registered with a provincial government and each school must follow government guidelines and standards.

Many private secondary schools in Canada accept international students. The fees for these schools vary from approximately the same as a public secondary school to many times higher. An education obtained from a Canadian private school is among the very highest in the world.

Legal Guardian

If a minor child (under the age of eighteen) enrolls in a Canadian public or private school they require a local legal guardian (also knows as custodian) who can look after the child's day-to-day needs and assist them in an emergency. One World Agency agent can act as a legal guardian for your child if you will not be accompanying your child to Canada. We make daily reports to you as to your child's welfare.

One World Agency

One World Agency can enroll your child in a public or private secondary school in Canada and provide accommodation and supervision of your child as well as any other services your child may require during their time in Canada.

Top 10 Reasons to Choose One World Agency

1.We work with only the best schools in Canada.
2.Caring and knowledgeable counsellors provide free education counselling
to help you plan your education and find the best school for your needs.
3.Our counsellors provide travel, career and life counselling too!
4.Widest selection of schools provided by any agencies.
5.One World Agency Student Protection Fund provides protection to our
students and enables them to continue their education if their school
closes
6.Convenient location
7.OWA Club provides our students with many opportunities such as
discounted services and social events
8.We provide students with all the services they need including travel
and phone services.
‎9.All of our students receive free unlimited phone calls to and from
their homes while they are attending one of our schools.
10.Our free conversation club allows our students to practice their
English and get help with their homework.

Now choose wisely, and you know whom to contact for Canadian education consulting. And that's the reason why we are one of the best!

OWA!!! Our proud Mascot!!!!

We are proud to present OWA. OWA is our mascot. OWA is cheerful, bubbly and yes, intelligent too. He is always glad to help students find the right college and the right program according to their needs.

 OWA was designed initially by our Vice President and developed to the current form, with inputs from all of us here. Be sure to watch out for this space for more OWA updates. :)

General Admission Requirements: Graduate Studies

Completion of a relevant undergraduate degree from an accredited/recognized university
Good grades in studies already completed
Academic reference letters
In some cases standardized test are required - such as the Graduate Management Adissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
One World Agency can assist you in entering a university in Canada. We can advise you on the best university for your individual requirements and submit the application on your behalf.

General Admission Requirements: Undergraduate Studies

The following are required in order to enter a university undergraduate program in Canada:

Completion of the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school academic program with good grades.
Successful completion of a language proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL etc.)
In some cases students can complete a language program at the university.
General Requirements: Graduate Studies

University Education in Canada

Canada has a wide variety of universities for you to choose from. Our universities have a reputation as some of the top institutions in the world. They offer courses in arts and sciences and grant degrees including undergraduate bachelors degrees, masters degrees and doctorates. Prices for universities in Canada are among the lowest in the Western world.

To enter a degree program at a Canadian University, students who don't speak English as their first language must pass an English language proficiency test. The TOEFL is accepted at Canadian universities and some universities offer their own tests. Some universities also accept other English language tests such as the IELTS.

It is possible for a student to complete one or more semesters of study at a Canadian university and then transfer those credit towards a similar degree program in your own country.

An example of Educational Scams done by some agencies that students should be aware of -part 2

tricking students to join fake colleges/university

This usually happens in China, Taiwan and other south east asian countries, but some places in India too.
The agents go to rural areas, open their office and tries promoting fake colleges/ universities. They tend to target the less educated people promising them of higher education abroad. They show the students photos of famous universities and colleges and explain that it is another college/university under a fake name. They would convince people saying that it is a really good institute and their programs are really good. These agents would also provide them with a bank account (which is usually would be their account) and ask them to send the tuition fees to this account. They would trick a lot of students and their parents into doing this and eventually one day they would disappear.

We would keep you posted on other scams too, but these are some of the really big ones.

List of Colleges we work with that has PGWP ( Open Work Permit for Students after they finish School)

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

Impact of length of program of study in Canada and the length of the work permit

If the official length of your program of study is…

• less than eight months you are not eligible for this program
• less than two years but more than eight months: you may get a work permit for a period no longer than the length of your program of study (for example, if you studied for nine months, a work permit may be issued for a period of nine months)
• two years or more: a work permit may be issued for three years

Non-degree granting educational institutions: 

• Arbutus College of Communication Arts, Business and Technology
• Ashton College
• Canadian Tourism College
• Eton College
• Greystone College
• John Casablancas Institute of Applied Arts
• MTI Community College
• Sprott-Shaw Community College
• Vancouver Central College
• Vancouver Film School
• Vancouver Institute of Media Arts

Degree-granting institutions with non-degree programs:

• Alexander College
• Columbia College
• Fairleigh Dickinson University – Vancouver
• Sprott-Shaw Degree College
• Trinity Western University

Public Colleges and Universities: 

• College of the Rockies
• Conestoga College
• Douglas College
• Langara College
• Lethbridge College
• Medicine Hat College
• Niagara College of Applied Arts & Technology
• Okanagan College
• Vancouver Community College

Our Agency can get admissions for students in all the above mentioned colleges and universities. Do check out our website for further information. http://oneworldagency.ca/

Our Free Conversation Clubs!!

We are proud to announce that we would be conducting FREE conversation club every week Tuesday and Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to improve their conversational skills in English and also a forum to know more about Canadian culture, way of life and more information about the city. Students would get to meet other students and break the ice. We encourage all students to take part and also share their experiences.


Details:

When: Every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 
Time: 4pm to 6pm
Where: One World Agency office, #201, 825 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K9

Here are some awesome snaps of our students in the conversation club: