Top 10 reasons for Choosing Montreal for higher education:
1.Excellent Institutions:
Many excellent colleges and 4 great Universities: 2 English-based (McGill and Concordia) and 2 French-based (University de Montreal and UQAM). The universities offer a very high standard of training at a very reasonable cost, second to none in North America in terms of cost-quality (of education) ratio. McGill University is a world-class institution. University de Montreal, Concordia University and University du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) are also well reputed.
www.mcgill.ca
www.concordia.ca
www.uqam.ca
www.umontreal.ca
2.Active Islamic Community:
Large Islamic community of both Shias and Sunnis. Friday prayers, Iftar and numerous Islamic events organized throughout the city even at Universities by the Muslim students associations. Most institutions have facilities for daily prayers on campus. Our mosque (Shiane Haidery Islamic association Inc) is about 30-40 mins by subway or bus from downtown (10 mins by car from downtown Montreal) and easily accessible by public transport from anywhere within the city.
Our community has a mix of Pakistanis and East African people. Address is 2174 Belgrave Street, N. D. G., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4A 2L8. Tel: (514) 483-1273, Fax: (514)483-0167 - www.shianehaidery.com
www.ssmu.mcgill.ca/msa
www.msa.concordia.ca
http://montrealmuslims.ca/main.shtml
www.montrealmuslimnews.net/index2.html
3.Halaal Food:
Halaal groceries and restaurants available at reasonable cost, scattered all over the city especially in the university area. Please refer to: www.zabiha.com for more details (list not comprehensive)
4.Great City:
Perfectly bilingual city with a very cosmopolitan environment and great hospitality. Located in the beautiful province of Quebec (La Belle Province), in Canada . Possibility of improving one's French, though French is not required for living in the city.
http://www.montreal.com/tourism/general.html
5. One-Year-Off:
Quebec Education System has 13 years of pre-university education and so their students usually complete a university degree in 3 years (BSc, BA). The universities recognize the A-level system (even African qualification) as their equivalent and hence students with A levels or equivalent training can get a Bachelor's Degree in three years unlike the 4 year requirement throughout the rest of North America.
6. Favourable costs:
Although dependent on the course chosen and ones personal standard of living, the Quebec education system and cost of living are one of the cheapest in North America. Studio and 1 bedroom apartments, with utilities, in the university neighbourhood go for CAD 500-650 per month and tuition for foreign students average CAD 10,000 per year, while groceries can cost about CAD 200 per month per head (all estimates in Canadian dollars).
http://www.mcgill.ca/residences/
7. Ladies Special:
McGill offers female-only residence. The hostel is situated in downtown Montreal, very close to McGill University - offering extra protection and convenience to our girls.
8. Extra Funds:
The universities offer need-based and merit- based scholarships to deserving students. Though the scholarships, do not cover the full cost of education, they are a great source of help. Students can legally work on campus after the first year of university.
9. Proximity to major North American Cities.
Convenient flights or drive to Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Boston etc. Daily flights to Europe from Montreal.
10. Fellow Students:
Presence of young university-going male and female students of your own community to help you out with more information if needed. Contact:
Mohamed Peera : mpeera@yahoo.com
Syed Tahir Rizwy: tahir_rizwy@hotmail.com
Shagufta Dhalla : shaguftadhalla@hotmail.com