Securing a Spot at Seneca

Getting an education that leads you to a rewarding career is a goal for many people. Once you’ve made a decision to pursue a post-secondary education, you must decide where and what you want to study. Finding the school that’s right for you is a big step and it’s important that you do your research before making your decision.

If you’re an international student, but have family or friends in the country you are considering moving to, perhaps arrange to visit them and attend the college’s open house or campus spotlights.

These events provide an opportunity to walk the halls of the school, learn about the supports and services on-campus, and speak to current students, staff and faculty.

Seneca College will be hosting Campus Spotlights on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Saturday Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. These sessions will focus on specific programs offered at each campus, provide program advising sessions, and offer campus tours.

For more information on Seneca’s Campus Spotlights, visit https://yourfuture.senecacollege.ca/services

If you cannot visit a campus in person, consider calling the International Student Services department of the college you are interested in. They can tell you about the services that are specifically offered for international students and may be able to put you in touch with a current international student who can tell you about his or her experience.

Many institutions have support services to help international students get accustomed to their new home and school. For example, Seneca College offers airport pick-up, as well as assistance finding the right housing option. Seneca also provides a week-long orientation that covers things such as how to take public transit in the city, local shopping, and trips to local landmarks. Staff are available to help with student visa questions, applications and renewals throughout a student’s education.

Seneca also provides an English Language Institute (ELI) for international students who need to upgrade their English language skills prior to direct entry into full-time programs at the College. ELI is a full-time program with eight levels, lasting seven weeks each. Students are assigned to a level based on an English assessment test. In addition to regular classes, ELI also offers free walk-in evening tutorials for one-on-one help in writing, pronunciation and grammar.

International students can keep engaged with their college community by participating in a range of informative and social activities that take place throughout the year. Many cultural and general interest clubs are available on campus for students to connect with people of similar interests or backgrounds.

For more information on life as an international student at Seneca, visit http://senecacollege.ca/journey/international/