Checklist

Priority

Get passport

Do you have a valid passport?

Passport

Do you have a valid passport? Be sure to check that it doesn't expire before you travel.

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Prepare

Share your progress on social media

Gather your friends and family's thoughts

Share your progress on social media

This is the first step. You are choosing which countries to study in! Share with your friends and family for their valuable advice.

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English Language Proficiency Test

Plan for and score your IELTS/TOEFL in a breeze

English Language Proficiency Test Preparation

Do you qualify for an English Language Proficiency (ELP) test exemption? Do you know that theere are free resources and alternatives to ELP exams? It is wise to research your options and to prepare for the exam in advance.

Bristish Council

There are a number of options for english language test preparation. Try the free prep course offered by the British Council.

Visit The Bristish Council

Duolingo

An inexpensive way to test yourself before you take the IELTS or TOEFL is Duolingo's english language test.

Visit Duolingo

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Volunteer experience

Have you been a volunteer?

Volunteer Experiences

Describe your volunteer experiences. Often competitive schools like to see that you are empathetic and generous. Gather volunteering experience for a cause that you care about, and proudly display it.

Enter your volunteer experience here

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Subscribe To Your Zept Calendar

Connect your calendar so you can get checklist notifications so you never miss an important date

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Get a tutor

Get a tutor to help you with subjects and concepts that you are having trouble with

Get a tutor

Demonstrate that you are putting in the work, get a tutor to help you with any of the subjects you are having trouble with. There are also free online resources! Try Mangoosh or Khan Academy for free/low cost study help.

Cancel Connect your Khan Academy

Set a budget

Set an education budget

Set a budget

Higher education can be expensive. Plan well, so that you don't have to worry about money when you are in class. Talk to your parents and build realistic expectations. Assess if the school's price tag is worth what you'll be getting from it.

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Save money

Time to buckle up for #studentlife.

Save Money

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Explore other interests

Expand your extracurriculars and co-curriculars profile.

Explore your interests

Extracurricular and co-curricular activities are great addition to your profile and your personal character. For example, athletics are great for your health and often perceived as making a well rounded person. Inter-school competitions are a great way to make friends and to explore your academic interests. What are you interested in?

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Let's connect

Follow Zept and your selected school on social media channels

Let's connect

Stay informed about your education opportunties. Follow Zept on social media

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Apply

Share your progress on social media

Share your progress and how it is going

Share your progress on social media

One of these schools will be your home for the next 3-4 years. You don't want to make an uninformed decision--gather opinions! Share on social media or messenging services. Remember, you can customize privacy settings.

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Build your shortlist

Narrow down your school choices for a more strategic search

Build your shortlist

There are over 5 thousand colleges and universities around the world. 3,000 of them might accept you. 1,500 of them will have your program. 800 of them will be open for application. 20 of them fits your price range and other criteria. 1, ONE, is the best for you. How do you strategize and get into the best one out of your options? Search, narrow down, and strategize, before you apply.

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Verify you've met requirements

Make sure you meet all the requirements to attend the school

Verify you've met requirements

Make sure you meet all the requirements to attend the school. In some cases, courses you have taken will not be recognized by the institution you are applying to. Sometimes that means you will need to take a recognized course prior to being officially accepted into your program (yuck!). Your guidance counsellor is a great resource to help you navigate requirements.

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Transcripts

Order and send your transcripts early

Transcripts

Have all of your transcripts been sent yet? Remember, this must come directly from your high school or current institution to be official. Order from the office early and make sure that they are sent and received.

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Apply for scholarships

Search online to find scholorships for your studies

Apply for scholarships

Once you have chosen where to apply, make sure you investigate all of the available scholarships and bursaries you qualify for. Scholarships are unique for each school.

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Audition

If you need to audition, make sure you prepare what you need

Audition

If you need to audition, make sure you prepare what you need

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Portfolio

Put together your portfolio

Portfolio

Put together your portfolio

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Apply to your 1st choice

Have you completed your application yet? The deadline is [date goes here] for [School Name from your checklist]. Check to see if you just need to apply online or if the school also needs you to mail a paper copy to them.

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Apply to your 2nd choice

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Apply to more schools

Add the schools that you are applying to

Apply to more schools

Have you completed your applications yet? Check to see if you just need to apply online or if the school also needs you to mail a paper copy to them.

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Register

Register for account

Setup your online accounts with each school that you applied to. These accounts are important for official communication and for your application status.

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Transcripts

Have all of transcripts been received yet?

Transcripts

Check with your school to make sure all of transcripts been received.

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Decisions

Check school decision date

Do not panic for nothing. Check school decision dates! Only call or email to ask when you're past this point without a letter.

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Panic

Panic? It's normal. Get ready for more

Panic

It is totally normal to feel a sense of panic and anxiety about going to school in another country. Here are some resources to help you deal with this:

Talkspace

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Share any progress

Everyone gets offers and rejections. Don't be afraid to share.

Share your offers/decisions

Have your friends received their offers? How is it going with yours? Everyone gets offers and rejections. Don't be afraid to share

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Check Letter of Acceptance

Check that information on your LOA is correct.

Check Letter of Acceptance

Check that the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from your desired institution lists the correct information e.g. program name, delivery mode, student type (fulltime / part-time), program end month/dates, etc. This document is important for your student permit application.

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Accept offer

Accept the best admission offer

Accept offer

Wait for all offers...wait for it... Are they all here? Congratulations! You're on your way to higher education. Which school have you decided to enroll at? Be sure to check program title, program length, any associated financial aid offers, and tuition terms.

Enter school name

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Confirmation deposit

Pay your deposit to the school you will be attending

Pay deposit

Have you paid your deposit yet? A deposit secures your seat at the institution and shows your commitment.

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Enroll for classes online

Enroll for your classes before your travel

Enroll for classes

You can check enrollment date and enroll for classes online before arrival! Don't leave it until the last minute.

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Visa and Permit

Apply for an Acceptance Certificate from Quebec government

(Quebec only) Apply for an Acceptance Certificate from Quebec government

Apply for an Acceptance Certificate from Quebec government

If you do decide to study in the province of Quebec, you must apply for an Acceptance Certificate from the Quebec government before proceeding to other visa and permit applications.

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Study permit

Be sure to allow ample time for study permit application

Student visa & study permit

Be sure to allow ample time for study permit application.

Application for a Canadian Study Permit

This site shows you options on how to apply

Visit website

Get your documents ready

This site shows you the documents you need to get ready to apply

Visit website

Get a study permit through the student direct stream

You can use this if you're a legal resident in: China, India, the Philippines, or Vietnam

Visit website

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Get a temporary entry visa

An entry visa is not to be confused with a study permit! Holding a valid Canadian study permit does not mean that you can enter Canada. You need to apply for an entry visa (typically temporary residence visa for students) to be able to enter.

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Medical from an approved doctor

Make sure you are healthy and have all the medical docs you need to enter your country of study.

Medical from an approved doctor

Make sure you are healthy and have all the medical docs you need to enter your country of study

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Engage with student onboarding

Get onboarded from your school

Engage with student onboarding

Get onboarded from your school

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Show them the money!

Immigration will want to see that you can afford your schooling

Show them the money!

Typically, immigration wants to see that you have that much money saved BEFORE they will issue you a student visa. One way to demonstrate to immigration that you have the funds is to purchase a GIC (guaranteed investment certificate).

Scotiabank

One of the banks that makes it easiest to purchase GICs for this purpose is Scotiabank.

Visit Scotiabank

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Send passport

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Receive passport and visa sticker

Make sure you receive your passport and visa sticker

Receive passport and visa sticker

Make sure you receive your passport and visa sticker

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Travel

Share your progress on social media

Share your progress and how it is going so far, any updates?

Share your progress on social media

Share your progress and how it is going so far, any updates?

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Book your travel

Book your plane ticket after your visa approval

Book your travel

Have you booked your ticket yet? Make sure that you do it as soon as possible after visa approval.

Hopper

Hopper helps you book at the lowest price

Visit Hopper

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Airport pickup

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Find accommodation

Find a place to live when you go to school

Find accommodation

Padmapper

Have you found a place to live while you study? If you are not able to find housing through your school, try looking online to find a place to live, try Padmapper

Padmapper

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Find accommodation

Padmapper

Have you found a place to live while you study? If you are not able to find housing through your school, try looking online to find a place to live, try Padmapper

Padmapper

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Vaccines

Check / get any vaccines you need before traveling to study

Vaccines

Check / get any vaccines you need before traveling to study

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Exchange currency

Get some host country currency

Exchange currency

Tuition payments are typically done in the host country currency. You have a lot of options: the company below can help you to exchange currency to pay your tuition. Tip: a bit of cash is always handy in case of credit card failure.

Firmafx

Offers a variety of electronic payment methods and international banking networks

Visit Firmafx

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Carry-with-me list

Letter of acceptance, permit, etc.

Carry-with-me list

What to bring: letter of acceptance/admissions, permit, essential medical supplies, your local government ID, photos of friends and family, etc. What not to bring: drugs / unprescribed medication, unregistered perishable food supply, firearms.

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Arrival

Landed safe? Share about it.

Share on social media that you arrived safe

Landed safe? Share about it.

Share on social media that you arrived safe! These are going to be memories someday. :)

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Receive your student permit.

Remember, you don't have a student permit yet! Issuance of study permit is done at the airport immigration office.

Receive your student permit on arrival

The passport that you used for permit application
The Letter of Introduction from CIC Canada
Proof of funds
Acceptance letter from your university
...and any other documents stipulated.

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Mobile phone

Buy / signup for a mobile phone plan

Mobile phone

Buy / signup for a mobile phone plan

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Pick up transport passes

You will likely want to get a bus/train pass from a local convenient store

Pick up transport passes

You will likely want to get a bus/train pass from a local convenient store

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Set up a bank account

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Transfer foreign currency

Transfer larger amount of foreign currency

Transfer foreign currency

You likely will not be able to pay for your tuition in your local currency, the company below can help you to transfer currency and pay your tutition.

Firmafx

Offers a variety of electronic payment methods and international banking networks

Visit Firmafx

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New address

Let us know where we can send your sweet Zept swag!

New address

What's your new address in Canada? We'll send you some sweet Zept swag!

Add your new address here

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Uber / Lyft

Download and sign up for Uber/Lyft

Uber / Lyft

Download and sign up for Uber/Lyft

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Skip The Dishes

Get food delivered to you

Skip The Dishes

Get food delivered to you

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Attend

Check in with international student centre

The party doesn't start 'till you walk in

Check in with international student centre

The party doesn't start 'till you walk in. Let them know who's here! Pick up some local guides/maps/tips while you are at it.

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Pay your fees

Pay the remainder of your tuition

Pay your fees

Have you paid the remainder of your tuition yet? Now is a good time to clarify some items and get payment advice. Do make full payment before deadline to avoid any late fees.

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International student association

Become a member of the international student association

International student association

Become a member of the international student association before you venture out. Find a support family!

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Give Zept your student ID

Upload a photo of your student ID to get a free gift

Buy books

Buy your textbooks

Buy books

Buy your textbook after you're certain of your semester schedule. Check multiple sources for book and supplies. There'll be a line at the bookstore...

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Show Zept your shiny new student ID

Upload a photo of your student ID to get a free gift

Upload

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Zept party!

Come to a Zept welcome party. Stay tuned to find out when there's one in your town!

Do we have an events list we can pull or at the very least integrate a Google Calendar?

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Peer mentor

Find a peer mentor

Check in with international student centre
Peer mentor

Find a peer mentor

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Attend classes

Good luck on your first day. Don't be late!

Attend classes

Find out when the first day for school is and where your classes are. Make friends, learn lots, talk lots more. Good luck!

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