本文将提供计划赴加拿大攻读硕、博士学位一圆留学梦的学子一些申请研究所，规划留学生涯的小秘诀。藉由简明扼要的文笔，及契合需要的内容，对欲留加学生提供最隹指引外，其中共通性的主题也会给有心赴其他国家留学者重要的参考。 [b] 研究所申请－盛夏秘诀 “HOT”SUMMER TIPS：APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOLS Where can I get information about graduate programs in Canada？ 我在何处可以取得加拿大研究所的资料？ The Canadian Education Centre in Taipei (CECT) is the ideal place for a general ntroduction to master's and PhD programmes across Canada. We have the most complete and up- to-date collection of university calendars and graduate school directories in Taiwan. Depending on the university, graduate information is found in a combined undergraduate/graduate [b]calendar or a separate graduate studies calendar. Often, the university will publish booklets with information on individual departments. General information on individual universities can also be found in the AUCC Directory, or in the Chinese- language Canadian Education Guide published by the CECT. All canadian universities now have website ddresses. The CECT can provide you with a list of website addresses, or you can login to the CECT Homepage on the Ministry of Education's study abroad website, at: http://www. saec. edu. tw/ Who should I talk to for advice？谁能够给我一些建议？ Feel free to ask our CEC counsellors for advice on applying to schools and on student life in Canada. All our staff have degrees from Canadian universities. Teachers, class-mates, [b]friends and colleagues who have lived or studied in Canada are all good people to talk to when considering studies in Canada. The graduate schools themselves can often give you [b]names and addresses of Taiwanese students currently enrolled in the programme, as well as alumni in your area. Who do I contact？我可以与谁联络？ For detailed information on graduate programmes, write to the department of the university you are considering applying to. The department head or chairperson will send you a package on courses and degree requirements, admission to the graduate school, graduate housing and scholarships. Take a close look at the faculty members listed in university calendars. Research and teaching specialisations for each professor will usually be described along with the professor's educational background,and sometimes even his/her publications . Feel free to contact the individual professor or professors who specialise in you area of interest to: [b]兀find out more about the courses and the degree programme; 屮learn about current research projects; 彳introduce yourself as an applicant;if a professor takes an interest in you, you may have a better chance of being admitted, or receiving scholarships and fellowships [b]. The CECT has a directory with fax and email addresses of university faculties. When you contact the departments or individual faculty members, try to include the fo-llowing: 兀simple cover letter requesting the information you need (programme description, admissions requirements for international students, application forms, scholarship and housing information, etc.), your education background and your study goals; 屮an English copy of your university transcript; 彳available test scores (e. g. TOEFL, GMAT, etc.) [b]Supplying the department with this king of information before applying may give you some indication of how successful your application will be and, if you are switching fields of [b]study, what type of pre-requisite or qualifying courses you may be asked to take before being admitted to the programme. When should I start choosing a school？何时我开始着手选择学校？ Right now-you can never start researching too soon. Begin your search at least one year in advance! Send away to universities for detailed information early,leaving plenty of time for these packages to get to you by mail--it takes about a week for airmail between Taiwan and Canada, and about a month for surface mail. What is the best school for me？那些是我理想中的学校？ Each student has different needs and priorities. As a general rule,you should focus more on the strengths of the department you are applying to rather than the reputation of the school as a whole. Remember,“famous”universities do not always have the best programmes for you. Remember,too,that there is no official ranking for Canadian universities, since [b]virtually all are public institutions and have high academic standards across the board. Always keep in mind that your living environment is an important aspect of your academic life. Big city or small town,waterfront or mountainside, modern or historic, Canadian [b]universities are located in settings that fit all of these descripitions. When should I start applying？我该何时提出申请？ Deadlines for graduate programmes in Canada are usually in early spring, often in February or March. Remember that faculties, departments, and programmes within the same universities sometimes have different application deadlines. Don't wait until the last minute to apply,since some programmes fill up even before the actual deadline. Some schools and departments offer rolling admission,meaning you can apply any time during the year. Remember to apply to more than one school！Most students apply for admission to three to five programmes in Canada. Where can I pick up application forms？我在可处可以取得申请表格？ The CECT has application forms for many graduate programmes in Canada. Schools will usually send you all application materials along with information about the prog-rammes. You can often request this information by email or internet; some schools even allow you to submit your application electro-nically. What test scores do I need？申请成绩标准为何？ Language: International students whose first language is not English must submit language test results. TOEFL,IELTS, Michigan and CANTEST are all accepted. A TOEFL score of 550 is the normal minimum requirement. Schools may waive the language test requirement if you have completed three to five years of secondary studies in English, or if you hold a Bachelor's degree from an English languae institution. Some schools will accept successful completion of an ESL programme (e. g. at the university's English language institute or some other designated programme outside the university) instead of the TOEFL score. Students ndertaking graduate studies in a school where French is the Language of instruction will be tested for their ability in the language upon arrival at the university. No GRE: Unlike American schools, most Canadian universities do not require GRE scores for admission to their graduate programmes. But you should alway double-check to see if the specific department or programme you are applying to requires GRE scores,since a few departments will request these while the graduate school as a whole will not. You might ant to send the results to the school in any case, especially if you scored well. Professional programmes: All Canadian MBA programmes require GMAT scores. Law schools require LSAT scores, and medical schools in Canada will require MCAT scores. How much money will I need？我需要准备多少钱？ Tuition fees vary by province and by institution. In general , tuition at Canadian schools is lower than in other English- speaking countries, including the U. S., the U. K. and Australia . International students do, however, often pay a differential fee for tuition in some provinces. Students can expect to pay anywhere between C$2,500-10,000 a year NT$50,000-200,000), and sometimes more for professional programmes such as MBAs. Cost of living varies widely, too. After tuition, expenses can be as low as C$7,000-8,000（NT$140,000-160,000）in some areas. Excluding tuition and air transportation, average cost of living for one year of study in Canada is about C$10,000 (NT$200,000). Can Taiwanese students get scholarships？台湾学生能够申请奖学金吗？ Most entrance scholarships for graduate programmes are open to all applicants,both Canadian and international,and will be based on academic merit. Usually, research and teaching assistan-ceships are also available to international candidates. Where should I live？我应住在那儿？ Schools can provide you with information for both on and off-campus housing. On-campus housing will often be cheaper in large metropolitan areas (e. g. Vancouver and Toronto), but renting or sharing an apartment where housing is very reasonable, such as in Montreal and other cities, is often less expensive. It's up to you to decide what your priorities are for housing: cost, comfort, distance to classrooms and research facilities, convenient transportation to/from campus , food services, access to cultural/community activities, etc. How long does it take to finish a Master's or PhD in Canada? 读完硕士或博士课程，需时多久？ A master's degree normally takes two years to complete, and usually includes a thesis. Some schools have 12-month programmes with course work only. PhDs normally take three to five years to complete, including a doctoral dissertation. Switching academic fields may result in a qualifying year or prerequisite courses to be taken before entering the PhD [b]Programme. If I get my Master's in Canada,Where can I go for my Phd ？得到硕士学位後我可在何处继续攻读博士学位？ Canadian master's degrees are recognized worldwide, including Taiwan, the US and the UK. Keep in mind that completion of a master's thesis is preferred for admission to a doctoral programme. In Canada,applications for doctoral programmes are considered on a case-by-case basis. Naturally, the school will require basic minimun qualifications (e. g. academic standing, TOEFL score , etc.). But marks aren't everything: research and work experience are often taken into consideration. Letters of reference form previous professors (and sometimes [b]employers) are extremely important. Help your professor out by supplying him/her with your resume. Remember that in Canada , professors are expected to write reference letters themselves ; no less will be expected from Taiwanese professors. Can I work in Canada while I am studying？在加拿大读书的同时，我可以工作吗？ International students do not needs a work permit for any oncampus employment (e. g. library assistant, R. A. or T. A.) . While enrolled in full-time studies and for up to one year following completion of a degree in Canada, international students can receive work permits for employment related to or required for their field of study. Can I immigrate to Canada？我能够移民到加拿大吗？ Application for immigration to Canada is entirely separate from your status as an international student in Canada. You may contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more information. Don't wait until the last minute to apply, since some programmes fill up even before the actual deadline. 请注意截止日期尽早申请。 Letters of reference from previous professors (and sometimes employers) are extremely important.