In addition to people who come to Canada to learn English or French, around 130,000 students come to start or continue their study in a Canadian educational institution. To be able to study in a Canadian college or university you may need to obtain a study permit (there are some exceptions) and a temporary resident visa, depending on where you live. Study permit will not be issued if you are not already admitted to a recognized Canadian educational institution.To receive an admission for a program in a Canadian college or university you need to apply for that program. Rules on how to apply and approval’s requirements are different in every school and for every program. So, you need to contact the school where you plan to study to learn how to apply or you can check their websites. As a general rule, a person who wishes to receive an admission needs to send the application package 9 to 12 months before the time that the intended program starts. An English or French examination need to be taken by the prospective students who these languages are not their first language. Canadian colleges and universities in which language of instruction is English usually recognize TOEFL or IELTS as a Standard English exam.
Applicant’s financial situation and whether applicant leaves Canada after completion of study are important facts that may affect officer’s opinion. Those who wish to obtain a student visa must prove that are able to pay their living and study expenditures and must convince the visa officer that they will leave Canada after graduation.
Foreign students who are studying in a full-time program in a Canadian school can work school’s campus even without a work permit. But, they should obtain a work permit if they intend to work off campus during their study or after graduation. Their spouses can also work off campus if they apply and receive a work permit.
Canadian Experience Class, a new immigration category which was recently announced by Canadian government, allows foreign students who have at least one year of full time work experience in Canada to apply for a permanent resident visa providing that their work experience was gained after their graduation.

Study permit exceptions
Some students do not need a study permit to go to school in Canada: