The full name of the college is Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology. It was founded in 1967 in Toronto, Ontario province. Seneca is the largest college in Canada: 15,000 students study in the full-time department, and 40,000 in the evening department. Such a number of students indicates the prestige of the educational institution, the effectiveness of its educational programs, and the confidence of graduates in their professional future.
Large government subsidies allowed the college to build modern buildings equipped with advanced technology and state-of-the-art computer equipment. The Canadian government constantly monitors the labor market and, after receiving an audit report, instructs the college to reduce or increase the enrollment of students in certain specialties. In this way, the labor market is regulated, and Seneca graduates can be 100% sure of their employment.
Seneca College offers more than 150 study programs at various faculties. From creative specialties (such as journalism, fashion design, styling, graphic design) to those requiring high precision (logistics, engineering, pharmacy). From certificate programs, which last only four months, to bachelor's programs and postgraduate education. Most programs assume a duration of two to three years. The most popular are the faculties of finance, audit, aviation and flight engineering, business, technical engineering technology, communication arts, information technology, design, etc.
The college gives its students professional skills for real life. After graduating from Seneca, a graduate can build a career or continue their education in a university master's program. Seneca cooperates with 26 Canadian universities. Thus, after college, you can continue your education at universities such as York University, University of Toronto, University of Guelph, D`Youville College (New York), University of Western Sydney (Australia), etc. University education after college lasts one to two years, after which the student receives a university diploma. But statistics show that 32% of college students are people who already have a first higher education. Angela Williams, head of Seneca's marketing department, explains this by the fact that students stuffed with theory at university enroll in Seneca College to finally get a profession. "Education for real life" is the main slogan of Seneca College.
Entering a university after graduating from Seneca is also a significant saving of money. The cost of one semester of study at the college is 5,000 Canadian dollars, which is half as much as at universities; as a result, one year of study will cost about $7,000.
Due to the fact that Seneca is a public college, a whole complex of residences was built for students. A standard student apartment is designed for two people (each with a separate room) and includes a kitchen and a bathroom. The cost of such accommodation is 525 Canadian dollars per month, which includes payment for cable television, telephone, and Internet. But, of course, the student can choose another accommodation option: a host Canadian family or an apartment.
Compared to North America, the cost of studying and living in Canada is not high at all. But it can also be reduced. First, according to Canadian law, students have the right to work on the campus of their educational institution up to 20 hours per week (this nuance should be given special attention - the larger the college, the more jobs it can offer students). 95% of Seneca College's international students work. Second, some programs include paid internships, which are part of the study program.
Among Seneca's corporate partners, where college students do internships (after which they often sign employment contracts), are such well-known companies as IBM Canada Ltd., Oracle Corporation Canada Ltd., Cisco Systems, Xerox, Orad Hi-Tec Systems and Silicon Graphics, and others.
Like every self-respecting educational institution, Seneca College looks after the future of its graduates. According to statistics, 85% of students who graduated from Seneca find work within the first months after receiving their diploma. As for international students, under Canadian law, a graduate of a higher education institution in this country can legally remain in its territory for three months to find a job. Angela Williams claims that all graduates who look for work find it.
Finding a job in a huge city like Toronto is not particularly difficult. Toronto is sometimes called the Canadian New York, the unofficial capital of the country, its economic, political, and cultural center. But unlike New York, Toronto is a very clean, well-maintained, and safe city. The UN named it the best city to live in. In terms of economic influence, according to the magazine 'Futures', Toronto ranks third in the world after London and New York.