Quest University
Quest University
This private university, officially known as Quest University Canada, serves the province of British Columbia, with its main campus in the city of Squamish. It opened its doors only in 2007, making it one of the youngest universities in the country with an annual enrolment of around a hundred students. The campus of the university is ranked among the top ten most beautiful campuses in the country, as it’s located on a hill in the Garibaldi Provincial Park, famous for its mountains. Students enjoy the picturesque views while absorbing knowledge from the top-notch, dedicated academic staff of the Quest University. Here, international students from more than forty countries study toward a Bachelor's degree.
Programs in Quest University
One of the main peculiarities of the Quest University is that it doesn’t have an average academic division into departments. What’s more, the Quest University doesn’t have large lecture halls: every class is held in small groups with a maximum of twenty students. Such an innovative method facilitates better comprehension of disciplines, as instructors have the possibility to pay close attention to every student. The curriculum of the Quest University is constantly reviewed and updated to comply with the high demands of students and the academic staff and to bring up a new generation of people who think outside the box.
The innovative approach of Quest University is not limited to small-size classes; the academic year is divided into blocks rather than semesters. Students are immersed in just one course for three and a half weeks and don’t need to disperse their attention over several courses at once. After learning just one class and completing a block, students are given four days as a break to relax and get prepared for the next three-week period. It is claimed that such a block is equivalent to a full semester at a traditional university in terms of teaching quality and student understanding of the subject.
Moreover, it’s focused on multidisciplinary approach on the studies and offers every students to achieve only one academic credential which is the Bachelor of Arts and Science and students don't need to choose a major. Instead, they choose an individual Question for the research on which they work for the last two years at the Quest University. Students work on a Keystone Project that is an analogue of a thesis in the usual universities, and it’s dedicated to answering the Question, which is, in turn, an analogue for a specialization. Basically, students will integrate everything they’ve learned during the course of their studies into the final project.
The first two-year period at the Quest University is called the Foundation Program. This is when students study their first sixteen courses in liberal arts and sciences. For example, life sciences courses, mathematics, physical sciences, and social sciences are included among a number of others. Immersion into such a wide range of displines simplifies the choice of the Question by the end of the second year. Students are advised and counseled by the Quest University academic staff to determine the right Question. By the way, every Question is unique, and throughout the whole period of the Quest University existence, no Question has ever been repeated.
For example, during the foundation period at the Quest University, students can learn such a discipline as Chinese Film and Transnationalism. Here, they study how Chinese film culture evolves through the prism of transnationalism and globalization. Actually, the studies are not limited to the Chinese films but include classes on film theory, film texture, philosophy, and history. This course aims at preparing students to become scholars in this field.
Another block that can be studied in the third and fourth years of the Quest University is Gender Race Storytelling of Toni Morrison. It aims to deeply research Morrison’s literature and understand the problems she raises. Students are encouraged to participate in group projects, express their criticisms through them, and take part in other creative activities to develop their critical thinking and collaboration skills.
During their studies at the Quest University, all students also take a Language Block, during which they have the option to go abroad and practice their target language. The study trip should last a minimum of three weeks and include at least forty-eight hours of offline instruction.
To apply for the studies at the Quest University, international students need to pay for CAD 150 as an application fee and sit an interview. One of the main requirements for international students whose native language is not English is proficiency in the English language. They should provide a certificate that equals an IELTS band score of 6.5, a TOEFL score of 575, or the results of other official examinations such as CAE, Duolingo, or PTE. International students need to get a study permit to be able to study at the Quest University.
Students can also receive financial aid. There is a special scholarship for international students who show high academic achievements and actively participate in the life and prosperity of the community. If they meet all the requirements, students will be awarded a scholarship worth CAD 15,000.
International students can apply for scholarship, during the process of education at the Quest University as well. They have a chance to be awarded if they share the same values and goals as the Quest University and do everything possible to excel at their studies and sports. Students whose GPA is higher than average are automatically considered by the Quest University for scholarships.
The annual tuition fee at the Quest University is around CAD 38,000 for international students. They should also be prepared to spend CAD 350 on books and supplies, CAD 650 on health insurance, and allocate CAD 2000 on personal expenses. On the whole, it’s estimated that the total amount for studying at the the Quest University together with living costs will be around CAD 59, 500.
By the way, full-time and part-time students also have the chance to work on campus and receive a salary. It’s a great chance to show and practice your skills and gain some paid work experience.
Accommodation
While studying at the Quest University, international students have several options of accommodation and they need to ponder them over in advance.
First of all, the Quest University has special buildings for student residence. It’s closed during the winter periods, but available all the rest of the year. All the students are provided with a private bedroom in a suite featuring two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. Moreover, every building is equipped with yoga and fitness rooms, creative studios, bike storage, and common study areas.
Living in a Quest University student residence entails not only comfortable living, but also participation in clubs and events organized by the students themselves. There are Bollywood dance, eco, and adventure clubs. Some of them are dedicated to beekeeping, and some aim to raise awareness on the problems of sexuality and gender. In a nutshell, every resident will find something to their liking and won’t get bored or left in solitude. The annual cost of living in a student residence is CAD 8,800 per academic year, while a meal plan costs an additional CAD 7,000.
Of course, students can also rent an apartment in the city of Squamish. For example, the average rent price of a one-bedroom apartment in the downtown is around CAD 1,980. It’s about a hundred dollars less for a flat outside of the city center, but the final price heavily depends on the type of furnishings and utility bills.
A program of Homestay is also available for the students of the Quest University. Basically, foreign citizens are provided with a private bedroom and access to all the home's utilities. A host family should involve international students in all the family's events so that they don’t feel left behind. By doing this, international students acquire the necessary English speaking skills much faster, which facilitates their academic studies and socialization processes. Usually, homestay agencies offer students this option for CAD 1000 per month.
Future Prospects
After completing their studies at the Quest University, international students can go for the next degree within and outside of Canada. If they feel ready to proceed to work right ahead, then they can also travel anywhere in the world to find employment. Academic credentials gained at the Quest University and other educational establishments in Canada are highly recognized and perceived as an assurance of competence.
Still, some of the Quest University graduates choose to stay in Canada and get a post-graduation work permit to work in the country for three more years. During this period, they can decide to stay for even a longer period and apply for permanent residency and even Canadian citizenship in the long run.
As you can see, a degree awarded by the Quest University offers many opportunities for international students, as the Canadian government values talented and skilled professionals and makes everything possible to let them stay in Canada.
In case, if you need help with Custodianship and Homestay in order to study in Quest University or other schools in Canada, please fill in application below or contact us directly.
