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Halifax is a vibrant and growing city with a variety of accommodation options.

With a large number of students, there's a great choice of accommodation in Halifax designed to fit the unique needs of students. But the large student population also means that the best accommodation can get booked fast. So it's important to start looking at least two months in advance of a program start date.

Many students choose the college’s homestay program. This offers a room with a hosting family and meals. At just $900 (Canadian Dollars) a month, this is a great solution for students who are traveling to Canada by themselves, rather than bringing their family with them.

Students wanting their own space, or who are bringing a family with them, could look at furnished and unfurnished rental apartments, available at a range of prices. Typically, they might rent privately from well-known names such as Air B&B (Airbnb.ca) or Kijiji (kijiji.ca). They may also consider furnished and serviced apartments from a provider like Premier Suites Halifax (premiersuites.com).

The Continuing Care Assistant program qualifies caregivers to look after the large community of senior citizens in Nova Scotia.

Unlike graduates of most other private colleges in Canada, students who qualify as a Continuing Care Assistant will find their qualification is actively sought out by a government work and immigration initiative that encourages experienced caregivers to study and work in Canada. When you access the International Graduates in Demand Stream (IGDS), we would expect you to be warmly welcomed into the workplace in Nova Scotia by care institutions, national and provincial authorities, and the Canadian people.

With around 25% of caregiving vacancies in Nova Scotia currently unfilled, and an aging population, demand for caregivers is high, and will remain high for many years to come. Our program is vocational, combining academic learning and practical experience in a real-life care institution. The relationship that you build up during your work placement makes you ideally suited to apply to that care institution for permanent work once you graduate.

Once you have graduated from your 40-week course, you’ll need to apply to the Nova Scotia Government for a work permit as a caregiver. You’ll support this application with your accreditation as a Continuing Care Assistant, which unfortunately means that you cannot apply for a work permit in advance. We would strongly encourage you to apply for a work permit as soon as you graduate, and make sure that you are financially prepared to cover your living costs in Canada while you wait for a work permit in Canada. This may take 6 to 8 weeks but can be longer or shorter. You may also wish to travel back to your home country to catch up with family and friends until your work permit arrives, but this may affect your immigration status in Canada.

Once you have been accepted into the International Graduates in Demand stream by Nova Scotia, you can apply for a work permit from the Canadian Government. You will then have the opportunity to apply to settle in Canada through the Canadian Government’s Permanent Residency process, which is often called ‘applying for PR’.

Your qualification as a Continuing Care Assistant gives you an extremely compelling case to make an application for Permanent Residency to the Government. You’ll boost this by maintaining a good work history, and by showing that you have complied with any visa restrictions since you entered Canada. Your application for Permanent Residency can take some time – possibly up to 24 months - so be prepared to wait. Your work permit will allow you to support yourself, and your family, as a caregiver while the Government considers your application.

After some time as a Permanent Resident, you would be eligible to apply for full Canadian citizenship. 

• Demand for qualified caregivers in Nova Scotia is very high. So we're extremely confident that you will receive an offer of employment once you graduate.
  
  But we will refund your Tuition Fees in full if you successfully complete the Continuing Care Assistant course and you do not receive an offer of employment after you graduate. To be eligible, your Oxford International College Halifax/CCA supervisor will need to confirm that you:
  
  Maintained required attendance during the program, including at your co-op work placement
  Received passing grades in both written and practical elements of the program
  Received satisfactory reports from your co-op work placement provider
  Worked respectfully and professionally with Senior residents from varied ethnic backgrounds, genders and sexes
  Attended and positively participated in your job and interview skills classes
  Attended interviews with at least 3 potential employers in addition to your co-op work placement provider
  Demonstrated a strong desire to attain the position of a caregiver in Nova Scotia
  Successfully passed the Nova Scotia provincial licensing exam, which you are able to take up to 3 times

You can apply to bring your spouse and dependent children with you while you study and work on the Continuing Care Assistant program.

We recommend anyone who wishes to accompany you enters Canada on a tourist visa, so would not be eligible to work in Canada unless they apply successfully for a work permit. Travelling on a tourist visa means that your family members have the best chance of being able to share your experiences in Canada. It’s particularly important that you, and your family, comply with any visa restrictions to protect your long-term chances to work and settle in Canada. We recommend that you take advice during your application from a licensed Canadian immigration consultant to consider your family’s specific visa requirements.

Please remember that you’ll need to show that you have enough money to support any family members that you bring with you. Guidelines can change, but be prepared to budget for $10,000 for yourself, another $4,000 for your spouse, and $3,000 for every other dependent (Canadian Dollars).

Nova Scotia will also offer free schooling for primary age children at a suitable public school. This is a wonderful opportunity for your children to improve their language skills, experience a vastly different culture – and help you to make an informed choice about all your futures in Canada. If your child is not ready for primary school yet, and because Co-op work placement is an integral part of the CCA program, you may need make additional child care provision to cover shift rosters, illness or school holidays.