From Russia through Korea to Canada: personal experience of studying in an MBA master's program in Toronto

Dasha is a graduate of the Higher School of Economics who worked in South Korea before deciding to completely change her life and go study in Canada. She went through the entire journey from submitting documents to defending her thesis project in an MBA program in Toronto. We talked with Dasha about everything: admissions, housing, studies, work, everyday realities, and future plans.

The Path to Canada: Russia, Korea, and the Decision to Move

Dasha completed her bachelor's degree in Moscow at the Higher School of Economics, majoring in public administration. During her studies, she won an exchange program to South Korea — this happened during the pandemic. She spent her last semester of undergrad in Seoul, and graduation was held remotely. After the exchange, Dasha stayed in Korea and found a job at an agency that connected English teachers with schools — essentially, she taught English to children.

However, long-term prospects in Korea turned out to be limited. According to Dasha, the country isn't really geared toward foreigners staying long-term: getting stable status there is harder than in Canada. Foreign friends told her that in Canada, the immigration process is more transparent and straightforward. Plus, Dasha was looking for a place where she could start a stable life with a partner from another country — and multicultural Canada was perfect for that.

Dasha didn't consider America: she was concerned about crime rates and social instability. Australia seemed too far away. But Canada appealed to her as something completely new — Dasha had never been to this continent before.

Getting into Grad School: Choosing a Program and University

Since Dasha's bachelor's degree was in public sector management, an MBA program — a master's in private sector management — was a logical next step. She chose International Business University in Toronto.

When choosing a city, Dasha considered several factors. It was important for her to live in a big, active city — a small one would have been emotionally difficult, she says. Vancouver was also considered, but she decided against it because of the even bigger time difference with her family. Even living in Toronto, she mostly manages to call home in the mornings — the time difference is 7-8 hours depending on the season.

The application process itself went pretty smoothly. Dasha knew she would need professional help with the documents and hired an immigration consultant. She considered herself a strong candidate: excellent bachelor's degree, international experience. The only concern was her relatively limited work experience — about two years at that point, whereas MBA programs usually expect longer work history. Nevertheless, Dasha prepared a compelling statement of purpose.

English Language Test: Alternatives to IELTS

To prove her English proficiency, Dasha chose the Duolingo English Test. She liked that the exam is quick and taken from home — no need to go to a special testing center and spend several hours there. However, getting her result wasn't easy: Dasha took the test three times. The first time, the system flagged that she supposedly wasn't looking at the camera. The second time — that a background application was open. Both times Dasha disputed the result, and the retakes were free. The third time, she got a good score.

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This is important information for those worried about the English exam. IELTS Academic isn't your only option. You can take the Duolingo English Test, or you can use preparatory courses (so-called pathway programs), where instead of an exam you complete online coursework and receive a certificate that allows you to apply to universities.

Getting a Student Visa

After admission, the process of applying for a student visa began. According to Dasha, everything went without major difficulties: documents were collected, proof of finances was provided, and the visa was approved fairly quickly.

To gather and submit all the necessary documents, Dasha returned from Korea to Russia for about six months. Her feelings before leaving were mixed: excitement about the approval mixed with nervousness about the upcoming change. But overall, she was ready to start fresh.

If you're also thinking about studying in Canada and want to understand the admission and visa process, we recommend booking a consultation about studying.

Housing in Toronto: Getting Settled as a Student

Finding housing is one of the most pressing questions for any student coming to Canada. Dasha arrived in Toronto at night, the day before orientation at the university, and stayed in a hostel near campus for the first night. Her first impression of the city was amazing — she was especially impressed by the architecture of Toronto's university district with its European style.

Then, through acquaintances, Dasha found temporary housing for a month — a room in the Eglinton area that was being sublet by a girl who had left. After that, with her partner's help, she found a housing company oriented toward students. The company rents several floors in a large 43-story residential building — some are set aside for student apartments, while the rest are occupied by regular residents.

Cost and Living Conditions

Dasha pays $1,100 CAD per month for her room. This includes everything: utilities, internet, use of the building's common amenities. She has a private room in a three-bedroom apartment where three girls live — each in her own room. You can choose your roommates: Dasha specifically requested an all-female apartment. From what she's observed, without the housing company, students sometimes find rooms for $900 CAD, but without utilities included.

The minimum rental terms are flexible: the company requires a minimum of 2-3 months upfront, then you can renew month-to-month with one month's notice. When moving in, you pay the first and last month. This is more convenient than the common practice where landlords ask for six months upfront.

Living here, according to Dasha, is nothing like a traditional dorm. These are real apartments in a modern building. The shared kitchen for three has a dishwasher. Washing machines are located in a common laundry room on a lower floor — a Canadian quirk you have to get used to.

The housing company has its own portal where you can submit maintenance requests. You don't need to find a superintendent — just submit a request online and specialists come to fix the problem.

Building Amenities

The building has a gym, study room, event hall where students celebrate birthdays, and a game room with a pool table and poker table. In summer, there's an outdoor area with BBQ and lounge chairs. Entry is by electronic key, and there's security in the building — Dasha's mom, who has visited twice already, noted that everything looks safe and well-maintained.

Roommates

Dasha's roommates study at different schools: one at Toronto Metropolitan University, the other at Humber College. One is from Kenya, the other is of Indian descent but grew up in Qatar. They communicate in English, which is great language practice in itself. They get along well, though sometimes she has to remind the gamer roommate about keeping the noise down.

MBA Studies: How It All Works

Many people worry that graduate school is all theory, complex analysis, and endless research. According to Dasha, MBA programs are different: the focus is on real business cases, group work, and solving practical problems rather than theory.

Program Structure

A semester lasts about four months and is divided into two seven-week blocks. You study two subjects in each block and need to attend classes twice a week. There are four semesters total, with the last one entirely dedicated to your thesis project.

At Dasha's university, you can complete your thesis project in several ways: research, entrepreneurship, or business consulting. Dasha chose consulting: the university partners with companies (usually startups and small businesses), and students work on solving their real problems. You can also propose your own company to work with.

For her thesis project, Dasha worked with an employment platform for people with disabilities. The platform helps people on government support programs transition to full employment. The company's founder, who himself has a disability, is negotiating with ministries in different provinces to launch pilot projects to expand the platform across Canada.

Benefits of a Young University

International Business University is a young and growing school. According to Dasha, this has its advantages: small classes (maximum 30 students), personalized learning approach, and the opportunity to build relationships with virtually every professor. After class, professors stick around to chat and offer advice—something that's nearly impossible in large universities with 100-person lectures.

The flip side is that a young university isn't as well-known in the job market yet, so graduates need to be more proactive about networking. But as Dasha notes, this also helps you grow and become stronger.

Class Composition

The class has roughly equal numbers of men and women. Most students are international: many from the Philippines and Latin America. There are Russian-speaking students too—from Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. The community is small, but it exists.

How the Program Improved Professional Skills

Dasha finds the program effective: she learned how companies operate in the Canadian market and gained useful skills for a young professional. An important bonus of the MBA is the chance to connect with people who have more experience and knowledge and get career advice. Among Dasha's classmates, for example, is a woman who worked at Google in the Philippines and plans to join the Canadian office.

Working While Studying

International students in Canada can work up to 24 hours per week during the academic semester (during breaks, full-time work is allowed). Dasha took advantage of this from day one.

Volunteering as a Strategy

Dasha immediately decided she wanted to work at the university, given her background in education. She contacted the career services office, told them about herself, and expressed interest. They told her that first-semester students usually aren't allowed to work so they can adjust to their studies.

So Dasha started volunteering at university events—essentially showing what she could do and making connections. This is a strategy recommended to all students in Canada: if you can't get hired for a paid position right away, try volunteering. Canadians really value this initiative, and it often leads to actual job offers.

Starting in her second semester, Dasha worked in the university's operations department, helping with daily processes. Tasks vary from day to day—from administrative support to organizing major events like thesis project presentations.

Salary and Conditions

The university pays $20 CAD per hour—higher than the minimum wage in Ontario, which is $17.60 CAD per hour. It's also convenient that you don't need to commute to another workplace—everything happens in one place: home, classes, and work are all nearby.

When working on campus, the university can request more hours if needed—for example, during major events—which provides extra income.

Transportation in Toronto

When Dasha first arrived, she lived far from the university and used the TTC subway system. A single ride costs $3.30 CAD with a PRESTO card. Since classes are only twice a week for three hours, transportation costs were moderate, but Dasha still wanted to live closer to downtown.

Now she lives downtown, a 25-minute walk from the university. From April through October-November, Dasha actively uses Bike Share Toronto (formerly known as Tangerine). Stations are located throughout the city: you pick up a bike at one station and park it at another. A ride costs about $3 CAD. For Dasha, it's not just transportation but also enjoyable—especially in warm weather.

Overall, according to Dasha, Toronto's infrastructure is well-suited for life without a car: there are bike lanes almost everywhere, pedestrian-friendly streets, and good public transportation.

Food and Grocery Expenses

Dasha admits she doesn't keep strict track of her food expenses. Living alone, she doesn't spend much—she buys bread, fruit, and cheese. Due to her busy schedule, she can't always cook, and sometimes has to grab food on the go, which obviously isn't great for the budget.

Groceries in Canada are more expensive than in Russia—that's common knowledge. But there are pleasant surprises: avocados in Canada are significantly cheaper and better quality thanks to Mexico's proximity, whereas in Russia they're usually "rocks that need to ripen." Overall, though, Dasha doesn't consider food a major issue.

Leisure and Social Life

Despite her busy schedule, Dasha finds time to hang out with friends. They go to Cineplex movie theaters (on Tuesdays there's a discount—tickets cost about $8 CAD), meet at home, and play board games. Many of her friends are also students with part-time jobs, so everyone's schedules are pretty packed.

Dasha doesn't feel lonely in Canada—on the contrary, she sometimes gets tired from the amount of social interaction. She spends most of her time at the university, where many people know her. Sometimes her "social battery runs out," and then she just wants to come home and relax in peace and quiet.

Three Pros and Three Cons of Canada

Pros

The first pro is safety. Dasha feels comfortable coming home at 9-10 PM, although she notes that feelings can vary depending on the specific neighborhood. The second is the multicultural environment and the opportunity to speak English with people from all over the world. For Dasha, who has always loved English, this is a huge plus. The third is developed urban infrastructure: plenty of stores, establishments, and entertainment options.

Cons

The first con is healthcare. Clinics close early, and even with an urgent need, they might ask you to come the next day or make an appointment in advance. The familiar option of just dropping by the doctor for "one little problem" doesn't exist here.

The second issue is the homeless population on Toronto's streets. Dasha finds it strange that the government doesn't help these people more actively. However, she notes that the homeless are generally harmless, and over time you get used to their presence.

The third issue is taxes. Dasha was prepared for the fact that working students also need to file a tax return, but an unpleasant surprise was the additional taxes (restaurant bills always include taxes and tips, which makes the final amount noticeably higher than expected).

Taxes for Students: What You Need to Know

Even as a temporary resident and student, you need to file a tax return in Canada. Dasha's university deducts contributions to the pension plan (CPP) and employment insurance (EI) from her earnings. At the end of the tax year, Dasha received a T4 form with her earnings amount and a form from the university for tuition paid.

Many universities organize free tax clinics where volunteers help students figure out the forms and fill out their returns. An important point that not everyone knows: even though students pay a lot for tuition and housing, some of that money comes back after filing a tax return. Dasha, for example, gets about $80-90 CAD back per month for rent, as well as a quarterly refund for tuition.

Culture Shock and Tipping

The biggest culture shock for Dasha is the tipping culture. In Canada, tips are seen as a mandatory part of the bill, even if the service was mediocre. When paying, the terminal prompts you to leave a tip, and if you press "skip," you feel uncomfortable. In Russia and Korea, tips are left more for excellent service, but here it's expected by default.

English Language: Growing Through Studies

Dasha came to Canada with good English—after all, she taught the language in Korea. But during her master's studies, her level improved significantly. The large number of presentations, which she doesn't always have time to prepare perfectly for, forces her to think in English "on the fly." If before Dasha felt confident in conversational English, now her professional and business language has improved—a skill critically important for a career in Canada.

Comparison with Korea: Traffic and General Observations

Dasha notes an interesting difference in road culture: in both Canada and Russia, pedestrians have priority—cars will stop for you. In South Korea, the situation is different: pedestrians have to wait for cars to pass, and drivers can drive right at you even on a crosswalk.

On the other hand, police in Korea are stricter—they can stop a cyclist for riding without a helmet. In Toronto, things are more relaxed. Canadians are generally calm people, but behind the wheel they often show their character—aggressive driving does happen.

What She Misses: Family and Time Difference

What Dasha misses most is her family. The time difference with Russia is 7-8 hours depending on the season (Canada still changes clocks), so communication mainly happens in the mornings. However, her mom has already visited Dasha in Toronto twice.

With age, according to Dasha, attachment to family becomes stronger, especially when you realize that your loved ones aren't getting any younger. But she finds a balance between her new life in Canada and maintaining connections with home.

Advice to Her Past Self

If Dasha could give advice to herself before moving, she would say: you need to prepare even more thoroughly. According to a close friend, in Canada you need not only plan A and B, but also C and D. Conditions are constantly changing—immigration rules, the job market, cost of living. Being prepared for anything and having several backup plans isn't being overly cautious, it's a necessity.

Future Plans: Work, Partner, and Permanent Residency

Dasha's studies are coming to an end: she received her final grades in May, and the graduation ceremony is scheduled for fall. The next step is applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). For master's graduates, it's issued for 3 years, which gives enough time to build a career and prepare to obtain permanent residency.

Dasha's main goal is to find a good job that will allow her to bring her partner to Canada on an open work permit for spouses.

Important Information for Those Planning to Study in Canada with a Spouse

If you're going to study for a master's degree and want to bring your spouse with you, that option exists. You submit documents simultaneously: you for a student visa, and your spouse for an open work permit. However, after graduation, there's no automatic right to bring your spouse. For this, the graduate needs to obtain a PGWP and find a job at a certain skill level (TEER categories 0, 1, or certain positions from TEER categories 2 and 3). Only after that can you apply for an open work permit for your spouse.

Dasha sees her future in Canada. According to her, in an unstable world, Canada remains a fairly calm, safe, and stable country. For at least the next 5 years, Dasha plans to develop here as a young professional.

Takeaways: What This Case Teaches

Dasha's story shows that the path to a Canadian master's degree isn't just about studying, but a whole complex of decisions: choosing a city and program, finding housing, adapting to a new culture, building professional connections. Success comes from being prepared, ready for change, and knowing how to use all available opportunities—from volunteering to tax refunds.

If you're thinking about studying for a master's degree in Canada, start with a professional assessment of your chances. Sign up for a consultation about studying in Canada to understand your admission options, visa requirements, and relocation strategy.