5 famous Canadian authors and where they went to university

PTE Author
PTE Author
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Reading time: 6 minutes

Are you thinking about moving to Canada to study? Get inspired by these talented Canadian authors and discover the universities they attended. Find out which Canadian universities accept PTE Academic now! 

Canada inspires good writing. The northern country is home to many talented literary figures and authors whose works have been celebrated worldwide for decades. From old classics like Anne of Green Gables to newer works like Women Talking and The English Patient, Canadian literature has really made a mark.  

But who are the masterminds behind these incredible stories? More importantly, where in Canada did they study?  

Here, we take a look at some of Canada’s most talented writers and learn where they earned their university degrees. 

This list includes reputable institutions from the scenic east coast, to the quiet prairies to highly-regarded schools in Ontario. And if you have yet to read these writers’ books, add them to your reading list! 

1. Lucy Maud Montgomery  

Lucy Maud Montgomery published Anne of Green Gables in 1908. It became one of Canada’s most famous books. The story is set in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island which is where the author was born.  

The fictional story is about a red-haired, impulsive orphan growing up in a small eastern Canadian town. Though it was rejected by many publishers at first, the novel went on to sell more than 50 million copies. It has also been translated into 36 languages.  

More recently, it was developed into a TV series called Anne With An E, which can be streamed on Netflix.  

Education: Dalhousie University 

Lucy Maud Montgomery studied at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She started her studies there at age 21 in 1895. At the time, it wasn’t common for women to be seen on campus. During her time at Dalhousie, she argued that more women should seek a university education.  

Feeling inspired to study at Dalhousie University? The good news is that they accept PTE as proof of your English level.  

2. Joseph Boyden  

Joseph Boyden is a Canadian novelist and short-story writer. Boyden is best known for writing about First Nations culture. He is best known for his books Three Day Road, Through The Black Spruce, and The Orenda. In his writing career, Boyden has collected many Canadian literary prizes. These include Canada Reads, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, The Governor General’s Award for fiction, and the Canadian Booksellers Association Fiction Book of the Year. Boyden grew up in North York, Ontario.  

Education: York University  

He studied creative writing at York University where he was admired by a professor for his intensity and determination. He also has honorary degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University, Trent University, Nipissing University, and Algoma University.  

Do you want to follow in Boyden’s footsteps? York University accepts PTE. 

3. Alice Munro 

Alice Munro is one of the best authors to have ever come out of Canada. In 2013, she won the Nobel Prize in Literature. She is known and praised as being the master of the short story. Her books include Dear Life, Dance of the Happy Shades, The Lives of Girls and Women, Who Do You Think You Are and The Love of a Good Woman. When she won the Nobel Prize, she was quoted saying that she didn’t expect to win.  

Education: Western University  

As for her education, Munro studied English at Western University. She started at the university in 1949. She actually published her first-ever work at the university’s campus literary magazine called Folio. Munro is one of Western University’s most famous alumni.  

If you’ve bookmarked Western University as a place to study, it also accepts PTE.  

4. Miriam Toews 

Miriam Toews is a bestselling author of Women Talking, All My Puny Sorrows, and A Complicated Kindness. Toews has collected many literary awards in Canada. Her major awards are the Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction, Canada Reads, and the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Her novel Women Talking is a fictional story based on a Mennonite colony in Bolivia. It became a bestseller and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award. Toews lives in Toronto.  

Education: University of Manitoba 

She earned her first degree at the University of Manitoba where she studied film studies and earned a bachelor of arts degree.  

Check out the University of Manitoba for yourself, the highly regarded institution also accepts PTE. 

5. Michael Ondaatje 

Michael Ondaatje is considered one of Canada’s most important contemporary writers. His novels and poetry are required reading in many Canadian schools and universities. Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka but moved to Canada in 1962 and stayed. His most famous book is The English Patient. It’s a war-era love story set in Italy. Not only did it win the Man Booker Prize, but it was also turned into an award-winning movie in 1996. Ondaatje also wrote In The Skin Of A Lion, The Cat’s Table, and Anil’s Ghost. In addition to the Booker Prize, Ondaatje has also won Governor General’s Awards and the Giller Prize. He is also a member of the Order of Canada. Before becoming the famous author that he’s known as today,  

Education: Queen’s University 

Ondaatje studied ag Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1967. He’s one of the university’s most celebrated past students. Currently, he lives in Toronto.  

Queen’s University is a great choice for international students and accepts PTE. 

Travel to study in Canada 

Thinking of studying in Canada? With so many incredible universities, Canada is an obvious pick for many international students. In order to secure a spot at a Canadian university though, students coming from abroad must prove English proficiency.  

PTE Academic can help make your dreams of studying in Canada come true. The English language test is recognized worldwide. Many top Canadian universities including the ones mentioned above accept PTE scores as part of their application process.  

Check out PTE test centers and view prices in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, or Burnaby to take the first step towards your Canadian university career.

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    Listening: Core English skills part 2
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    During Part 3: Listening in PTE Academic, you will need to know pronunciation in order to understand what the speakers are saying.

    Pronunciation

    When completing PTE Academic, you will hear a variety of accents from both fluent English speakers and second language speakers, as you would in the real world. Don’t worry, the accents will be clear and regular users of English do not have trouble understanding them. To prepare you should choose texts from around the world and practice listening to a wide range of accents.

    The recordings in PTE Academic use authentic examples of speech, so there will be connected speech present. Connected speech includes: assimilation, elision, twinning, catenation, linking vowel sounds, intrusive sounds, the schwa /ə/, weak forms, and contractions. These words are not used in English when you pronounce each word separately. They are only used in connected speech.

    Assimilation

    In connected speech in English, the sound at the end of a word can change to sound the same as the beginning of the first word.

    Watch these videos from BBC Learning English to better understand assimilation:

    Elision

    Elision occurs when a sound is not pronounced at all by the speaker.

    For example, we say pos card, but we write postcard.

    This Pronunciation: The sound /s/ video shows how it works.

    Twinning

    When you finish a word with the same sound as the start of the next word, it’s called twinning.

    Watch the video below to learn more:

    Catenation

    Catenation is when one word ends in a consonant sound and the next one starts with a vowel and we say the two words as one.

    The below video will help you learn more about catenation:

    Linking vowel sounds

    When we speak, we use the /j/ (the first sound in yellow) and /w/ (the first sound in wet) to link words that end with a vowel to the next word that starts with a vowel.

    For example, we would say he yordered, but we write he ordered and you say go won, but write go on.

    To learn more about linking /j/ and linking /w/ you can view this video:

    Intrusive sounds

    When we speak, we add a /r/ (first sound in the word red) when the first word ends in some vowel sounds and the next word also starts with a vowel sound.

    For example, we say sawrants but we write saw ants.

    This video on intrusive sounds will help you understand better:

    The schwa /ə/

    The most common vowel sound in English is the schwa /ə/. It is used in connected speech and is when you pronounce a vowel, which is not stressed in a word.

    This video will better explain what it means and how it’s used:

    Weak forms

    In addition to the above, the schwa /ə/ is used to pronounce the vowel in weak forms of grammar words in connected speech. It can be a little confusing so we recommend watching all of the below videos to learn more:

    Contractions

    In connected speech, when we are not stressing the subject, verb, or not, we do not use the full form of the subject and verb with verbs be and have. These are contractions.

    Contractions are also used with be, have and do in the negative, as well as some modal verbs in the negative.

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    • We have =>we’ve

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  • Image - woman on hill in Canada - 800px w
    Student guide: What is the cost of living in Canada?
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 6 minutes

    Many students dream of studying in Canada. The country has world-renowned teaching facilities and universities, an open immigration system, metropolitan cities, and scenic landscapes. Altogether, it’s a great choice for international students.  

    Studying in Canada is not as expensive as studying in other countries, like the U.S. or U.K. However it is still a big investment. International students pay between $1,800-20,000 CAD per year to attend a Canadian university or college.  

    But, what’s the cost of living in Canada? Canada is a big country and prices vary by region. Nevertheless, the EduCanada government website estimates the average cost of living for foreign students is about $12,000 CAD a year.  

    In this guide, we outline how much students across Canada pay for things like rent, transportation, entertainment, and food – and look into some hidden costs that everyone should keep in mind. 

    Here is our student guide on the cost of living in Canada: 

    Accommodation costs by city  

    When you’re studying in Canada, you can choose between living on-campus or off-campus. Living on-campus is a great opportunity to socialize with other students and make friends. Most institutions also give students on-campus the option to buy a meal plan. But, keep in mind that many universities and colleges prioritize first-year students for on-campus housing.  

    You might also decide to rent an apartment or room off-campus instead. There are lots of housing options in neighborhoods close to universities and colleges – and these are often advertised specifically for students.  

    To give you an idea about how much accommodation will cost, we take a look at some popular Canadian study destinations. Keep in mind, off-campus housing prices might fluctuate because of the pandemic. 

    Toronto  

    At the University of Toronto, on-campus housing for eight months ranges from about $6500- $20,500 CAD, depending on the room and meal-plan. A one-bedroom apartment in Toronto costs about $2,100 CAD/month on average.  

    Vancouver 

    At the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, a room and meal-plan will cost you between $10,700-$13,850 CAD for two terms. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center costs $2,050 CAD/month on average.  

    Montreal 

    At McGill University in Montreal, a single room for 1st-year undergraduate students costs between about $9,700-$12,700 CAD/academic year, without a meal plan. A one-bedroom apartment costs 1,300 CAD/month on average. 

    Halifax 

    At Dalhousie University in Halifax, a single room costs between $8,130-$9,450 CAD/academic year with a meal plan. A one-bedroom apartment costs about $1,400 CAD/month on average.  

    Waterloo 

    At the University of Waterloo, a single room in a traditional-style dorm costs between about $6,700-$7,000 CAD for the fall and winter term, not including a mandatory meal-plan. A one-bedroom apartment costs about $1,500 CAD/month on average.  

    Food costs  

    If you don’t have a meal plan and live off-campus, you must include grocery shopping in your budget. Of course, food prices are different across the country and depend on where you decide to shop.  

    Let’s take a quick look at how much essential items may cost in Canada’s largest city, Toronto:  

    • Milk (about $3 CAD)

    • Rice, 1kg (about $3.50 CAD)

    • Apples, 1kg (about $4 CAD)

    • Red meat, 1kg (about $16 CAD)

    • 12 eggs (about $3.50 CAD)

    According to the City of Toronto’s Nutritious Food Basket Calculator, a male aged 19-30 must spend a minimum of $65.50/week to buy healthy food. A female the same age living in Toronto must spend about $51 CAD/week to buy healthy food.  

    Transportation costs in Canada 

    How much is the average cost of transportation in Canada? Many international students rely on public transportation to get around. And oftentimes, transport costs are included in tuition fees – giving you unlimited access to the city’s whole transportation system.  

    But in some cities – like Toronto and Montreal – you can buy your own pass at a reduced fare. In Montreal, a student pass costs $53 CAD/month. In Toronto, which is a much more expensive city, a pass costs $128 CAD/month.  

    Outside of larger cities, it can also be useful to have a car, especially if you are used to driving at home. But, keep in mind this can cost a lot extra. To get an idea of how much it costs to drive a car in Canada, check out this driving costs calculator by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).  

    Entertainment costs 

    Canada offers many cultural and outdoor activities for you to enjoy. You can find world-class music festivals, skiing and snowboarding, and giant sporting events like basketball, hockey, and baseball games.  

    Of course, you will also still get to enjoy many things you did at home. Here are a few things you might like to do in Canada, along with how much each costs:  

    • Visit a renowned museum (many offer free evenings, and entrance for young people or students) 

    • Meet a friend for coffee ($1.76 CAD at coffee chain Tim Hortons) 

    • Rent skates and go ice-skating outdoors (about $10 CAD)

    • Watch a movie in theaters (about $15 CAD)

    • Eat dinner at a casual restaurant (about $15-25 CAD)

    Insurance costs 

    Canada has a publicly-funded health system. However, each province and territory administers its own healthcare. Whether or not you can receive publicly-funded medical coverage will depend on where you are in Canada.  

    If you don’t qualify for public healthcare, your institution might require you to enroll in a specific insurance plan or find your own private coverage. You should check with your institutions about exactly what coverage you need to study safety in Canada.  

    Hidden costs 

    Lots of hidden costs arise when studying abroad, and there are a few things students in Canada should keep in mind.  

    For one, it is expensive to own a cellphone in Canada. In fact, cell phone bills in Canada are among the highest in the world. Canadians pay $101 CAD/month, on average, for a cellphone plan.  

    You will also need to buy warm winter clothing – including a jacket, boots, socks, gloves, hat, and scarf. You can expect to pay about $300-$400 CAD for these items brand new. However, thrift stores might also carry winter clothing for much cheaper.  

    Finally, you shouldn’t forget about Canadian sales taxes. Taxes in Canada are higher than many places in the world and range from about 12%-15%.

  • Image- UK, 800px x 451px
    Cost of living in the UK
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    You may have heard that London is one of the most expensive places in the world to live in, but fortunately, London, and by extension, England, does not equate to the whole of the UK. In fact, many UK towns and cities are very liveable when compared to other cities across the globe.  

    There is quite a bit to look at when considering the cost of living in the UK. Apart from tuition fees, there’s also the cost of rent, transport, and even entertainment – because if you’re living in the UK, there’s no way you should miss out on everything that this great country has to offer- from the food to the culture.  

    Let’s look at some aspects of the UK cost of living, so you can best adjust your budget and prepare yourself for a new life abroad. 

    Calculating living costs in The UK 

    When looking at the cost of living in the UK, it’s best to use an online currency calculator to convert your currency to the British pound – that will give you a better idea of the true cost of living in relation to your country. 

    Here’s a rough guide to the currency conversions we have used in this article, dated March 27th, 2020:

    • AU$1,000 = £500

    • US$1,000 = £805

    • €1000 = £895

    Once you have a better understanding of the conversion rate, you can better interpret how much rent, utilities and other everyday costs will affect your budget.  

    A weekly UK budget 

    There are so many factors that contribute to the UK cost of living that it’s impossible to give you a set cost for each week. But a recommended starting point for a budget for a single student in the UK, per week, averages out to about £300. Let’s see how we got to this number (please note these costs are an average from across UK metropolitan cities, outside of the city center).