Student Travel Grant Program Application Form: Fill & Download for Free

In order to be granted a student visa for Norway, you must have been admitted to a field of study at a college or university (with some exemptions). After you’ve received your letter of admission you should contact your nearest Norwegian Embassy or Consulate for information on the study permit application procedure, and apply from your country of origin.While some candidates can apply online form within Norway or through a Norwegian embassy, most students will need to hand in a paper application form to their closest Norwegian embassy or consulate.When you hand in your student residence permit application form, you must also provide your passport, along with other necessary documentation. You’ll need to submit:A completed application formReceipt of having paid the application fee (NOK 5,300, which is roughly US$650)A valid travel document (i.e. passport)Two recent passport-sized photos with a white backgroundEvidence of admittance to an approved full-time education programEvidence of sufficient financial funds for the entire period of study, including funds to support any accompanying family, which should be in a Norwegian bank account (it can be difficult to open an account in a Norwegian bank without a Norwegian personal number, so you can usually deposit the required amount into an account established by your educational institution). You need to prove you have access to NOK 116,369 for each academic year (10 months), which is approximately US$14,350.Evidence that you have somewhere to live (such as a house, apartment, bedsit or room in a hall of residence)Evidence that you will leave Norway when your residence permit expires (usually in the form of a return ticket)Completed and signed UDI document checklist, which you should print off and hand in along with your other documentsProcessing times for student residence permits will vary and may take two months or so, therefore it is advisable to apply as soon as you are able. If your application is granted, you must then obtain a residence card. This is proof that you have the right to live in Norway and is issued by your local police station in Norway. You’re required to visit the police station within seven days of your arrival in Norway. You’ll have your fingerprints and photo taken and will be sent your residence card by post within 10 working days.

Almost everyone wants their Ph.D. program to be completed on time. I must say that ‘Speeding up’ is rather a tricky phrase as it is a relative term. So, I must ask: What is the fastest you can complete your Ph.D.? Well, if you have a Masters degree, it should not take more than 5 years — The official document assumes. But human life and intentions are full of rollercoasters. And yet, we want some degree of certainty. Right? Well, let’s just say, ‘We want to have a better strategy.’ :)I did complete my MS degree and immediately joined the Ph.D. program. My advisor had told me that I shall take no longer than 3.5 years. I was very optimistic about it. But it took me 4.5 years. So, all I can say is, ‘You are unpredictable.’ However, I would like to think that I did speed up my Ph.D. because, on the contrary, it could have easily taken more time. I found the following guidelines to be quite helpful.Defining the Scope of Your ResearchThis may not be fully under your control because depending upon your advising professor and how s/he sees you, the scope of your research can change. As you can imagine that your supervisor always wants you to do more. Academic researchers are very focused. I sometimes find them quite insane (to tell you the truth). But, again insanity also means an extreme form of passion. Many Ph.D. students love that level of passion. Sometimes, they even end up becoming Research Professors right after they graduate— after 7 years in the Ph.D. program.Many times the scope of your research can get influenced by available funding and opportunities—That may or may not be under your control.I changed my research topic two times. First I researched Mobile Devices, wherein I studied Android Platform for a year. There, the funding for mobile research looked unpromising. So I had to change my topic to Distributed Storage. They finally, I ended up developing a theoretical model for Cloud Computing. But, every research topic that I explored has helped me in my current work. Therefore, nothing about your research shall go in vain.That being said, you always have the power to influence. You may want to have a clear discussion with your advisor on what you want to pursue. Sometimes, the scope may change and you may have to adapt.Scheduling Your Everyday TaskOne way to get things done on time is to discipline yourself as much as possible. One such process is to schedule everything you want to do each day. Scheduling your tasks ahead prepares your mind not to procrastinate. More importantly, it prepares to focus on one task at a time.When I realized the power of scheduling tasks, I leveraged my focus and, understood the value of time.So. Schedule every task from eating lunch to going for a walk. It doesn’t limit you, but shall help you unlock your power to control your life.Discuss Accurate Deadline With AdvisorOne day my frustration with progress in my research had surpassed the limitation of my patience. I was deeply worried about my graduation. So, that evening, I fired up my laptop and shot an email to my advising professor. I told him that I wanted to graduate in the summer of next year. I don’t know how, but by the grace of the universe, he responded immediately and positively. He invited me to his office for a meeting to discuss my issue. Then, we discussed the state, plus points and weaknesses of my research and research outcomes. By the end of the meeting, he convinced me on a more tangible deadline for my graduation. That actually ended up happening to be true.The exercise, in fact, motivated me to work harder, with focus, and with more passion and humility.Complete Your Assigned Deliverables As Your CatalogOf course, I do not blame my professor for delaying my graduation. It took me 4.5 years to complete my Ph.D. I would like to think, it happened very accurately. By the end of the program, I am totally satisfied the way it went. I would also like to believe, that I reinvented myself.One of the guides that help you do your Ph.D. on time is your Ph.D./Graduate catalog. It provides you with a proper timeline on when you should achieve what. For example, schedule/time by which you must fulfill your course credits and research requirements, exams and defenses. If you accurately, follow the timeline, you shall follow that momentum to complete your program on time.One reason it took me a semester more than I initially estimated was that I did not take my Written Qualifying Exam soon as it was available to me. I delayed that for a semester.Taking Care of Applications and Paperworks on Timely MannerIf you are like me, you hate paperwork. The paperwork is used to be least important to me, but most important to the administrators. Many times paperwork chewed up my precious time. Many times departments, college, and university are very bureaucratic in nature. It is literally very challenging to keep track of paperwork required for application for scholarships, fellowships, research grants, travel grants, assistantships and other things. Especially, collecting recommendation letters and signatures. But there is no other way around to get by.I think the idea of scheduling works greatly for this one too. Allocate your time well for applications, forms, and paperwork ahead of time.“Don’t Serialize Important Stuff in Life!”This is one of the great pieces of advice I have received from a professor who was one of my Ph.D. dissertation committee members. This professor was quite unique in that it was hard to reach him via email on more important stuff. One day, I went to his office to inform him about my upcoming proposal defense and, wanted to discuss his availability. After we agreed on a date, he went on to ask me if I was looking for a job. “I haven’t thought about it, yet”, I admitted honestly. He told me, “Jiwan, don’t serialize important stuff in life!” That was so powerful statement of his.I started looking for a job. I changed my name and title on my Linkedin page to let everyone in the network know that I was available for the new role. I actively started looking for opportunities anywhere from faculty positions, co-founder/CTO in a start-up to professional roles. I was lucky to get a new role before my graduation from a research and development company.When you have a job lined up after graduation, there is a high probability that your advising professor, as well as your committee members, don’t challenge much during your defense and review process. Your advisor will have a more compelling reason to let you go. In a way, the market has qualified you for graduation.

A non-Canadian student who wishes to study in Canada will be required to obtain a Canadian Study Permit. This study permit also serves as a Canada Student Visa for the duration of the student’s stay in Canada. This visa is generally granted to those students who have already been accepted for admission by a designated learning institution in Canada.A Canadian study permit is needed by a student to pursue a study course or program that extends for more than six months. This means, if a non-Canadian student opts for a course or program that lasts for six months or less, he or she will not require the study permit to pursue the course. However, in case a student pursuing such a course decides to continue his or her studies in another course, he or she will have to leave Canada in order to apply for a study permit through the Canada visa office.Eligibility criteriaYou need to apply for a Canadian study permit before entering the country. To be able to apply for this permit, you should have been accepted by a designated learning institute (DLI). You can check your institute’s name in the designated learning institutions list offered by the Canadian Government.The list only includes schools at the post-secondary level. On your application form, you will have to write the DLI number which you will get from the above link. There are some institutes that may not have a DLI number, but if you can find their name on this list, then it means they are eligible to take international students.Remember, you can only start your application process for the study permit as soon as you get the letter of acceptance from your university. That’s number one in the Canadian student visa eligibility requirements list.Next in line in the eligibility criteria, is the money/assets you have. You need to prove that you will be able to pay for your tuition fees, bear the living expenses of yourself and any accompanying members in the country, as well as return transportation costs from Canada.As an aspiring foreign student in Canada, you will have to make the immigration officer understand that you will not stay back in the country after you finish your studies.Apart from this, you will of course have to prove that you are hale and hearty and are not headed to their country with some disease. They may want you to undergo a medical examination if need be.Last, but not the least, don’t have a criminal record of any kind so as to make them think you may be a threat to their land.However, in case you are going to Canada to pursue a short term course or program which is of less than six months’ duration, you don’t need a study permit. It is also not required if you are a member of any foreign armed force, or you happen to be related to a foreign representative to Canada. People of Indian origin who have registered Indian status in Canada, are also exempt from the same.Students who come from visa exempt nations are required to carry electronic travel authorization (eTA) which they can get by punching in some details on a form on the CIC website. This is only applicable for students travelling by air, and not by land or the sea. American citizens and valid Canadian visa holders need not have an eTA.Steps to follow to apply for Canada Study PermitBefore you apply for Canada student visa, go through the information provided for the visa/permit requirements on the CIC website to become sure about your eligibility for the same. Once you are sure that you are eligible for application, you can go ahead with the following procedure:Step 1: Obtain letter of acceptanceThe first and foremost step towards applying for a Canada study permit is to obtain a letter of acceptance from a recognized higher educational institution. Only after you have received the letter of acceptance, you can proceed further with the study permit application procedure.Step 2: Check the processing timeFind out about the duration of time needed to process a study permit application. This will give you an idea about when to apply so that you can reach Canada to pursue your course on time.Step 3: Determine how you will applyOnce you have received the letter of acceptance you will have to decide how you want to apply for the study permit. You can apply in either of the two ways:Apply Online – To apply online you should have access to a credit card and a scanner or camera in order to be able to create electronic copies of your supporting documents.Apply on paper – To apply on paper download the application form for your study permit and the relevant checklist and follow the steps mentioned below.Step 4: Download the application kitThe application kit contains information about how to apply, the documents needed for application and other information about filling up the study permit application form.Step 5: Fill out the tourist visa application formRead the instruction guide and carefully fill up the application form. Note that the completed application must include the barcode page. Your application may be returned or refused if you do not provide all the requested information, documents and fees.Step 6: Check the provincial guidelines for studying in QuebecIn case you have applied to study in the province of Quebec, you will require a Certificate of Acceptance or CAQ from the government of Quebec. You will have to submit one of the following documents along with your student visa application.Certificate of acceptanceApproval letter provided by the Quebec government before the CAQ is issued. This letter contains your CAQ number.If you have not already received your CAQ, you can still apply for your study permit. However, you must provide a proof along with the application form that shows that you have initiated the procedure. You can provide proof of payment of the CAQ, etc. Note that your study permit application may be rejected without the proof for CAQ if you have applied to study in the province of Quebec.Step 7: Pay the processing feePay the fees for your study permit. Fees must be paid via bank draft or certified cheque. You must refer to the fee schedule for current fees and bank draft details. Note that you must check the fee schedule webpage again just before paying for the latest information on visa application fees.Note that if you need a temporary resident visa, you will be issued one at the same time as the study permit and at no extra cost.Step 8: Submit your applicationYu can apply online or submit your application in person at a visa application center (VAC). You will be required to give your biometrics at the VAC in both cases. You will have to submit your application along with all the required documents and fees in accordance to the guidelines for the submission of your application. You will receive a receipt. This receipt will contain your unique tracking number which is necessary to track the progress of your application online.Step 9: Track your application onlineUsing the unique tracking number, track your application online.Documents Required for Canadian Student Visa ApplicationHere’s a checklist of the documents you’d need to apply for a Canadian study permit:Letter of acceptance from a Canadian educational institute with a valid DLI number. You will be required to attach the original letter.Valid proof of identity for every single person accompanying the family, including recent passport size photos, their name and date of birth.Proof of financial support according to which you must prove that you can support yourself and all your family members while in Canada. This would include your bank account details with a Canadian bank, bank account details for the past four months, proof of loan details secured from a financial institution as a student, among others.Letter of explanation, with details about why you are applying for a study permit, even though you may not need one. Having a study permit also gives you the freedom to work part time on campus as a full-time student. At the same time, if you wish to continue studying in Canada, you can apply to renew the permit while living in Canada. You don’t have to leave the country to get it renewed.The above list may not be final. The visa office may require additional information like your medical examination and security information in the form of police certificates.Fees for Canada Student VisaAs proof of financial support, you will need to prove that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family in Canada.Applying for a study permit in Canada is stated to cost $CAD 150. Beyond this, the minimum amount you would need to study in Canada is $10,000 plus tuition fees for a 12-month period outside Quebec, and $11,000 plus tuition for the same period in Quebec, for a single student. This amount will increase with the addition of each additional family member.I may also do an unapologetic plug of my company Leap Scholar visa Archives - Leap Scholar. You can reach out to us for any visa related queries and we’ll try to assist you in the best way possible.