Until you have actually traveled around Canada, it is difficult to imagine how big and unspoiled it really is. It stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the latitude of Rome to beyond the Magnetic North Pole. Its archetypal landscapes are the Rocky Mountain lakes and peaks, the endless forests and the prairie wheat fields, but Canada holds landscapes that defy expectations: rainforest and desert lie close together in the southwest corner of the country, while in the east a short drive can take you from fjords to lush orchards. What's more, great tracts of Canada are completely unspoiled. dense forests are home to moose and bears, whales surface off the country's vast coastline and lakes teem with freshwater fish. In addition, there are plenty of outdoor sports opportunities, from canoeing down fast-moving rivers to skiing and snowboarding in one of Canada's resorts. Although it is the second-largest country in world after the Russian Federation, it has a population of less than 30 million, of which ninety percent of the country's population lives within 100 miles of the US border. Much of the countryside is virtually untouched;

But these are not the only reasons why students choose to study in Canada. 'It is a country of harmonious contrast where cultural differences, geographical opposites and social contrasts peacefully co-exist.

Like its neighbor to the south, Canada is a spectrum of cultures, a hotchpotch of immigrant groups who supplanted the continent's many native peoples. There's a crucial difference, though. Whereas citizens of the United States are encouraged to perceive themselves as Americans above all else, Canada's concertedly multicultural approach has done more to acknowledge the origins of its people, creating an ethnic mosaic as opposed to America's "melting-pot". Alongside the French and British majorities live a host of communities who maintain the traditions of their homelands – Chinese, Ukrainians, Portuguese, Indians, Dutch, Polish, Greek and Spanish, to name just the most numerous. For the visitor, the mix that results from the country's exemplary tolerance is an exhilarating experience, offering such widely differing environments as Vancouver's huge Chinatown and the austere religious enclaves of Manitoba. Canadians themselves, however, are often troubled by the lack of a clear self-image, tending to emphasize the ways in which they are different from the US as a means of self-description. The question "What is a Canadian?" has acquired a new immediacy with the interminable and acrimonious debate over Québec and its possible secession, but ultimately there can be no simple characterization of a people whose country is not so much a single nation as a committee on a continental scale. Pierre Berton, one of Canada's finest writers, wisely ducked the issue; Canadians, he quipped, are "people who know how to make love in a canoe".

The typical Canadian might be an elusive concept, but you'll find there's a distinctive feel to the country. Some towns might seem a touch too well-regulated and unspontaneous, but against this there's the overwhelming sense of Canadian pride in their history and pleasure in the beauty of their land. Canada embraces its own clichés with an energy that's irresistible, promoting everything from the Calgary Stampede to maple-syrup festivals and lumber jacking contests with an extraordinary zeal and openness. As John Buchan, writer and Governor-General of Canada, said, "You have to know a man awfully well in Canada to know his surname."

Few countries in the world offer as many choices to the world traveler as Canada. Whether your passion is skiing, sailing, museum-combing or indulging in exceptional cuisine, Canada has it all.

Western Canada is renowned for its stunningly beautiful countryside. Stroll through Vancouver’s Stanley Park, overlooking the blue waters of English Bay or ski the slopes of world-famous Whistler-Blackcomb, surrounded by thousands of hectares of pristine forest land. For a cultural experience, you can take an Aboriginal nature hike to learn about Canada’s First Nations’ history and cuisine, while outdoors men can river-raft, hike or heli-ski the thousands of kilometers of Canada’s back country, where the memories of gold prospectors and pioneers still flourish today.

By contrast, Eastern Canada mixes the flavor and charm of Europe with the bustle of trendy New York. Toronto boasts an irresistible array of ethnic restaurants, bakeries and shops to tempt the palate, while Charlottetown, Canada’s birthplace, is located amidst the rolling fields and sandy Atlantic beaches of Prince Edward Island. Between the two, ancient Québec City is a world unto itself: the oldest standing citadel in North America and the heart of Quebecois hospitality.

Of course, don’t forget Northern Canada, where planes or all-terrain vehicles are sometimes the most common forms of transport and wildlife viewing is at its best.

Whatever your passion, Canada has a place for it.