Are you considering a Master’s in Canada? The country’s reputation for friendliness, pristine wilderness, and world-class universities has led to Canada becoming one of the world’s hottest destinations for international postgraduates, with numbers rising steadily annually.
If you’d wish to know more about studying for a Masters in Canada, this page covers essential information on Canadian universities, applications, and postgraduate programs. Alternatively, you’ll take a glance at our guides to fees and funding in Canada also as study permits and postgraduate life in Canada. We’re also keeping an eye fixed on the effect of coronavirus on students in Canada.
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Table of Contents
Why You Should Consider a Masters Degree Program in Canada
- International outlook – Over 200 nationalities are represented by the scholar body in Canada, and Canadian society is one among the foremost diverse across the globe.
- Investment in education – Tertiary education in Canada enjoys high state spending levels, putting it near the best choice countries in state backing for schooling.
- Bilingualism – With two official languages (English and French) and a multicultural population, Canada offers the prospect to find out a replacement language or to enhance your existing skills.
- Post-Masters opportunities – If you’re keen to remain in Canada after finishing your studies, you would possibly be eligible for post-graduation working papers, allowing you to stay in the country for an equivalent duration as your program.
- Quality of life – the quality of living in Canada is too high, and therefore the nation as an entire may be a safe and stable environment to study.
Key Details about a Masters Study in Canada
- Universities- 98
- Oldest University- Université Laval (1663)
- International Students – 224,548
- Course Length 1-2 years
- Average Fees- CAD $17,447 (USD $13,372)
- Academic Year- September to April
Canadian Universities
Canadian institutions educate around 1.7 million students annually. They perform 40% of Canada’s research and development and represent a complete turnover of CAD 35 billion, generating economic wealth in Canada’s communities.
The Canadian education sector is characterized by its diversity; Canadian universities vary significantly in size, history, and their portfolio of programs and specialisms.
Provinces and territories are liable for all levels of education, including universities and better education. There’s no federal ministry of education or formal accreditation system.
Universities tend to subscribe to provincial government charters and quality assurance frameworks and use the resources provided by the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials to make sure that Canadian qualifications are recognized worldwide. There also are many organizations that accredit professional programs in subjects like Law and Engineering.
Throughout Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, there are 96 universities. These are mainly public universities, although private institutions exist and are accredited by the province’s authorities. Universities in Canada maintains an inventory of Canadian education institutions by region.
Canada is the second-largest nation across the globe by landmass, and its terrain is appropriately varied. From densely-populated urban areas in Southern Ontario to the Arctic tundra and therefore the Pacific Northwest’s lush rainforests, Canada offers boundless possibilities for students.
Within this enormous country, there are many vibrant universities therein. From glitzy Toronto and bohemian Montreal to outdoorsy Vancouver, you’re spoilt for choice.
Canadian University Rankings
Recommended: Top 10 Canadian Universities For International Students
Canada features a world-class reputation for education, and this is often reflected by the performance of its institutions in the three main global ranking tables. Seven Canadian universities feature among the highest 150 institutions globally, consistent with education from World University Rankings.
Top 10 Canadian Universities in 2021
- University of Toronto
- University of British Columbia
- McGill University
- McMaster University
- University of Montreal
- University of Alberta
- University of Ottawa
- University of Calgary
- University of Waterloo
- Western University
Information contained in this table is predicated on the New Times education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, and Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Courses
In Canada, Master’s degrees (also referred to as ‘grad’ programs or just ‘grad school’) generally are available as a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MSc). Just like the UK, there also are specialist Master’s degrees across a wide range of subjects, as the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), the Master of Engineering (MEng) as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Canadian Master’s programs usually last between one and two years (there could be additional internships or placements).
Along with traditional lectures and tutorials, your program is probably going to incorporate interactive teaching like site visits, projects, and group work. Most Masters include a dissertation (sometimes replaced by a consultancy project, counting on your subject area), which makes up an outsized proportion of the course’s credits.
The academic year tends to start in September annually, but some universities have several start dates for their Master’s programs. After a Christmas break, students return to college and study until the exam period in April.
Recommended: 25 Things You Didn’t Know About Studying in Canada
Co-operative Education Programs
Several Canadian universities offer Master’s programs through the ‘co-operative education option.’
Co-op enables current students to realize hands-on, paid experience in placements associated with their field of study. These opportunities are available across all disciplines and supply valuable work experience and contacts. Employers involved in the co-op program get highly qualified and motivated students to undertake specialized projects. Many of them also use it as a recruitment tool, allowing them to understand potential candidates and their abilities. For Master’s students, these internships are usually between two and four months.
To become a part of the program, you have to register as a co-op student. There could also be additional requirements for application (such as a high GPA) and attending compulsory training sessions. Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll receive notifications of opportunities that are developed by your institution’s co-op coordinator. Many employers are going to ‘repeat’ placement providers.
International students who require a study permit need to apply for co-op working papers, and universities will be ready to help with the administration for this.
Masters Fees and Funding in Canada
Tuition fees for international students in Canada are relatively affordable than those in the UK and America, with most programs costing somewhere between CAD 13,000 and CAD 20,500 (USD 9,966-15,715). Arts and Humanities subjects will be at the lower end of this scale, with Dentistry, Architecture, and Business nearer the highest. Domestic Canadian students generally pay tuition fees at around half the speed produced by international students.
There are several funding opportunities for international students in Canada and scholarships offered by individual universities designed to draw in talented overseas postgraduates.
Applying for a Masters in Canada
Academic requirements: You’ll be expected to possess a minimum GPA (often a 3.0/4.0 or its international equivalent such as a UK upper second class bachelor) for your undergraduate degree. Depending on your discipline, you’ll be asked to supply a graduate entry test score like a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Language: If English isn’t your mother tongue, you’ll need to give evidence of proficiency through an English test like TOEFL or IELTS. Similar requirements will apply in French if you apply for a bilingual program or a course delivered entirely in French.
Application process: The application process is analogous, unlike that of other countries. You’ll need to submit the subsequent as a part of your application:
- A completed form, which is usually submitted online
- A certified copy of your qualifications and transcripts
- A CV
- Proof of English and French proficiency, counting on the program that you only are applying for
- References / recommendation letters
- Letter of motivation / personal statement
If you’ve completed post-secondary education outside of Canada, you would possibly need to undergo an evaluation to work out the Canadian equivalent of your qualification and to verify the tutorial documentation that you’ve submitted. You’ll need to pay a world credential evaluation fee unless you have already got a 3rd party international credential evaluation report.
Your application will generally be assessed by a headquarters to make sure you meet all the minimum entry requirements. It’s then sent to the school, which can determine the tutorial quality and suitability of your application for your program of choice.
If you’re successful, you’ll receive a letter of admission, which you’ll need to be ready to apply for a visa or scholarship (if relevant) and to finish your enrolment before registration.
Masters Student Visa in Canada
To study for a Master’s in Canada, you’ll need to get a study permit. This may function as your student visa and permit you to measure and study in Canada for your course duration. You’ll apply for a Canadian study permit online or through a visa application center at a Canadian embassy in your own country.
Before applying for a study permit, you’ll need a firm offer from a Canadian university (as shown by your letter of acceptance on a Master’s program). You want even to have no-fault holding you back so you can be ready to demonstrate that you’re in healthiness.
You’ll also need to provide proof of monetary support, like bank statements and scholarship award letters, to point out that you simply can afford your tuition fees, living expenses, and a round-trip ticket to your home country.
Working in Canada After Graduation
Canada offers various opportunities for work after graduation, and therefore, the country’s immigration policy is geared towards retaining international talent.
Completing a Canadian Master’s degree could cause you to be eligible for a post-graduation working paper, which allows you to get in Canada for a period adequate to the length of your study program.
Once you’ve got a minimum of 12 months of full-time skilled work experience (or the part-time equivalent) in Canada, you’ll then begin your application to immigrate to Canada as a capable worker under the Canadian Experience Class. Please note that any work experience gained while you were a student won’t count towards this amount.
There is also a variety of temporary work visas aimed toward people in specific industries and professions, which you would possibly be ready to apply for.
Finally, employability and employment lie in the hands of Canadian education, and postgraduate degrees are designed to organize you for the work market.
Remember that Canada’s economy has been relatively stable, and work opportunities are available with many global and native companies.
