What are the Best Post Graduation Courses in Canada?

A majority of international students decide to pursue post graduation courses in Canada since the country has many world-class institutions that charge reasonable tuition fees. Another reason to study post graduation courses in Canada is the availability of dozens of scholarships. Numerous funding opportunities are available to international students enrolled at recognised Canadian colleges and institutions. These scholarship schemes offer non-repayable financial benefits and are offered to international students having excellent academic records.

In addition, Canada is regarded as one of the safest countries for international students. As per Numbeo statistics, Canada has a substantially better safety score (62.42) than other well-known study abroad countries including the UK (57.9), the US (49.99), and Australia (57.94). This article is aimed at informing students about the best post graduation courses in Canada, eligibility criteria, document requirements, tuition fees, etc. Let us first have a word about why should you study post graduation courses in Canada.

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Why Study Post Graduation Courses in Canada?

Home to more than 6,00,000 international students, Canada is one of the most popular countries to study abroad. It is undoubtedly the ideal option for studying abroad because of its liberal and cosmopolitan society, world-class institutions, and abundant professional opportunities for graduate students. The following are the reasons why students opt to pursue post graduation courses in Canada:

Education expenditure: The Canadian government invests heavily in the tertiary education sector, placing it among the top OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) nations in terms of governmental support for higher education.

Global perspective: With more than 200 different nationalities represented among Canadian students, it is well recognised that Canadian society is among the most varied in the world. For students who desire to work in global corporations and increase their cultural awareness, this multiracial atmosphere provides excellent cultural exposure.

Bilingual nation: With English and French as their two official languages, studying in Canada provides students with a wealth of options as well as the ability to acquire additional languages and/or advance their current skills.

High standards of living: With five of the top 100 finest student cities in the world, Canada is renowned for its high standards of living.

Post-study work opportunities: After completing their programme, students in Canada can apply for a work permit that enables them to stay in the country and work for the same amount of time as their programme. By looking at the highest paying jobs in Canada, it can be said that the country offers various post-study work opportunities to international students.

There are many things to can do after graduation in Canada, and they can be divided into the following categories:

• Postgraduate diplomas

• Masters programs

• Doctorate courses

Let us compare these three types of post graduation courses in Canada:

How Much Does a Post Graduation Degree Cost in Canada?

The PG diploma courses in Canada, master's and doctoral programmes are renowned worldwide. Pursuing post graduation courses in Canada might seem appealing because the average cost of living in Canada for international students is comparatively lower as compared to countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Even the major cities in Canada are more reasonably priced than many other locations all over the world.

If we talk about the graduate tuition fees in Canada, it varies depending upon the region or province you reside in and the programme you choose. To give you an estimation, a postgraduate diploma in Canada can cost between CAD 15000 to 17000 per year. On the other hand, the tuition fees for masters in Canada can range from CAD 2,500 per year to approximately CAD 18,000 per year. Furthermore, a PhD in Canada might cost approximately CAD 2,500 to CAD 17,000 per year.

Similarly, the cost of food, accommodation and local transportation varies from one city to another. To give you an estimation, living expenses in Canada for one year can be averaged at around CAD 12,000.

Top Postgraduate Diploma Courses in Canada

As discussed, students who have finished their undergraduate studies are eligible to receive a postgraduate diploma, sometimes referred to as a graduate diploma in Canada. A PG Diploma takes a maximum of one to two years to complete. Depending on the university, it can be further divided into two or four semesters.

The following are the top five PG diploma courses in Canada:

PG Diploma in Canada Eligibility for International Students

A PG Diploma in Canada is available to international applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree and strong academic credentials. Depending on the course the candidate chooses, the course lasts one to two years. International students can also enrol in a number of eight-month PG diploma courses in Canada. The following is a list of some of the criteria for international students seeking admission to PG diploma programmes in Canada:

• International applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in good standing with a cumulative percentage of 55% to 60% or higher.

• International applicants must also submit scores for English language proficiency exams like the TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, Duolingo English Test (DET), etc.

• For admission to some specialised postgraduate diploma programmes in Canada, applicants must have a minimum of one to two years of proven work experience.

Documents Required to Study PG Diploma in Canada

The following documents are required of international students to study PG diploma in Canada:

• Academic transcripts

• Statement of Purpose (SOP)

• Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

• Proof of finances

• Resume

• English proficiency score report

• Other supporting documents

Top Masters Courses in Canada

A bachelor's degree in the relevant discipline and a strong academic record are the primary requirements for admission to the majority of one-year master's programmes in Canada. Additional admission requirements must be met by international students applying to one-year post-graduate programmes in Canada.

The following are the top five masters programme in Canada:

Masters in Canada Eligibility for International Students

As was mentioned, master's programmes in Canada are typically intended to be completed in one to two years of full-time study. While each institution's requirements differ depending on the programme and other specifications, the following are the most typical prerequisites:

• A bachelor's degree with a minimum of 16 years of schooling and a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.

• If you have earned a bachelor's degree of three years, then a two-year master's degree is required. However, few institutions accept students with a three-year bachelor's degree and 15 years of academic experience.

• A minimum aggregate score of 6.5 bands on English language proficiency exams like the IELTS.

• A minimum GRE score of 260 may be required by some universities in Canada.

• Many Canadian business schools need you to take the GMAT exam with a minimum score of 650 in order to be eligible for a Master's in management degree in areas like accounting, finance, and MBA in Canada.

Documents Required to Study Masters in Canada

The following documents are required for international students to study masters in Canada:

• Academic transcripts

• Statement of Purpose

• Two to three LORs

• Work Experience Certificates (one to three years)

• CV or resume

• Proof of finances

Interested to learn more about other top specialisations Canada has to offer, or how to study at top b-schools in Canada without taking the GMAT exam? Check out the following links for more information:

Top Doctorate/PhD Courses in Canada

The majority of the PhD courses in Canada last four to six years and are heavily research thesis-based. Doctoral programmes in Canada generally have more in common with those in the UK than in the USA. In short, the PhD programmes in Canada are usually more research-focused than American PhD programmes, which start with one or two years of taught lectures and exams before determining a thesis topic.

The following are the top five doctorate/PhD courses in Canada:

Note: Doctorate/PhD Courses in Canada fees for international students varies as per the course as well as university. Generally, a PhD in Canada typically costs between approximately CAD 2,500 to 17,000 annually, though it might go as high as CAD 25,000 for some courses.

PhD in Canada Eligibility for International Students

The following are general eligibility or admission requirements that candidates must meet to pursue a PhD in Canada. However, precise eligibility or admission requirements may differ from one university to another:

• A postgraduate degree in a relevant field of discipline. Prior research experience and extracurricular activities are also preferred.

• A research proposal from an applicants preferred university supervisor.

• High-calibre bachelor's degrees are also acceptable for a few types of PhDs, namely integrated masters-PhD programmes.

• English Language proficiency scores.

• GRE or GMAT scores depending upon the specialisation.

• The institution may also invite applicants for a round of personal interviews once they submit their test scores.

Documents Required to Study PhD in Canada

The following documents are required for international students to study PhD in Canada:

• Academic transcripts

• Masters degree

• CV/Resume

• GPA scores

• Letters of Recommendation (LORs)

• Research statement

• Writing or research sample

• English language proficiency test scores

Application Process for Post Graduation Courses in Canada

Since Canadian universities received thousands of applications each year, international students should ensure to begin their preparations at least one year in advance and start the application process well before the deadlines. Generally, application deadlines for popular universities in Canada fall all around the year for bachelor's and master's programmes. The following is a step-by-step process to apply for post graduation courses in Canada:

Step 1: Research and select which post graduation courses in Canada you wish to apply for.

Step 2: Check out the eligibility criteria and gather all the required documents.

Step 3: Submit additional documents like SOP, LOR, CV, etc. as required for your course.

Step 4: Pay the required tuition fees and apply for scholarships. Keep the scholarship deadlines in mind and apply at least three to five months before the start of the course.

Step 5: Attend a personal interview as many universities require it as a part of the application process.

Step 6: If you get accepted by the university, you will receive the letter of acceptance after which you can start applying for a Canadian student visa.

To know more about the different admission intakes in Canada, check out these timeline guides:

We hope this article helped get an understanding of the best post graduation courses in Canada, their eligibility requirements, and much more. However, before applying, candidates must review the official website of their desired university for detailed requirements of their course.

Are you still confused about which is the best post graduation course in Canada for you? Ask our experts at abroad@collegedekho.com. to make an informed decision as early as possible!