Being the home to around 190,000 international students from more than 200 countries, Canada is a major global player in higher education. World-class education & training, multicultural & tolerant society, and immigration-friendly system are some of the top factors for attracting students from all over the world. Here is all you need to know about Masters in Canada – cost, eligibility criteria, scholarships, top universities, application process, top subjects, and job prospects.

Masters (MS) in Canada

Cost, Eligibility, Scholarships, Top Universities, and Job Prospects

Canada has been turning out to be the most sought-after study abroad destination in the world. The number of international students in Canada in 1995 was about 25000 which grew up to 100,000 in 2011. In 2017/18, that number has grown up to 190,000. In fact, Canada is the second most popular education destination for Indian students looking at to study abroad.

Why Study Masters in Canada

Canadian universities are known for high-quality teaching and rigorous quality controls.

The Master’s programs in Canada are known for their research-focused curriculum. If you are not too keen on pursuing research or a thesis-based Masters, then Canada might not be the right country for you. Non-research options are available in Canada, but might be hard to get into the top universities.

A majority of Masters Programs also offers practical experience in the forms of Co-op placements and industry-based projects or internships.

The cost of pursuing a Masters in Canada is comparatively affordable. Although limited, there are quite a few scholarship schemes for international students.

Rules and policies regarding the student visa, post-study work permit, and immigration (PR) are pretty straightforward and friendly for international students.

The United Nations consistently ranks Canada as one of the best places in the world to live in. Canada has got a very high standard of living. It’s a safe country and has got a very stable economy.

As an international student in Canada, you can expect a peaceful, multicultural environment with people who are friendly and interested in learning about new cultures. With almost all of the world’s ethnic groups represented in Canada, it’s hard not to find ethnic foods and recreation activities associated with specific cultures.

Though English and French are both official languages in Canada, you can easily survive just by speaking and communicating in English.

Finally, Canada also offers unique scenic beauty. Canada is a large country and borders three oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, and the Arctic). There is something for everyone in Canada, including outdoor & indoor activities.

Cost of Studying Masters in Canada

Tuition Fees

A Master’s degree in Canada will cost you something between CAD $16,250 (INR 8.5 Lacs) and CAD $28,650 (INR 15 Lacs) annually.

Usually, Master’s Programs in Canada range from one to two years and usually include a mixture of coursework and research. However, few subject areas (e.g. biomedical engineering, biotechnology) can also take 3 years (depending on the research project). Below is the data on average annual tuition fees for various subject areas at the Canadian Universities.

Subject Field Average Annual Tuition Fees in Canadian Dollars (CAD$) Average Annual Tuition Fees in Indian Rupees (INR) Engineering 17,213 895,076 IT & Computer Science 15,015 780,780 Physical & Life Sciences 14,502 754,104 Agricultural Sciences 13,428 698,256 Archtecture 23,130 1,202,760 Pharmacy 11,891 618,332 Visual & Performing Arts 13,636 709,072 Humanities 14,147 735,644 Law 16,695 868,140 Business Studies 22,154 1,152,008 Regular MBA 36,623 1,904,396 Executive MBA 61,190 3,181,880 Social Sciences 14,283 742,716 Education 15,262 793,624 Dentistry 21,894 1,138,488 Veterinary Medicine 8,777 456,404

CAD $1 = INR 53 (appx.)

Living Expenses in Canada

Typically, you will need CAD $10,000 (appx. INR 5 – 6 Lacs) per year to cover your living expenses in Canada while studying.

In a few cases, say if you are based in Vancouver, Toronto, or Quebec, your living expenses could be as high as CAD $1,700 or INR 85,000 per month.

At the end of the day, the living expenses also depend on your lifestyle.

Health Insurance for International Students in Canada

On an important note, every international student studying in Canada must have health insurance.

Provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan cover international students under their provincial health care plans, but coverage generally depends on the length of your stay.

In contrast, international students planning to study in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island or Quebec must arrange for private health insurance.

Part-Time Job While Studying Masters in Canada

As a full-time international student in Canada, you can work on or off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during university semesters and full-time during breaks such as the winter or summer holidays, without the need for a work permit.

You will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.

Eligibility Criteria for Studying Masters in Canada

A majority of the universities in Canada require the applicant to have 16 years of education – a four- year Bachelor’s degree. However, there are certain exceptions. I have discussed this later in this post.

In terms of academic requirements, you need to have a minimum GPA of 3 on a scale of 4. So, roughly, that will be 65 – 70% or CGPA 7.0 – 7.5 in Indian standards. Read How to Convert Indian CGPA and Percentage to 4.0-Scale GPA for Canada & USA.

The top universities, however, require a minimum of 75 – 78% and a lot of emphases are given in the last two years (3rd & 4th years).

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Many universities also ask for GRE/GMAT requirement. So, you need to check the exact eligibility criteria at the university/department websites.

If you are looking to attend a business school in Canada for pursuing MS in Business Management, MS Finance, MS Business Analytics, you will need to have work experience of 1 – 3 years.

Last but not least, you also need to provide proof of English Language Proficiency by submitting IELTS (minimum 6.5 or 7.0) or TOEFL (90+) score.

If you are planning to undertake a Master’s program taught in French (say in the Quebec province), you will need to clear Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) or Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF). However, most of the STEM and business-related subjects are entirely taught in English only.

Masters in Canada with 15 years of Education

I have come across a very limited Master’s program that accepts a 3-years Bachelor’s degree, especially from India. They might accept 3-years Bachelor’s degrees from the UK or Australia.

Carleton University and the University of Manitoba accept 3-year Bachelor degrees for their Master’s Programs in Computer Science. UBC and York University accept 3-year Bachelor degrees from India for MS Business Analytics programs.

So, here are my suggestions for the folks who have completed a 3-year Bachelor degree from India:

Inquire directly with the Universities and/or Admission Officers if you are eligible.

Complete a one-year Post-Graduate Diploma or 2-year MSc and then apply to Canada.

Apply for a Post Graduate or Graduate Diploma in Canada. Finish the program, and then apply for MS in Canada.

Top Scholarships for International Students to Study Masters in Canada

Although studying costs in Canada are relatively lower than some of the other popular study abroad destinations, the overall expenses are still higher for the students from middle-class income groups.

Government Scholarships

IDRC Research Awards: Scholarships from the Canadian Government for the students from the developing countries to undertake a master’s or doctoral-level research degree at a recognized Canadian university.

NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships: Multiple scholarships, grants, and awards from the Canadian Govt. available to outstanding students undertaking study in the natural sciences or engineering at a Canadian university.

Organization of American States (OAS) Academic Scholarship Program: Canadian Govt. scholarships from the Organization of American States (OAS) for the graduate students from any OAS member state (including selected countries in Latin America and the Caribbean islands).

Queen Elizabeth Scholarships: these scholarships have to be applied after contacting research supervisors at Canadian universities. ‘

Mitacs Awards: Need to find an academic supervisor before applying.

Sauve Scholarships: Since 2003, the Foundation has awarded 150 young leaders from 50 countries.

Learn more about scholarship options for international students to Masters in Canada.

University-Specific Scholarships for Masters in Canada

McGill University

University of British Columbia (UBC)

University of Toronto

University of Waterloo

Queen’s University

University of Alberta

University of Manitoba

Simon Fraser University

University of Calgary

HEC Montreal

Western University

Quest University

Carleton University

Dalhousie University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Top Subject Areas to Study in Canada at the Masters Level

IT & Computer Science

MBA, MS Management, MS Finance

Engineering & Engineering Management

Renewable Energy

Agricultural Science & Forestry

Biosciences & Biomedical Engineering

Pharmacy

Nursing

Media & Journalism (including Communication Technologies, Marketing, PR & Advertising, and Digital Marketing)

Math, Statistics, and Data Science & Analytics

Psychology

Human Resources

Architecture

Hospitality Management

Education (Teaching, Counselling & Education Management)

Know more: Top Subjects to Study in Canada for High Paying Jobs

Key Research Areas

In Canada, the government and industry spend a lot of money on research in the following areas:

Telecommunications

Medicine

Agriculture

Computer Technology

Environmental Science

Top Universities for Masters (MS) in Canada

How to Apply for Masters in Canada

Start researching the universities and programs well in advance.

Shortlist the programs/universities where the available projects match your interests and skill set.

Get in touch with potential supervisors to discuss research projects and funding options.

Check the application deadlines and submit the applications well before the deadlines. Usually, for the top universities, you need to apply between December and February for the next Fall (Aug/Sep start).

Check out the Winter, Summer & Fall 2021 Deadlines for Masters in Canada and How to Approach Potential Supervisors.

If you are keen to secure scholarships, make sure you submit your applications in Sep/Oct of the previous year. In fact, for a few external/Govt. scholarships, you need to apply by the end of June of the previous year.

Sign Up a 1-on-1 Counselling Session for MS in Canada

Job Prospects for International Students after Masters in Canada

After you finish your Master’s program in Canada, you are allowed to work for a period that equals the length of your program, but not more than three years. In order to work in Canada after finishing Masters, you need to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme (PGWPP) within 90 days from when you receive the written confirmation that you completed and passed your academic degree course.

There are plenty of jobs in Canada. In fact, for the last few years, Canada has been very active in giving PR to highly skilled foreign nationals with relevant work experience and qualifications. Hence, for the coming years, international students (finishing Masters in Canada) shouldn’t face too many problems to find employment in Canada. In fact, it’s comparatively easier to get a job in Canada with an MS degree from Canada.

The average salary for entry-level jobs in Canada is around CAD $50,000 to CAD $60,000 per year. However, higher salaries can be expected in a few specific domains like IT & Computer Science, Big Data, Scientific Research, Petroleum & Oil, and Renewable Energy, etc.

Here are some of the best of the jobs that Canada has to offer for the experienced guys, with estimated annual salaries.

Mining and forestry manager: CAD $108,805

Oil and gas drilling supervisor: CAD $79,040

Air traffic controller: CAD $87,360

Statistician and actuaries: CAD $89,606

Engineering manager: CAD $94,994

Public administration director: CAD $99,195

Power systems operator: CAD $84,198

Health & community service manager: CAD $100,006

Mapping technologist: CAD $68,640

Senior business manager: CAD $97,136

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Sources:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.