Masters in Canada: Top Universities, Courses, Eligiblity and Jobs

Darshan Shah

31 Aug 2024

Canada is well known for its diversity and attracting huge amounts of international students each year. More than 10 Canadian universities are among the world’s top 250 universities. Therefore, the reason Canada is one of the most popular destinations preferred by students for postgraduate studies from all over the world is because of the high quality of education and high quality of life. Pursuing a master’s(MS) in Canada can also help international students when they apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Why Study in Canada?

To begin with, studying for a master’s in Canada costs less than the majority of English-speaking countries. Canada creates a lively and inclusive learning environment for international students while also allowing international students to work part-time and cover their expenses.

Quality of Education: Canada has universities and colleges which are renowned for their unbeatable academics and diversity. Their education system offers numerous programs with a strong focus on hands-on learning experiences, and opportunities.

Work and Study in Canada: Finding a student job is a smart way to earn extra money while you are studying in Canada. Quite a few times universities and colleges also provide on-campus opportunities like work-study programs and part-time jobs. Co-op and internship programs offer practical experience and a pathway to future employment. If you choose an off-campus job, keep the specific work regulations in mind.

Top Universities in Canada for Master’s(MS)

Canadian universities provide a world-class education with a wide range of programs in various fields like IT, Law, Engineering, etc. Each province and territory in Canada approves universities that can enroll international students. They are known as Designated Learning Institutions (DLI).

Here are some of the top universities in Canada for Master’s

• University of Toronto: The University of Toronto is one of the world’s leading research universities founded in 1827. It has three campuses that are located in the city of 

Toronto; 

1. Mississauga Campus
2.  St. George Campus 
3. Scarborough Campus.

 It also ranks first in sustainability, third in research citations, and fifth in performance ranking of scientific papers around the world.

• University of Ottawa: The University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual university in the world, it offers a wide range of programs through its faculties like Arts, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, and Science. University of Ottawa is a research university and It has ranked in a number of different university rankings around the world.
• University of Waterloo: Waterloo is ranked #1 in Canada for hands-on experience learning and student-employer connections. University of Waterloo is well-known for entrepreneurship and innovation offering co-op and work-integrated learning opportunities on a large scale to make a significant impact.
• Brock University: Brock University opened in 1964 and it is located in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It has a student population of almost 20,000 students and 600 faculty members. It offers more than a hundred programs including graduate and undergraduate programs in 7 different faculties.
• Lakehead University: Lakehead University has 2 campuses one in Thunder Bay and another in Orillia and it offers a broad range of degree and diploma programs within ten faculties. It also creates a huge economic impact on the city of Thunder Bay and Orillia.

Choosing the best course for master’s in Canada

These are some of the most popular fields in Canada and their brief insights which can further help you in choosing your career path. 

• Computer science: Computer science programs provide a theoretical background along with projects, practical assignments, and internship opportunities to the students. Computer Science graduates are in high demand in the market and it is going to stay that way with all the ongoing global technological advancements, thus making IT an ideal field of choice for studying master's in Canada.
• Civil Engineering: Studying Civil Engineering at a Canadian University will provide insight and knowledge regarding environmental and urban planning, designing bridges, highways, and modern infrastructure to the students.
• Human Resource Management: Studying Human Resource Management in Canada is a safe bet as you will get to know the core business functions of large organizations and significant skills for gaining organizational results. There is a high demand for people to work in the Human Resources department, especially nowadays with the increasing number of people migrating to Canada for work purposes.
• Electrical Engineering: Studying for a master's degree in the field of electrical engineering in Canada gives a generic engineering knowledge with design projects and laboratory work. Usually electrical engineering students also attend classes in economics and ecology to understand how real business works and what the industry environment is like.
• Public Health: Public health is one of the most important topics of the Canadian government and therefore the government making it easier for Healthcare students and workers to be able to get their permanent residency. Also, the average pay rate in the Healthcare industry is higher than in most other fields. A Master's degree in Public Health can lend you opportunities like working for the Public Health Agency of Canada or the Ministry of Health.

Master’s in Canada for Indian Students

Eligibility Requirements

There are a few requirements that you have to meet to be eligible for admission to MS in Canada.

• You need to have a field-related UG degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or an equivalent international undergraduate degree.
• Some institutions also require you to submit GMAT or GRE scores depending on the program
•   The minimum GMAT score required is 550.
• The minimum GRE score requirement is 140 in verbal and 150 in quantitative.
• Some of the Master’s programs also require students to have 1-3 years of professional working experience in the related field.
• International students also need to provide proof of their English Language Proficiency 
• The minimum requirement for IELTS is 6.5 - 7.0 bands
• The minimum requirement for TOFEL is 90+ (iBT)

Jobs after MS in Canada

There is an extreme amount of opportunities for international students after completing a master’s degree in Canada. A two-year master's program in Canada provides excellent educational quality and boosts the career of an individual. Graduates usually earn up to 60,000 to 100,000 CAD annually, which is equivalent to 35 to 60 lakhs INR annually depending on their specialization and their role in the company. Leading recruiters in Canada include Bell, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, CapitalOne, etc. These companies offer job roles like Data Science Engineer, Software Developer, Data Analyst, Electrical Engineer, etc. Finally, securing employment in Canada is an important milestone for all international students.

How much does studying Master’s in Canada Cost

The cost of living and the university fee totally depend upon the respective factors.

If you are studying in a metropolitan city then the tuition fees and the cost of living are going to be higher as compared to the smaller cities. On average tuition fees for universities cost around $20,000 to $40,000 annually depending on the field of study.

Here is an approximate estimation of the cost of living on a monthly basis

Here is an approximate cost for annual tuition fees according to the field of study.

There are a lot of universities in Canada that offer scholarships for international students. Students need to meet the specified criteria in order to be eligible for the scholarships.

To begin with, there are many streams of scholarships for international students in Canada which are well-funded. There are 3 major types in which these scholarships are divided.

• Government Scholarships.
• Non-Government Scholarships
• Canadian University Scholarships

List of some of the scholarships available for Master’s in Canada.

Conclusion

In Canada, education is known to be of high quality and its universities are truly reputable around the world because of their academic excellence. As a result of the strong value and credence of Canadian degrees in the job market, master's students coming from other countries to study in Canada will undoubtedly be at a great advantage in their field when they finish their studies. There are several master's programs offered in Canada that can be finished within two years, which aligns with the duration of the post-graduation work permit that allows students to remain and work in the country for 2 years after completing their studies.