Postgraduate Study in Canada - A World of Possibilities

Canada is a consistently popular destination for postgraduate study abroad, but what is it that attracts so many international students? Chelsea Ljutic, from the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom, takes a closer look at what a Canadian Masters or PhD programme might offer you.

Looking for an unforgettable experience to last you a lifetime?

Every year, students around the globe choose to pursue their education in Canada. Known for outstanding quality of life, safe and vibrant multicultural cities, beautiful spaces and first class health care, Canada is internationally recognised for a competency-based teaching approach that prepares students to be productive in the workplace immediately after graduation.

Canadian universities and colleges are a key component of education systems recognised as being among the best in the world.

Higher education is primarily publicly funded in Canada, and institutions are accountable for quality assurance in teaching, research and campus facilities. Tuition and living costs are competitive compared with other destinations for study abroad.

Canada represents a tremendous opportunity for UK students looking to advance their career opportunities. In 2018, nearly 500,000 international students chose Canada as their preferred destination for a Masters or PhD abroad, and an increasing number of UK students are doing the same.

Canada’s 85 publicly-funded universities offer high quality education at competitive prices. There are a vast selection of undergraduate and Masters degrees and doctoral programmes to choose from, as well as professional designations, certificate and diploma courses, and career-focused programmes.

Canadian institutions also boast cutting edge technology and research labs as well as numerous opportunities for work placements and internships.

If you’re interested in postgraduate research, Canada’s universities, colleges and polytechnics are the place to be.

Canadian institutions are innovation leaders in numerous fields, including health, nanotechnology, biotechnology, high-performance computing, environmental technologies, nutraceuticals and renewable fuels. R&D cross-funding between the private sector and education institutions is high.

Our universities and colleges also act as knowledge hubs, connecting business, government and educational institutions with commercial firms that help deliver on discovery. If you have ideas to change the world, we’ve got the programmes to help you bring them to life!

If you are looking for programmes that will prepare you directly for the job market, Canada’s colleges and polytechnics are an excellent choice.

Over 8,000 programmes at 150 public institutions provide recognised credentials, including certificates, diplomas, transfer programmes, academic and applied degrees, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas.

Programmes are taught by highly experienced faculty and are available with varying lengths of study, from a few months to four years. Applied programmes are designed in collaboration with potential employers that offer work placements.

As a full-time international student, you can gain valuable work experience and help to finance your stay while studying in Canada. Students can work up to 20 hours per week and full-time during academic breaks.

As well, the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows you as a graduate to work in Canada for up to three years. Skilled work experience gained through this program helps graduates who wish to stay longer qualify for permanent residence in Canada

Balancing academic achievement with direct learning in a career-related job can help you gain a competitive advantage after graduation!

Scholarships are generally based on academic merit and are often awarded at the time of admission by universities and colleges. There are a variety of scholarships specifically for international students and researchers.

You can read more about Canadian Masters fees and funding and Canadian PhD fees and funding here on FindAMasters and FindAPhD.

Canada's universities have plenty to offer, including:

• Consistently high-quality education across the country
• Academic credentials valued worldwide
• Consistently high investment in education – among the OECD countries, Canada is one of the highest investors into its colleges and universities (OECD’s Education at a Glance 2017)
• Canada has one of the world’s most educated populations – Canada has the highest percentage of people age 25–64 (54%) with a college or university education among OECD countries

Higher education in Canada is supported by a strong and innovative economy:

• Canada is one of the Top 10 entrepreneurial economies in the world (IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2018)
• The World Economic Forum ranks Canada’s banking system as among the soundest in the world
• Canada is the easiest place to start a business among the G7 countries (World Bank)

The quality of Canada's universities is reflected in global rankings:

• 5 Canadian universities ranked among the Top 100 of the Times Higher Education 2020 World University Rankings – University of Toronto (18), University of British Columbia (34), McGill University (42), McMaster University (72), and University of Montreal (85) and 2 others ranked among the Top 200 – University of Alberta (136) and University of Ottawa (141)
• 4 Canadian universities ranked among the Top 20 of the Times Higher Education 2019 World University Impact Rankings – McMaster University (2), University of British Columbia (3), University of Montreal (7) and University of Waterloo (13)

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