Our Guides to Masters Study in Canada – 2025

Canada is one of the world's most popular destinations for international students. You don't have to look much further than its pristine wilderness, friendliness and world-class universities to understand why.

Here's a snapshot of what's on offer from a Masters in Canada for international students this year:

• International outlook – Over 200 nationalities are represented by the student body in Canada. Canadian society is famous for its diversity and tolerance.
• Investment in education – The Canadian government invests generously in its universities. Canada has one of the highest state budgets for higher education out of the OECD countries, ensuring the high quality of its Masters programmes.
• Bilingualism – Canada has two official languages (English and French) and a multicultural population. This offers the chance to learn a new language or to improve your existing skills!
• Post-study work opportunities – Post-study work permits allow you to stay in Canada for two years after your course finishes.
• Quality of life – The standard of living in Canada is extremely high, and the nation as a whole is a safe and stable environment in which to study.

In Canada, Masters degrees are also known as 'grad' programmes or simply 'grad school' (the term 'graduate' is used in place of 'postgraduate'). They generally come in the form of a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MSc, or MS in Canada).

Like the UK, there are also specialist Master degrees in a range of subjects. These include the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), the Master of Engineering (MEng) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Canadian Masters courses usually last between one and two years (there might be additional internships or placements).

Your programme may involve interactive teaching as well traditional lectures and tutorials. This could include site visits, projects and group work. Most Masters include a dissertation which makes up a large proportion of the course’s credits. For some subject areas, this could be replaced by a consultancy project.

The academic year tends to begin in September, but some universities have several start dates for their Masters courses. After a Christmas break, students return to university and study until the exam period in April.

Co-operative education programmes

Several Canadian universities offer Masters programmes through the ‘co-operative education option’.

Co-op provides hands-on, paid experience in placements related to your field of study. Opportunities are available in all disciplines and provide valuable work experience and contacts. Employers involved in the co-op programme get qualified students to undertake specialised projects. Many of them also use it as a recruitment tool, allowing them to really get to know potential candidates and their abilities. For Masters students, these internships are usually between two and four months.

To become part of the programme you'll need to register as a co-op student. There may be extra requirements (such as a high GPA), and you may need to attend compulsory training sessions. Once you have been accepted, you will receive notifications when co-op opportunities arise. Many employers will be 'repeat' placement providers.

International students who require a study permit have to apply for a co-op work permit. Universities will be able to help with the administration for this.