How to get a master's degree from Canada

A Master's degree is a graduate-level degree that can be pursued after your undergraduate studies. By completing this degree, you will be essentially specializing within your field of interest, allow yourself the opportunity of a high-paid job within your field of study. Such a degree is useful for those who are looking to get into the industry after finishing their degree, those interested in getting a feel for research before committing to a much longer 5-6 years for a Ph.D.

Types of postgraduate degrees:

• Graduate Master's degrees such as Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Master of Engineering are pursued to specialize in areas of Science, research and arts respectively.
• Business Master's degrees such as MBA and MIM that are pursued as Business and management-related careers.
• Executive Master's degrees for top executive positions.
• Integrated Master's degrees which have a time span of 4 years with the first three years pursued at the undergraduate level and the final year pursued at the graduate level.

General structure of a postgraduate degree:

• Master's degree can be course-based or research-based depending upon the field of study and the Universities and have a minimum time span of 2 years.
• In the case of course-based degrees, there is a significant amount of coursework followed by intense examinations in the first year of study. The second-year deals with thesis preparation and its defense or internships and projects in the field of interest.
• In the case of research-based degrees, both the years are filled with research work followed by a thesis preparation and its oral defense.
• General requirements include good undergraduate scores, language proficiency tests, GRE/GMAT, resume, statement of purpose, letter of recommendation, adequate financial support, and a research proposal (as per the university's requirement).

Advantages of a postgraduate degree from Canada:

• Introduction of multidisciplinary courses in many Canadian Universities highlights the mounting necessities for students with enhanced knowledge and a diverse level of competence.
• More importance is given to the practical aspects of education by Canadian Universities enhancing a student's research skills and professional competence.
• Emergence of new programs in many Universities is a direct result of Canada's ample resources creating experts in various nooks and corners of education.
• Tuition fees are quite less compared to other countries, and many funding opportunities are also available throughout a student's graduate educational period making it a win-win.
• Top-notch faculty members aid in perfecting a student in his field of interest, and for this very purpose, the best professors have been put together in Canadian universities.
• Canada, being a well-developed country, has many job opportunities in every possible field after a Master's degree ensuring a high quality of life along with a good pay scale.
• Less strenuous immigration and visa procedures make it even more appealing.
• Canada is a highly diverse country housing various ethnicities providing a rich cultural experience in a pleasant manner.

Disadvantages of a postgraduate degree from Canada:

• There are various careers in which a candidate with a Master's degree has only a small advantage over a candidate with a Bachelor's degree making a Master's a choice only for the people who are sure of their field of interest.
• Work experience counts as much as a Master's degree, and the advantage is that the individual gets paid for what he learns and not the other way around as in the case of graduate school which is expensive.
• Master's degree from Canada is mainly pursued to obtain overseas employment, so the amount of money spent will not be profitable if the candidate opts for work in a less developed country. Wanting to Pursue a Master's degree abroad varies with every individual's necessities in life and financial status. So make sure to consider all sides (both positive and negative) before making a decision.

Top 5 universities for a postgraduate degree

1. University of Toronto

• The University of Toronto was established in the year 1827 and has been growing ever since. As of today, the University of Toronto stands as the best university in Canada and one of the top universities in the world. The University of Toronto blends education with practical work, as a way of providing their students the best of both worlds.
• As students learn and practice the theory in real life, not only do they gain exceptional experience; the students are able to expand their knowledge of their field of expertise by a huge margin. Learning while working helps the students practice real-life application and allows them to ease into the workforce.
• Furthermore, the University of Toronto is popular for its research. The research conducted by the University of Toronto is respected and recognized worldwide, as it has had a significant impact in the areas of medicine, health care, humanities, and so on. Students of the university will have an opportunity to participate or contribute to one of the many types of research conducted by the University of Toronto, given that it corresponds with their course.
• At a postgraduate level, the University of Toronto offers a range of degrees. The most popular degrees are Social Sciences, Medicine & Health, Business & Management, Humanities, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Engineering & Technology, and Applied Sciences & Professions.
• The entry requirements for every course will differ according to the requirements of every department. However, the base requirements for any course include a four-year undergraduate degree (or an equivalent of the same) with at least a grade of B+ or more. International students would need to submit a transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. There may be instances where the course may require a GPA score or a GRE score.
• The English requirements work the same as entry requirements. The requirements may differ according to the department's needs and requirements but the general requirement includes a TOEFL score of 93 at least, and an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every component.
• The tuition fee to study at the University of Toronto is on a higher spectrum for international students. The tuition fee may range between $20,000 to $54,000; depending on the course an international student decides to study.

2. University of British Columbia

• The University of British Columbia ranks as one of the best research universities. The title is rightly given as the University of British Columbia aims to impact the world with its groundbreaking research in various fields of expertise. With the incoming of students from all around the world, and with the highest caliber of research faculty, the University of British Columbia receives a research funding of approximately $600 million.
• The university is quite popular for their undergraduate degrees, but what really makes the university stand out is the large variety they provide in their postgraduate degrees while keeping education extremely affordable. Some of the most popular courses under postgraduate degree are Engineering, Medicine, Humanities, Forestry, Business & Management, Environmental Studies, Natural Sciences, and Art, design & architecture.
• The entry requirements differ as per the department or faculty. However, the base requirements for any course include a four-year undergraduate degree (or an equivalent of the same), the minimum requirement of the grades has not been mentioned as of yet. International students would need to submit a transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. There may be instances where the course may require a GPA score or a GRE score.
• English requirements may differ according to the department's needs and requirements but the general requirement includes a TOEFL score of 93 at least, and an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in every component.
• The tuition fee at the University of British Columbia are quite affordable in comparison to other top universities. The fee ranges anywhere between $7,000 to $34,000; depending on your course and what it requires. Courses like architecture are more expensive than courses in humanities.

3. University of Alberta

• The University of Alberta is a public institute that was established in the year 1908. Since then, the University of Alberta has made its name in the field of education and research, which makes it one of the best universities in Canada.
• The University of Alberta is exceptional in the field of research, as it stands as the fourth-best research university in Canada and ranks at 81 in the world for its research. The research conducted by the university ranges from making business & management better to expansion in the field of medicine and health care, all the while making a significant impact in the world with its research.
• More than 400 degrees are offered at the University of Alberta. Out of them, postgraduate degrees are quite popular amongst international students. Some of the most popular courses offered by the University of Alberta are Agriculture & Life Sciences, Business & Management, Graduate Research, Law, and Medicine & Dentistry.
• The entry requirements at the University of Alberta are particularly competitive. The exact scores and grades have not been mentioned yet. However, the base requirements for any course include a four-year undergraduate degree (or an equivalent of the same). International students would need to submit 2 letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. There may be instances where the course may require a GPA score or a GRE score as well.
• The English language requirements at the University of Alberta includes a TOEFL score of 100 at least, and an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in every component.
• The tuition fee at the University of Alberta ranges between $9,000 (thesis-based) to $11,000 (course-based).

4. McMaster University

• McMaster University was founded in the year 1887 and is one of four Canadian universities to rank high in the world's best university rank consistently. McMaster has been applauded for their education and research ever since they were recognized.
• McMaster University is big on research. So much so that the university was tooted as the best research-intensive, medical-doctoral university in the years 2017 and 2018 by the Research Infosource. The education provided by McMaster has been so popular and well-received that the 'McMaster Model', a student-based, learning approach has been adopted by several education institutions all over the world.
• At a postgraduate level, McMaster does not disappoint. The most popular courses amongst the many courses that McMaster offers are Engineering & Computing, Medicine, Art & Design, Life Sciences, and Business & Management.
• The entry requirements for McMaster are not as stringent as the University of Alberta. The general requirements for any course include a four-year undergraduate degree (or an equivalent of the same) with at least a B+ grade (or an equivalent). International students would need to submit a CV, original transcripts, and a statement of purpose. There may be instances where the course may require a GMAT score or a GRE score as well. The GMAT score required is a minimum of 600, while the GRE score required is a minimum of 300 (or more).
• The English language requirements at the McMaster University includes a TOEFL score of 100 overall, and an IELTS score of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in every component.
• The tuition fee for a postgraduate degree at McMaster University is between a range of $9,000 to $34,000. The MBA program at McMaster is the most expensive course as of now.

5. McGill University

• McGill University was established in the year 1881 and ever since has grown and been recognized in the field of education and research. Research is very sacred at McGill University, as it dedicated a whole library towards the information needed for research, as well as developing the collection for the students.
• McGill University has been famous for producing 12 noble laureates and 45 Rhodes Scholars. Moreover, McGill University has one of the highest numbers of international students. A whopping 32% of the total student population is covered by the international students at McGill University.
• It comes as no surprise that the education provided at McGill University is profound. The postgraduate degrees provided at McGill are one of a kind and the most popular degrees are Business & Management, Natural Sciences, Medicine, and Law.
• The entry requirements at McGill University include a four-year undergraduate degree (or an equivalent of the same) with at least a B+ grade (or an equivalent). International students would need to submit a CV, original transcripts, and a statement of purpose. There may be instances where the course may require a GPA score or a GRE score as well. The GPA score required is a minimum of 3 or 3.5, while the GRE score required has not been mentioned as of yet.
• The English language requirements at the McGill University includes a TOEFL score of 100 overall, and an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in every component.
• The tuition fee at McGill University for a postgraduate degree ranges between $19,000 to $49,000. The fees are particularly high for international students, although there are plenty of financial aid services available for the same.