Complete Guide to Higher Education System in Canada

With the influences of the British education system, the higher education system in Canada is similar to that of the US but is not federally accredited. This means each province and territory in Canada is responsible for regulating education standards. Top universities in Canada offer a broad range of courses to pursue after high school.

The higher education system in Canada differs slightly according to the region. For instance, the higher education system in British Columbia is administered by the provincial government. As per this system, higher education is delivered by 25 publicly funded institutes, 14 privately funded institutes, and several private career training institutes. Among the public institutions are 11 universities, 11 colleges, and 3 institutes.

Classification of Education System in Canada

Canada is recognized worldwide for its high academic standards across elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and beyond. In Canada, all provinces except Ontario and New Brunswick provide compulsory schooling to students up to the age of 16. 

Moreover, schools in New Brunswick and Ontario require compulsory attendance up to the age of 18 years. Most Canadian school systems have 12 grades, with the exception of Quebec's system, which includes 11 grades. The table below shows the different stages involved in Canada’s education system.

Education Levels	Description
Pre-School Education	It is the first stage of education in Canada for children who are between the ages of 4 and 5. Children can choose to attend private, public, or federal schools, depending upon their preference.
Primary Education	Primary education in Canada includes compulsory education from grade 1 to grade 6. Subjects like math, English, science, social studies, arts, etc., are covered during this stage.
Secondary Education	Also known as high school, secondary education is divided into two phases: junior high school and high school.  Junior high school includes a two-year term of education covering grades 7 and 8. High school is the last four-year experience of school life and prepares students for higher education. This level of education begins with Grade 9 and goes up to Grade 12.
Post-Secondary Education	The post-secondary institutions in Canada offer diplomas, vocational certificates, and associate's degrees. Degrees can be earned in a wide variety of subjects at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels.

Higher Education System in Canada

Canada is home to top-notch educational institutions that offer a range of qualifications, including diplomas, certificates, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, etc. Students can opt for any of these courses depending on their interests and career goals. Here is an overview of the higher education system in Canada:

Qualifications	Duration	Descriptions
Associate Degree	2 Years	It is equivalent to the first two years of a four-year bachelor's degree
Certificates & Diplomas	1-2 Years	Students can pursue diplomas/certifications in vocational and career-oriented programs, mainly technical
Bachelor’s Degree	3-4 Years	The program is offered to international students as an undergraduate degree. The duration of the program is based on the province and the type of program selected by the student.  This degree usually lasts four years in Canada, except for three years in Quebec.
Bachelor’s Honors Degree	4 Years	To pursue this degree, students are required to achieve a particular GPA or credits, a major or a specialist program.
Postgraduate Diploma	1-2 Years	A PG diploma is a post-bachelor degree qualification
Master’s degree (Thesis)	1-2 Years	Also known as research masters, the course requires students to submit a thesis for evaluation and completion of the course.
Master’s degree (Non-Thesis)	1-2 Years	This is a taught master's degree, which does not require a thesis submission.
Doctorate or PhD	4-7 Years	Students receive this degree after completing their thesis and presenting their work before a panel of faculty members.

Higher Education in Quebec vs Rest of Canada

The higher education system in Quebec slightly differs from the one followed in the rest of Canada. In Quebec, ‘college’ refers to either a 2-year pre-university program or a 3-year professional program, post which a student can pursue 3-year-long undergraduate courses at a university. Further, they can enroll in a postgraduate program (1-2 years in duration) followed by a Ph.D. program.

In other parts of Canada, 'college' refers to a technical college or community college where students can obtain a certificate, diploma, or associate's degree. Students can pursue UG or PG programs at a university (though they will require an honors degree to do so), while at graduate school, they can earn a diploma, degree, or an advanced certificate.

Top Universities in Canada

Canada has some of the top-ranking universities across the globe that provide high-quality education and world-class facilities. Here are some of the top colleges that students can consider to pursue higher education in Canada:

Universities	Average Annual Fees (INR)
University of Toronto	34.55 lakhs
University of British Columbia	27.89 lakhs
McGill University	9.96 lakhs
McMaster University	17.81 lakhs
University of Montreal	14.38 lakhs
University of Alberta	14.67 lakhs
University of Ottawa	29.85 lakhs
University of Calgary	10.08 lakhs
University of Waterloo	20.86 lakhs
Western University	18.04 lakhs

Popular Courses for Higher Education in Canada

Universities in Canada offer quality programs to students in diverse fields of study. The major fields of study include computer science, arts, medicine, and business, among others. Let us explore some of the popular courses offered by Canadian universities in these subject areas. 

• Arts and Humanities
• Business
• Medicine
• Science and Engineering
• Computer Science and IT

Arts and Humanities- Canada offers a number of degrees in Arts, contributing to the development of interesting styles and distinct ideas. Here are the top courses in arts and humanities, along with other details:

Course	University	Duration	Course Fees Per Year (CAD)
B.A. Theatre Acting	Dalhousie University	4 years	20,437 (INR 12,50,775)
M.A. Art History	Queen’s University	2 years	13,131 (INR 8,03,637)
Master of Music	University of Alberta	2 years	17,834 (INR 10,91,230)
B.A. Sociology	University of Montreal	4 years	N/A
B.A.English Literature	McGill University	4 years	27,075 (INR 16,57,085)

Business- Some of the top business schools in Canada are known for offering courses in fields like Brand Management, Risk Management, Logistics, and more. Tabulated below are the popular business courses offered by Canadian universities:  

Course	University	Duration	Course Fees Per Year (CAD)
Master of Finance	The Rotman School of Management, UToronto	1.5 years	45,125 (INR 27,67,809)
B.Com in Finance and Business law	Sauder School of Business, UBC	4 years	54,380 (INR 33,28,247)
B. Com Business Analytics	Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill	4 years	57,719 (INR 35,32,606)
MBA	DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University	2.5 years	42,117 (INR 25,76,966)
MBA	Alberta School of Business	1.5 years	30,266 (INR 18,51,953)

Medicine- Canada is well known for its healthcare system around the world. Students can pursue the following medical programs in Canada: 

Course	University	Duration	Course Fees Per Year (CAD)
B.Sc. Pharmacology	University of Toronto	4 years	59,184 (INR 36,21,509)
M.Sc Surgery	University of British Columbia	2 years	9,316 (INR 5,70,150)
Doctor of Medicine	University of Alberta	4 years	8,325 (INR 5,09,500)
M.Sc Psychology	Queen’s University	4 years	12,370 (INR 7,56,978)

Science and Engineering- Over the past few years, various economic sectors have flourished in Canada. As a result, engineering schools in Canada have become highly popular. Check out the top universities in Canada for engineering, if you are interested! Here are the most sought-after courses in science and engineering fields: 

Course	University	Duration	Course Fees Per Year (CAD)
Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering	University of Waterloo	4 years	61,790 (INR 31,81,835)
Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering	University of Waterloo	4 years	20,224 (INR 12,37,341)
Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering	McGill University	4 years	50,000 (INR 30,59,744)
Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering	University of Toronto	2 years	26,724 (INR 16,07,807)

Computer Science and IT- There has always been a huge demand for IT Professionals and Software Developers all over the world. As per a report by CIC, a Canadian immigration newspaper, IT project managers and software developers fall under the top 10 in-demand job profiles in Canada. Check out the top courses in Canada for computer science and IT:

Course	University	Duration	Course Fees Per Year (CAD)
B. Sc in Computer Science	University of British Columbia	4 years	42,253 (INR 33,76,525)
B.sc in Computer Science	University of Toronto	4 years	58,175 (INR 46,50,218)
M.Sc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	University of Waterloo	1.5 years	46,340 (overall) (INR 37,04,187)
M.Sc in Computer Science	University of Alberta	2 years	17,000 (INR 13,58,801)
B. Sc in Computer science	McGill University	4 years	50,000 (INR 30,59,744)

List of Professional Short Term Courses in Canada

The cost of short-term courses is much lower than the cost of regular undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Canada for overseas students. Shown below are some of the popular and affordable short-term courses available in Canada for international students: 

Course	Tuition Fees
Human Resources Management Certificate	€11,925 (INR 9,52,845)
Communication	€11,263 (INR 8,99,771)
Business Administration	€9,540 (INR 7,62,455)
Global Logistics Management	€11,263 (INR 8,99,771)
Software Construction	Free
French Language	€10,759 (INR 8,59,774)
Software Engineering	Free

Read More: List of Professional Short Term Courses in Canada

Why Pursue Higher Education in Canada?

Canada is a coveted study abroad destination among international students around the world. As of 2020, there were around 642,000 students pursuing higher studies in Canada. Listed below are the reasons why international students should choose Canada for higher education:

• World ranking institutions: Canada is renowned worldwide for its colleges and universities that have achieved top rankings by international agencies. More than 26 Canadian universities were featured in the QS world university rankings of 2019.
• Extensive opportunities in the research field: The higher education system in Canada places a great emphasis on research as well as traditional learning, thereby providing innovative and quality education to students. 
• Low Crime Rate: Canada boasts an extremely low crime rate and is therefore considered one of the safe study destinations for students across the globe. It reported a crime rate of 18.86 per 100,000 people in 2022. Additionally, the country has been ranked #2 by Global News in terms of quality of life.
• Flexible visa policies: Students are attracted to Canada as a study destination because of its immigration-friendly policies. They can easily obtain study visas, work permits, and PRs to study in Canada. 
• Cheaper Education Opportunities: When compared to countries like the USA and the UK, Canada offers study programs at cheaper tuition rates. Despite the affordable options, there is no compromise in the quality of education. You might want to take a look at some of the affordable universities in Canada!

Facts About Higher Education System in Canada

Indian students account for the majority of international students in Canada, followed by students from China. Check out some of the other interesting facts about the higher education system in Canada.

• As per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada is listed among the top three countries in terms of spending per capita on public post-secondary education.
• A total of 625,785 international students enrolled in Canadian public colleges and universities in the year 2021.
• A survey by CBIE (Canada) found that 96% of international students recommend studying in Canada for higher studies.
• According to recent studies, around 530,540 international students had Canada study permits in 2021.
• Being one of the most educated countries in the world, Canada spends 6% of its GDP on education.
• Over 70% of universities in Canada partner with indigenous communities and organizations to foster dialogue and reconciliation.
• Approximately 1,084,228 students attend post-secondary education institutions in Canada as of 2021/2022.

Application Process for Higher Education in Canada

While planning to pursue higher education abroad, one must be familiar with the complete application process and admission requirements. Discussed below are the details related to the admission process in Canada:

When to Apply?

The academic year in Canada usually starts in September and ends in April or May. There are 3 admission intakes in Canada for international students: Fall, Winter, and Summer. For bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Canada, most of the colleges accept admissions in November-December for the fall semester. Moreover, students can apply all around the year for diploma programs.

How to Apply?

Students can apply via SRAM for universities based in Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta. However, if the institution is not affiliated with any of these portals, students can submit their applications through the official website of the university.

Admission Requirements

Despite the fact that every university in Canada has its own admission requirements, the common requirements across Canadian universities remain the same. These prerequisites are listed below:

• Secondary School Certificate/ Bachelor’s degree certificate 
• Certified translation for Non-English Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose or Letter of Intent
• Curriculum Vitae
• Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE)
• Proof of French language proficiency (if applicable)
• Evidence of financial sufficiency
• Letter of Recommendation

Language Proficiency Requirements

English and French are the 2 official languages of Canada. Around 95% of the Canadian population is fluent in English. Whereas, the French language is popular in provinces like Quebec and Ontario. Let us now discuss the minimum language requirements that one must fulfill to study in Canada.

English Language Proficiency

The table below summarizes the minimum English language proficiency requirements that one must meet in order to apply to Canadian universities:

Tests	UG	PG
TOEFL iBT	6.0	6.5
TOEFL CBT	70	80 or more
TOEFL PBT	213	237-250
IELTS	550	580-600

Tests like PTE, and Duolingo are also accepted by higher education institutions in Canada.

French Language Proficiency

One needs to take TEF (Test d’évaluation de français) or DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) to demonstrate their proficiency in the French language. The minimum score required for TELF is 400.