Masters Programs in Canada: Top Colleges, Fees & Scholarships

There are a plethora of masters programs in Canada for international students from all over the world. For international students, the cost of attending a master's degree in Canada may depend on the type and duration of the course and the institution's location.

Some of the popular masters programs in Canada are available in a wide range of subject areas, including business, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, and medicine. The duration of a postgraduate program in Canada is between one and two years, and it costs around 30,000 CAD annually.

Table of Contents

• Popular Master Programs in Canada for International Students
• Top Colleges for Masters in Canada
• Best Colleges for Cheap Masters Degrees in Canada
• Why Pursue Masters Degree in Canada?
• Admission Requirements
• Cost of Pursuing Masters Programs in Canada
• Cost of Living in Canada
• Masters Scholarships in Canada for International Students 
• Fully Funded Scholarship in Canada 2022 for International Students
• Work Permit after Masters in Canada
• Top-Paying Sectors after Studying Masters in Canada

Popular Master Programs in Canada for International Students

Below you will find a list of some of the most popular master's programs in Canada, along with the best universities offering these programs:

 Top Colleges for Masters in Canada

The best colleges offering a cheap masters degree in Canada for international students, along with their Times Higher Education rankings 2022, are given below:

Canada is known for its quality education, specifically the STEM courses and programs in engineering fields such as mechanical, computer science, etc., and other areas of study such as public health, human resources, management studies, etc. International students seeking PR opportunities and global work exposure prefer to pursue masters at top colleges in Canada.

Best Colleges for Cheap Masters Degrees in Canada

The cheap universities in Canada for masters offer quality masters in Canada for international students at affordable prices. The cheap master's degree in Canada offered at these universities is comparable to the education offered at some of the best universities in Canada. Masters in Canada for international students are research-based and provide adequate exposure to students through various co-op placements, internships, and work-study programs. Some of the cheap universities in Canada for masters, along with the average tuition fees, are given below:

Why Pursue Masters Degree in Canada?

A Masters's degree in Canada for international students is provided in the form of Masters of Science(MS) or Masters of Arts (MA). The masters in Canada for international students are much more affordable than in other countries such as the UK and the US. The cost of studying in Canada largely depends on the course's type and duration and the Canadian university. For instance, the University of Toronto masters programs for international students are slightly expensive than other Canadian universities. However, various university-specific graduate scholarships in Canada are available for international students. Some of the reasons to choose postgraduate courses in Canada for international students are listed below:

• The curriculum of postgraduate courses in Canada for international students is research-based or thesis-based leading to practical exposure in co-op placements and internships.
• Canada is home to some of the top-ranking universities globally, with around 7 Canadian universities ranked in the top 200 universities in the world.
• Masters programs in Canada for international students have high academic standards. They are offered in a wide range of specializations such as medicine, IT, engineering and technology, finance, management, business administration, etc.
• The tuition fees at Canadian universities is the lowest among English-speaking countries. The average tuition fees for international students to pursue masters in Canada range between $30,000 and $55,000 per academic year.
• Several masters scholarships in Canada are available for international students providing both partial-funding and full-funding. Other funding options include fellowships, grants, awards, and bursaries.
• Masters programs in Canada are offered both in English and French as both languages are Canada's official languages. International students may choose to pursue their master's program only in English.
• Canada has a multicultural student community comprising over 6 lakh students from more than 200 countries worldwide. Canada is a friendly nation embracing students of all nationalities and ethnicities.
• International students pursuing masters programs in Canada can work for up to 20 hours a week on-campus or outside. Students can work part-time for their course duration to manage living expenses and get the required job experience.
• The average annual salary of masters graduates in Canada is around $169,000.

Admission Requirements

Several institutions in Canada offer master's degree programs, so the eligibility requirements for each might differ. Listed below are some of the common eligibility criteria you need to remember when applying for a master's degree in Canada, regardless of the course you choose:

• Candidates must hold a three or four-year bachelor's degree from a renowned institution.
• Work experience relevant to your field of study is required.
• English language proficiency scores through TOEFL, IELTS, etc., need to be provided by the applicants.
• Those who wish to pursue an engineering or management program need to take eligibility exams like GMAT and GRE.
• Statement of Purpose 
• Letters of Recommendation
• Proof of your ability to finance your studies in Canada.
• An updated CV 
• A master's or doctoral program may require two letters of academic recommendation along with letters of employment. Those who have not previously studied in Canada will also require an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment).

Cost of Pursuing Masters Programs in Canada

An international student pursuing a masters in Canada will normally incur tuition fees of CAD 18,000 (INR 9,54,000). The following table shows the estimated tuition charges of studying a master's degree in Canada: 

Cost of Living in Canada

Living costs in Canada might differ on the basis of factors like location, accommodation, lifestyle, etc. Following is a breakdown of the expenses Indian students should consider when calculating the cost of living and studying in Canada:

Masters Scholarships in Canada for International Students 

International students can avail of need-based and merit-based masters scholarships in Canada. Both partially-funded and fully funded scholarships in Canada 2022 are available for international students. Canada's master's scholarships for international students are offered by the Canadian government, non-government organizations, and respective Canadian universities in which the student is enrolled. Some of the master's scholarships in Canada for international students are listed below:

1. University of Toronto Ontario Graduate Scholarship Canada
2. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
3. University of Waterloo Master’s Awards of Excellence
4. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)
5. Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master’s Program
6. Ontario Trillium Scholarships
7. University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships
8. UBC Graduate Global Leadership Fellowships
9. NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships
10. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

Fully Funded Scholarship in Canada 2022 for International Students

Financial aid is available for international students in the form of scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, awards, and grants. A fully funded scholarship in Canada 2022 is offered by the Canadian government and other non-government Canadian trusts, funds, and organizations. There are university-specific scholarship options as well for international students. These postgraduate scholarships in Canada cover tuition fees, flight charges, insurance costs, incidental expenses, etc. Listed below are some of the fully-funded master's scholarships in Canada for international students pursuing a master's program in Canada.

• Surfshark Privacy and Security Scholarship
• Carleton University Awards for International Students
• Fairleigh Dickinson Scholarships for International Students
• McGill University Scholarships and Student Aid
• University of Alberta International Scholarships

Work Permit after Masters in Canada

The number of students pursuing higher studies in Canada is on the rise. There are favorable policies in Canada that aid in the obtaining of a work visa. Graduating from top Canadian colleges can lead to a three-year work permit, which can then be converted into permanent residency. If you obtain a graduate degree in Canada, you become eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

With the PGWP, students may work for any employer in Canada, regardless of the type of employment. Its availability is dependent on the duration of the study program. The PGWP can last for a maximum of three years. To become eligible for a post-graduation work permit, students must apply within 180 days of graduating from their program.

Top-Paying Sectors after Studying Masters in Canada

Following a master's degree in Canada, you can explore various sectors for employment opportunities. The table given below shows the top paying sectors after studying master's programs in Canada: