Top Colleges in Canada for MS in Data Science

Mar 4, 2024 | 9 min read

Find top 10 colleges in Canada for MS data science in Canada with the required TOEFL & IELTS scores, Duration & Tuition fees. Eligibility to join also provided.

There are several top Colleges in Canada for MS in Data Science for international students looking to pursue higher education in the field of data science. Masters (MS) in Data Science in Canada is a 10-16 month long course offered in the form of associate, certificate, degree, professional, and diploma programs.

Data science is the art of processing, investigating the humongous amount of raw and structured data leading to a more predictive and efficient decision-making process. The average fee for international students at the top Canadian colleges for MS in Data Science comes up to $17,000.

An MS in Data Science in Canada is a multidisciplinary field including data cleansing, preparation, and analysis and is available in specializations of Masters in Computer Science, Big Data, or Mathematics. The programs in Data Science and Analytics are offered in the STEM disciplines.

A master's program in Data Science is considered one of the most job-oriented courses in Canada leading to a salary of $70,000- $90,000 a year. This article discusses some of the top colleges In Canada for MS in Data Science, including their eligibility criteria, costs, and top programs.

Table of Contents

Top Colleges for MS in Data Science in Canada
Why Pursue Masters in Data Science from Canada?
Course Curriculum
Top MS in Data Science Programs in Canada
Admission Process for MS in Data Science in Canada
- Where to Apply?
- Application Deadlines
MS in Data Science in Canada Eligibility Criteria
Admission Requirements for Masters in Data Science in Canada
- English Language Proficiency Requirements

Top Colleges for MS in Data Science in Canada

Canada is home to some of the top-ranking colleges offering Masters in Data Science degrees to students from all over the world. It is one of the most sought-after destinations for international students due to its immigration-friendly policies and affordability as compared to other top countries such as the UK and the US. Listed below are some of the top colleges in Canada for MS in Data Science:

University of British Columbia
University of Toronto
McGill University
Queen’s University
University of Western Ontario
HEC Montreal
Simon Fraser University
Ryerson University
Carleton University
University of Waterloo

University of British Columbia (UBC)

The Master of Data Science (MDS) degree at UBC is a professional program developed by the combined expertise of the departments of Computer Science and Statistics of UBC. It teaches students to utilize descriptive and prescriptive techniques to extract and analyze data from both unstructured and structured forms. The eligibility criteria, costs, and other requirements for international students to pursue the MDS degree at the University of British Columbia are as follows:

TOEFL: 100/ IELTS: Overall 7.0
Duration of the course: Full-time for 10 months
Tuition fees for international students: $45,898.74

University of Toronto (U of T)

The Master of Science in Applied Computing (MScAC) program offered at U of T provides students with an advanced understanding of statistical and computer science methods, along with vigorous research training and an opportunity for applied research internship to test their knowledge in the real world. The applicants should demonstrate a strong background in computer science and statistics preferably through formal academic training at the senior undergraduate level. The other admission requirements for the MS in Applied Computing program at U of T are:

TOEFL (iBT): 93/ IELTS: Overall 7
Duration of the course: 8 months followed by 8 months internship at an industry partner organization
Tuition fees for international students: $61,000

Read More: University of Toronto (U of T)

McGill University

The School of Continuing Studies under McGill University offers the Master of Management in Analytics (MMA) program which is ranked #1 in Canada and #10 in the world by the QS Masters in Business Analytics Rankings 2021. The MMA program is a one-year specialized program in the field of management analytics with a strong emphasis on experiential learning. The eligibility criteria for international students to pursue an MMA degree at McGill are:

Students with a strong background in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics are eligible
TOEFL (iBT): 86/ IELTS: Overall 6.5
Duration of the course: Full-time 12 months
Tuition fees for international students: $52,515

Read More: McGill University

Queen’s University

The Master of Management (MMA) program offered at Smith School of Business under Queen’s University is available in two convenient formats- MMA Toronto and Global MMA. The admission requirements and tuition fee details for international students are as follows:

GMAT: 650
Duration of the course: Full-time 12 months
Tuition fees for international students: $74,500

Read More: Queen’s University

University of Western Ontario

The Master of Data Analytics (MDA) program offered at the University of Western Ontario is a one-year professional science master's program that equips students with a set of technical data analytics skills and prepares them for an analytics-focused career. The eligibility requirements for international students to enroll in the MDA program at the University of Western Ontario are:

TOEFL (iBT): 94/ IELTS: Overall 7
Duration of the course: Full-time 12 months
Tuition fees for international students: $52,655

HEC Montreal

HEC Montreal is one of the top colleges in Canada for MS in Data Science and offers the Master of Science in Data Science and Business Analytics program that helps students with concepts for developing models and advanced methods in optimization, modeling, statistics, and machine learning/ deep learning. Students can choose the supervised project track to gain real work experience and also choose the research-oriented thesis track to explore a specific area of interest. Given below are the admission prerequisites for international students to enroll in MSc in Data Science and Business Analytics at HEC Montreal:

GPA: 3.0 out of 4.3
GMAT: 630 or higher
Duration of the course: Full-time 16-24 months
Tuition fees for international students: $28,800 - $29,900

Read More: HEC Montreal

Simon Fraser University (SFU)

The Professional Master’s program in Big Data Specialization offered at SFU is the 1st big data program of its kind in Canada and is nationally ranked #1 for data mining publications and #2 for database research. Through the co-op program at SFU, students can tackle real-world challenges, obtain valuable project management experience, and grow their network of industry contacts. The SFU admission requirements and tuition fees for the Professional Master of Science in Computer Science in Big Data are shown below:

GPA: 3.0 out of 4.3
TOEFL (iBT): 94/ IELTS: Overall 7
Duration of the course: Full-time 16 months
Tuition fees for international students: $42,165.56 for 4 semesters

Read More: Simon Fraser University (SFU)

Ryerson University

Ryerson University offers the Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics program that enables students to get a deep understanding of technical and applied knowledge in data science and analytics. The graduates are highly trained and can go on to pursue careers in industry, government, or research. The admission requirements for international students for the MSc in Data Science and Analytics program at Ryerson are:

GPA: 3.0 out of 4.3
TOEFL (iBT): 93/ IELTS: Overall 7
Duration of the course: Full-time for 12 months/ Part-time for 24 months
Tuition fees for international students: $23,795.81

Read More: Ryerson University

Carleton University

Carleton University offers a collaborative master’s in Data Science to graduate students and high-tech professionals interested in understanding and analyzing the use of 'big data’ sets for various purposes. Students are offered a degree in one of the academic disciplines such as computer science, communication, health sciences, etc with a specialization in data science. Listed below are the admission requirements for international students at Carleton University:

TOEFL (iBT): 86/ IELTS: Overall 6.5
Duration of the course: 24 months/ 16 months for the MBA program
Tuition fees for international students: $31,258 - $51,018

Read More: Carleton University

University of Waterloo

The Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) offered at the University of Waterloo is offered to students with an interest in the fields of data science, computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a related field with a minimum overall average of 78% at the bachelor’s level. Other admission requirements for international students are listed below:

TOEFL (iBT): 90/ IELTS: Overall 7
Duration of the course: Full-time 12 months/ Part-time 36 months
Tuition fees for international students: $40,000

Read More: University of Waterloo

Why Pursue Masters in Data Science from Canada?

Here are some reasons why you should consider pursuing a master's degree in data science from Canada:

Typically, entry-level data scientists earn around 60,000 USD per year.
In the last four years, the number of data scientists has doubled in Canada. However, Canada's Big Data Consortium reported that there is still a shortage of 19,000 professionals approximately.
Around 4 million jobs are expected to be created in the field of data science within the next five years.
Data scientists are in greater demand than software engineers by 50%.

With an education abroad in Canada, you get to study in the world's strongest economy. The country offers you high quality of life, top-notch education, and a welcoming environment.

Course Curriculum

Data science encompasses areas such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, search engine engineering, and corporate analytics. It consists of exploring the data and preparing it schematically. A model or approach type is chosen to gain insights from the data. Based on the idea, a model is developed, and the insights are communicated clearly. The diagram given below illustrates the data science and interpretation process:

Top MS in Data Science Programs in Canada

In Canada, a master's degree program in data science usually takes between 1 and 1.5 years to complete. Following are some of the most sought-after master's programs in data science offered at Canadian colleges:

Programs	University	Annual Average Fees (CAD)
MSc. in Applied Computing - Data Science	University of Toronto	60,000
Master of Data Science	University of British Columbia	47,012
MSc. in Computer Science - Statistical Machine Learning	University of Alberta	11,185
Master of Science in Data Processing	University of Montreal	13,716
MSc. in Data Science & Business Analytics	University of Montreal	27,000
MSc. Management - Data Science & Business Analytics	University of Montreal	28,762
Master of Mathematics in Data Science	University of Waterloo	15,003
Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	University of Waterloo	42,606
Master's of Management in Artificial Intelligence	Queen's University	65,570
Master of Computer Science - Applied Artificial Intelligence	University of Ottawa	29,315

Admission Process for MS in Data Science in Canada

Canadian universities have different admission processes for admitting students to master's programs in data science. However, admissions are available mainly during winter, summer, and fall sessions in Canada. To apply for a master's program in data science in Canada, international applicants must have completed 16 years of education.

Where to Apply?

Applicants from abroad can submit an application by visiting the official websites of the colleges offering the program. Students must read the instructions carefully before applying to a particular university. Application fee for master’s in data science programs also differs from one university to another.

Application Deadlines

Here is a list of the application deadlines for several top-ranked universities that offer master's degrees in data science in Canada:

University	Deadline
University of British Columbia	January 31
Ryerson University	October 15
University of Toronto	January 31
Carleton University	Fall- January 15 Winter- August 1
University of Waterloo	January 15
HEC Montreal	March 15

MS in Data Science in Canada Eligibility Criteria

The general eligibility criteria to apply for a master’s in data science program in Canada is given below:

A 4-year bachelor’s degree in subjects like engineering, business analytics, economics, computer science, etc.
A grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.33 (around 73-76% marks)

Following are some of the university-specific requirements for admission into top colleges in Canada for MS in data science:

University	Minimum Eligibility
University of British Columbia	A bachelor’s degree with 65% marks (8 on a 10 point scale)
University of Toronto	Bachelor's degree with 77-79% or B+ grade
Carleton University	GRE/GMAT scores
Ryerson University	73-76% marks or B degree in bachelor’s
University of Waterloo	B+ grade or 78% marks in bachelor’s, at least one-year experience in statistics or computer science at a senior level.
HEC Montreal	GMAT- 600, GRE, TAGE MAGE- 300

Admission Requirements for Masters in Data Science in Canada

In order to be considered for admission into master's programs in Canada, applicants must submit the following documents:

Transcripts: Applicants must provide transcripts from previous educational institutions. Some institutions may require certified copies of the transcripts. For transcripts that are not in English, language translations must be provided in English/French.
Proof of Language Proficiency: International students from non-native English-speaking countries must provide proof of their proficiency in English. Universities generally accept IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc., test scores.
Letter of Reference: Some universities require letters of recommendation for admission. Most universities require applicants to submit 2-3 letters of recommendation when applying for a master's program in data science.
Statement of Purpose/Statement of Intent: Some universities require the submission of a statement of purpose as part of the application process.
Resume/CV: In addition to the application, applicants may need to submit a resume or CV that details their academic and professional experience.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Below are the minimum English language test scores required by some of the top universities:

University	Minimum TOEFL iBT score	Minimum IELTS score
University of British Columbia	100	7.0 (band score:6.5)
University of Toronto	93	7.0 (band score:6.5)
Carleton University	100	7.0 (band score:6.5)
Ryerson University	93	7
University of Waterloo	100	7.5 (band score:7)
HEC Montreal	95-114	7-8