Top 10 Universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering

Mar 4, 2024 | 9 min read

Check out the top universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering with university rankings, fees, and admission procedures for international students.

Top 10 Universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering

Some of the top universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering are University of Toronto, McGill University, McMaster University, etc. An MS in Mechanical Engineering program is a 1-2 year program offered by several top Canadian universities. The average tuition fees for international students to pursue MS in Mechanical Engineering in Canada ranges between $11,900 to $40,800.

International students can pursue either a course-based Masters in Engineering (MEng) degree or a research-intensive, thesis/ non-thesis based, Masters in Science (MS)/ Masters in Applied Science (MASc) degree. A Masters in Mechanical Engineering course is a graduate-level engineering degree that applies the principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. This includes the learning of machines, materials, energy, manufacturing, automation, biomedical engineering, and a lot more.

The objective of this article is to discuss some of the best universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering with its rankings, fees, and admission requirements.

Table of Contents

List of Top Universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering
Why Pursue MS in Mechanical Engineering in Canada?
Masters in Mechanical Engineering in Canada: Admission Procedure
Cost of Studying
Cost of Living
Career Opportunities after MS in Mechanical Engineering

List of Top Universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering

An MS in Mechanical Engineering is one of the many popular courses for international students. Three Canadian universities offering a master’s in mechanical engineering are ranked in the top 100 universities in the world by the QS World University Rankings. Listed below are the top universities in Canada for MS in Mechanical Engineering:

University of Toronto
McGill University
University of British Columbia
University of Alberta
McMaster University
University of Waterloo
Queen’s University
University of Western Ontario
Dalhousie University
University of Ottawa

1. University of Toronto

The University of Toronto offers the masters of engineering (MEng) and masters of applied science program (MAsc) in the field of mechanical engineering. MEng is a full-time program that can be completed in one year and includes coursework and an optional research project. The MAsc program is a thesis-based program where students conduct research under the supervision of a professor. The admission requirements for international students at the University of Toronto are listed below:

Ranked #1 in Canada and #29 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $46,129
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $17,827
TOEFL iBT: 93
IELTS: 7
COPE: 76

Read More: University of Toronto

2. McGill University

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers the master of engineering (MEng) and the master of science (MSc) in mechanical engineering to students from all over the world. Both thesis-based and non-thesis MEng programs are offered. Given below are the rankings and admission requirements for international students at McGill University:

Ranked #3 in Canada and #35 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $13,065
The average tuition fees for the Masters in Science program is $13,582
TOEFL iBT: 92
IELTS: 7

Read More: McGill University

3. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia offers the master of engineering and master of applied science programs in the field of mechanical engineering. Both full-time and part-time programs are offered by the Faculty of Applied Sciences under the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Find below the rankings and tuition fee details for international students at the University of British Columbia:

Ranked #2 in Canada and #51 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $15,790
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $6,794
TOEFL iBT: 93
IELTS: 6.5

Read More: University of British Columbia

4. University of Alberta

The Department of Mechanical Engineering under the University of Alberta offers the master of engineering (MEng) and the master's in science programs in the area of mechanical engineering. These graduate programs in mechanical engineering include robust levels of research output, excellent training opportunities, including professional development training, and high-quality employment outcomes post-graduation. Given below are the tuition fees and other admission requirements at the University of Alberta for international students:

Ranked #6 in Canada and #113 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $7,875
The average tuition fees for the Masters in Science program is $7,100
TOEFL iBT: 95
TOEFL PBT: 580
IELTS: 6.5
CAEL: 60
PTE Academic: 59
MELAB:85

Read More: University of Alberta

5. McMaster University

McMaster University offers the master of applied science program in the field of mechanical engineering to students from all over the world. The course duration is 2 years full-time or 5 years part-time. This thesis-based program offers research in the field of biomechanics, manufacturing, mechanics, and design, and thermofluids. The detailed admission requirements and tuition fees for international students at McMaster University are listed below:

Ranked #4 in Canada and #140 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $24,750
TOEFL iBT: 88
TOEFL PBT: 550
TOEFL CBT: 213
IELTS: 6.5
MELAB:85

Read More: McMaster University

6. University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo offers the master of engineering and the master of applied science program in mechanical and mechatronics engineering. Both full-time and part-time programs are available on-campus. Given below are the rankings and average tuition fees for international students at the University of Waterloo:

Ranked #8 in Canada and #173 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $19,851
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $10,563
TOEFL iBT: 90
IELTS: 7
MELAB: 85
CAEL: 70
PTE Academic: 63

Read More: University of Waterloo

7. Queen’s University

Queen’s University offers a 1-year master of engineering program and a 2-year master of applied science program in the field of mechanical and materials engineering. The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Queen's University offers world-class faculty and facilities that allow our graduate students to achieve their full academic and research potential. Find out more about the tuition fees and rankings of Queen’s University below:

Ranked #11 in Canada and #239 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $14,619
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $14,619
TOEFL iBT: 88
IELTS: 7
MELAB: 80
PTE Academic: 65

Read More: Queen’s University

8. University of Western Ontario

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Western Ontario

Offers the master of engineering program in mechanical engineering. The Professional MEng program is a course-based full-time or part-time degree that may be a combination of course work and a project or complete course-work. Given below are the rankings and admission prerequisites for international students at the University of Western Ontario:

Ranked #8 in Canada and #211 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $9,123
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering Science program is $9,123

9. Dalhousie University

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Dalhousie University offers the master of engineering (MEng) and master of applied science (MASc) in the area of mechanical engineering to students from all over the world. The MEng program is a professionally-oriented terminal degree that includes at least seven courses, one graduate seminar, and a project. Given below are the rankings and tuition fees at Dalhousie University for international students:

Ranked #11 in Canada and #280 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $14,383
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $14,383

Read More: Dalhousie University

10. University of Ottawa

The University of Ottawa offers the master of engineering in mechanical engineering program in both a full-time and part-time basis. A Master of Applied Science Mechanical Engineering (MASc) is also available at the University of Ottawa for international students. Find below the average tuition fees for both programs at the University of Ottawa:

Ranked #7 in Canada and #281 in the world by QS World University Rankings
The average tuition fees for the Master of Engineering program is $25,402
The average tuition fees for the Master of Applied Science program is $20,069

Read More: University of Ottawa

Why Pursue MS in Mechanical Engineering in Canada?

A master’s in Canada is one of the most sought-after study options for international students from all over the world. Canada offers affordable education as compared to other top countries such as the US and Europe with an equally simple and straightforward immigration process for international students. Some of the reasons to pursue an MS in Mechanical Engineering in Canada are listed below:

The manufacturing industry in Canada accounts for $174 billion- about 10% of Canada’s total GDP
Over 30,000 mechanical engineers graduate from Canadian universities every year
The job opportunities for mechanical engineers in Canada is expected to grow up to 90% in the coming 5 years
Engineers Canada has predicted around 2,100 new job openings for mechanical engineering graduates by 2025
The annual salary offered to engineers in Canada has risen by 10% from 2016- 2019
Canada offers permanent residence to students from all over the world with a significant increase in applicants to nearly 280,000 every year. This makes it easy for the students to settle in Canada after completing their masters.

Masters in Mechanical Engineering in Canada: Admission Procedure

Most of the top Canadian universities follow a similar application process for admissions. The following section discusses the application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and documents required for international students planning to pursue MS in mechanical engineering in Canada.

Application Deadlines

The following are the deadlines for applying to colleges in Canada that offer master's degrees in mechanical engineering:

University	Application Deadline
McGill University	Fall: January 15, Winter: August 1
McMaster University	February 28
University of Toronto	Fall: April 1, Winter: August 1
University of British Columbia	March 1
University of Alberta	Fall: April 1, Winter: October 1
Queen’s University	No deadline, but students are advised to apply before March 1 to increase chances for scholarships
University of Waterloo	Fall: February 1, Winter: June 1, Spring: October 1
University of Western Ontario	February 1
University of Ottawa	Fall: March 1, Winter: August 1
Dalhousie University	September: April 1, January: August 31, May: December 31

Eligibility Requirements

In order to study MS in mechanical engineering in Canada, you need to meet the requirements given below:

It is mandatory for applicants to have a minimum educational background of 16 years, which includes a break up of 10+2+4.
Students must have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a reputed university. Students with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering are given preference.
A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (~83-86%) in the last two years of undergraduate study.
The equivalent percentile is 73-76%.
An equivalent grade is a B grade. A grade of B+ might be required by some universities during admissions.
Having previous work experience in a related field is helpful in gaining admission.
Certain Canadian universities may require standardized test scores for admission.
To demonstrate their competence in the English language, international applicants must obtain minimum test scores of IELTS, TOEFL, or other English proficiency tests required by the university. Below are the English language requirements of some of the universities:

University	TOEFL	IELTS	Others
University of Toronto	iBT:93	7	COPE:76
McGill University	iBT:92	7	NA
University of British Columbia	iBT:93	6.5	NA
University of Alberta	iBT:95, PBT:580	6.5	CAEL:60, PTE Academic:59, MELAB:85
McMaster University	PBT:550, CBT:213, iBT:88	6.5	MELAB:85
University of Waterloo	iBT:90	7	MELAB:85, CAEL:70, PTE Academic:63
Queen’s University	iBT:88	7	MELAB:80, PTE Academic:65

Documents Required

The documents checklist to apply for MS in mechanical engineering programs is given below:

Official academic transcripts
Updated CV
Statement of purpose (highlight your career goals, reasons to pursue the program, academic background, etc.)
3 letters of references
GRE test scores (optional, but required by a few universities)
Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE)

Cost of Studying

Most Canadian universities charge tuition fees ranging from 9000 USD to 50,000 USD for PG programs in mechanical engineering. For an Indian student, this cost ranges from 6 lakhs to 37 lakhs, annually. Even if the cost may seem high, you can always try to apply for scholarships if you plan on pursuing a master's degree in Canada. The overall costs are determined by various factors, including the type of program, its international reach and reputation, the location of the study, etc.

Cost of Living

You will incur expenses such as the cost of housing, food, travel, books and materials, etc., while pursuing your higher studies in Canada. The table given below shows different expenses that you must consider while calculating your living cost in Canada:

Category	Cost
Flight Expense	INR 1,00,000- 2,00, 000/- per flight
Study Permit Fees	INR 11,123
Work Permit Fees	$155 (INR 11,493)
IELTS test Fees	INR 14,700
Accommodation	INR 2,67,000-INR 5,39,000 per annum
Travel Costs	INR 4,300-INR 6,000 per month
Health Insurance	INR 17,000-INR 44,000
Food	INR 17,50- INR 23,344 (monthly)
Entertainment	43,770 INR (monthly)

Career Opportunities after MS in Mechanical Engineering

In Canada, an engineer with a postgraduate degree in mechanical engineering can expect the following career prospects and salaries:

Profession	Average Annual Salary (USD)
Mechanical Estimator	61,200
Project Engineer	56,250
Mechanical Design Engineer	49,700
Manufacturing Engineer	53,600
Associate Engineer	73,919
Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor	53,500
Mechanical Engineer Manager	114,446
Mechatronics Engineer	87,010
Mining Engineer	83,875

There is no doubt that Canada offers a great deal of opportunity to engineers. Across the country, job opportunities for mechanical engineers are growing. With a master's degree in mechanical engineering, students can gain knowledge about both the mechanical and industrial sectors.

There is a projected 9 percent growth in mechanical engineer employment from 2016 to 2026. Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia will have a higher in-migration rate for mechanical engineers in 2020-2025.