Bachelor’s Degree in Canada: Overview, Scholarships, Top Colleges For Bachelor’s in Canada

A bachelor’s degree or an undergraduate degree is pursued once you complete your secondary education (class 12th). Typically, a bachelor’s degree has a duration of three years. But in Canada, it is four years of full-time study which also depends on the course specialisation. The educational institutions offer degrees, diplomas and certificates depending on the course, institute and duration.

Generally, universities offer degree programs, whereas colleges offer associate degrees and other institutes provide skill-based certificates and diplomas. The Canadian Education System requires you to take minor courses with your primary degree. But some institutions have three-year courses excluding minor studies. At the end of your program, you can choose to have an additional year into your course to achieve an Honours degree.

Scope of Studying in Canada 

 

High education standards: As per Times Higher Education Ranking 2022, seven Canadian universities are ranked in the top 200, implying that the country offers ample opportunities for high-quality education. 

Affordable Programs: Studying in Canada is far more affordable than studying in other developed countries. There are also a lot of scholarships and financial assistance available from both public and private institutions for the students. 

Post-study job opportunities: A student in Canada gets three years of work permit after completing their degree.

Experiential learning:  Practical training is incorporated in the UG degree, which provides the students with hands-on experience. 

Follow Leap Scholar to know more about the application process and UG programs in Canada. 

Eligibility Criteria for Undergraduate Programs in Canada

Canadian Universities/Colleges have a standard Grade Point Average score system to check the eligibility of a student to study in Canada. The institutions have metrics to convert Indian divisions to GPA scores.

Apart from the academic point of view, the students need to appear and qualify for various standardised entrance exams/tests to pursue education in Canada.

One such test is the IELTS  (International English Language Testing System). It is a standardised English language proficiency test for non-native English speakers. The IELTS exam tests the listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities of the candidate wishing to work or study in an English speaking country.

The other test is TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). It is also an internationally accepted English language proficiency test. The minimum TOEFL iBT score, which is considered good, falls under the range of 70-89 for applying to Canadian Universities/Colleges.

Students with a good academic record, with zero to very few backlogs, no study gap and meeting IELTS or TOEFL requirements have higher chances of Visa approval. 

To meet the eligibility criteria for UG programs in Canada, one must have scored at least 70% marks in the 12th standard with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 bands overall. Any module should not have a band score lower than 6.

Requirements for Specialised Degree Courses in Canada

• For an engineering degree, you should have Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English as your core subjects in high school.
• For computer courses and business studies (commerce), you should have Maths as your core subject in high school.
• For fine arts, you need to provide a portfolio or documentary as evidence of your creative skills.

Fee Structure of the UG Programs in Canada

The tuition fee for full-time undergraduate degrees on average can range from CAD 14,000-25,000 per annum. The cost of studying may vary depending on the course and its duration.

There are also many scholarships available for international students studying in Canada. They fall into the following categories:

• Merit-based scholarships
• Scholarships by Provincial Government
• Scholarships by private organisations
• Waiving of tuition fee
• Grants based on needs and bursaries by college

Some of the scholarships are the York University International Scholarship,  Vancouver Island University International Regional Scholarship, Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, University of British Columbia Scholarships for International Students.

Subject-wise list of Top Bachelor’s Degree in Canada

Some of the top bachelor’s degrees in Canada from various streams are mentioned below.

Subject/Stream

Bachelors and Specialization Courses In Canada

Commerce

• BBA 
• BCom
• Bachelor of Hotel Management
• Bachelor of Interior Design
• CA
• CS
• BSc (Information Technology/Software Engineering)

Engineering and Technology

• BSc
• BTech
• BEng 
• Specialisation in Architectural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Computer Science and IT

Medical Science

• MBBS/MD
• BA/BSc Psychology
• Physiology
• Pharmacology
• BDS
• BSc Nursing 

Arts and Design

• Bachelor of Arts
• Fashion Design
• Graphic Design
• Film
• Photography and Media
• Visual Arts
• Human Rights
• Language and Linguistics 
• Journalism
• Music
• Political Science
• Social Science
• Philosophy

Management 

• Hotel and Food Administration
• Hospitality and Tourism Management

Work Opportunities and PR

To work while studying, international students have to seek a work permit. Students can opt to work on or off-campus. The work permit is valid for the entire course duration and allows the student to work 20 hours a week. Students can apply for a work visa of up to three years after the course completion. After receiving a minimum of one year of work experience in their field, they can apply for permanent residency (PR) in Canada.

Intake to Study in Canada

The two major intakes by the universities/colleges for UG program in Canada are:

• In September for Fall
• In January for Winter

Top Universities to Study in Canada

Here is a list of universities with top rankings in Canada as of 2022. 

Name of the University	THE Ranking 2022	QS World Ranking 2022
University of Toronto	18	26
The University of British Columbia	34	46
University of Montreal	73	111
University of Alberta	131	126
McGill University	40	27
University of Ottawa	145	230
University of Waterloo	201-250	149
Western University	201-250	170
McMaster University	69	140
University of Calgary	200	235
Dalhousie University	251-300	272
Queen’s University	251-300	240
Simon Fraser University	251-300	298

Application Process for Canada

1. Research is vital to study in a foreign country. Research about the courses you want to study. Make a list of all the courses and options as per your preference. Research about the cities that offer the courses.
2. Check for the availability of scholarships and financial aid in your targeted universities. Also, link your preferences and make a list.
3. Once you have shortlisted the universities and scholarships, read and understand the requirements like application deadline, documents required, language proficiency test, etc. Make a list so that you do not miss a deadline.
4. Keep the following documents ready.

• Complete Application Form
• Statement of Purpose
• An updated CV
• Copy of your high school certificate/diploma
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Documents to prove financial capability
• English proficiency tests like IELTS/TOEFL, or,
• French proficiency tests like TCF/TEF/DELF/DALF 

5.Wait till you get the acceptance letter from the university that you want admission to. Once you receive the letter, you can start the student visa process as an acceptance letter is mandatory for the same.

Frequently Asked Questions