Journalism is a really powerful tool used for connecting with people. The number of news channels is growing considerably, and there is heavy competition among them in bringing the news first. But there’s good news too. The rising competition has led to a huge demand for Journalists today.
As a direct consequence of this, colleges across the globe have started offering a myriad of Journalism courses that cater to all types of students. One country that particularly stands out is Canada. Here are 5 compelling reasons to study Journalism Courses in Canada:
- High quality of education offered
- An abundance of scholarship programs
- Rewarding career opportunities
- Low cost of living, unlike the US
- Cultural diversity
On that promising note, let’s look at the top universities to study Journalism in Canada.
Top Universities for Journalism Courses in Canada
Here is our pick of top universities that offer different Journalism Courses in Canada for international students —
Check Your Eligibility for 80+ Universities across Canada
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Check Your Eligibility for 80+ Universities across Canada
Book a free counselling session and find universities where you can get an Admission!
University of Ottawa
Ranked #199 among the best global universities in the world by US News, this university offers an honours bachelor’s degree program in Journalism. The program is broadly categorised into 2 parts – mass media and organisational communication. The mass media section encompasses topics like the effects of social media, multimedia, broadcasting, and others. Organisational communication focuses on the communication skills required by a Journalist. This is one of the few Canadian universities offering a dedicated degree program for Digital Journalism. This course revolves around current technology and how Journalism plays an important role.
Eligibility Criteria
- High school graduation from the home country
- A minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS.
- The university also accepts French language proficiency with a C1 or C2 grade.
Tuition Fee
Around 56,000 CAD for the entire duration of the course.
Admission Process
The admission process starts with submitting the application form and other supporting documents like academic transcripts, resumes, and proof of financial evidence to apply for financial aid.
University of Montreal
Ranked #151 in the world by US News, the University of Montreal is the second on this list to study Journalism Courses in Canada. The university offers master’s degrees, specialised graduate diplomas, and doctorate programs in various specialisations of Journalism such as mass communication, communication sciences, organisational communication, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- An undergraduate degree from a recognised institution
- Relevant work experience or coursework in communication studies
- An overall score of 6.5 in IELTS
Tuition Fee
Around 30,000 CAD for two years.
Admission Process
The intakes usually happen in September, January, and May. Students who wish to join this university must submit their application form, resumes, transcripts, and a letter of recommendation.
Loyalist College
Ranked #140 in Canada by Webometrics, Loyalist College is one of the few colleges in the world that offer an exclusive program in Photo Journalism. Photo Journalism is an interesting branch of Journalism that focuses on collecting, editing, and rendering photographs to convey a message to the viewers. The college offers an intensive two-year Ontario Secondary School Diploma program in Photo Journalism that helps students evolve into reporter-photographers, filmmakers, and media producers.
Eligibility Criteria
- A bachelor’s degree in Journalism from an accredited university
- A relevant work experience in Journalism is an added advantage
- An overall score of 80 in TOEFL or a band score of 7.0 in IELTS
- A fully functional SLR camera is needed to join the course
Tuition Fee
Around 31,000 CAD for two years of the program.
Admission Process
Admissions for the September 2022 intake are ongoing, and students can apply by downloading the application form from the official website. Students need to make a non-refundable payment of 100 CAD as application fees.
University of Toronto
Ranked #26 by the QS World Rankings, the University of Toronto is one of the top names in Canada for most specialisations. Journalism is no exception. This university offers a BA Honours in Journalism, a joint program in partnership with Centennial College. This course promises to bring out the best of both colleges and transforms the students into fine Journalists in no time. It teaches the students about various technologies used in Journalism.
Eligibility Criteria
- High school graduation or equivalent from an accredited institution
- A minimum score of 80 in TOEFL or 6.0 in IELTS
Tuition Fee
Around 230,000 CAD for four years.
Admission Process
Admission to the University of Toronto starts with submitting the application form. Students should also submit their curriculum vitae, letter of recommendation, work experience letter (if any), and academic transcripts. Lastly, they must also submit proof of financial evidence to qualify for a scholarship or financial aid. You can start your visa applications upon receiving the university’s confirmation letter.
York University
Ranked #494 by the QS World Rankings, York University offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media Studies. This course focuses predominantly on using different technologies employed in the world of Journalism. The students will also be taught about the importance of communication processes and various techniques used to blend conventional and digital practices in Journalism.
Eligibility Criteria
- High school graduation or a diploma in Journalism or a related field
- A minimum score of 83 in TOEFL or 6.5 in IELTS
Tuition Fee
Around 128,000 CAD for the entire duration of the course.
Admission Process
The deadline to apply for the fall season is May 2022. Students can download the application form from the university webpage and submit it along with other supporting documents like transcripts and a letter of recommendation.
University of British Columbia
Ranked #4 by the QS World University Rankings, the University of British Columbia is one of the best Journalism colleges in Canada. The university offers a master’s degree in Journalism (MJ), a full-time intensive research program that helps the student gather enough knowledge to be competitive in Journalism. The curriculum is designed according to the latest industry practices, and students are exposed to hands-on training in web, audio and Video Journalism, storytelling, multimedia production, etc.
Eligibility Criteria
- A four-year undergraduate degree in any field of engineering with first-class or distinction scores
- An overall score of 90 in TOEFL or a band score of 6.5 in IELTS
Tuition Fee
Around 54,000 CAD for the entire duration of the course.
Admission Process
The admission process for the upcoming intake starts in May 2022. Students can download the application form from the official website and submit it with their resume, academic transcripts, English proficiency certificate, and a letter of recommendation.
Simon Fraser University
The Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University (SFU) is the last one to grab a spot on this list. Ranked #313 in the best global universities by US News, the school of communication at Simon Fraser University offers various undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs in Journalism. Being one of the oldest specialisations offered in the university, there is always heavy competition among students for admission. The Master of Arts (MA) program offers intensive training to the students and teaches them about the fundamentals of communication, the evolution of media, Political Journalism, and digital media.
Eligibility Criteria
- A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, equivalent to SFU’s undergraduate degree
- A minimum of 93 in TOEFL or 7.0 in IELTS
Tuition Fee
Around 32,000 CAD for two years.
Admission Process
Admission to SFU starts with submitting the application form on the university’s official website. Students must pay an application processing fee and submit documents, such as a resume, a letter of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and academic transcripts.
Conclusion
That concludes the list of top universities offering Journalism Courses in Canada. Some colleges, such as Concordia University or Fanshawe College, haven’t found a spot on this list. These colleges are equally good and have plusses and minuses like the above ones. This brings us to a very important question — Which university should you pick? And, more importantly, how to get into that university? The answers lie with the expert advice of LeapScholar. We are a homegrown educational consultant helping students study in their dream colleges. To know more, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the different job opportunities for Journalists?
After graduation in Journalism, students can join various media houses as reporters, Photo Journalists, videographers, lawyers, media heads, and so on. With so many events happening around the world every day, there is a great demand for Journalists who can bring the news to the public in an easily understandable format.
2. What is the average salary of a Journalist fresher in Canada?
The starting salary of a Journalist fresher in Canada is around 32,000 CAD, which is equivalent to INR 19,00,000 per annum. As you gain more experience, the remuneration can be expected to go as high as 60,000 CAD or INR 36,00,000 per annum.
3. Do Canadian universities offer online programs in Journalism?
Yes. Many universities in Canada offer online courses in Journalism and media studies. Mount Saint Vincent University, the University of Winnipeg, and Seneca College are some universities that provide the same. But it is always recommended to go for a full-time course as the benefits are plenty.
