MS In Canada: Top Universities To Go For

MS in Canada is one of top programs to go for when you decide to study abroad. Nowadays, opting for an MS degree abroad is no longer an aspiration just for the Indian elite. Students hailing from humble middle-class backgrounds can also pursue MS from reputed colleges abroad. 

MS or Master of Science degree is one of the toughest ones to pursue. That being said, graduating with an MS degree from a reputed university can boost your career prospects in the field of research besides helping you to land lucrative jobs with splendid pay packages. Global tech-giants like Google, Samsung and Netflix look for talented individuals, and with an MS degree, you’re already a step ahead in the game.

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Statistics reveal that Canada is one of the most preferred countries for MS. In fact, according to a 2020 Forbes data, Indian students in Canada increased from 76,000 in 2016 to 1.7 lakh in 2018 (a massive 127% rise in enrolment). The reason behind this surge can be attributed to the affordable cost of living, career prospects and the wide variety of MS courses offered by Canadian Universities.  

Top 10 universities in Canada for MS

The ranking for each university has been taken from the World University Ranking for 2021.

• University of Toronto

Word ranking: University of Toronto ranks 18th globally. 22% of its students are from an international background.

With over 200 post-graduate programs, the University of Toronto is the most prestigious institution in Canada. It offers degree courses in subjects ranging from Engineering and Pure Science to Architecture. It stood #15 on the Employability rank in 2019. 

Top MS courses and fee structure

The most sought-after MS courses are Computer Science, Life Science and Medicine along with Engineering and Technology.  

The fee structure depends on the course and can vary from 10,000 CAD to 46,000 CAD. Take a look at the fees of some popular courses here. The figures are rounded up to make an approximation. 

• University of British Columbia

World ranking: It is ranked 34 globally, having a total percentage of international students capped at 32%.

The University of British Columbia has many post-graduate programs like MS in Computer Science and Life Science. It is also the alma mater of Canadian President Justin Trudeau among other luminaries. UBC ranked #61 on the Employability criteria in 2019.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Computer Science, Management, Nursing and Finance are some of the exceptional MS courses offered here.

Expect to pay anywhere around 4,000 to 20,000 CAD per semester at this University. More information is available in the following table.

• McGill University

World ranking: According to World University Ranking, McGill University ranks 40 with 31% international students. 

It is one of the top 3 universities in Canada for MS. The university boasts of 139 Rhode Scholars and 12 Nobel Laureates, including famous poet Leonard Cohen. On the Employability criteria measured by THE (Times Higher Education), McGill University ranked #17. 

Top MS courses and fees

McGill University is known for its MBA, Medicine, Finance and Computer Science courses. 

The average tuition fee at McGill University is approximately 9,000 to 11,000 CAD. 

All applicants at McGill University are considered for internal funding from the college. If you require external financing, you will need to approach either government or federal outlets. 

• McMaster University

World ranking: It is ranked at number 69 with an international student body capped at 18%.

Acknowledged as Canada’s most research-intensive educational institute four times in a row, McMaster University is known for post-graduate degree programs in Engineering, Economics and Computer Science. It ranked #78 in 2019’s Times Higher Education Employability Ranking.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Computer science, engineering and nursing are some of the most popular MS courses at McMaster University. The approximate tuition fee for each has been mentioned below. 

In addition to the regular tuition fee, there are supplementary fees like HSR bus pass, dental and health insurance plans, student recreation centres, etc. 

• Université de Montréal

World ranking: The university ranks at 73 on the list of top global universities, and it has an international student body percentage of 21%.

Ranking 3rd in Canada based on its research output volume, the University of Montreal is a popular choice among Indian students. The institution is famous for its Statistics department and Finance courses. It ranked #36 on the Employability factor of Times Higher Education 2019 ranking.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Two of the popular MS courses here are:

• MS in Mathematics and Computational Finance (approximately 12,000 CAD per year)
• MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (approximately 25,800 CAD per year)

The course fees of some other courses in this university are mentioned below.

• University of Alberta

World ranking: Ranked 131 globally, the University of Alberta has around 27% of its student body as international scholars. 

The University of Alberta welcomes international students to choose between 500 graduate programs and 300 research areas. You can opt for a course-based MS degree or a research-based one. 

Best MS courses and fee structure

Engineering is one of the most in-demand MS courses at the University of Alberta. The fee structure of some of the popular courses are shown below. 

• University of Calgary

World ranking: Ranked 200 worldwide, the number of international students in this university is 21%.

A highly difficult institute to crack, the University of Calgary has an acceptance rate of 10-20%. It has a graduate employment rate of 91% which means students get hired very quickly after graduation.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Computer Science and MBA are some of the best courses here. 

Listed below are some of the course fees for students at this university. 

• University of Waterloo

World ranking: The University of Waterloo ranks between 201- 250 in the same survey. 21% of its students non-Canadians. 

Located in the technological hub of “Quantum Valley”, the University of Waterloo is home to over 40,000 students from 120 countries.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Computer Science, Mathematics and Science programs here compete with the world’s top 50 courses. 

Take a look at the table below to understand the nature of some of the course fees. 

• Western University

World ranking: Western University ranks between 201 and 250 as per The World University Ranking. It has an international student capacity of 18%.

Western University has seen a substantial increase in the number of international students. The university offers 120 graduate programs and stands at #25 for the number of international graduate students enrolling.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Computer Science clearly takes one of the top spots in this university’s MS course list. The tuition fees for this degree is approximately 9,900 CAD annually. Another popular course is Management. However, it is a bit on the consider side, with tuition fees approximately 51,000 CAD per year.

• Queen’s University

World ranking: Ranked between 251 and 300, Queen’s University has an international student population of 14%.

Engineering and Nursing are some of the popular courses at this university. It is one of the top research-intensive institutions in Canada that offer a highly transformative student learning experience.

Top MS courses and fee structure

Queen’s University is known for its Computer Science, Nursing, MBA, and Finance courses. 

Take a look at the following table to get a better idea about the fee structures.

What are the eligibility criteria to study in Canada?   

There are a few basic eligibility criteria one must meet to gain admission into some of the top universities in Canada for MS. These are:

• A 4-year undergraduate degree.
• A GPA of 3 out of 4 is also mandatory. This equates to around 65-70%. Some universities demand around 75-78%.
• For an MS in Business, you will need 1-3 years of work experience.
• IELTS or TOEFL score is mandatory.
• In Quebec and other francophone countries, you will need to clear Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) or Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF).

Why choose to study in Canada?

Universities in Canada for MS focus on keeping their courses industry-oriented. Also, they have plenty of research options for students who want to pursue doctoral degrees. But the quality of education and courses offered are the primary reasons to opt for an MS in Canada. Another chief reason for Canada’s popularity is its welcoming immigration policy and the prospect of permanent residence. The economic prosperity and lifestyle facilities available there need no introduction.

There is also a lot of scope to get employment after post-graduation in this country. Once you complete your MS, apply for a work permit within 90 days. After working for two years, you can apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system.

In comparison to other countries, MS in Canada is pretty affordable. The tuition fee is around 20,000 CAD per year while living expenses amount to roughly 10, 800 CAD. On the other hand, the average tuition fee for MS in the US is 15,000-60,000 USD per year and the cost of living revolves around 10,000-15,000 USD. 

To drive the point home, in 2019, Canada approved 4 lakh study permits. From these, 1.39 lakh permits alone went to Indian students. So, the government policy of Canada is conducive for foreign student influx.

What to consider while choosing a university in Canada for MS? 

Before students consider applying to universities in Canada for MS, there are some factors they should keep in mind. These pointers also serve as checkpoints in the search for the best colleges for an MS degree.

• Best courses offered by the university

MS in Canada is a 1-2 year post-graduate programme, which is either course-based or thesis-based. However, some universities also offer a mixture of the two.

Canadian Universities are popular for their MS courses in: 

1. Computer Science
2. Engineering
3. Finance

Some other sought-after MS courses include:

1. Pharmacy
2. Architecture
3. Business administration
4. Nursing
5. Design
6. Psychology
7. International Relations
8. Public Health
9. Human Resource Management, etc.

• Fee structure

The approximate tuition fee for a post-graduate degree in top universities in Canada for MS is 20,000 CAD. The detailed fee structure of some of the best universities has been discussed later in this article.

Canada is relatively cheaper when it comes to post-graduation education fees. In the US, you are likely to pay between 20,000 to 50,000 USD for a comparable course. For example, the tuition fee for MS in Computer Science in the US is around 13,500 USD to 141,000 USD for the whole program. In Canada, the same degree costs 50,000 to 60,000 USD. 

• Placement

Most colleges in Canada have a Career Services Centre that help students get jobs and train them for interviews. And companies do not offer jobs directly. They offer internships before hiring you full-time.

Co-op Education Program is another facility available in colleges here that help students find suitable jobs. If you wish to take advantage of this facility, you have to apply for a work permit while applying for a study permit. 

• Scholarships

Canada offers various scholarships for non-Canadian students, such as University of Calgary Graduate Awards, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program.

• ROI of college and reputation

ROI or Return on Investment of a college is a performance measure that determines if the degree is at all worth it. In simple terms, it measures your return on investment in the said degree while comparing it to other investments made in the same time period.

It is rather difficult to determine the ROI of a college as it involves complex calculations and takes into consideration a lot of factors. However, pursuing MS from a reputed Canadian University will certainly offer your favourable career prospects and leave you debt-free as well.

Some of the popular MS courses with a high ROI are Software Engineering, Computer Science, Finance and Nursing.

• Location

MS degree aspirants must carefully choose a university in Canada based on the location. It determines your travel patterns and weighs in on the overall expenses.

Here is an idea of the transportation costs incurred while using public transport in any major Canadian city. 

• Additional expenses

Apart from tuition fees, some other key expenses include on-campus accommodation costs (8,000 to 10,000 CAD annually), student permit (150 CAD), books (nearly 350 CAD), etc.

Once you have an idea of the approximate cost, making a budget is more straightforward. 

• Career success

MS degrees from Canadian Universities get worldwide acceptance. As stated earlier, MS graduates from reputed institutes have tremendous career prospects in research and can land high-paying jobs in some of the biggest tech firms across the globe.

For example, engineers earn anything from 50,000 to 90,000 CAD a year. On the other hand, doctors and dentists earn approximately 1,00,000 to 1,40,000 CAD annually.

Documents required to study in Universities in Canada for MS

Here is a brief look at some of the essential documents one needs to apply for an MS in Canada. 

• Proof of funds: Documents related to education loan, income, and scholarships serve as proof of funds. It determines if you have enough funds to stay in Canada to pursue the degree. 
• Statement of Purpose: This letter is required by B-schools to understand why you wish to undertake that particular course in the university. 
• Letter of Recommendation: The Letter of Recommendation has to be written by some faculty members of your previous or current institute. The aim is to give a clear picture of your past work exposure and expertise. 

• Academic Transcripts: You will require all the transcripts of your education from class 9 onwards. The board results and the college mark-sheets are also necessary for the admission process. 
• IELTS and TOEFL score: International students from non-native English speaking nations must submit their IELTS or TOEFL score. To secure admission in Quebec or other francophone colleges, DELF or TEF score is also required. 

What is the cost of living for Indian students?

When you apply for universities in Canada for MS, one of the aspects you need to look out for is the cost of living. You will need at least 5-6 lakh INR which is around 10,000 CAD per year of your stay. However, the overall expenses include living costs, travel and other miscellaneous costs in addition to the tuition fees.

Part-time jobs and work opportunities in Canada

While pursuing MS in Canada, international students also have the opportunity to take up part-time jobs on and off the college campus. Part-time jobs for students usually pay hourly and amount to near 10 CAD an hour. On a Canadian student visa, you can work for a maximum of 20hrs/week.

Some of the most popular part-time jobs and associated wages for international students are:

With several specialisation options, job opportunities, funding channels and affordable cost of living, Canada is certainly a top destination for MS. However, admission in one of the top universtities in Canada for MS takes much more than merit.

In addition to the paperwork, there are other aspects to prepare for, like finances, housing, and visa. If the process seems too overwhelming, one can turn to LeapScholar for a smoother transition.

With financial assistance in the form of Leap Scholarship, eligible students can fulfil their dream of pursuing an MS degree from Canada’s prestigious institutions. 

Leap Scholar is a one-stop platform for foreign hopefuls. From guidance and scholarships to IELTS coaching and student visa assurance, Leap Scholar can take care of all the essentials.

Universities in Canada for MS are welcoming of Indian students. A large diaspora population in the major Canadian cities exists, and so, settling in should not be a problem. While Canada’s government policy is still favouring international students, avail of the opportunity and take full command of your career. 

To know more about scholarships in Canada, read here.