Application Process for a Master's Program in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide

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Apr 15, 2023 03:08 AM

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Shortlisting Universities Choosing the right course and university Popular streams for a master's program in Canada:Popular Master's courses in latest technologies Popular universities for master's program in Canada:Check for the tuition fee and scholarships Check for the intakes and deadlines Eligibility criteria Check if the university is a DLI Language proficiency required Co-operative education prgrammes Application Documents Acceptance letter Study Permit / Visa

In the last few years, there has been almost a four-fold increase in the number of students going to Canada for higher studies. Canada has students from all around the world coming to gain quality education, thereby making it a truly diverse student nation. However, one of the most vital things to consider while planning to study a Master’s program in Canada is going through the application process. It is an extensive and exhaustive process that includes shortlisting universities, checking eligibility criteria, preparing the required documents and procuring a study permit, if you get accepted. In this blog, we have discussed the steps involved in applying for a Master’s program in Canada.

Shortlisting Universities

Choosing the right course and university

Canada has about 96 universities across its 13 provinces and territories, and they offer a wide range of course. You must go through the necessary details and choose the course that best suits you or you have a passion for. You must also consider other factors such as career opportunities and the scope of the course you choose to study, while shortlisting the universities in Canada.

Popular streams for a master's program in Canada:

Business Management

Hospitality Management

Health Science

Science and Engineering

Information Technology

Popular Master's courses in latest technologies

Artificial Intelligence

Mechatronics and Robotics

Data Science

Data Analytics

Wireless Networking

Popular universities for master's program in Canada:

University of Toronto

McGill university

The University of British Columbia

University of Alberta

Montreal University

Check for the tuition fee and scholarships

You also need to consider tuition fees as it is quite substantial and would take a big chunk of your financial savings.

The cost varies with the course and university you choose. You can get the fee details from the individual websites of the universities for each academic program.

You can also research about the Scholarships available for Master's program in Canada to get an idea about different scholarship options for international students studying in Canada.

Check for the intakes and deadlines

Fall semester starts in the month of September, and the application for this intake may start anywhere between January and April.

The Winter semester starts in the month of January, and the application for this intake starts anywhere between June and September . In case you miss your fall semester, winter intake is the next best choice.

The Summer semester starts in the month of April or May, and the application for this intake starts in June and goes up to September. Summer intakes are very limited and are available only for some programs.

In order to increase your chances of getting accepted to a master’s program in Canada, you should apply for the course as soon as the application portal opens.

Eligibility criteria

Check if the university is a DLI

After shortlisting the universities of your choice, you need to check if they are a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Designated Learning Institutes are Canadian universities approved by the government as recognized places for international students of study.

You can get the list of Designated Learning Institutes in the country at Click Here

Language proficiency required

To study a master’s program in Canada you are required to take up a language proficiency test and present it as a proof of English language proficiency. There are many exams that are accepted in Canada. Few examples of the English language tests accepted by top universities in Canada are IELTS, C1 Advanced, TOEFL. You can also choose to give the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) or Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees(CanTEST) if you do not want to give the standardized Language tests.

Students wanting to major in French related subjects will have to take up one of the following tests to prove their proficiency in the language-DALF, DELF, TEF, TCF Canada or TestCan.

Co-operative education prgrammes

Many Canadian universities have master’s programs that are a part of co-operative education. This program enables students to experience paid internships for two to four months with potential employers. There may be some requirements for this program at the application process level itself, like high grades and mandatory trainings that you need to undergo. If you are accepted, you will recieve notifications of opportunities from your university’s co-op coordinator.

Application Documents

Each university has its admission requirements, given below is a list of documents generally needed to get admission to a university:

Application form: You need to fill all the required details- personal, educational and desired course details

Degree certificate: It is a certificate that proves you have completed the necessary bachelor's degree required to pursue a master’s program

Resume: A resume contains an aspirant’s necessary information such as educational qualification, work experience, achievements, and more. It should be presented in a specific format.

Proof of Finance: You need to provide evidence to suggest that you can support yourself financially during your education in Canada.

SOP: The Statement of Purpose states the candidate’s reasons for applying to a master's program in Canada, his objective in life and the reason for applying to the university. The word limit is about 500 words for each SOP. It is required by universities in Canada to apply for Masters Program.

LOR: The Letter of Recommendation is an assessment of your potential by a third person, generally a professor or a former employer. The university may ask you to submit at least three LOR’s (two professional and one academic).

Academic Transcript: Academic transcripts is documentation of all your educational records of your grades in your courses.

Health insurance: The cost and amount covered varies depending on the Canadian province you will live in. Apply at the earliest (after receiving the acceptance letter) to make sure you have all the necessary documents needed to enter the country.

You can get a detailed understanding of admission requirements in this blog:

Admission Requirements For A Master’s Program In Canada

Acceptance letter

After you have submitted your college application to a Designated Learning Institute, you might receive an acceptance letter from the university, if they find your profile outstanding.

You generally receive an official letter of acceptance from the university within one or two months after the application deadline.

You cannot apply for a study permit without an acceptance letter.

Study Permit / Visa

In order to apply for a visa or a study permit , you will need to submit all the necessary documents, passport and your college acceptance letter.

You can apply for the visa online or through a visa application centre of a Canadian Embassy located in your country.

Your application will be submitted after you pay processing fees along with third-party fees such as medical exams, language test etc. (if required).

You can create an online account here

Buy a plane ticket to Canada after receiving your visa confirmation. Students must officially enroll in the university after arriving in Canada to confirm their approval.

Canada is a great place to study and offers several programs you can choose for your graduate studies. It is important that you aquaint yourself with the application process before you start applying to the universities, so that you do not miss out on any important process or document. We have given you an overview of the application process for a Master’s program in Canada, which will come in handy while handling your application process.