International Student’s Step by Step Guide to Getting a Masters Degree in Canada

Getting an International Masters’s degree is a life-changing decision. You’ll have better career opportunities, cultural diversity, more exposure, and a wider network. Think about this for a moment; you can totally transform your life by finding a Masters’s degree.

Did you know that Canada is the world’s most educated country? According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, over 56 percent of adults in Canada have college degrees?

But that’s not enough reason to pack your bags and head over there for your Masters’s degree.

So what’s the catch?

What makes Canada great for getting your Masters Degree?

Why should an find a master’s in Canada?

I won’t bore you with long points and explanations; rather, I’ll walk you through the reasons why Canada is a suitable choice for International Students.

1. Affordable Fees: The cost of living and tuition for international students in Canada is comparatively lower than in the United States and the United Kingdom.
2. Quality Education:  With one of the most advanced educational systems globally, Canada is home to world-renowned universities with high academic standards. So you’ll get a world-class degree at an affordable price.
3. Scholarships are available: We all know that International students pay more for tuition than locals. However, there are several scholarships available to international students who want to study in Canada. You might be lucky to get a full scholarship to the university of your choice.
4. Fast track to Canadian Citizenship: Getting your Masters’s Degree in Canada would accelerate your process of becoming a Canadian Citizen (if you want). International students who study in Canada can apply for permanent residency without leaving  Canada. So you can easily transition from student to permanent resident and finally to a Canadian citizen.

There are so many other reasons to get your Masters’s degree in Canada, like diversity, High employment rate, technological advancement, and the natural beauty of Canada.

So now you know why Canada is becoming a leading destination for international students like you.

But that’s not all.

Choosing where to get a Masters’s degree is just the first step. And, if you have decided on Canada, here’s a step by step guide to getting your Masters degree in Canada without hassles.

Step One: Choose the Right Programme and University

Take time to search for the right Masters’s program that would suit you, based on your academic background and career goals. You should also ensure to choose a university that caters to your academic preference. During this stage, compare the costs, campus facilities, academics, and student satisfaction of all universities that offer your chosen Masters’s degree program. Finally, double-check to see if the university is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

Step Two: Read the application Rules

It’s easy to skip the manual and move on to applying for your Masters’s degree. But, that is the fastest route to getting declined. Every university has specific guidelines and rules for application. It would help if you took the time to read and follow these rules strictly.

The usual Academic Requirements include:

• A minimum GPA (often a 3.0/4.0 or its international equivalent such as UK upper second class bachelor) for your undergraduate degree. You may also have to provide a graduate entry test score such as a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Evidence of English or French proficiency depending on the language of the program.

Step Three: Application

This is the point where you ensure you have everything that’s listed in the University guidelines.

You’ll most likely be required to submit the following.

• A completed Application Form
• The international equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree certificate from an accredited university
• Official transcripts for all colleges/universities attended
• Proof of English language proficiency(IELTS and the likes) or French (in francophone territories)
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resumé for MBA programs
• Evidence that you can support yourself financially during your study program in Canada
• Specific requirements for individual courses

If your Bachelor’s degree is not from a recognized university, you might require an evaluation of credentials from a recognized institution to determine your qualification’s Canadian equivalent.

A central office will assess your application to ensure you meet the minimum entry requirements. The faculty that runs your chosen program would evaluate your academic qualities and your suitability for the program.

If you’re successful, you’ll receive an acceptance letter, which you’ll need to apply for a student visa or scholarship.

Step Four: Apply for a Student’s visa or Study Permit.

If the program you applied for is six months or less, you might not need a student visa to study in Canada. But it is advisable to get a study permit before coming to Canada. Why? The benefits are numerous – you can work part-time on or off-campus, work as an intern if your program permits, you can even stay in Canada as a permanent resident.

There are two ways to apply for a Canadian study permit – either online or through a paper application, obtained from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website.

The easiest is the online application. A paper application can take two to three times as long as the online application. To apply online, You must have access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your document to upload and a valid credit card to pay with.

The process for obtaining a Canadian student visa is as follows:

1. Get a letter of acceptance from a recognized Canadian university – you can request it online and then print it out or request a hard copy from the university.
2. Apply for the Student Visa application online(you will have to answer some questions to determine your eligibility and the documents you need to provide), your local visa office, or the Canadian Embassy in your home country.
3. If eligible, you will receive a checklist code. It will include your application guide, estimated tuition fee, list of documents you need to submit, and guidelines to process the admission.
4. You will need a scanner or camera for this step. You will need to create a MyCIC account where you will enter your checklist code. You will be asked to upload your documents to the CIC website.
5. Once your application form is ready and tuition fees paid, you can submit your completed application to CIC.
6. You might need to provide biometric information, medical exam, police clearance certificate, valid passport, proof of funds to support yourself (this will include your tuition and ticket fee back home after your program), and two passport-sized pictures of your country.

After applying, what next? You will get a letter of introduction and an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).  The eTA is valid for 5 years or after your visa expires(whichever comes first). You will need to provide the eTA, your letter of introduction, passport, proof of finance, and letter of acceptance to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in Canada, which will then issue your Canadian study permit and allow you access into Canada.

Enjoy Your Stay