Doctoral requirements in Canada
The doctoral applicants can study at more than 95 universities in Canada. These universities accept more than 200,000 students each academic year. Public universities, which have the vast majority of doctoral universities, are financially supported by their province or local territory and offer more comprehensive study opportunities, including doctorate programs. Private universities are funded by third-party sources (such as religious organizations) and are smaller and more specialized.
There are many doctoral-related degrees in Canadian universities, including professional doctorates such as DBA degrees in Business Administration and EdD Ph.D. in Education.
Doctoral studies in Canada have more in common with the UK than with the United States. US doctorates typically take one or two years of class and entrance exams before the students can determine the subject of their dissertation. The Canadian doctorate is more about research from the beginning. Courses often focus on essential skills such as practical research techniques, methodological principles, or additional training in areas such as teaching, presentation, or dissemination. Some doctoral programs also offer internships and professional replacement courses.
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Doctoral admission requirements in Canada
The doctoral applicants usually must have a master’s degree. Unlike the United Kingdom and the United States, the applicants will rarely go from a bachelor’s degree to go directly to a doctorate. Some universities may allow you to get a Ph.D. from a bachelor’s degree, but these schedules are made up for during the chosen course.
Admission to a doctoral program in Canada can be pretty competitive, which means that the academic level of your previous degree will be thoroughly examined. The applicants must initially find a supervisor at this level, which we will explain in the following paragraphs.
The applicants usually must provide their GPA for the entire course, rather than just their final semester grade point average. A grade point average is a system used in the United States, Canada, and some other countries but is less common in the United Kingdom and Europe. It provides a more accurate representation of their overall study performance. Their GPA must be at least three out of four.
The applicants may have to present a score on the GRE Graduate Records Test or the GMAT Postgraduate Admissions Test as part of their program. The scores of these tests allow universities to assess applicants’ eligibility for a master’s degree and potentially make academic decisions between well-qualified candidates.
The applicants must show that they have enough language skills to start a doctorate in the language they choose to study. The native French or English applicants or those who have studied in both languages at the university level do not need this certificate. Otherwise, they need a French-language degree. The IELTS language degree is more used in doctoral admissions because most Canadian universities teach in English.
Scholarship and Full Fund Ph.D. Conditions in Canada
Doctoral studies in Canada are very cheap and affordable. However, Canadian universities charge more for international students. The cost of studying in Canada for an international student is about four to six thousand Canadian dollars. However, some of them can reach up to 25,000 Canadian dollars. These tuition fees are higher than what a Native student pays but still lower than in other popular countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
International students can get help for paying their study expenses in Canada by getting scholarships. The Canadian universities would award these free scholarships to top students with outstanding academic advancement. You can apply for some scholarships, but others will be awarded automatically.
Canadian Government International Scholarship Program:
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
The Vanier Canada Postgraduate Scholarship is for Ph.D. students studying at Canadian universities and is worth 50,000 Canadian dollars per year for three years.
- Scholarships and FONDS DE RECHERCHE DU QUEBEC
The Quebec Government offers scholarships and grants with its research funds for doctoral studies, postdoctoral fellowships, and short-term research.
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau Ph.D. Program
It offers scholarships to a maximum of 15 top doctoral students each year who are studying or enrolling in the social sciences and humanities. The maximum annual value is 60,000 dollars for each student for up to four years.
Top Canadian Universities
People who plan to immigrate by studying may have a specific university in mind. Usually, people who are applying for a doctorate in Canada follow the same path. However, it may affect the process of the applicant’s case because sometimes the institution or lawyer has specific cooperation with several specific universities and if action is taken in those universities, the applicant will have a higher chance of success. Therefore, the applicants will experience better conditions for admission if they do not limit their choice of lawyer or institution to receive admission to any degree, including a doctorate, in Canada.
Sometimes certain universities have specific support for the applicants’ visa application process and can use their role in Canada to apply for Ph.D. Here are the top Canadian universities that are most active in doctoral studies:
| Top 20 Universities in Canada in 2021 | |||
| University | THE 2021 | QS 2021 | ARWU 2020 |
| University of Toronto | 18 | =25 | 23 |
| University of British Columbia | 34 | 45 | 38 |
| McGill University | 40 | =31 | 78 |
| McMaster University | 69 | 144 | 98 |
| University of Montreal | =73 | 118 | 151-200 |
| University of Alberta | =131 | 119 | 101-150 |
| University of Ottawa | =145 | =279 | 151-200 |
| University of Calgary | =200 | =246 | 151-200 |
| University of Waterloo | 201-250 | =166 | 151-200 |
| Western University | 201-250 | =203 | 201-300 |
| Dalhousie University | 251-300 | =291 | 201-300 |
| Laval University | 251-300 | =420 | 301-400 |
| Queen’s University | 251-300 | =246 | 201-300 |
| Simon Fraser University | 251-300 | =323 | 301-400 |
| University of Manitoba | 351-400 | 601-650 | 301-400 |
| University of Victoria | 351-400 | =370 | 301-400 |
| University of Saskatchewan | 401-500 | =465 | 301-400 |
| York University | 401-500 | 531-540 | 401-500 |
| Carleton University | 501-600 | 601-650 | 501-600 |
| University of Guelph | 501-600 | 571-580 | 301-400 |
Required qualifications to study for a doctorate in Canada
The essential requirement to study for a doctorate in Canada is to provide credible documents. Therefore, in the immigration process to Canada through doctoral studies, the applicants must provide all their documents to the embassy and the university accurately and thoroughly.
- Previous degree educational certificates
- Study background from diploma to date
- Valid passport with at least one-year validity
- The applicant resume
- Recommendations
- Motivation letter
- Financial viability certificates or scholarship
Duration of doctoral studies in Canada
Usually, people who want to study for a doctorate in Canada know how long it will take. Doctoral studies take about two to five years in most countries. The doctoral studies in Canada take about three to six years, which vary depending on the course and the program the students take. The applicants must study full-time and research in most programs. However, some students spend more time, and their maximum study period is six years. In most cases, the doctoral students must have a master’s degree to enter a standard doctoral program in Canada. However, some universities offer specific courses that begin with one or two years of study in the Master of Science or Engineering, which are for undergraduate students but take longer to complete.
The living expenses in Canada for the students
The cost of living in Canada is between 1,200 and 1,500 Canadian dollars. However, the students can provide part of their living expenses by working. Usually, the students work up to 20 hours a week.
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