PhD in Canada is an excellent opportunity for any student. It allows them to get high-tech education and placement facilities at Canadian universities. Other than this, they also get countless opportunities to do research work and work with some of the top companies in the world. Canadian universities and colleges provide both professional and academic doctorate degrees. The average price to study for a PhD in Canada is around 4,000 CAD per annum, which is lower than a PhD in the US or UK. Students also get a chance to stay back and work in Canada for three years after graduation on a PGWP. This blog will help you find detailed information about the PhD program in Canada, like universities, eligibility, cost, scholarships, jobs & salary and much more.
Table of Contents
- PhD In Canada: Course Highlights
- Why Study PhD in Canada?
- Popular PhD Courses in Canada for International Students
- What are the Intakes for PhD in Canada?
- Top Universities for PhD in Canada
- Eligibility Criteria to Study PhD in Canada
- Admission Requirements to Study PhD in Canada
- Documents Required to Study PhD in Canada
- How to Apply for a PhD Program in Canada
- Cost of studying for PhD in Canada for International Students
- PhD Scholarships in Canada
- Jobs & Salary After PhD in Canada
- Canadian Student Visa to Study for PhD in Canada
- Post Study Work Permit After PhD in Canada
PhD In Canada: Course Highlights
Given below are all the necessary pointers that one must remember when looking forward to pursuing a PhD in Canada:
|
Course Duration |
3-6 years |
|
Universities offering PhD in Canada |
98 |
|
Academic year |
September to April |
|
Fees |
4,000 to 20,000 CAD per year |
|
Work-study opportunity |
10 hours a week |
|
PGWP Duration |
Minimum of 3 years |
|
Scholarship funding up to |
40,000 CAD per year |
Why Study PhD in Canada?
Canada may be popular among students for its diversified society and hospitable government standards. Many other reasons make Canada the ideal place to pursue a PhD. Given below are some of the reasons:
- World-class universities: Canada stands proud with 3-4 of its universities in the top 150 list worldwide. This, along with cutting-edge facilities and knowledgeable educators, makes students want to choose Canada to pursue a PhD.
- Post Study Work Opportunities: Students with a PGWP can stay and work in Canada for up to three years after graduation.
- Affordable tuition fees: The average cost to pursue PhD in Canada is around 12,000 CAD. This is way less compared to PhD in the USA or UK.
- Scholarships: Canadian universities provide several scholarships that offer 15,000 to 40,000 CAD. This is very beneficial for students and helps them avoid financial constraints.
Popular PhD Courses in Canada for International Students
PhD is quite popular among students pursuing in Canada. Given below is a list of all the popular PhD courses that international students pursue in Canada:
|
Stream |
Number of PhDs |
Popular Universities |
|
Natural Sciences & Mathematics |
58 |
University of Toronto, McMaster, McGill, University of Alberta, University of Calgary |
|
Social Sciences |
51 |
The University of Toronto, University of Alberta, University of Montreal, McMaster |
|
Humanities |
28 |
University of Toronto, McMaster, McGill |
|
Medicine & Health |
34 |
University of Toronto, UBC, McGill, University of Ottawa, University of Alberta, University of Calgary |
|
Business & Management |
23 |
UBC, McGill, University of Alberta, University of Calgary |
|
Engineering & Technology |
18 |
University of Toronto, UBC, McGill, University of Ottawa |
|
Computer Science & IT |
13 |
University of Toronto, McMaster, McGill |
|
Agriculture & Forestry |
14 |
The University of Toronto, University of Alberta, University of Montreal |
|
Applied Sciences |
5 |
UBC, University of Toronto, McGill, University of Ottawa |
|
Environment and Earth Sciences |
14 |
The University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo |
What are the Intakes for PhD in Canada?
Canadian universities and colleges accept applications to international students through three intakes. Thus all students must target the correct semester according to their field and university.
The three main intakes are:
- Fall (January to April) – This intake is popular among international students since it provides many courses and degrees.
- Winter (September to December) – This intake is preferred by those who missed the winter intake.
- Summer (May to August) – This intake is quite unpopular among students since it offers limited courses and programs. It usually begins in April or May.
Top Universities for PhD in Canada
Canada features some of the best institutions globally, with three universities ranked in the top 50 of the QS world rankings. This, along with world-class education and post-graduate work facilities, makes Canada ideal for students.
The following is a list of all the top colleges, together with their QS rankings and tuition costs:
|
QS Ranking 2022 |
University |
Tuition Fees (CAD/year) |
|
#18 |
University of Toronto |
4,500 to 8,900 |
|
#37 |
University of British Columbia |
8,700 |
|
#44 |
McGill University |
19,000 |
|
#80 |
McMaster University |
16,000 |
|
#88 |
University of Montreal |
7,500 |
|
#125 |
University of Alberta |
9,200 |
|
#162 |
University of Ottawa |
6,900 |
|
#201-250 |
University of Calgary |
12,600 |
|
#201-250 |
University of Waterloo |
13,400 |
|
#201-250 |
Western University |
11,180 |
|
#201-250 |
Simon Fraser University |
5,955 |
|
#251-300 |
Dalhousie University |
11,995 |
|
#251-300 |
Laval University |
27,790 |
|
#251-300 |
Queen’s University |
12,927 |
|
#301-350 |
University of Manitoba |
9,500 |
Eligibility Criteria to Study PhD in Canada
Every college or university, be it in Canada or anywhere else, has eligibility criteria. Students must go through these thoroughly before enrolling in a college or university.
Below are some standard criteria that students need to fulfil to enrol in college.
Admission Requirements to Study PhD in Canada
To get enrolled in any Canadian college or university, one must go through its admission requirements and make sure they fulfil them.
Given below are some admission requirements that one must fulfil:
- A postgraduate and bachelor's degree
- A research proposal
- A letter of recommendation
- A study on Canada visa
- Proof of minimum English language with English proficiency test scores
- Proof of finances
Documents Required to Study PhD in Canada
Students need to provide several documents while enrolling and after enrolling in a college. Thus, they must keep them ready to provide them when required quickly.
Following are the required documents that one must keep ready in advance:
- Transcripts of your previous courses
- Competitive exam scorecard
- Photocopy of your passport
- Detailed resume
- Letter of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Research proposal (Optional)
- Other necessary certificates and transcripts
- Canadian Study Permit
How to Apply for a PhD Program in Canada
The application process for the PhD program may get lengthy and confusing. Thus, given is a step-by-step process for aspirants that wish to pursue PhD in Canada:
- Visit the official website of the college or university you want to enrol in.
- Check the course details and eligibility criteria or admission requirements
- check out the application form of their respective university
- students need to create an account by using a mobile number or email address
- Students must remember the login details to enter personal details
- Fill out the application form
- Fill out the academic qualifications and upload the necessary documents
- Select your preferred course and pay the application fees
- The fees can be paid through debit/credit card or internet banking
- Please submit the application form and keep tracking it from time to time
- Selected students will have to attend a virtual interview by the university.
Cost of studying for PhD in Canada for International Students
For students' convenience, the following is a list of all the top colleges, along with their tuition fees:
|
University |
Fees (CAD/year) |
|
University of Toronto |
4,500 to 8,900 |
|
University of British Columbia |
8,700 |
|
McGill University |
19,000 |
|
McMaster University |
16,000 |
|
University of Montreal |
7,500 |
|
University of Alberta |
9,200 |
|
University of Ottawa |
6,900 |
|
University of Calgary |
12,600 |
|
University of Waterloo |
13,400 |
|
Western University |
11,180 |
|
Simon Fraser University |
5,955 |
|
Dalhousie University |
11,995 |
|
Laval University |
27,790 |
|
Queen’s University |
12,927 |
|
University of Manitoba |
9,500 |
PhD Scholarships in Canada
Study opportunities in Canada are ideal for all students but may get expensive and cause financial constraints. To get rid of this, many Canadian colleges and universities have created scholarship programs that provide up to 100% tuition fees and stipends.
Given below is a list of some of the scholarships that students can apply for:
|
Scholarships |
Amount (CAD) |
Eligibility Criteria |
|
Ontario Trillium Scholarship |
40,000 a year (renewable) |
Apply for PhD at partner universities |
|
Ontario Graduate Scholarship |
15,000 |
Apply for PhD programs at universities in Ontario |
|
Robert Hartog Graduate Scholarship |
5,000 (renewable) |
PhD at the University of Waterloo |
|
UAlberta Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship |
45,000 (for two years) |
Enroll in a research program at the University of Alberta |
|
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship |
18,000 per year |
The PhD course at the University of Manitoba |
|
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship |
50,000 per year |
PhD in the field of social science, engineering, humanities, health or natural sciences |
|
UBC four-year Doctoral Scholarship |
18,200 per year |
Doctoral students at UBC |
|
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship |
40,000 |
Research programs in social science or humanities |
|
Ontario Graduate Fellowship |
12,000 (renewable) |
Research with partner universities |
|
Hira and Renu Ahuja International Graduate Scholarship |
20,000 |
Research in engineering fields at the University of Waterloo |
Jobs & Salary After PhD in Canada
The most important thing to consider when opting to pursue PhD in Canada is the return on Investment. In this case, the return on Investment is the job and salary that one will get after completing their PhD course. The starting salary that a graduate can expect is 95,000 CAD; this can also go up to 150,000 CAD.
Given below are all the job roles and salaries that a graduate can expect:
|
Job Roles |
Salary (CAD) |
|
Research Scientist |
69,000 CAD |
|
Postdoctoral Research Associate |
53,000 CAD |
|
Research Engineer |
63,000 CAD |
|
Principal Scientist |
99,000 CAD |
|
R&D Director |
135,000 CAD |
|
Physicist |
79,000 CAD |
|
Medical Science Liaison |
98,000 CAD |
Canadian Student Visa to Study for PhD in Canada
Getting a student visa is an important step when enrolling in a foreign university. Students must keep in mind that getting a visa can take weeks, and thus they need to apply in advance. So, they must apply as soon as they receive their acceptance letters.
Some essential documents that they must keep ready while applying for a student visa are:
Post Study Work Permit After PhD in Canada
The most important advantage of studying in Canada is that students graduating from Canadian designated learning institutes are applicable to obtain a PGWP. According to this permit, students can stay back for up to 3 years in Canada and work there.
This is an excellent opportunity as students get a chance to gain valuable experience in Canada after completing their graduation. This helps them increase their skills and experience. These skills and experiences add PR points to their application and help them obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Studying abroad could be a long and tedious process however at AECC with expert counsellors. The Counsellors will guide you through every step and help you attain your dreams at ease. They will assist with visas, courses, universities, and more.
