Top 5 PG Programs To Pursue In Canada

Graduate education in Canada is sought-after for a plethora of reasons, ranging from a good return on investment in education, to a booming job market, and a socially progressive environment.

Here are some of the most promising programs for international students.

The Rotman MBA: University Of Toronto

• The University of Toronto has consistently topped Canadian and global rankings. The Rotman School of Management offers a 2-year program that combines 16 months of academic study with a 4-month opportunity for a paid internship, similar to the course structures of other leading MBA programs.
• What makes this course particularly unique is direct access to Rotman’s career services and alumni network, and the unique Self-Development Centre, which provides students access to co-curricular learning and skills development that sets them apart from their peers and competitors in the professional environments that they eventually inhabit.
• The Rotman MBA also has a uniquely relevant and diverse course offering, which includes access to over 90 electives and 12 majors - all of which are regularly updated depending on trends and developments in the global job market. Numerically speaking, 89% of students get employed within 6 months of graduation with an average salary of $112,897.
• Moreover, the cultural diversity of the cohort combined with the provision of the 3-year work permit makes it particularly appealing to foreign students with global ambitions. Similar to other leading global MBA programs, applicants are required to have GMAT/GRE scores and 2 years of full-time work experience.

Master Of Management In Finance: McGill University

• A majority of universities in Canada require students to either have 4 years of undergraduate education or work experience to secure admission into their masters’ programs. This puts Humanities and Business students from India at a specific disadvantage, which they do not face whilst applying to the prestigious and highly selective Master of Management in Finance course at the Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University.
• The program also offers students two pathways, enabling them to finish the course in 12 and 16 months respectively. The Applied Finance Project, which constitutes 20% of the grade, is the perfect blend of academic and practical approaches to learning, which gives students a competitive advantage in a field as technical as finance. Moreover, the proximity of McGill university to leading financial centres including Toronto and New York allows students to access prestigious internships and part-time work opportunities through their program.

MA Psychology: University Of British Columbia

PG Courses In Canada Are Highly Selective

• Perhaps the most cost-effective program on the list, the tuition fee for the MA Psychology course at the University of British Columbia is only about Rs 6 lakh every year for Indian students, making it more affordable than some programs in India.
• This highly selective program looks for students with a streamlined, thorough, and demonstrable experience in academic research and writing. Students are given the opportunity to study, work, and research directly under some of the leading minds in Psychology in the world. The presence of 7 distinct research fields attracts students from diverse walks of life and academic backgrounds.
• Moreover, a majority of accepted students are awarded research assistantship and teaching assistantship opportunities, making the learning experience even more holistic and rewarding. Whilst this program is highly selective and has a demanding and extensive application, this is one of the most prestigious graduate programs in Psychology in not just Canada, but across the world.

MEng In Environmental Engineering: University Of Waterloo

• Environmental Engineering is one of the most crucial and emerging sectors in Canada given the increasing focus on sustainability. The University of Waterloo, with its exceptional engineering faculty and research infrastructure, offers a truly exciting program in this field. This 2-year professional master’s course prepares students for career pathways across four functional specialisations.
• Students are encouraged to participate in and pioneer research through their degree and are allowed access to dedicated research centres. The university also partners with local governmental organisations to facilitate direct access to research innovations and facilitate student placements.
• With a 3-year post-degree stay-back guarantee, this degree all but ensures that students carefully foster a global career.

Master Of Global Affairs: University Of Toronto

• The Master of Global Affairs course is one of the most promising professional courses in the Liberal Arts. This course also allows students to develop highly contextualised learning through combined programs and specialisations.
• Students can take this course independently or combine this with their Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or Juris Doctorate (JD) to acquire a highly specialised qualification in Business and Law respectively.
• Coursework is also available in combination with the Hertie School, Berlin, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Sciences Po, France.
• The 2-year program consists of four sessions and a compulsory summer internship, and boasts of an excellent multidisciplinary curriculum for a student cohort belonging to different countries.
• With prestigious placements in and beyond Canada, this program provides global pathways for students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Canada is indeed an attractive destination for students wanting to pursue higher education abroad, and these PG programs we just spoke about add further to its array of offerings. However, before you make a decision about applying, do not leave any ends unmet in terms of researching these universities and programs yourself, and reaching out to the right professionals for support and guidance.

Note- The above is not an exhaustive list, and subject to the views and opinions of the author emerging from his extensive experience in the overseas education domain.

Jitin Chawla is an eminent Career Counsellor, working actively in the Indian and abroad education domain. He is Director, Centre For Career Development, whose operations span across Delhi- NCR, and most parts of North India for more than two decades. He can be reached at www.jitinchawla.com.