Types of Degrees in Canada

December 2021

Canada is one of the top five study destinations in the world. It is the home of the world's top universities. Another reason why international students have Canada as their study destination is that it offers flexible and diverse study options.

There are numerous choices for students to continue their education after high school. Making the right choice depends on options of career goals and the budget of the student's family. There are five main categories of degrees available after higher secondary school. Gaining one of these degrees after higher secondary can take 2-8 years. It depends on the level of degree along with the field of study. Every degree indicates that the student has reached a certain level of mastery.

Below are different types of degrees that will help you understand and make a wise career decision.

Colleges in Canada

Certificate Degree

Certificate degrees are permitted to the students who have completed their short course. Students either pursue short courses for professional purposes or for continuing their education. A normal certificate in Canada involves three to eight academic months in a particular subject. This course aims to prepare students for an entry knowledge vocation. Common subjects include Business, IT, Health Care Administration. All colleges and universities in Canada offer certificate degrees.

Diploma Degree

There are different types of Diploma degrees in Canada, Regular Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Graduate Diploma.

The regular diploma is for students who focus on a specific occupation. This is an undergraduate program. The length of the course is 2 years and is offered by all the colleges in Canada.
An advanced diploma degree is more specialized than a regular diploma degree. It also has a co-op internship concept. This diploma degree gives a rare opportunity for the student to learn in the real world and gain real-world knowledge. This diploma is for 3 years.
Next is a Graduate diploma degree. This degree can be opted after completing the regular diploma, advanced diploma or even after Bachelor's degree. This degree offers students intensive training along with the hands-on experience

Bachelor's Degree

This is the most common degree international students pursue. It is the first designation a student will pursue when entering the university level. It is also known as a Baccalaureate level degree. A Bachelor's degree is an undergraduate degree. This course is for three to four years of full-time study. Students gain general and foundation knowledge in their first one or two years and then they focus on their specialization. Most common subjects include Business, Engineering, Humanities or Arts. There is something called teachers certification. Students are provided a fifth professional year which is comprised of a supervised spectrum. This is offered by the professors. This degree is offered by all the universities of Canada and some colleges.

Master's Degree

Once students have completed their bachelor's degree then they are eligible for the Master's degree. This degree is to concentrate further in your specialized field of study. A Master's degree is either course-based or research-based. This degree is of one to three years. In some universities, they have a co-op concept where students gain professional practice along with their theoretical knowledge.

Ph.D. or Doctorate

This degree is the highest level of education in Canada. This degree opts upon completion of one masterâ€™s degree. This degree is mostly research-based. Students around the world come to Canada for this degree. The length of this degree is for three to seven years and is only offered by the universities.

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Courses in Canada for International Students