MS in Canada: Universities, Cost, Eligibility

To study master's in Canada, international students must hold a four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum 65% or a GPA of 3 on a 4-point scale. Along with this, they must submit certain mandatory documents that are discussed below:

• Academic transcripts
• English language requirements
• Statement of purpose
• Letter of recommendations
• GRE/GMAT score
• Work/ research experience
• Financial proof

Scoring 7 CGPA may or may not be acceptable in Canada for a master's. CGPA 7 is equivalent to 3 GPA, which is the minimum eligibility for international admission. However, the university considers a GPA of above 3 for most of the programs. In addition, there are some exceptions where students with decent GRE/GMAT scores, LORs, and SOPs got admission.

International students must adhere to the following admission process to pursue a master's in Canada:

Shortlist programs: Firstly, students must explore the programs they are interested in and check their eligibility and admission requirements.

Check the deadline and the application portal: Check out the application portals available and start filling out the form before the deadline.

Submit the required documents: Add personal details and submit documents such as academic transcripts, English language requirements, SOP, LOR, CV, and more.

Pay application fee: Pay the application fee and submit the application. The university usually responds within four weeks.

Canada is one of the most prefered destiation to pursue MS Abroad for international students. Canadian Universities offer the best Masters education at affordable tuition fees to students. The average 1st year MS in Canada fees is INR 7.10 L. International students can check below the Canada college fees for MS program:

Canada is the home of world ranked universities that offers quality MS programme to international students. Among the top MS universities in Canada, majority of them are located in Ontario,  British Columbia,  Quebec,  Alberta,  and Saskatchewan. We have below the popular Canadian Universities to study MS abroad for international students:

• University of Toronto
• University of British Columbia
• McGill University
• University of Alberta

Candidates looking to pursue MS in Canada are required to fulfill these primary requirements:

• Students must have a 3 to 4-year graduation degree in a related field
• Most universities require GRE scores for admission
• To pursue an MS in Canada, students must appear in English proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOFEL, and PTE followed by a personal interview conducted by some universities.
• 1-3 years of work experience is mandatory for getting enrolled in a few Canadian universities.

A majority of MS Colleges in Canada have the MS course of 2 year long. However, for a few universities, the duration for an MS may be of 12 months / 25 – 36 months / 48+ months. The MS in Canada universities that have the duration between 13 months – 24 months are listed below:

• The University of British Columbia
• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• University of Waterloo

Yes, pursuing a master's in Canada is completely worth it for international students. Canada comprises globally recognised universities, affordable education and living costs, and provides post-study work permits. They provide clear immigration pathways, especially in the Tech field and STEM. Students can avail themselves of the funded programme or a scholarship to reduce their expenses to some extent. Students who manage their education strategically can boost their ROI, and career growth.

Students having a limited budget of INR 15 L may cover the tuition expense for a year, as the average tuition cost starts from INR 30 K, but with this money, students will not be able to handle their living expenses. They must either do a part-time job or take loans to cover the amount. Students must have a budget for transportation, housing, food, insurance, books, supplies, and personal or miscellaneous expenses.

The minimum GPA score expected for a master's in Canada is 3 on the 4 scale. Scoring 2.7 is not touching the accepted threshold for most Canadian universities. However, some universities like UQAM, Laval may accept a low GPA conditionally. In addition, sometimes GPA scores may be compensated for students who score good the GRE/GMAT, have some research experience, and submit compelling SOP and LORs.

Here are the top-ranking universities for MS in Canada: 

Both the countries; USA and Canada are the top choice for students who want to study MS. However, students are inclined towards USA to pursue MS. This is because of top universities are located in the US, good brand name, job opportunities, etc. In the context of jobs, the US is a bigger economy and has more jobs. On the other hand, Canada is relatively smaller economy. One good thing about pursuing an MS in Canada is that it is feasible. On the other hand, an MS from USA might be a bit on the expensive side. The top-ranking MS Colleges in Canada have the first-year tuition fee in the bracket of INR 20 lakh. Whereas, an MS from USA can have the first-year tuition fee around INR 24 lakh. But the top-ranking MS Universities in USA can have the upper limit of the tuition fee range till INR Cr.

The best way to prepare for studies for MS in Canada is to search about the universities that are offering MS course and the specializations that you want to pursue. After this, check the entry requirements and start the preparation for the standardized exams like GMAT or GRE. Also, request to get your LORs from the recommenders 2-3 months prior to the submission of the application. Make a plan to draft the SOP too. The essays can be drafted at the time of application. Once you get selected, start with the visa process. Do search about the scholarships that are available to pursue an MS in Canada. Lastly, plan the travel to Canada and attend the orientation.

A few of the top specializations for MS in Canada are given below:

• Computer Science Engineering
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Physics
• Computer Science
• Kinesiology
• Statistics
• Environmental Sciences
• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Biochemistry
• Geology
• Food & Nutrition
• Pathology
• General Medicine
• Civil Engineering
• Molecular Biology

Some of the most popular provinces for Masters in Canada are:

• Ontario
• British Columbia
• Quebec
• Nova Scotia
• Alberta
• Manitoba

GRE is a common requirement at some universities for studying MS in Canada for international students. Around 11 schools in Canada for masters require GRE score for admission. Applicants must check the MS in Canada requirements before applying for admission. Mentioned below are some masters university in Canada that require GRE score for admission:

• University
• The University of British Columbia
• University of Toronto
• University of Victoria
• Lakehead University

There are around 61 universities in Canada to study MS course for international students. The University of Toronto remains at top position in Canada in 2025 by QS and Times Higher Education. The table below includes the list of best universities for MS in Canada: