PhD Study in Canada: All you need to know

Ph.D. in Canada: Canada is now an established study destination for international students to pursue their higher studies. Apart from experiencing the country's multicultural society and beautiful landscapes, students gain excellent quality education.

Canada is home to some of the best universities in the world. Seven of the world's top 150 higher education institutes are located in Canada. In this article, we will inform you everything about studying Ph.D. in Canada.

A Ph.D. or a doctoral degree is the highest recognized academic degree one can earn ( with few exceptions). Candidates usually require a master's degree to be admitted to a Ph.D. degree, however, few universities in Canada allow students to pursue a Ph.D. after a bachelor's degree. Few universities also allow candidates to progress to a Ph.D. right after their master's degree. A Ph.D. in Canada usually lasts from four to six years and a student gets a lot of research opportunities. During this time a student is expected to perform significant research in his/her field of study and present a thesis or dissertation. Some universities require candidates to submit coursework while some require students to submit a list of published papers in recognized journals.

Is a Ph.D. in Canada free?

This is the most important question for Ph.D. aspirants. Tuition fees for a Ph.D. in Canada vary from university and course selection. The tuition fee for international students is comparatively more than for Canadian students. The University of Toronto is one exception for this case, as it started charging international students the same tuition fee as Canadian students in the fall of 2018.

Admission requirements for a Ph.D. program

Eligibility criteria for getting into a Ph.D. program in Canada vary based on universities and courses. Some of the basic requirements for a Ph.D. are:

• A master's degree
• Proven track record of previous research work
• English language proficiency: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo scores
• GMAT or GRE scores depending on your area of study

In a few cases, universities may allow students to progress to a Ph.D. program right after their master's degree, however, they need to have an exceptional track record of excellent academic grades and research publications.

How to apply for a Ph.D. in Canada?

This is one of the most important steps to fulfill your target of pursuing a Ph.D. in Canada.

• First of all, you need to decide which course you want to apply to. Select a topic that is worth consideration by your supervisor and the university.
• Research the department and the supervisor whom you need to contact before applying for a Ph.D. program. Few universities may ask for a letter of support from the supervisor at the time of the Ph.D. application process.

Documents required to apply for a Ph.D. in Canada

• Research proposal - For a Ph.D. program, you need to submit a detailed research proposal. In a few universities, you need to submit it to the supervisor of the concerned department while at a few universities you need to submit it at the time of filing the application
• Statement of Purpose - A Statement of Purpose for Ph.D. tells about your academic and professional background apart from your achievements
• Letter of Recommendations - You need to submit two/three LORs/Reference letters depending on the university
• Academic transcripts - Many Canadian universities ask students to submit an official academic transcript
• Academic documents - Degrees or mark sheets of your previous education
• Curriculum Vitae