What is Your Preferred Level of Study in Canada?

What is Your Preferred Level of Study in Canada?

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Updated on Aug 1, 2025 09:54 IST

A large number of Indian students want to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programs. On the other hand, PhD and Diploma courses are less popular among Indian students. With this poll, we aimed to understand the students’ trend and their interests.

Study in Canada

Canada is a popular study destination among Indian students. It’s multiculturalism, immigrant-friendly, and world-class universities are the key reasons behind this. A big percentage of Indian students choose to study in Canada. To understand real, we wanted real-time insights, so we conducted a poll and asked: “What is your preferred level of study in Canada?” 

With this poll, we aimed to understand the students’ trend and their interests. We created this blog based on the responses we have received from the students only. In this article, we’ll explore popular study levels, share costs and opportunities, and help you make an informed decision.

Table of contents
  • Most Preferred Courses in Canada: Poll Insights
  • Postgraduate Courses (44% Votes)
  • Undergraduate Courses (41% Votes)
  • Diploma Courses (11% Votes)
  • PhD Courses (4% Votes)
  • Cost of Studying in Canada

Most Preferred Courses in Canada: Poll Insights

In our poll, we asked Indian students, “What is your preferred level of study in Canada?” The majority showed strong interest in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Here is the poll result:

What is your preferred level of study in Canada?

Here is the detailed breakdown of poll with options, number of votes and voting percentage:

Options

Total Number of Votes

Voting Percentage

Undergraduate Courses

210

41%

Postgraduate Courses

226

44%

Diploma Courses

56

11%

PhD Courses

21

4%

Total

513

100%

Let's understand this poll result in detail.

Postgraduate Courses (44% Votes)

Nearly half of students (44%) chose postgraduate courses. Here we are talking about MS in Canada only. PG courses in Canada are ideal for boosting your career, switching fields, or gaining advanced, specialized skills. The Master's in Canada is a 1–2-year graduation program offered by Canadian universities.

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Canada Masters is a curriculum-based program or thesis-based program for higher education in Canada. Indian students need to keep a budget between INR 10 to INR 40 lakhs for the cost of studying MS in Canada.

  • Popular Fields: Data Science, Engineering, Management, Health Sciences, and IT are some popular PG.
  • After PG: Students become eligible for a PGWP (up to 3 years), and post-study work often leads to permanent residency.
  • Scholarships:Look for merit-based and need-based awards at leading universities. Apply early for the best chance.

Undergraduate Courses (41% Votes)

More than 40% of respondents selected undergraduate (UG) courses as their top choice for studying in Canada. UG degrees usually last 3 to 4 years and are highly valued for their flexibility and global recognition. Indian students can apply to study in Canada after Class 12. A budget between CAD 15,700 to CAD 53,538 (INR 10.00 Lakhs to INR 33.78 Lakhs) as cost of studying UG in Canada. English-medium teaching, career-oriented curriculum, and top ranked universities are the key reasons to choose UG courses in Canada.







  • Popular Fields: Business, Engineering, Computer Science, and Health Sciences remain among the favorite streams.
  • Tuition Fee:CAD 15,000–35,000 per year, depending on university and course.
  • Next Steps After UG:Eligible for a 3-year post-graduate work permit (PGWP) after graduation, letting you build career experience in Canada.

Diploma Courses (11% Votes)

11% students voted that they want to study diploma courses in Canada. Such courses are popular among students seeking practical skills and a faster, more affordable route into the Canadian workforce. Duration of PG diploma courses in Canada are typically 1 to 3 years and focuses on job-ready training.

  • Tuition Fee Range: The range of tuition fees is between INR 4 lakhs to INR 33 lakhs per year.
  • Fields:IT, Business, Hospitality, Engineering Technologies, and Healthcare.

PhD Courses (4% Votes)

PhD programs (4% of poll respondents) attract students passionate about research and making an academic impact. Canadian universities offer advanced research facilities, competitive funding, and global recognition.

  • Tuition Fee: CAD 7,000 to 20,000 per year (often lower with assistantships or scholarships).
  • Duration to 5 years, with strong emphasis on original research.
  • After PhD: You can work in research, industry, or academia, with excellent PR prospects for researchers.

Cost of Studying in Canada

Studying in Canada is slightly affordable than in the USA, UK, or Australia. However, for some selected courses and university type, the tuition fee may vary. Indian students typically need a budget of CAD 15,700 to 53,500 for undergraduate programs and CAD 9,364 to 45,800 for postgraduation. Besides tuition, plan for living expenses, visa fees, and other pre-departure costs for your first year.

Here is the detailed cost of studying in Canada. This will give you an overview:

Type of Expense

Cost in CAD

Cost in INR

Test Fee (IELTS, GRE, & Etc)

280 to 371 16,802 to 22,263
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) 22,895 14.36 Lakhs
Tuition Fees 16,600 to 83,300 10 Lakhs to 50 Lakhs
Student Visa Fee 150 9,002
Living costs in Canada 20,000 12.00 Lakhs
Travel Expenses 1,300 78,000
Total Cost of Studying in Canada 61,225 to 128,016 37.40 to 77.45 Lakhs

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Other than this, you need to take care of the cost of living in Canada. According to Numbeo, an Indian student needs INR 91,003 per month to cover the monthly expenses in Canada. This amount does not include house rent as it varies from place to place.

There is no doubt that Canada is a leading choice for Indian students. They can have multiple options of courses, no matter whether they want to pursue postgraduate or undergraduate as their top preference. This guide explains each path’s advantages, fees, work visas, and career prospects. In short, you have an idea about different-level courses. Now you can select the level of study that fits your goals in an exciting, welcoming country.

For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.

Q:   Is applying for BCIT British Columbia admissions free?
A:

No, the applying for BCIT British Columbia admissions is not free. All the candidates are required to pay a sum of CAD 154 = INR 9,440* as the BCIT application fee. Along with this, students must submit all the essential documents required and meet the admission requirements in order to boost their chances of getting admitted in British Columbia Institute of Technology.

*1 CAD = INR 61.30

Q:   What are affordable colleges / schools for international students in Nova Scotia? Is MSVU one of them?
A:

As per the answers on the unofficial source, the most affordable post-secondary school in Nova Scotia is Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. The tuition fee to study UG programs at MSVU will be between INR 6 Lacs – INR 12 lakh. On the other hand, to study graduate programs, the tuition fee range will be between INR 5 Lacs – INR 12 lakh.

Check out the universities & colleges in Nova Scotia 

Q:   What is the acceptance rate for Fairleigh Dickinson University Canada for international students?
A:

For FDU Vancouver, the acceptance rate has not been mentioned but, this is one of the campuses of FDU New Jersey University, so, the acceptance rate can be considered as 87%. The acceptance rate signifies that the university is less selective during admission, but, there are a few of the master’s programs of the university that are highly competitive to get into such as MSc in Applied Computer Science.

 

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About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Hi, I am Raj. I help Indian students figure out study abroad without the confusion. For 8+ years, mostly in Ed-Tech, I have written about the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. I cover what peo Read Full Bio
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