Canada knows that it needs a younger working force to keep up with its aging population. Therefore, the country has opened up faster immigration visa options for students who want to study in Canada; especially if they are from India, China, or the Philippines. This attracts several Indian students to study in Canada, especially at the post-graduate level. Apart from Masters, PG diploma courses in Canada are very popular for Indian students; especially at the Community Colleges & SPP colleges in Canada. Let’s find out more about the top PG Diploma in Canada and top SPP Colleges in Canada for Indian students.
PG Diploma Courses in Canada and Top SPP Colleges for Indian Students
Co-authored by Parinita Gupta
Study in Canada
Study in Canada has always been a promising prospect for Indians. With the introduction of efficient and faster visa processing systems by the Canadian government, the number of students pursuing higher studies there is always on the rise. The new visa program helps to cut down the processing time of study visas to up to 45 days from the previous 60 days, making it helpful for students. Canada promises to provide high-quality education, affordable cost of living for students, advanced healthcare facilities, mesmerizing landscape, and progressive politics, thus making it a popular choice for most of the students.
When it comes to the percentage of international students in any country, Canada ranks in the 3rd position. At present, around 400K students are studying in Canada and yet international students keep increasing day by day. Canada, the second-largest country, is known for its immense diversity and the harmony amongst culturally diverse people.
Why Study a PG Diploma in Canada
The reasons students prefer pursuing PG Diploma courses in Canada are:
- Post Graduate Diploma courses are comparatively cheaper than regular degree courses. Canada places a lot of importance on education and such courses acquired from prominent Universities are globally recognized. Job-oriented diploma courses can even get you good jobs there.
- Many PG diploma courses are designed with co-op options, which give you an opportunity to intern with various companies and institutes. If you’re interested to gain a resident permit to settle in Canada, a PG diploma could be what you need, which will eventually help you to find a job and build constructive relationships with employers and people worldwide.
- Canada invests a lot in its Economic Cooperation and Development and it is one of the most attractive countries to stay in. Besides, the universities in Canada are regarded for their high academic standards and their government supports research in prominent fields like telecommunications, agriculture, medicine, computer science technology, and environmental science.
- The high employability rate in Canada relates to good job prospects and their universities have impressive global collaboration agreements. Canadian universities maintain an excellent reputation with employers and since the curriculum is more industry-oriented, hence most of the graduate students are employed within six months of the completion of their courses which is quite a positive aspect for aspiring students.
- The most important part for the aspiring students who want to study in Canada is getting a Visa in Canada which is much easier than in other countries like the USA, UK, etc. Canada is considered a highly sought-after destination for international students and the student visa system of Canada provides greater overall accountability. The work permits are granted to those students who have enrolled for a degree, diploma, or certificate with a maximum of 20 hours of work per week.
- PG Diploma programs accept 3-year undergraduate degrees and the entry requirements are also a bit lower than a full-fledged MS in Canada.
Masters Programs vs PG Diploma Courses in Canada
For Masters in Canada, Canadian Universities only accept 16 years of academic education – that means, the undergraduate degree has to be of 4-year duration. Additionally, the Master’s programs also ask for a minimum of 70 – 75% in Bachelors (top universities like UBC, Toronto, McGill, Waterloo, etc. require 78 – 80%).
In India, a good majority of undergraduate programs are of a 3-year duration. Besides, in several Indian colleges/universities, it’s also not too easy to score 75% in Bachelors. This is why the post-graduate diploma in Canada is a very popular study program for Indian students. In this post, we will look at the top Post-Graduate (PG) Diploma courses and top colleges in Canada. Read more about PG Diploma vs Masters in Canada – which is better?
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PG Diploma Courses in Canada: Duration & Eligibility
Generally, the PG Diploma course duration in Canada is 1 – 2 years, it depends on which course you opt for. Few of the courses do offer a short term duration of 8 months too.
In order to join PG Diploma courses in Canada, students should complete a relevant undergraduate degree course with a cumulative percentage of at least 55 – 60% and above. Few specialized diploma courses do sometimes require aspirants to have work experience of one or two years. Colleges also require a primary English proficiency score of 6.5 on the IELTS, a score of 550+ for TOEFL (paper-based), or 80+ (computer-based -TOEFL iBT).
PG Diploma Courses in Canada: Fees and Living Expenses
According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition fees for international students in 2018/19 are CA$27,159 (US$20,600) per year. However, the tuition fees vary depending upon different colleges and universities. The PG Diploma course from a prominent institute can cost you in the range of $20,000 – $35,000 per year.
Related Articles:
Living in Toronto as an International Student
Student Guide for Living in Montreal
The cost of living in Canada depends on the area students choose. If you prefer to stay in a metropolitan city like Vancouver or Toronto the expenses can be around $15,000 per year, but in the suburbs can be around $8,000 – $10,000 a year.
Top Job Oriented PG Diploma Courses in Canada
- Computer Science & Information technology
- Accounting & Finance
- Business Administration
- Engineering – Aerospace, Electrical, Civil, Software
- Engineering Management (Electrical, Construction, IT)
- Renewable Energy & Earth Sciences
- Agricultural Science & Forestry
- Biosciences, Medicine & Healthcare
- Actuarial Science & Big Data Analytics
- Education, Teaching & Career Counselling
- Nursing
- Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations
Recommended Articles:
Best Courses to Study in Canada for Jobs, Immigration & PR
Common Mistakes to Avoid for Canadian Study-Visa Rejections
SPP Program, Study Visa Requirements & Post-Study Work Visa
SPP stands for the Student Partners Program which is a structural program jointly developed by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) in India in association with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) for Indian students to give them maximum help regarding higher studies in Canada.
This program helps you get a student visa with reduced documentation and faster processing. Students can also apply to Canadian colleges through non-SPP as well, however; through the later, there will be increased documentation thus increasing the processing time automatically. Another major difference between SPP and non-SPP applications is the requirement of more detailed proof of funds.
Eligibility Criteria for SPP Colleges
- If you are looking for SPP colleges in Canada you are expected to score a minimum of 50-55% Bachelors.
- If you have a previous study rejected visa you are not eligible to apply for SPP colleges.
- You are required to qualify language proficiency tests like IELTS with 6.5.
- You must select a course that is relevant to your previous study background.
- If you have a study gap of no more than 3 years then you can apply to SPP colleges.
- Purchase of a GIC (or Guaranteed Investment Certificate) from Scotia Bank in the amount of $10,000 CAD to cover one year of living expenses.
Required Documents for SPP Visa Application
- Letter of Acceptance from participating colleges under SPP
- IELTS score of at least 6.5 for postgraduate programs
- Bachelor’s degree Certificate and Transcripts
- Proof of work experience
- Proof of payment of Tuition Fee
- Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000 for living expenses
- Medical test results conducted only by approved panel doctors
- Applicable Visa fees ($150, may vary with time)
Note: Indian students also need to undergo a compulsory medical examination before submitting their visa application by visiting any one of the designated medical practitioners (DMP) in India.
Stay-Back and Post-Study Work Regulations in Canada
Recently the government of Canada simplified the process of applying for a post-graduation work permit, giving students and graduates more flexibility on how and when they may apply for a PG work permit. In its effort to retain international students, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) operates a Post-Graduate Work Permit Program under which international graduates may obtain an open work permit — for up to three years that will allow students to work for any Canadian employer without the requirement of a Canadian job offer at the time of applying.
Read how to get jobs in Canada as an international student.
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Top SPP Colleges in Canada (By Alphabetical Order)
- Algonquin College
- Bow Valley College
- Canadore College
- Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Camosun College
- Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology
- College of New Caledonia
- Columbia College
- Conestoga College
- Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Douglas College
- Durham College
- Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
- George Brown College
- Georgian College of Arts and Technology
- Grant MacEwan University
- Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Marine Institute of Memorial University
- Medicine Hat College
- Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Niagara College
- North Island College
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Okanagan College
- Red River College of Applied Arts, Science, and Technology
- Selkirk College
- Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology
- Sheridan College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
- St-Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology
- St. Lawrence College
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Vancouver Community College
Best Community Colleges in Canada (Rankings as per Other Portals)
- Humber College
- Seneca College
- George Brown College
- The Algonquin College
- Centennial College
- Selkirk College
- Fanshawe College
- Vanier College
- Southern Alberta Technology Center
- Bow Valley College
- Red River College
- Nova Scotia Community College
- College of New Caledonia
About Parinita Gupta: Parinita is a full-time banking professional. Additionally, she is also a passionate blogger and digital marketer.
She mostly writes about the Banking & Finance, Technology, and FinTech sector. But, she also enjoys writing on other topics as well. You can follow her on Twitter.
Featured Image Source: Liv