According to BrainTrack, Canada is quickly becoming not only one of the countries with the highest post secondary graduation rate, but also a popular destination for students looking to earn a degree or complete coursework abroad. With the increase in interest in Canadian colleges and universities, it is important that students understand some of the differences between the requirements and types of degrees that students can earn in Canada.
Higher Education in Canada
Unlike the United States and other countries, the power over education in Canada rests with each individual province, and has been that way since 1876. Since each province has the power to regulate its educational system, there are slight variations from province to province.
Generally, there are three types of higher education institutions in Canada: colleges, universities, and university colleges. Programs at Canadian colleges closely resemble the types of degree programs offered at American technical schools by focusing on what students need to know in order to obtain a certificate in a specific vocation, such as dental assisting or court reporting. These programs are available, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, to individuals who have completed high school successfully.
Canadian universities resemble traditional four-year higher education institutions in the United States, offering bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a wide array of subjects and professions. Students at university colleges not only have access to the type of study available at universities, but are also able to enroll in technical training programs that can roll into bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs, similar to a non-terminal associates degree.
Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Canada
According to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, students wishing to complete a bachelors degree program must enroll at a university or similarly-strucutred institution.
Unlike at American colleges and universities, where students can take an average of four to six years to complete an undergraduate degree, most Canadian students can complete an undergraduate degree in three to four years, depending upon the number of courses a student takes each term and the requirements of the program. Students looking to earn a degree with honors may, like at American institutions, have to take additional classes in order to satisfy more difficult requirements.
Earning Graduate Degrees at Canadian Universities
Graduate degrees at Canadian universities, on average, take less time to complete than similar degrees in the United States, where students can expect to take two to three years to complete a masters degree and three to five years to complete a doctoral degree if a student maintains full time status.
For students looking to earn a masters degree in Canada, the average amount of time it takes to complete the intended degree is, on average, one academic year, providing that the student fulfills all requirements within that academic year. All students are required to complete a master's thesis, a practicum within their field of study, or a research paper based on a specific topic or issue within their field. Provided that a student completes a required project and all coursework, Canadian students can complete a masters degree in a year.
Students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in Canada can expect to take three years to complete their degree, provided that students complete all necessary requirements for that degree. In order to complete a doctoral degree in three years, students must maintain full-time status and complete one year of study on campus. The other two years of the degree program can be spent taking courses or performing research abroad or working with outside organizations and agencies to complete doctoral research.
Given the structure of higher education in Canada, however, minimum requirements for degrees can vary from province to province. A degree that may take three years in one province may be a minimum of five years in another, and vice versa. Depending upon the student's course load and other factors, though, it is possible for students to graduate early or to take extra time to complete a degree.
While degrees available to students studying at Canadian colleges and universities are similar to those available to students in the United States and other countries, it is important to note that the degree cycle at Canadian institutions is slightly different. For students who are looking to pursue advanced degrees on top of undergraduate degrees, the difference in structure may be appealing for those looking for an alternative to American institutions.
Sources
- "Canadian Universities and Colleges" BranTrack, copyright 1996-2011.
- "Canadian universities - Definitions of degrees" Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, copyright 2011.
- "Canadian universities - Post secondary institutions defined" Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, copyright 2011.
Ashley Anderson - Ashley is an Ohio-based writer and editor with specializations in higher education, writing, and social activism.
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