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Canadian Master’s and PhD programs

At our universities you will find the following programs if you are interested on a master’s, this could help you decide which one is a better fit for you: some tips that could also help you:.

  • Think about what you hope to do after the program, usually students contemplating a PhD or an academic career are better served with a thesis based program.
  • The  thesis-based program offers better preparation for a PhD program .
  • The course-based program will offer you more time to pursue other learning opportunities, like an internship , for example, or other networking opportunities.
  • At CALDO universities you will find more options of thesis-based masters Admission. For a thesis-based Master’s you will need a supervisor which may make the admission process a bit more complex. On the other hand, some course-based Master’s will require evidence of professional experience (e.g. MBA).

For more information on how to apply see the Steps to Apply section.

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Graduate studies in Canada

Transform your future with a graduate degree from a Canadian university. With a global reputation for education and research excellence, Canada is the ideal choice for your master’s degree, PhD or doctoral studies.

Canada is a global leader in research and innovation

Canadian universities conduct research at one of the world’s highest rates. Canada’s thriving research culture exceeds the G7 average in terms of impact in the fields of clinical medicine; biology; information and communication technologies; agriculture; fisheries and forestry; earth and environmental sciences; economics; and business.

To put it into context, Canadian universities conducted CAD 14.3 billion in research and development (R&D), representing 40% of the total 2017 Canadian R&D (Statistics Canada, Spending on Research and Development , 2020).

Canadians have a long, proud history of developing innovations that have changed the world, including the electric wheelchair, Canadarm space technology, IMAX film, Java programming language and wireless radio transmission.

We also have a long list of medical and scientific breakthroughs. Among them: insulin, the pacemaker, the HAART therapy treatment as HIV prevention, open heart surgery and transplantable stem cells. More recently, a Canadian PhD student made a groundbreaking cancer discovery at Queen’s University. Caitlin Miron discovered a chemical compound (DNA binder) that could ‘switch off’ cancers cells and prevent them from spreading (Global News, Canadian PhD student makes groundbreaking cancer discovery , 2017).

Why not add your name to the list? Our teaching and research programs offer endless possibilities for you to work with world-leading researchers in cutting-edge research laboratories.

Graduate program options

In virtually every field of academic study, Canadian universities offer graduate degree programs.

  • Master’s degrees require 1 or 2 years of study after completing your bachelor’s degree. In Canada, your master’s studies can include a thesis, practicum, research paper or a course‑based program.
  • PhD and doctoral degrees involve 3 to 5 years of study, including a thesis. This usually is pursued after completing your master’s degree. Your PhD path will include a dissertation that you prepare based on extensive and original research in your field.

Search colleges & universities

Canadian institutions offer both in-person master’s degrees and PhD programs as well as online or distance education options.

The case for higher education in Canada

  • Canada is seen as the #3 destination in the world for the quality of education we offer international students (U.S News & World Report, Best Countries for Education, 2021 ).
  • Graduate studies in Canada are affordable at an average cost of CAD 19,252 for a degree (Statistics Canada. Canadian and International tuition fees, 2020-2021 ).
  • A total of 26 Canadian universities feature in the QS World University Rankings 2021, an achievement matched only by a handful of other countries ( QS World University Rankings, 2021 ).

Cost of graduate studies in Canada

Your graduate studies are a smart career investment. Canada’s master’s and PhD programs are recognized around the globe, and our relatively lower cost of living makes the opportunity even more appealing to international students like you. Even Canada’s larger cities are more affordable than many cities around the world. 

Graduate tuition fees in Canada can vary depending on the program and location you choose. 

Study costs

Scholarships to study in Canada

You may be eligible for a scholarship, fellowship or grant to complete your postgraduate studies in Canada. The Government of Canada, our provinces and territories and many educational institutions offer funding for international students.

Find scholarships

Admission requirements and credits

Each university in Canada has its own admission requirements. To learn out about admission requirements for the program you want to pursue, visit the website of the university you would like to attend. Contact the university directly to determine whether your existing credits can be applied toward that program.

To study at a Canadian university, you must provide proof of your English or French language capabilities, depending on the language you choose for your studies.

  • English-language universities may require you to write a Test of English as a Foreign Language  (TOEFL),  International English Language Testing System  (IELTS), Cambridge English Assessment or the  Canadian Academic English Language Assessment  (CAEL).
  • French-language universities assess students individually. To learn what a certain university requires, check with the Office of the Registrar at the school you wish to attend.

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Discover the many reasons why international students choose to study in Canada.

How to Choose Between Course-Based and Thesis-Based Master’s Programs in Canada

  • January 13, 2024
  • Office of Outreach and Relationships

Pursuing a Master's Degree in Canada with a Full-Time Job

Pursuing a Master’s degree in Canada while working full-time can be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. One of the important decisions you need to make is whether to choose a course-based or thesis-based program. Both options have their pros and cons, and it’s essential to consider factors such as your career goals, research interests, and time commitments. In this article, we will explore the differences between course-based and thesis-based master’s programs in Canada to help you make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways

  • Course-based master’s programs provide a comprehensive understanding of a field through coursework and offer flexibility for individuals with full-time jobs.
  • Thesis-based master’s programs emphasize research and independent study, providing academic rigor and the opportunity to contribute to the existing knowledge in a field.
  • Consider your career goals and research interests to choose a program that aligns with your long-term aspirations and passion for the subject matter.
  • Evaluate the time commitments required for each program and assess your ability to balance work responsibilities and academic commitments.
  • Explore program requirements, assessments, and networking opportunities to ensure a good fit with your strengths, preferences, and future prospects.

Please note that when implementing this HTML text into your webpage, make sure to remove the capitalized HTML tags.

Understanding Course-Based Master’s Programs

Course-based master’s programs in Canada are a popular choice for individuals looking to deepen their knowledge in a specific field through coursework. These programs require students to complete a set number of courses, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of their chosen area of study.

One of the advantages of course-based programs is the flexibility they offer. Students have the freedom to complete their coursework at their own pace, making it a suitable option for those with full-time jobs. This flexibility allows you to balance your professional commitments while pursuing your master’s degree.

In course-based programs, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from a variety of electives, allowing you to tailor your education to your specific interests and goals. Some programs even offer specializations or concentration areas, enabling you to focus on specific aspects of your field of study. This specialization can enhance your expertise and make you a highly sought-after professional in your industry.

Completing coursework in a course-based program provides a practical and hands-on approach to learning. Through assignments, projects, and examinations, you’ll gain valuable skills and knowledge that can be directly applied to real-world situations. This practical focus can significantly contribute to your professional development, preparing you for leadership roles and career advancement opportunities.

The image below highlights the diverse coursework and flexibility offered in course-based master’s programs:

Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, change career paths, or gain a deeper understanding of your field, a course-based master’s program can provide you with the necessary knowledge and flexibility to achieve your academic and professional goals. Take advantage of the specialized coursework, customizable options, and practical learning opportunities offered in course-based programs to set yourself up for success.

Exploring Thesis-Based Master’s Programs

Thesis-Based Master's Programs

Thesis-based master’s programs in Canada offer a unique opportunity to delve deep into research and independent study. These programs are designed to foster academic rigor and intellectual growth by requiring students to conduct original research and write a thesis. With the guidance of a faculty advisor, students embark on a journey of exploration and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in their chosen field.

Throughout the thesis-based program, students work closely with a thesis committee, consisting of experts in the field who provide valuable guidance and feedback. This collaborative approach ensures that students receive the necessary support and mentorship to refine their research questions, design methodologies, and analyze data.

The research aspect of thesis-based programs offers numerous benefits, including the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By conducting original research, students build a strong foundation in their area of study and gain a deep understanding of the research process.

Additionally, thesis-based programs provide a platform for students to contribute to the academic community through publications, presentations, and conferences. These experiences not only enhance their knowledge but also help establish their credibility and professional reputation within their field of interest.

However, it is important to note that thesis-based programs often require a significant time commitment. The extensive research and writing involved can be challenging for those with full-time jobs. It is crucial for prospective students to carefully evaluate their time management skills and determine if they have the capacity to balance work, studies, and personal commitments.

Despite the time commitment, thesis-based master’s programs offer a unique and rewarding academic experience. The opportunity to engage in in-depth research, collaborate with renowned experts, and contribute to the academic landscape can be immensely fulfilling for individuals passionate about their field of study.

Whether you choose a thesis-based program or a course-based program, it is important to carefully consider your academic goals, research interests, and personal commitments. By understanding the distinctive features of thesis-based programs, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and sets you on a path of academic excellence.

Considering Career Goals and Research Interests

Career Goals and Research Interests

When deciding between course-based and thesis-based master’s programs in Canada, it’s crucial to consider your career goals and research interests.

Course-based programs are often more suitable for individuals seeking to gain specialized knowledge and skills in a particular area to enhance their professional development. These programs offer a structured curriculum with a wide range of courses to choose from, allowing you to tailor your studies to align with your career goals. By completing coursework in your desired field, you can acquire the practical skills and knowledge necessary to excel in your chosen profession. Additionally, course-based programs often provide opportunities for internships, co-op placements, and industry collaborations, further enhancing your career prospects.

On the other hand, thesis-based programs are ideal for those interested in pursuing research-oriented careers or further studies at the doctoral level. These programs offer the chance to delve deep into a specific research area and make original contributions to the field. By working closely with faculty advisors and engaging in independent research, you can develop critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills that are highly valued in research-based professions. Thesis-based programs also provide opportunities to present your research at conferences and publish your findings, further establishing your expertise and credibility within the academic community.

It’s important to align your program choice with your long-term goals and passion for the subject matter. Consider where you see yourself in the future and how each program can help you reach those aspirations. Reflect on your research interests and whether you are more inclined towards practical application or scholarly inquiry. By choosing a program that aligns with your career goals and research interests, you can ensure a rewarding and fulfilling academic journey.

Assessing Time Commitments

Time Commitments

Pursuing a Master’s degree in Canada while working a full-time job requires careful consideration of time commitments. When deciding between course-based and thesis-based programs, program duration is an important factor to consider. Course-based programs typically have a shorter duration compared to thesis-based programs since they primarily focus on coursework. This shorter duration can be beneficial for individuals juggling work and studies.

On the other hand, thesis-based programs require a more significant investment of time and effort due to the research and thesis writing components. Conducting original research and writing a thesis involves a substantial time commitment, which may be challenging for those with full-time jobs. Students in thesis-based programs must allocate sufficient time for data collection, analysis, and writing, along with engaging with their thesis committee.

Before making your program choice, it’s crucial to assess your ability to balance your work responsibilities and academic commitments. Reflect on your current workload, your work-life balance goals, and your capacity to dedicate the necessary time and effort to your program of choice. Consider whether a shorter duration with a focus on coursework or an extended commitment to research aligns better with your personal and professional goals.

Exploring Program Requirements and Assessments

Program Requirements and Assessments

When deciding between course-based and thesis-based master’s programs in Canada , it’s important to understand the program requirements and assessments involved. Course-based programs typically require you to complete a specified number of courses, assignments, and examinations. This structure allows you to gain a broad understanding of the field through coursework and demonstrates your ability to apply knowledge effectively.

In contrast, thesis-based programs focus on independent research, where you’ll delve deeper into a specific area of interest and contribute to the field’s existing body of knowledge. In these programs, you’ll undertake original research, write a thesis, and often defend your work through an oral examination. This research-centric approach fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

The image below illustrates the different requirements and assessments in course-based and thesis-based master’s programs:

As you consider your strengths and preferences, think about how coursework, research, and examinations align with your learning style and career goals. If you enjoy a structured learning environment and prefer applying theory to practical situations, a course-based program may be the right fit. On the other hand, if you’re passionate about research and want to contribute new knowledge to your field, a thesis-based program could provide the academic rigor and opportunities you seek.

Regardless of the program type, it’s crucial to carefully review the program requirements, such as the number of courses or the thesis length, and ensure they align with your time availability and commitments. Additionally, consider the type of assessment that resonates with your learning style and allows you to demonstrate your knowledge effectively.

Networking and Collaborative Opportunities

Both course-based and thesis-based master’s programs in Canada offer a wealth of networking and collaborative opportunities that can significantly enhance your academic and professional journey. These opportunities allow you to connect with like-minded individuals, forge valuable professional connections, and contribute to the academic community in meaningful ways.

In course-based programs, you’ll have the chance to interact with your peers and esteemed faculty members through engaging group projects, lively discussions, and thought-provoking seminars. These collaborative experiences foster a supportive and dynamic learning environment, where you can exchange ideas, gain diverse perspectives, and build lasting professional relationships within your field.

Networking for Professional Connections

Networking in course-based programs opens doors to a wide range of professional connections. By actively engaging with your classmates and professors, you gain access to a network of professionals who share your passion and can offer valuable insights and opportunities. From informal conversations during breaks to formal networking events, you have numerous chances to connect with individuals who can become valuable mentors, collaborators, or future employers.

These professional connections can be particularly advantageous for those pursuing career-centric goals. Networking provides access to industry-specific information, job opportunities, and career advice that can accelerate your professional growth and help you stay updated with the latest trends and developments.

Collaborative Opportunities in Thesis-Based Programs

In thesis-based programs, you’ll have the unique opportunity to collaborate with renowned researchers within your field of study. Working alongside experts in their respective domains, you can contribute to cutting-edge research projects, expand your knowledge base, and make meaningful contributions to your academic discipline.

Thesis-based programs often provide opportunities to attend conferences, present your research findings, and publish your work in academic journals, further increasing your visibility within the academic community. These experiences allow you to connect with peers and experts from around the world, expanding your professional network and fostering collaborations that can have a lasting impact on your academic and research career.

By actively participating in networking and collaborative opportunities, you not only enhance your knowledge and skills but also pave the way for future collaborations and career advancements. Whether you choose a course-based or thesis-based program, make sure to consider the type of connections and collaborative experiences that align with your career goals, ultimately enriching your academic journey.

Funding and Scholarships

When pursuing a Master’s degree in Canada while working full-time, funding and scholarships are crucial in ensuring you have the financial support you need. While research funding opportunities are more commonly available in thesis-based programs, it’s important to note that course-based programs may also offer scholarships and assistantship positions.

Exploring the funding options available for both program types is essential in making an informed decision. Research the scholarships offered by universities, external organizations, and government agencies. These scholarships can provide the financial support you need to pursue your degree without placing excessive strain on your full-time job.

In addition to scholarships, assistantship positions are worth considering. These positions often come with a stipend or tuition remission and can help alleviate the financial burden of pursuing a Master’s degree. Talk to program coordinators or faculty advisors to learn more about assistantship opportunities and how they can provide you with the necessary financial support.

Remember, funding and scholarships can significantly impact your ability to pursue a Master’s degree in Canada while working full-time. Take the time to explore and consider all available options, ensuring that you make a well-informed decision that aligns with your financial situation and supports your academic and career goals.

Considering Future Prospects and Employability

When choosing between course-based and thesis-based master’s programs in Canada , you must carefully consider the future prospects and employability each option offers. Course-based programs focus on developing practical skills and knowledge directly applicable to the job market. The emphasis on practicality enhances your immediate employability and opens doors for career advancement opportunities.

On the other hand, thesis-based programs provide you with valuable research experience and the opportunity to contribute to the academic community. This research-oriented approach can be highly beneficial if you’re considering a career in research or planning to pursue further academic studies, such as a Ph.D.

When making your decision, think about your long-term career goals and the skills and experiences that will best support your desired path. Consider the immediate employability boost that course-based programs offer, as well as the long-term benefits of research opportunities and contributions to the academic field provided by thesis-based programs.

Seeking Guidance and Making an Informed Decision

Making an informed decision between course-based and thesis-based master’s programs in Canada requires guidance from faculty advisors and program coordinators. These experts possess valuable insights into the structure, requirements, and outcomes of each program.

To make an informed decision, engage in conversations with professors and professionals in your field of interest. Attend program information sessions to gather comprehensive information and ask questions to clarify any doubts or concerns.

The guidance provided by faculty advisors and program coordinators will help you obtain a thorough understanding of the available options and make a decision that aligns with your career aspirations, research interests, and work-life balance.

Remember, seeking guidance allows you to make an informed decision that sets you on the path towards a successful and fulfilling academic journey.

Pursuing a Master’s degree in Canada with a full-time job requires careful consideration of various factors. When choosing between course-based and thesis-based programs, it is essential to assess your career goals, research interests, time commitments, program requirements, and future prospects.

By evaluating these considerations and seeking guidance from faculty advisors and program coordinators, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and work-life balance. Remember to prioritize your long-term goals and passion for the subject matter to ensure a fulfilling and successful academic journey.

Ultimately, whether you choose a course-based or thesis-based program, both options offer unique benefits and challenges. The key is to choose a program that suits your individual goals and circumstances. With the right decision-making process and careful consideration, you can pursue your Master’s degree in Canada while balancing your full-time job and unlocking new opportunities for professional growth and personal fulfillment.

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What kind of master’s degree is right for me?

Posted on Thursday, March 14th, 2024

Written by Jadyn Koehler, OAC undergraduate student

students in the rural planning masters program are discussing a project in a classroom

Deciding on a master’s program in food, agriculture, communities or the environment can be overwhelming. You might be asking yourself:

  • “What’s the difference between a course-based master’s program and thesis-based?” 
  • “What careers can I pursue with a master’s in agriculture and food?”
  • “What is a major research project (MRP)?”
  • “Do I need to find a faculty advisor?”

This article will list the key differences between a master’s by coursework and a master’s by thesis, to help you decide which is the best fit for you!

Do you want to complete more courses or research in your master’s program?

In both course-based and thesis-based master’s programs, you will be required to take some graduate level courses, but the main difference between them is how many. Course-based programs typically fall under one of two frameworks for completion: 

  • A strictly coursework program: you must enroll in certain courses to earn your degree, or 
  • A coursework + major research project (MRP) program: you must complete several courses in addition to a MRP to graduate. 

It may be helpful to think of a MRP as a “mini-thesis” of sorts; the scope of the project is smaller than a thesis and does not need to be a new contribution to the discipline, but it still needs to be well-researched and academically strong!

Thesis-based programs, on the other hand, are research intensive. The small number of courses you complete are more tailored to your specific research interests. To graduate, you need to complete and defend a thesis that contributes something new to your discipline. Much of your time is spent conducting research and working towards this goal.

Discover course-based and thesis-based masters programs from the Ontario Agricultural College

Complete your master’s degree in months vs. years.

Another big difference between course-based and thesis-based is the length of the program. Course-based master’s programs typically take around 1 year to complete (3-4 semesters of full-time study), while thesis-based programs are a longer commitment and are often completed in 2 years (5-6 semesters of full-time study). Remember that these are general timelines for both types of programs, but individual completion times can vary based on personal circumstances, part-time semesters, and more.

Finding an advisor for your master’s degree

The majority of the course-based master’s offered by OAC do not require you to find an advisor prior to applying. In most cases, you can find an advisor after you have been accepted into, or started, your program. 

If you’re applying to a thesis-based program, in most cases you are required to find a faculty advisor willing to advise you on your studies and research before submitting your application. Some exceptions (thesis-based master’s that don’t require students to have an advisor before applying) are the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) and the MSc in Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) programs. 

How to fund your master’s degree

A big draw of thesis programs is that students are often able to receive funding to help them pay for their graduate studies. Many thesis-based programs in the OAC offer master’s students a minimum stipend for each year of their program (the exact amount or if it is offered varies by department). Thesis students are also eligible for paid roles such as Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs), and Graduate Service Assistantships (GSAs), and can apply for a plethora of different scholarships ranging from internal to government funded awards. 

Alternatively, course-based master’s programs are often self-funded, meaning that no guaranteed funding is offered by the department and students are largely responsible for funding their studies themselves. There are still a number of scholarships available for course-based master’s students and other opportunities for funding, such as bursaries, that can make pursuing a course-based program feasible and affordable for many students.

You can learn more about funding here: How to Finance Your Degree: Guide to Awards and Master’s Program Scholarships | Ontario Agricultural College

More comprehensive vs more specific

With both program types, you will specialize your learning in a specific area by choosing a field to focus on and will often take multiple courses on this particular field. For example, OAC’s Department of Animal Biosciences offers four different specializations within their master’s programs; a student specializing in Animal Nutrition would therefore take courses such as Advanced Animal Nutrition, Metabolism, and Techniques in Animal Nutrition Research in both the thesis and course-based programs. However, students in the course-based program are also required to take courses outside of their specialization, while thesis students typically focus on their main specialization. Thesis programs = more focused. Course-based programs = more comprehensive.

Course-based master’s programs allow students to gain a broader understanding of their chosen topic area, and with the addition of experiential learning opportunities such as workplace projects and internships, can help students prepare to enter the workforce and begin building a career in their chosen field. 

With a thesis-based program, students take that a step further and are able to delve really deeply into their area of research as they complete their thesis, effectively preparing them for future careers in research or to continue their educational journey in a PhD program, for example.  However, remember that everyone’s path is their own, and both a course-based or thesis-based program can properly prepare you for your future career and further education by giving you transferable skills, hands-on experience, and a place in the close-knit OAC community at the University of Guelph! 

You may want to consider a course-based master’s program if:

  • You want a program that allows you to explore your subject area and field through a focus on coursework rather than research
  • You want a program that you can complete quickly (only 1 year)
  • You don’t necessarily want to find or decide on a faculty advisor right away
  • You are willing to take on the responsibility of self-funding your studies
  • You want to gain a comprehensive understanding of your subject area and field while completing courses and engaging in experiential learning opportunities

You may be interested in a thesis-based master’s program if:

  • You want a program that is more research-intensive with less coursework requirements
  • You want a longer program (2 years vs 1)
  • You are willing to find a faculty advisor before applying to your program
  • You would like the opportunity to receive funding during the completion of your program
  • You want to learn really deeply about a specific topic while conducting your own research, and eventually write and defend a thesis

About Jadyn Koehler (she/her)

Jadyn is a motivated 4th year student at the University of Guelph currently working on completing her undergraduate degree in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BAS) program with minors in History and Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences. She is passionate about learning, nutrition, and animals, and hopes to pursue a graduate degree (MSc) in the field of nutritional sciences next year.  

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Masters in Canada: Fees 2024, Top Colleges, Placements & Salaries

thesis based masters in canada quora

Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated On - Apr 30, 2024

Recent Updates:

Because of the rising demands on housing, healthcare, and the education sector, the IRCC department of Canada has imposed a temporary restriction on international student visas for 2 years. Read More Canadian Government Announces 2-Year Cap on International Student Visas!

Students pursuing Masters in Canada are awarded the qualification of Masters of Science (MSc) or Masters of Arts (MA). Apart from these, students also have options for specialist Masters degrees such as Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Engineering (MEng), MBA in Canada and others.

Application deadlines of the Canada Universities for MS course is October-January and the admission is finalized by May. You will need to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree (65%-86% aggregate) , 6.5 or more IELTS score, GRE scores (required for top universities), and LORs to get admission to Masters in Canada.


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Masters in Canada: Highlights

Popular Specializations Masters in Data Science in Canada | Masters in Computer Science in Canada | Masters in Management in Canada
Admission Requirements UG degree in a related field of study | Some degrees may also require 1-3 years of work experience
GPA 3.0/4.0 (equivalent to 70-75%)
English Language Proficiency : 6.5-7.0 | TOEFL: 88-100
Test Scores GMAT: 550 | GRE scores: 140 in verbal, 150 in quantitative
Tuition Fee 9,000 to 70,000 CAD (5 lakhs to 42 lakhs INR)
Average Salary 75,000 CAD (45 lakhs INR)
Top Recruiters Amazon, Scotiabank, IBM, Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, Siemens, Infosys, EY

Best Universities in Canada for Masters

Cana is home to over 96 public universities and 15,000+ study programs. The table below shows the best universities in Canada for Masters according to QS world rankings 2024.

University Popular Program Application Deadline Tuition Fees in CAD Brochure
McGill University December 15, 2024 19,728
Western University March 12, 2024 73,800
University of Toronto Applications open October 2024 31,659
University of British Columbia December 15, 2024 9,690
University of Alberta May 1, 2024 9,406
McMaster University March 30, 2024 17,094
University of Montreal February 1, 2024 (closed) 32,874
University of Waterloo December 1, 2024 23,088
Queen's University January 15, 2024 (closed) 38,781
University of Ottawa January 31, 2024 (closed) 30,156
University of Calgary April 30, 2024 36,180
Dalhousie University April 1, 2024 10,650
Simon Fraser University January 18, 2024 (closed) 6,198
University of Victoria December 1, 2024 16,152
York University February 15, 2024 (closed) 32,397
University of Saskatchewan January 31, 2024 (closed) 13,575
Concordia University April 1, 2024 33,833
University of Guelph October 1, 2024 20,511
Carleton University January 15, 2024 (closed) 31,086
University of Manitoba May 1, 2024 19,491
University of New Brunswick January 15, 2024 (closed) 14,535
Memorial University of Newfoundland January 15, 2024 (closed) 9,700

Popular Masters in Canada

The table below shows the popular MS in Canada for international students along with some of the top-ranking universities offering those programs:

Popular Masters Program University Estimated Full Tuition Fee (in INR)
McMaster University, University of Calgary, Western University, Concordia University, University of Regina 15 lakhs to 50 lakhs
U of T, McMaster University, McGill University, UAlberta, UBC 8 lakhs to 36 lakhs
U of T, University of Waterloo, UBC, McGill University, UAlberta 40 lakhs to 62 lakhs
UToronto, UBC, McGill University, Queen's University, Universite de Montreal 18 lakhs to 50 lakhs

Why Study Masters in Canada?

  • World-class Universities- According to QS World University Rankings 2024, there are eight Canadian universities that are among the top 200 universities in the world.
  • Specialization Chances- Masters in Canada is offered in a number of study fields such as medicine, IT, engineering and technology, finance, management, business administration, architecture, nursing, design, etc.
  • Affordability- Tuition fee for MS in Canada can go as low as 9,000 CAD. Studying Masters in Canada is comparatively more affordable than pursuing MS in USA (35,000 CAD- 82,000 CAD annually) or Australia.
  • Funding Options- Around 70% more funds and scholarships are offered to students in the form of scholarships, fellowships, etc. as compared to USA.
  • Job Opportunities- According to a survey by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE), approximately 60% of international students desired to stay back after Masters in Canada. The average salary offered by some of the top recruiters after Masters in Canada is:

Top Recruiters after Masters in Canada

  • Immigration and Visa Process- Immigration in Canada is more welcoming than in other study abroad destinations . Students looking for a PR can apply for a post-graduation work permit.
  • Work-while Studying- While studying Masters in Canada, international students can apply for various part-time employment options to gain valuable work experience and also earn to at least be able to cover their living expenses.
  • Global Leader in R&D- Canadian universities perform 40% of R&D work spending over 13 billion CAD. Major research opportunities in Canada are in areas of clinical medicine; biology; information & communication technologies; agriculture; fisheries & forestry; earth and environmental sciences; and economics & business.

Applying for Masters in Canada

Applying for admissions in Canada can be competitive as the number of applicants far exceeds the actual number of accepted admissions. Academic sessions usually start in the month of September . It is always advisable that international students must apply for admission early and preferably submit their admission applications by the month of January .

Eligibility for Masters in Canada

To be eligible for admissions in Masters in Canada, an applicant must:

  • Have a minimum GPA often 3.0/4.0 (equivalent to 70-75%) or its equivalent international UG degree in a related field of study.
  • Minimum GMAT scores required: 550
  • Minimum GRE scores required 140 in verbal. 150 in quantitative
  • TOEFL : 80-100
  • IELTS: 6.5-7.0
  • Few master's programs (such as business/ management) also require 1-3 years of work experience.

Note: Although most Masters in Canada programs are taught in English, some of them might have French as the language of instruction. This majorly depends on the province you are in (for instance, Quebec). As proof of French proficiency, students must clear TEF or DELF.

Masters in Canada requirements: IELTS

International students from non-native English-speaking countries are required to submit proof of English language proficiency.

University IELTS Score
University of Toronto 6.5
University of British Columbia 6.5
McGill University 6.5
McMaster University 7.0
Universite de Montreal 6.5
University of Alberta 7.0
University of Ottawa 6.5
University of Waterloo 7.0
Western University 6.5
University of Calgary 6.5

Masters in Canada requirements: Documents

As part of the application package, students must submit the following documents for admission to Masters in Canada:

  • A completed admission application form
  • Certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates from all educational institutions attended
  • References or Letters of Recommendation
  • Personal statements/writing samples
  • GRE /GMAT scores
  • Language proficiency (English/French)
  • Payments of non-refundable application fee.
  • Copy of Passport
  • Proof of scholarship or funding
  • Canada Student Visa

MS in Canada Cost

The costs involved in studying abroad require international students to estimate their financial budgets before starting the process. The cost of doing MS in Canada includes one-time payable tuition fees as well as living costs.

Masters Fees in Canada

The cost of doing Masters in Canada and the average annual tuition fee for indian students is discussed below:

MS in Canada Fees

University

Tuition Fees in CAD Tuition Fees in INR
McGill University 19,728 12 lakhs
Western University 73,800 45 lakhs
University of Toronto 31,659 19 lakhs
University of British Columbia 9,690 6 lakhs
University of Alberta 9,406 5 lakhs
McMaster University 17,094 10 lakhs
University of Montreal 32,874 20 lakhs
University of Waterloo 23,088 14 lakhs
Queen's University 38,781 24 lakhs
University of Ottawa 30,156 18 lakhs
University of Calgary 36,180 22 lakhs
Dalhousie University 10,650 6 lakhs
Simon Fraser University 6,198 3 lakhs
University of Victoria 16,152 10 lakhs
York University 32,397 20 lakhs
University of Saskatchewan 13,575 8 lakhs
Concordia University 33,833 20 lakhs
University of Guelph 20,511 12 lakhs
Carleton University 31,086 19 lakhs
University of Manitoba 19,491 12 lakhs
University of New Brunswick 14,535 9 lakhs
Memorial University of Newfoundland 9,700 6 lakhs

Cost of Living in Canada

The cost of living in Canada is around 2% lower than the USA. The average monthly accommodation costs around 850-1,000 CAD (51.800-61,000 INR) annually. Other living expenses include costs spent on food, transportation, books and supplies, etc. These estimated expenses are:

Cost of Living in Canada

Expense Type Average Cost (CAD) Cost Equivalent (INR)
Accommodation 2,000 1.23 lakhs
Food 370 22,700
Transport 100 6,100
Internet 86 5,200
Books and Supplies 163 10,000
Miscellaneous 350 21,500

Masters in Canada Scholarships

To fund their studies, students can apply for various scholarships to study in Canada . These include scholarships awarded by universities, the government of Canada, private organizations and agencies, etc.

Scholarship Awarded to Scholarship Amount (in CAD)
graduate students at universities in Ontario 15,000 per year
students enrolled in Masters in Taxation program at University of Waterloo 3,500
Indian students looking for studies abroad 1 lakhs to 10 lakhs INR
students from developing countries covering tuition & living expenses Varies
students enrolled in an MBA program at McGill University Up to 20,000
students enrolled in a masters program at University of Waterloo 1,000
full-time graduate enrolled in a masters program at University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering 10,000
full-time students of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at University of Manitoba 14,000
full-time graduate student at UAlberta in the form of a stipend 17,500 + 10,000
students enrolled in a research-based graduate program at UAlberta 26,000

Jobs after MS in Canada

Friendly immigration policies and the easy availability of work permits for Canada make it a popular destination among graduates looking for career opportunities abroad. After graduation, you can look from a pool of jobs in Canada and make an average annual salary of 75,000 CAD (46 lakhs INR), which can go as high as 169,000 CAD (1.04 crore INR).

The scope after completion of MS in Canada highly depends on the choice of program.

  • Salaries of Computer Science graduates in Canada are among the highest-paid.
  • Healthcare and medical industry is the third largest with the most employment options.
  • There is a high demand for law graduates in Canada with lawyers earning about 91,000 CAD (56 lakhs INR) annually.
  • Master degree graduates are able to earn 29% more than bachelor graduates.
  • Employees in Canada observe a salary increase of about 9% every 15 months.
Specialization Job Profile Average Salary (CAD) Average Salary (INR)

MSc in Computer Science in Canada

Full Stack Software Developer 73,000 45 lakhs
Systems Designer 95,000 58 lakhs
Software Engineer 82,000 50 lakhs

Business Consultant 76,220 46 lakhs
Business Analyst 68,049 41 lakhs
Operations Supervisor 56,553 34 lakhs

Electronics Engineer 69,000 42 lakhs
Electrical Design Engineer 69,000 42 lakhs
Electrical Engineer 74,000 45 lakhs

MSc Finance in Canada

Financial Analyst 62,000 38 lakhs
Financial Controller 86,000 53 lakhs
Accountant 55,000 34 lakhs

Structural Engineer 73,000 45 lakhs
Construction Engineer 85,000 52 lakhs
Civil Engineer 71,000 44 lakhs

Mechanical Engineer 71,000 44 lakhs
Building Systems Engineer 76,000 47 lakhs
Project Mechanical Engineer 111,000 68 lakhs

Database Administrator 68,000 42 lakhs
Database Analyst 65,000 40 lakhs
Database Manager 68,000 42 lakhs

After studying and gaining some work experience in Canada, international candidates can apply for permanent residency or PR in Canada . As permanent citizens, candidates tend to get most of the social benefits as citizens of Canada, can work or study anywhere in Canada, and can even apply for Canadian citizenship.

Canada has a multicultural society providing ample opportunities to support young talents. If you have the requisite passion for pursuing a masters in Canada, the country offers significant returns for all your investments, helping you to reach your goals. You can also further your opportunities and horizons by continuing your studies after your master's and planning a Ph.D. from Canada .

According to reports by CBIE (Canadian Bureau for International Education), the total number of international students has increased by 43% over the past five years and nearly 170% over the last decade. Thus, making Canada the world’s third-leading study-abroad destination after the USA and Australia. According to reports, 34% of these international students were from India alone.

Ques: How much does MS cost in Canada?

Ans : The average tuition fee for graduate studies and Masters degree in Canada ranges from 9,000 to 70,000 CAD annually. For Indian students, the cost of studying at universities in Canada for Masters ranges from 5 lakhs to 42 lakhs INR. Universities like Simon Fraser University also offer the cheapest MS in Canada, with a low tuition fee of 6,000 CAD (3 lakhs INR).

Ques: Is Canada good for MS?

Ans : Yes, According to QS World University Rankings 2024, there are eight Canadian universities that are among the top 200 universities in the world. MSc degree in Canada is offered in a number of study fields such as medicine, IT, engineering and technology, finance, management, business administration, architecture, nursing, design, etc.

Ques: What is the eligibility for MS in Canada?

Ans : To be eligible for admissions in Masters in Canada, an applicant must:

  • Non-native English speakers must provide proof of English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, or other equivalent exams.

Ques: Is IELTS required for MS in Canada?

Ans : While a general minimum of 6.5 overall with no bands less than 6 for IELTS is common for MS in Canada, some universities might require a higher score (ex: 7.0 or 7.5) or have specific requirements for individual sections like Writing or Speaking.

Ques: Can I get a job after MS in Canada?

Ans : Friendly immigration policies and the easy availability of work permits for Canada make it a popular destination among graduates looking for career opportunities abroad. The scope after completion of MS in Canada highly depends on the choice of program.

Ques: What is the salary after MS in Canada?

Ans : After Masters in Canada, you can look from a pool of jobs in Canada and make an average annual salary of 75,000 CAD (46 lakhs INR), which can go as high as 169,000 CAD (1.04 crore INR). Some of the popular sectors to explore after completing your MS in Canada are:

Sector Average Annual Salaries (CAD) Average Annual Salaries (INR)
CS-IT 82,000 50 lakhs
Electrical Engineering 75,000 46 lakhs
Civil Engineering 71,000 44 lakhs
Mechanical Engineering 71,000 44 lakhs
Data Science & Machine Learning 83,000 51 lakhs

Ques: Can I stay in Canada after MS?

Ans : Yes, there are several ways you can stay in Canada after completing your MS program. PGWP Canada allows international graduates to gain valuable work experience in their field of study for up to 3 years after graduation. This can significantly boost your chances of securing permanent residency in the future.  

After studying and gaining some work experience in Canada, international candidates can apply for permanent residency or PR in Canada. As permanent citizens, candidates tend to get most of the social benefits as citizens of Canada, can work or study anywhere in Canada, and can even apply for Canadian citizenship.

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York University

Master’s Thesis

Master’s general requirements, types of theses.

Master’s theses submitted by students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must embody the results of original research and must be successfully defended at oral examinations. Master’s theses shall be on a topic approved by the student’s supervisor and supervisory committee, and shall include submission and approval of a thesis proposal, including appropriate ethics review and approval, in accordance with Faculty and program requirements and procedures.

Master’s theses should demonstrate that the student is familiar with and has an acceptable understanding of the literature in the subject of the thesis; that appropriate research methods have been used, and that appropriate levels of critical analysis have been applied. The research embodied in the thesis should make some original contribution to knowledge in the field.

By submitting a thesis or dissertation, a student is making the representation that it is entirely his or her own work and that it has been done while he or she was a graduate student at York University.

If such is not the case, then the student must indicate in a signed, written statement what part of the thesis or dissertation is solely his or her own or co-authored. If co-authored, the candidate must provide an account of its provenance. The supervisor must produce her or his own corroborative written statement.

If a thesis or dissertation is the result of collaborative work, then the nature of the collaboration and the extent of the candidate’s contribution must be described in a written statement signed by the candidate and approved in writing by the candidate’s supervisor. Where there has been collaboration with others in the collection or preparation of data, materials, or documentation included in the thesis or dissertation, then appropriate acknowledgment must be made in the thesis or dissertation.

If a thesis or dissertation—or any part thereof—has been published prior to submission of the thesis/dissertation, then the candidate must disclose this fact in a signed written statement, and the supervisor must approve in writing the inclusion of such work in the thesis or dissertation. In cases where one or more chapters of the thesis or dissertation have been previously published in a journal or book to which the author has assigned copyright, permission to include the chapter(s) in the thesis or dissertation must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Please see the section on Copyright for more details.

A thesis or dissertation containing previously published material of which the candidate is the author and/or co-author should also contain a review of the literature that adequately explains the relationship to the literature of the work undertaken. In addition, it should contain a rationale for the study. These elements may form part of the body of the work – normally an introduction or opening chapter – that leads coherently into the publications. Furthermore, there should be a concluding chapter or section that discusses the body of the thesis or dissertation, including all previously published parts.

A false representation or failure to make a disclosure as outlined above is an academic offence and renders the thesis or dissertation ineligible for consideration of the relevant degree.

The general form and style of a thesis/dissertation may differ from program to program, but a thesis/dissertation should be a coherent work. This means that if a thesis/dissertation contains separate manuscripts, there needs also to be introductory and concluding chapters that explain how these separate manuscripts fit together into a unified body of research. If previously published materials are included, then it should be made clear what exactly is the student’s own work and what is the contribution of other researchers, as outlined above under Originality of a Thesis/Dissertation.

All theses and dissertations must contain a written component. Theses and dissertations may, however, include other components in addition to the written component.

A complex electronic thesis/dissertation is a work with a high reliance on slides, film or videos, electronically interactive word/image-based text on CD-ROM or the internet. For complex electronic theses/dissertations, part of the work can be produced in traditional written form, but key elements of the work depend on direct experience with or interaction with a text whose physical form may be changed as a consequence of the interaction. Students producing a multimedia thesis/dissertation should consult with the  Theses Canada Portal  on the  Library and Archives Canada  website for advice on formats supportable for preservation. However, a student may work in or submit work in an unsupported format as part of the oral exam as long as the work is readily accessible by the exam committee and the student submits a written component.

A multimodal thesis/dissertation is a work in which the key component is a performance or piece of art. For multimodal theses/dissertations, part of the work can be produced in traditional written form, but key elements of the work depend on direct experience by the exam committee with, for example, displayed artworks or theatrical productions.

For both electronic and multimodal theses/dissertations, students may wish to include supplementary files as part of their final submission (see  Final Submission Tab ).

A thesis or dissertation should be written in English, but approval may be given to a written request from a student for a thesis or dissertation to be written in French or in the language of any Aboriginal/First Nations people in North America, subject to confirmation from the director of the graduate program concerned that relevant supervision and sufficient support for the completion of such written work can be provided.

For theses/dissertation written in English, either American or British spelling is acceptable provided that it is used consistently throughout.

Students preparing their thesis/dissertation should follow a single style guide appropriate to their discipline.  The York University Libraries  provides links to various style guides for various disciplines.

Thesis Proposals

In accordance with program requirements and procedures, all students should prepare a thesis/dissertation proposal, normally in consultation with their supervisor in advance of commencing their proposed inquiry. Each program should have written guidelines and should communicate them to candidates, as and when appropriate.

At a minimum, the proposal should contain a brief statement in non-technical language on the purpose/goals of the thesis/dissertation research, its relationship to existing work in the area, through an abbreviated literature review, the research question(s), the proposed methodology(ies) with rationale, and the contribution which the researcher hopes to make to the advancement of knowledge in the field. In addition, the proposal includes a title, the name of the supervisor and the supervisory committee. The title should indicate as clearly as possible the area of research, but it is understood that this title may change. The recommended maximum length of a proposal is 3,500 words, but individual programs may require proposals of a greater length. Proposals must be reviewed and approved by a student’s thesis or dissertation committee.

Following approval of the proposal by the supervisory committee, students must submit one or more copies of the proposal to the graduate program director. After confirming that the relevant Faculty and internal program requirements have been satisfied, the program director is responsible for submitting the proposals to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies using the  Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission . As indicated on Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission, submission of the proposal to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, includes submission of the relevant research ethics forms and documentation. For more information on required documentation and submission procedures, please refer to the Research Ethics section of this Handbook.

For a master’s thesis, the supervisory committee must review the student’s research proposal and recommend its approval not less than three months prior to the date set for the oral examination.

Please note that the deadlines outlined above are the Faculty’s minimum requirements, and individual graduate programs may have more specific requirements and timelines with respect to the development, review and approval of thesis/dissertation proposals. Students should consult their program for more details. Further, the Faculty deadlines outlined above may not provide the time necessary for ethics approval, if required. More information regarding research ethics is provided below.

Research Ethics

York University is committed to the highest standards of integrity in research. All projects involving the use of human subjects, animals, and biohazardous materials are subject to review by the appropriate University committee. York has formulated policies and procedures for the conduct of research involving all three of these areas.

As indicated on Form TD1: Thesis/Dissertation Research Submission , submission of the thesis/dissertation proposal to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies for approval must include the relevant research ethics forms and documentation.

All research involving human participants is governed by the Senate Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants . The Senate Policy stipulates that all University-based research involving human participants, whether funded or non-funded, faculty or student, scholarly, commercial or consultative, is subject to an ethics review process. The Senate Policy for the Ethics Review Process for Research Involving Human Participants and corresponding review procedures adhere to the published guidelines of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, known as the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCPS).

Please note that in accordance with the TCPS and Senate policy, graduate students undertaking research with human participants may not begin that research until their proposal has received approval from the appropriate body . Further, prior to conducting research involving human participants, graduate students are required to complete the complete the TCPS tutorial .

Details regarding the ethics review procedures for thesis/dissertation research involving human participants is available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies research ethics webpage .

Students conducting research with human participants may be required to submit the Form TD2: Human Participants Research Protocol . Additional forms may be required.

Further details regarding the University policies and ethics review procedures for thesis/dissertation research involving animals and biohazardous materials is available on the Office of Research Ethics web page.

Ethics guidelines for other research situations are also available on the Office of Research Ethics web page, including:

  • Invasive Procedures
  • Health and Safety Checklist
  • Surveys and Research in an Online Environment
  • Research Conducted by External Researchers
  • Research Conducted in Hospital Clinical Settings
  • Research in Educational Settings
  • Research Involving Minor Age Participants
  • Research with People who are Homeless

Students hold copyright to their theses and dissertations, regardless of the method of submission. Consequently, a student is free to publish his or her thesis/dissertation following a successful oral examination. Please note that if a thesis/dissertation includes any work which is copyrighted to another party, permission may be required to publish the thesis/dissertation.

After a successful oral examination the  Library and Archives Canada Thesis Non-Exclusive License (.pdf)  must be submitted to the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies. The student must also accept the terms of the York University Copyright License as part of the electronic submission of their thesis/dissertation using the  Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) .

By signing these licenses, a student is confirming that his or her thesis/dissertation is his or her original work, that his or her thesis/dissertation does not infringe any rights of others, and that he or she has the right to make the grant conferred by those copyright licenses. In addition, the student is granting a Licence to York University to make copies including electronically formatted copies, and/or distribute worldwide all or part of the thesis/dissertation, subject to the conditions outlined.

If applicable, the student should submit copies of any required copyright permissions prior to the final thesis/dissertation submission to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies. The student should also retain copies of all copyright permission requests and approvals.

The following sections provide guidance and suggestions with respect to when and how to secure copyright permission. It is, however, the responsibility of the student to confirm that if there is copyrighted material in his or her thesis/dissertation, it either complies with the “fair dealing” provisions of the  Canadian Copyright Act  or documented permission has been obtained to use the copyrighted material. The Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies cannot offer legal advice as to whether or not copyright permission is required.

Limit of Copyright Protection : Copyright protection applies to original, literary, musical, dramatic or artistic works in a variety of forms, including written materials, computer software, and web-based formats regardless of whether the work in question is published or not and whether someone has made it available to the public or not. This protection expires 50 years after the death of the originator, regardless of who holds copyright at that time.

Public Domain : A work that is freely available to the public is not necessarily in the public domain. For a work to be in the public domain, the originator must have specifically waived copyright to the work, or copyright must have legally expired. Work that is in the public domain can be used by anyone without copyright being violated.

Fair Dealing : A student is allowed to use copyrighted material in his or her thesis/dissertation provided it falls under the  Canadian Copyright Act’s  definition of “fair dealing”. Information on York University’s Fair Dealing Guidelines can be reviewed at  York University—Copyright .

While it is required academic practice to cite sources, proper citation does not remove the obligation to obtain documented permission to use copyrighted permission that is not covered under the “fair dealing” provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act. If a thesis/dissertation includes any of the following elements, the student should seek copyright permission. (Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If you require additional information on York’s Copyright Policy or Fair Dealing Guidelines contact the Copyright Office at  [email protected] ).

  • Material or parts of material written by the thesis/dissertation author which have been previously published in a journal and to which the author has assigned copyright
  • Material co-authored with another author(s) who share copyright
  • Tables, figures, and all forms of images including photos, maps, graphs, drawings, logos etc. that have been obtained from a copyrighted source, including websites, newspapers, journals, books, brochures, professors’ lecture notes, etc.
  • Scripts and recordings of any performance

In cases where a student is not certain that his or her use of copyrighted material is covered under the “fair dealing” provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act, documented permission from the copyright holder(s) must be obtained in order to include the material in the thesis/dissertation. Since securing copyright permission may take some time, it is strongly recommended that students being this process sooner rather than later. Please note that the copyright holder must be aware of and agree to the terms of the York University Copyright License and Library and Archives Canada Thesis Non-Exclusive License.

If seeking permission from a journal, a good first step is to check the journal’s website, which may provide information with respect to copyright, including advance permission to journal authors who have signed over copyright, how to request permission, and uses that are specifically prohibited. There are also a number of websites that may be helpful in determining the copyright policies of particular journals/publishers, including  Sherpa Romeo  and  EPrints . Some journals and publishers provide (on their website or on request) a policy statement granting copyright permission to the author of a thesis/dissertation who signed over copyright to the journal/publisher. In such cases, retain a copy of that policy statement as evidence of documented permission.

Alternatively, a student should contact the copyright holder. Sample text for a copyright permission request is included below. Although email proof of permission is acceptable, please note that an original, signed letter on the copyright holder’s letterhead is the best protection against accusations of copyright violation.

Students should provide copies of any required copyright permissions prior to submission of their final thesis/dissertation to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies. Students should also retain copies of all copyright permission requests and approvals.

[Date] [Name] [Address] Re: Request for Permission to Use Copyrighted Material in a Thesis/Dissertation Dear: I am a York University student preparing my thesis/dissertation for submission as part of the requirements of my master’s/doctoral degree in [program]. The title of my [thesis/dissertation] is: […] The reason I am writing is to ask permission to include the following material in my thesis/dissertation: [Provide standard reference information for the material, including figure/table number, if any, and page numbers. If appropriate, you can also briefly describe the manner/context in which the material will be used in thesis/dissertation.] The material will be fully cited in my thesis/dissertation. In the interest of facilitating research by others, my thesis/dissertation will be available on the internet for reference, study and/or copy. The electronic version of my thesis/dissertation will be accessible through the York University Libraries website and catalogue, and also through various web search engines. I will be granting Library and Archives Canada a non-exclusive license to reproduce, loan, distribute, or sell single copies of my thesis by any means and in any form or format. These rights will in no way restrict republication of the material in any other form by you or by others authorized by you. Could you please confirm in writing or by email that these arrangements meet with your approval. If you do not solely control the copyright in the material, please let me know as soon as possible. I would also appreciate any information you can provide about others to whom I should write to request permission. If you would like to confirm permission in writing, you can do so by signing and completing the information below and returning this signed and completed letter in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope by [date]. If you would like to confirm permission by email, my email address is […]. Sincerely, [Your Name and Signature] I, the undersigned, hereby represent and warrant that I have authority to grant the permission requested and do grant the permission. Signature: Name:

Students must include full citations for any copyrighted material used in their thesis/dissertation regardless of source, including photos, pictures, charts, graphs and tables.

Each citation must include the copyright symbol, name of the copyright holder (who may or may not be the author), and, if applicable, a statement that the use of the material or adaptation (in the case of adapted graphics) is by permission of the copyright holder.

In cases where use of copyrighted material is not covered under the “fair dealing” provisions of the Canadian Copyright Act and a student is unable to secure permission from the copyright holder (or there is a charge for obtaining permission), the material in question must be removed from the thesis/dissertation. In its place, the student should indicate that the material has been removed because of copyright restrictions.

Depending upon the nature of the material, the student may want to include additional information. In the case of a figure or image that has been removed, a description of the missing material and a full citation of source material and where it can be found (including, if possible, a link to an online source) would be helpful to those reading the thesis/dissertation. In the case of a chapter that was previously published in a journal, an abstract of the chapter content and link to the journal website where the article can be found could be provided.

Intellectual Property

The Faculty of Graduate Studies recognizes the mission of the university to seek, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and to conduct research in a fair, open, and morally responsible manner. In such regard, the Faculty of Graduate Studies believes that intellectual property rights are divided among several interests, and that the rights and obligations of various claimants should be specified, fairly regulated, and that disputes arising may be mediated. All parties (students and faculty) are expected to behave in an ethically appropriate manner beyond their immediate graduate student/supervisory relationship, to encompass intellectual property rights, dissemination of research data, and in making decisions on authorship and publication of joint research. Because of the varied cultural aspects and practices that differ among the graduate programs, each program is responsible for enacting and enforcing this policy of appropriate ethical practices on intellectual property rights, in compliance with the  Faculty Policy on Intellectual Property for Graduate Programs . Programs that choose not to enact their own specific policy are bound by the Faculty Policy on Intellectual Property for Graduate Programs.

Organization & Technical Requirements

Although the form, style, sections, etc. of main body (text) of the thesis/dissertation may differ from program to program, all theses/dissertations must include the following components in the following order.

The front matter of the thesis/dissertation must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals. The page number should be not be included on the title page, although the title page is considered page i. Numbering must be included starting with the abstract, as page ii, and continue until the end of the front matter, as follows:

Title PageNo number appears
AbstractNumbered as: ii
Dedication (optional)Numbered as: iii
Acknowledgments (optional)Numbered as: iv
Table of ContentsNumbered as: v
List of Tables, if appropriateNumbered as: vi
List of Figures, if appropriateNumbered as: vii
List of Illustrations, if appropriateNumbered as: ix

The main body of the thesis/dissertation, starting with the introduction or chapter one, must be numbered with Arabic numerals, beginning with the number 1. Each chapter of the main body must begin on a separate page. Footnotes and/or endnotes are considered part of the main body of the thesis/dissertation.

The back matter of the thesis/dissertation includes references (or the bibliography), as well as any appendices, glossaries, indexes, where and as applicable. The back matter must be numbered with Arabic numerals, which should follow from the last page of the main body of the thesis/dissertation.

Each appendix must be assigned an alphabetical letter and title, (e.g., Appendix A: Title). Appendices are ordered in the same sequence as they are referred to in the body of the text; that is, the appendix first mentioned in the text is assigned the letter A, the second is B, etc. Materials in the appendices that are copied from other sources must meet the same requirements as the body of the paper, for example, copies or scans from books, maps, etc., must be clear and legible, and must maintain the same margins.

Technical Requirements

A sample title page is provided below. The title page should include the following information:

  • Thesis/Dissertation Title: The title should provide a concise and meaningful description of the thesis/dissertation. It is recommended that the title include key words to make the thesis/dissertation more easily searchable. It is also recommended that formulas, Greek letters, symbols and abbreviations be avoided in the title, and that they be written out as words instead.
  • Student Name: The name on the title page must be the one under which the student is registered at York University.
  • All title pages must include the following statement: A Dissertation* submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy* [*For a master’s thesis, replace “Dissertation” with “Thesis”, and indicate the master’s degree designation (e.g. Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Fine Arts) in place of “Doctor of Philosophy”]
  • Program and Institution: Name of Program [e.g. English, Biology, Music], York University, Toronto, Ontario
  • Date: The month and year that the Chair of the Examining Committee confirmed successful defense of the thesis/dissertation
  • Copyright: The universal copyright symbol ©, followed by the student name (which must be the name under which the student is registered at York University) and year that the Chair of the Examining Committee confirmed successful defense of the thesis/dissertation.

The information on the title page may be centered, as long as all margins are at least 1 inch (25 mm). The font of the title page need not be the same as that used in the sample title page provided below.

Each thesis or dissertation must contain an abstract. The abstract is expected to give a succinct account of the thesis/dissertation so that a reader can decide whether to read the complete work.

For master’s theses, the abstract cannot exceed 150 words, while, for doctoral dissertations, the abstract cannot exceed 350 words. An abstract contains a statement of the problem, the procedure or methods used, the results and the conclusions.

The abstract should be inserted immediately following the Title Page, and should be numbered “ii”.

An acknowledgements page may be included.

The Table of Contents, List of Tables and List of Figures, where applicable, should follow the abstract (or acknowledgements, if any). Curriculum vitae, list of student-authored publications, or conference presentations do not form part of the contents of the thesis/dissertation. A truncated version of the Table of Contents should not precede each chapter.

The document must be formatted using letter-sized pages (8.5 x 11 inches).

The same font type (e.g. Arial or Times New Roman) should be used throughout the thesis/dissertation, particularly the main body.

The font size of the main body of the thesis/dissertation must be a minimum of 10 points, with smaller font sizes permitted for endnotes/footnotes, graphs, formulae, appendices, etc. A font size larger than 12 points is not recommended for the main body of the thesis/dissertation.

The line spacing must be at least one-and-a-half (1.5) spaces or double-spaced. Single spacing may be used for long quotations and foot/endnotes.

All margins must beat least 1 inch (25mm). Margins may be wider but not narrower than the stated requirements. For example, the first page of every chapter may have a top margin of 2.5 inches.

Running headers to put title, name, chapter, etc., on each page are not acceptable.

All page numbers should be in a consistent location, that is either centre bottom, centre top, right top corner, or right bottom corner. They must fall at the 1 inch (25 mm) margin. There should be no blank pages or large blank spaces within the thesis or dissertation.

Each diagram and table should be numbered. Page numbers should appear in the same position on the page as they appear elsewhere in the body of the text. Tables may be horizontal or vertical as long as the required margins are used. Diagrams must be generated by graphic software.

All images included in the thesis or dissertation should be of high quality and sufficient resolution.

  • Sample Title Page (.pdf)
  • Sample Table of Contents (.pdf)
  • Sample List of Tables (.pdf)

Oral Examination

Master’s thesis exam committees.

A thesis examining committee shall consist of at least three voting members, including the Chair, as follows:

  • two graduate faculty members chosen from the program and/or supervisory committee, at least one of whom must be from the supervisory committee;
  • one graduate faculty member at arm’s length from the thesis 1 , and for whom there is no conflict of interest 2 .

The Chair of the examining committee shall be chosen from among the voting members. Members of the student’s thesis supervisory committee may be members of the examining committee, but the principal supervisor may not serve as the Chair of the examining committee.

These are minimum requirements with respect to the composition of and quorum for thesis examining committees. Individual graduate programs may include one additional voting member on examining committees, in accordance with program requirements and procedures.

In exceptional circumstances, the Dean may approve a program director’s recommendation that a York University faculty member who is not a member of the graduate faculty serve as a member (but not the Chair) of an examining committee. Such recommendations are to be accompanied by a brief rationale and an up-to-date curriculum vitae, which may be attached to the  Recommendation for Oral Examination Form .

In addition to the voting members, the thesis examining committee may include the following ex-officio members (non-voting, unless present as one of the voting members named above): Vice-President Academic & Provost, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies or their representative, Graduate Program Director.

The examination may be conducted in person, remotely by videoconference, or in hybrid format, the student’s preference of which is to be considered.

External examiners who would otherwise require local lodging will be asked to participate remotely via videoconference unless there is a demonstrable benefit to in-person participation. Local members of the examination committee are expected to participate in person, on campus.

1 “Arm’s length” refers to a relationship which is “conducted between parties that have no corporate or other direct connections, familial or financial relationships with each other, and thus act each in its own self-interest.”

2 Individuals in the Faculty of Graduate Studies are responsible for ensuring that they do not have a real, perceived, or potential conflict of interest that may impact the integrity of their activities, particularly, involving assessment and evaluation arising from current, previous, or foreseen future relationships. See Conflict of Interest Disclosure with Respect to Graduate Student Education for more information.

The membership of each master’s thesis exam committee, including designation of the Chair, must be recommended by the appropriate graduate program director for approval and appointment by the Dean of Graduate Studies as soon as possible and no later than 15 business days before the date set for the oral examination.

Copies of the master’s thesis approved by the supervisory committee must be provided to the members of the examining committee no less than 15 business days before the date of the oral examination.

Prior to the establishment of a master’s thesis exam committee, the student’s supervisory committee must read the thesis and agree that the version read is ready to proceed to oral examination.

Following agreement by the supervisory committee that the thesis is ready to proceed to oral examination, recommendation for membership of a master’s thesis exam committee (as well as the date and location of the oral exam) is formally initiated by the graduate program director via submission of a  Recommendation for Oral Examination Form  to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies.

Final approval of master’s thesis exam committee membership recommendations rests with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Scheduling of Master’s Thesis Oral Exams

In consultation with the student and the members of the exam committee, the graduate program director will recommend the date, time and location of an oral exam via submission of a  Recommendation for Oral Examination Form .

Oral examinations for master’s theses shall be held normally no less than 15 business days from the date on which copies of the completed thesis approved by the supervisory committee are sent to each member of the examining committee.

The student must be registered as active for the term in which the oral exam is scheduled to take place.

Number of Copies The number of copies of a thesis required for an oral exam depends upon the number of members on the exam committee. A thesis exam committee consists of at least three voting members, including the Chair. However, it is often the case that more than three copies of the thesis are required for an oral exam. The thesis supervisor or program director will inform the student how many copies of the thesis are required for the exam.

Nature of Copies The student is responsible for ensuring that all members of the exam committee have an e-copy of the thesis, unless prior approval has been received for the submission of a paper copy. (If paper copies are submitted for the oral exam, the pagination and formatting of each page of the paper copies and the e-copies must match.)

For a complex electronic thesis, the student is responsible for ensuring that all members of the exam committee have an e-copy of the written component of the thesis, unless prior approval has been received for the submission of a paper copy. (If paper copies are submitted for the oral exam, the pagination and formatting of each page of the paper copies and the e-copies must match.) For the remaining component of the work, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the work produced for the thesis can be examined by the examining committee. Students producing a multimedia thesis should consult with the  Library and Archives Canada  website for advice on formats supportable for preservation. However, a student may work in/submit work in an unsupported format as part of the oral exam as long as the work is readily accessible by the exam committee and the student submits a written component.

For a multimodal thesis, the student is responsible for ensuring that all members of the exam committee have an e-copy of the written component of the thesis, unless prior approval has been received for the submission of a paper copy. (If paper copies are submitted for the oral exam, the pagination and formatting of each page of the paper copies and the e-copies must match.) For the remaining component of the work, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for the exam committee to view/engage in the non-written component.

Note:  If an examining committee member requests a paper copy of the written component(s) of the thesis, it is the graduate program’s responsibility to make arrangements once an e-copy has been provided by the student.

Before an oral examination can be convened, a majority of the exam committee members must agree that the thesis is examinable. The graduate program director shall poll the members of the exam committee five business days before the scheduled date for the oral. If the student does not receive a majority vote, the members of the examining committee who do not agree that the thesis is examinable are required to give their reasons in writing to the student, the supervisor, and the Dean within five business days after the poll. In such cases, the oral shall be postponed for a period not to exceed 12 months. However, the student has the right to insist that the oral proceed as planned.

External examiners who would otherwise require local lodging will be asked to participate remotely via videoconference unless there is a demonstrable benefit to in-person participation. Local members of the examination committee are expected to participate in person, on campus. For doctoral oral examinations, if more than two participants in the examination in total wish to participate remotely via videoconference, then the candidate and supervisor must consent, with a rationale provided to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies for approval. The wishes of the examination candidate are paramount to the Dean’s decision.

With the consent of the voting members of the examination committee, the program director and the student, the Dean may approve a recommendation that an oral examination be rescheduled due to exceptional circumstances.

The use of audio-visual (AV) equipment at oral exams is governed by the following principles:

  • AV equipment may be used for oral exam presentations but the Faculty of Graduate Studies is not responsible for ordering supplies or equipment (e.g., overhead projectors).
  • Audio-taping or videotaping of oral exams is not permitted.

The oral exam is a public academic event. Faculty members, graduate students and others may attend oral exams at the discretion of the Chair of the exam committee. They may, at the discretion of the Chair, participate in the questioning. Only members of the exam committee may be present for the evaluation and for the vote at the conclusion of an oral exam.

Master’s Thesis Oral Exam Evaluation Guidelines and Reporting of Results

  • Master’s theses submitted by students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must be successfully defended at oral examinations. The oral examination will centre on the thesis.
  • the committee accepts the thesis with no revisions; or,
  • the committee accepts the thesis with specified revisions.
  • Specified revisions could range from typographical errors or changes of a minor editorial nature, to specified insertions or deletions which do not radically modify the development/argument of the thesis. The committee must specify such changes with precision. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all such changes are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral examination.
  • In cases where there is one vote for major revision, specified revisions are expected.
  • the committee agrees that the thesis requires substantive changes in order to be acceptable; or,
  • there are a minimum of two votes for major revision; or,
  • there is one vote for failure.
  • the committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination; or,
  • the revised thesis will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met.
  • Detailed reasons for referring pending major revisions must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, the program director and the student within 10 business days.
  • After an adjournment and when the major revisions have been completed, the thesis is failed if there are two or more votes for failure. A thesis cannot be referred for major revisions more than once and no further adjournment is permitted. In the event of failure, detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days.
  • A thesis is failed if there are a minimum of two votes for failure. In the event of failure, detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days.

The results of the oral exam, as determined by the exam committee in accordance with the evaluation guidelines described above, are reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the  Oral Examination Report Form . The form should be signed by the Chair of the exam committee and should include, where appropriate, details regarding any required revisions under “comments”.

In accordance with the evaluation guidelines described above, the Oral Examination Report Form requires that the committee reach one of the following four decisions:

  • Accepted with No Revision
  • Accepted Pending Specified Revisions The nature of the revisions should be agreed to by the exam committee and reported in detail on Oral Examination Report Form under “comments”. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral exam. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all of the specified revisions are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Approval of specified revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the  Revisions Approved Memorandum  or via email to the appropriate  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
  • Referred Pending Major Revisions In cases involving a referred pending major revisions decisions, one of the following procedures, agreed upon by the committee before the examination is adjourned, must be used to finalize the oral results: a) the committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination, or b) the revised thesis will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met. Please note that a clear consensus must be reached by the committee as to the extent and nature of the revisions required. Detailed reasons for referring pending major revision must be supplied in writing by the Chair of the exam committee to the Dean, the program director and the candidate concerned within 10 business days. Approval of major revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the  Revisions Approved Memorandum  or via email to the appropriate  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
  • Failed In the event of failure, detailed reasons must be supplied in writing by the Chair of the exam committee to the Dean, program director and candidate within 10 business days.

Exam Committee Roles and Responsibilities

Before an oral examination can be convened, a majority of the exam committee members must agree that the dissertation is examinable. The graduate program director shall poll the members of the exam committee five business days before the scheduled date for the oral. If the student does not receive a majority vote, the members of the examining committee who do not agree that the thesis is examinable are required to give their reasons in writing to the student, the supervisor, and the Dean within five business days after the poll. In such cases, the oral shall be postponed for a period not to exceed 12 months. However, the student has the right to insist that the oral proceed as planned.

For master’s theses, the Chair of the exam committee shall be chosen from among the voting members. Members of the student’s thesis supervisory committee may be members of the exam committee, but the principal supervisor may not serve as the Chair of the exam committee.

The Chair of the exam committee normally participates fully in the questioning of the candidate, the discussion and the vote.

In general, the role of the Chair of the exam committee is to ensure:

  • that the process of oral exam is fair and orderly,
  • that the student is truly being examined and challenged, and
  • that high standards of scholarship are met.

Prior to the formal start of the oral exam, the Chair should:

  • verify that all members of the exam committee are present. (If any member is not in attendance, the examination shall be postponed. Only under rare, exceptional and compelling circumstances can an oral examination proceed in the absence of the external examiner. Please see  Role of the External Examiner  below for more details.)
  • verify that the members of the exam committee are agreed that the thesis/dissertation is “examinable”. (If the thesis/dissertation is found to be unexaminable at this time, the oral exam may be postponed for a period not to exceed 12 months. However, the student has the right to insist that the oral proceed as planned.)
  • discuss with the members of the Committee the expected length of the examination, and the order in which the exam committee will question the student.

At the outset of and during the oral exam, the Chair should:

  • clarify to both the exam committee and the student the procedures to be followed,
  • determine the point at which further questioning will not produce additional useful information for the consideration of the exam committee, and
  • monitor the procedures throughout the oral exam.

After the candidate and any observers have left the room, the Chair should:

  • assess the committee’s opinion from the discussion, including whether the exam committee considers the work sufficiently outstanding to merit nomination for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation Prize.
  • If there is no consensus, the Chair should call for a vote to determine the outcome of the oral exam. The outcome of the vote shall be governed by the master’s thesis oral exam evaluation guidelines.
  • In cases of accepted pending specified revisions, the Chair should ensure the nature of the on the Oral Examination Report Form under “comments”. A clear consensus must be reached by the committee as to the extent of the revisions required.
  • the revised dissertation will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met.

After the exam committee has reached a decision, the Chair should:

  • recall the candidate to convey the decision, including a description of any required revisions, as appropriate, and
  • inform the program director if the thesis/dissertation has been nominated for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Thesis/Dissertation Prize, where applicable.

If the thesis/dissertation was  accepted with no revisions , the Chair should:

  • ensure that a properly completed and signed Oral Examination Report Form, is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies.

If the thesis/dissertation was  accepted pending specified revisions , the Chair should:

  • ensure that a properly completed (including a clear description of the required revisions) and signed Oral Examination Report Form is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all of the specified revisions are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral exam.
  • Approval of specified revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the Revisions Approved Memorandum  or via email to the  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .

In cases of  referred pending major revisions , the Chair should:

  • ensure that a properly completed (including a clear description of the required revisions) is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, and
  • provide detailed reasons for the exam committee’s decision in writing to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days of the oral exam.

When major revisions have been completed satisfactorily as decided by the exam committee, the Chair should:

  • Report approval of the major revisions to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the  Revisions Approved Memorandum  or via email to the  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .

In cases of  failure , the Chair should:

  • ensure that a properly completed and signed Oral Examination Report Form is returned to the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, and

The exam committee members have the responsibility of ensuring that high standards of scholarship are met.

The “at arm’s length from the thesis/dissertation” committee member has a particular responsibility of ensuring that these high standards of scholarship are met from a perspective broader than that of the student’s own program. Such exam committee members who are appointed to the student’s program should be especially mindful of this responsibility.

Note:  The following description of external examiner roles and responsibilities applies to those master’s programs that require an external or outside examiner on their exam committee.

External examiners are expected to be established academics, normally members of a graduate Faculty at another university. The assessment of the dissertation provided by the external examiner should be treated as the yardstick by which to measure the quality of the candidate’s work relative to standards at other universities. The external examiner is a voting member of the Committee and must have been at arm’s length from the dissertation. The external examiner does not have a formal power of veto, but the exam committee must have substantial reasons for not accepting an external examiner’s recommendation, especially if the recommendation is negative. The external examiner’s written comments will be provided to the other members of the exam committee prior to the oral exam and, where the exam committee deems advisable and the external examiner agrees, may be made available to the student at the end of the oral exam.

Only under rare, exceptional and compelling circumstances can an oral examination proceed in the absence of the external examiner, and only with the express permission of the Dean. In such circumstances, the following conditions must be met:

  • the external’s absence must be unplanned and unavoidable (i.e. it must have been the initial intent that the external would be present);
  • a written assessment of the dissertation must be received before the scheduled examination, including certification that the dissertation is examinable, and identification of any areas that need revision, or questioning and clarification at the oral exam. However, if the external examiner feels that the result of the examination depends upon the oral exam, then the external examiner shall be present or the oral exam will be postponed until the external examiner can be present or an alternative external examiner is appointed.

In addition to the voting members, the Vice-President Academic & Provost and Graduate Program Director may along with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies or his/her representative, participate as ex-officio members (non-voting, unless present as one of the voting members) on master’s thesis exam committees.

As the oral examination is the culmination of a graduate student’s study and advances the mission of York University as a whole, the inclusion of these positions as ex-officio members of the thesis and dissertation exam committees recognizes and emphasizes the importance of the oral exam. Due to the nature of the workload of the incumbents in these positions, they are not expected to attend every oral exam. When they do attend in their capacity as ex-officio members, they are encouraged to be active participants, but they do not vote.

  • For those master’s programs that require an external or outside examiner, the written comments provided by the external examiner will be made available to the committee prior to the oral exam.
  • At the oral exam, the student may be given the opportunity to present an oral summary of his or her work. If this procedure is followed, the Chair of the exam committee will inform the student and indicate the time available.
  • Normally, the first round of questions will refer to general aspects of the work. Subsequent questions will deal with more detailed matters. For all doctoral dissertation oral exams and for those master’s programs that require an external or outside examiner, the external examiner will normally begin each round of questioning and will be followed by the other members of the committee in an order agreed upon before the exam.
  • The Chair of the exam committee will ensure that each member of the exam committee has an equal opportunity to pose questions. After the formal rounds of questioning, general discussion and order of further questioning will be at the Chair’s discretion.
  • The question period should normally run its natural course, with members of the exam committee indicating when they are satisfied. The Chair of the exam committee will, however use his/her discretion as to the appropriate closing point. For a master’s thesis, a general guideline for the length of the oral exam is approximately 10 to 20 minutes for presentation (if applicable) and 1.5 hours for questioning. For a doctoral dissertation, a general guideline for the length of the oral exam is 20 to 40 minutes for presentation (if applicable) and 2 hours for questioning.
  • After the candidate and any observers have left the room, the exam committee will discuss the work and the oral defense of that work, the discussion beginning with the external examiner’s remarks.
  • The Chair of the exam committee will then assess the committee’s opinion from the discussion.
  • If there is no consensus, the Chair of the exam committee will call for a vote to determine the outcome of the oral exam. The outcome of the vote shall be governed by the master’s thesis oral exam evaluation guidelines and doctoral dissertation oral exam evaluation guidelines.
  • In cases of  accepted pending specified revisions , the nature of the revisions will be agreed to by the exam committee and reported in detail by the Chair in the “comments” section of the Oral Examination Report Form.
  • In cases of  major revision , the Chair of the exam committee will confirm which of the following two procedures, agreed upon by the committee before the exam is adjourned, will be used to finalize the oral results: a) the committee will reconvene within twelve months to continue the oral examination; or, b) the revised dissertation will be circulated within twelve months to all members, who will inform the Chair whether they feel the stipulated requirements have been met.
  • After the exam committee has reached a decision, the candidate will be recalled and informed by the Chair of the outcome of the examination. Should revisions be required, their exact nature will be transmitted to the student by the Chair.
  • The written comments of the external examiner will, with his or her permission, be provided to the student and program director.
  • In cases of  accepted pending specified revisions , it is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that all of the specified revisions are made and the Chair will confirm that this is the case. Specified revisions must be completed within six months of the date of the oral examination. Approval of specified revisions should be reported to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the  Revisions Approved Memorandum  or via email to the  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .
  • In cases of  referred pending major revisions  or  failure , the Chair will provide detailed reasons for the exam committee’s decision in writing to the Dean, program director and student within 10 business days of the oral exam. When major revisions have been completed satisfactorily as decided by the exam committee, the Chair should report approval of the major revisions to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, via the  Revisions Approved Memorandum  or via email to the  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .

Final Submission

Following a successful oral exam (including confirmed approval of any specified revisions or major revisions), submission by the student of the final approved thesis/dissertation is a requirement for graduation and convocation.

The thesis or dissertation is submitted electronically using York University’s Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) platform. The Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies, will check that the thesis/dissertation meets the Faculty’s organizational and technical requirements, and has the right to refuse any unacceptable document until it is submitted in acceptable form.

Once the submission is approved and all requirements for graduation are met, the thesis/ dissertation will be transferred to YorkSpace, York University’s institutional repository of research outputs, where it will be accessible to Library and Archives Canada as well as major search engines and other repositories.

The degree completion date is NOT based on the date of the oral examination; it is based on the date of submission to the Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Tool (ETD) and to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies of the acceptable final approved copy. Students are responsible for active registration and all tuition fees until the final copy is submitted to and approved by the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies.

Submission deadlines with respect to convocation can be found under  Important Dates .

An ETD record will be created for each student by the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies once all of the following have been received:

  • Oral Examination Report (passed)
  • Revisions Approved Memorandum, if applicable
  • Library and Archives Canada Theses Non-Exclusive License form, signed and dated
  • Copies of copyright permissions (if applicable)

Once an ETD record is opened, the student will receive an email with instructions on how to log in and complete their submission. Students should ensure that they have followed the organization and technical requirements for theses/dissertations prior to making a submission to the Office of the Dean, Graduate Studies through the ETD platform . If, after reading the Organization & Technical Requirements section of this handbook, students have any questions concerning formatting and preparation, they should direct these questions to the appropriate Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator . Instructions for the use of the ETD platform are available at Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) below.

By signing the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) Theses Non-Exclusive License form, the student authorizes LAC to reproduce, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, communicate to the public, loan, distribute and sell the thesis/dissertation for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Further information about the Non-Exclusive License and the Library & Archives Canada thesis program is available on the  Library and Archives Canada  website.

The student must also accept the terms of the York University Copyright License as part of the electronic submission of their thesis/dissertation using the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) application.

If required, students should provide copies of any needed copyright permissions prior to the final thesis/dissertation submission. Students should also retain copies of all copyright permission requests and approvals.

As a publicly funded institution, York University has an obligation to ensure that research produced by its graduate students is available for the benefit of the public, particularly by making successfully defended theses and dissertations available through York University Libraries and Library and Archives Canada. With that in mind, there is normally no restriction on the publication of and access to successfully defended theses and dissertations. However, in some exceptional instances it may be detrimental to the author or sponsor of the thesis/dissertation research to have the thesis/dissertation publicly available immediately following a successful defence. Valid reasons to delay publication/restrict access to a successfully defended thesis/dissertation may include:

  • approved intellectual property contract between a research sponsor and the University that specifies a period of confidentiality;
  • that public distribution of the thesis/dissertation would invalidate a patent application;
  • that public distribution of the thesis/dissertation would invalidate a publication contract; and,
  • that public distribution of the thesis/dissertation would pose a risk to the personal safety of the author.

Prior to submission of the final version of their thesis being accepted on the Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Tool (ETD), students may request to delay (or to extend a previously approved delay) publication of/restrict access to their thesis/dissertation for a maximum of three years. Requests for embargo must be made to the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, through the  Request for a Delay of Publication (Embargo) on a Thesis or Dissertation form , prior to the submission of the final version of the thesis/dissertation. Requests will only be considered with the recommendation of the student’s supervisor and graduate program director. If approved, the body of the thesis/dissertation will be withheld from York University Libraries and Library and Archives Canada for the approved period. At the end of the approved period, the body of the thesis/dissertation will be released to York University Libraries and Library and Archives Canada via YorkSpace. To submit a request for an embargo/delay of publication, including extension requests, please do so using the  Request for a Delay of Publication (Embargo) on a Thesis or Dissertation Form . Your request will be reviewed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and a decision will be communicated to you by email. For more information on the Delay of Publication/Embargo Processes, please contact the  Graduate Record & Enrolment Coordinator  for your Faculty.

Students who wish to have personal copies of the thesis/dissertation bound must make their own arrangements.

How to Submit

Submitting your thesis/dissertation using York University’s Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) application is a quick and easy process.

The instructions below outline the step-by-step process of using the application. Please refer to the  Thesis, Dissertation and Submission Guidelines  above for details on the policies and process leading up to the point of final submission, including formatting and other requirements. To view the York University ETD collection, visit the  Faculty of Graduate Studies section on YorkSpace .

You can access the ETD application from any computer with an internet connection. Recommended browsers include Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Opera.

Instructions for converting your thesis to a PDF file are available on the  YorkSpace Resources Site .

An ETD record will be set up for you by a staff member in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). FGS will need to receive the following before you will be able to access your record:

  • Oral Examination Report (normally provided by the Dean’s representative on your Examining Committee as soon as possible following your defense);
  • Revisions Approved Memorandum, if applicable (if your thesis/dissertation was approved with specified revisions). A blank form is usually provided to you by FGS prior to your defense. You will need to ensure it is completed and returned to FGS;
  • Library and Archives Canada Theses Non–Exclusive License form (.pdf) , signed and dated;
  • Copies of copyright permissions, if applicable.

Once all of the above items have been received, you will receive an email from a  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator letting you know that your ETD record has been created and inviting you to log in using your  Passport York ID . Click on the link provided in the email to take you to  etd.library.yorku.ca .

You’ll notice that there is a navigation bar across the top of the screen. You can click on any of the “tabs” to move back and forth through the process.

thesis based masters in canada quora

At the bottom right of each screen there are also arrows you can click on to move on to the next step (or move back).

image showing the location of the navigation arrows for ETD upload process

You will not lose data by moving back and forth.

You can stop and save your work at any point in the process, and resume your submission simply by logging back in. To save your work, click on the navigation arrow at the bottom right of your screen. The information you have entered will be stored until you log back in.

As long as the status of your ETD record is “Open”, you can continue to make edits, updates and changes. Only once you have clicked on “I accept and send for review” on the “Submit for Review” tab will your record be closed.

If for some reason you need to request that your submission be re-opened (for example if you notice a mistake or forgot to add something), please email a  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator .

If you’d like more information or instructions for any of the fields you are being asked to fill out, just click on the question mark icon next to the field.

thesis based masters in canada quora

If you still have questions, you may wish to contact:

  • A Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies;
  • Your Graduate Program Assistant.

Step by Step Instructions

On the first screen you will find welcome text, along with the title of your thesis/dissertation and some other information from your student record (such as your degree name and program).

To begin entering your details, click on the title of your thesis/dissertation. Alternatively, you can click on the “Update Details” button on the bottom right, or on the “Update Details” tab in the navigation bar.

screenshot highlighting the title of the work

On the second screen, “Update Details”, you’ll notice that there are some fields already filled in, and others that you will need to complete.

screenshot highlighting the pre-filled fields in the ETD details

The fields that are already filled in are automatically pulled from your Student Information System (SIS) and Graduate Event Module (GEM) records. You cannot edit these fields yourself, so if you notice an error, please contact a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator at a  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator . In the second section, you’ll find the following fields for you to complete:

Language : Click on the arrow to see the drop down menu. You will be able to select English, French, or Other (a thesis or dissertation normally should be written in English, but approval may be given to write in French or the language of any Aboriginal/First Nations people in North America).

screenshot highlighting the language drop-down menu

Abstract: Copy and paste your abstract into this field (the abstract must be provided in English regardless of the language of your thesis or dissertation). Please note the maximum number of words allowed (Master’s thesis 150 words; doctoral dissertation 350 words). Subjects: Click on the arrow to see the drop down menu. You must select at least one subject that best describes the overall subject of your thesis or dissertation. You have the option of selecting up to two additional secondary subjects from the other drop down menu boxes.

screenshot highlighting the Search by Subject search bar and drop-down menu

Keywords: Enter as many terms or search phrases as you like. Please use a comma to separate each keyword or string of keywords. Tip: the more terms you provide, the more likely it is that users will find your work in their searches.

screenshot highlight the keyboards text box

When you are finished updating your details, click “Save Details” on the bottom right to move to the next screen, or to save and return later to make further updates.

screenshot highlighting the Save Details button

Uploading Files

Before uploading your files, you will need to save your thesis or dissertation as a PDF file (.pdf), which must be compatible with Adobe Acrobat version 5.0 or higher

This PDF document should contain the full body of your thesis/dissertation, including:

  • title page;
  • dedication (optional);
  • acknowledgements (optional);
  • table of contents;
  • list of tables, figures and illustrations (if applicable);
  • all chapters and written body of the thesis/dissertation;
  • references or bibliography;
  • all appendices.

You may upload only  ONE  PDF file.

Your document must be saved using the following naming convention:

Lastname_Firstname_MiddleInitial_yearofcopyright_PhDORMasters

Replace “Lastname” with your last name and “Firstname” with your first name. So, for example, if Jane Smith completed her PhD in 2014, she would save her documents as

Smith_Jane_E_2014_PhD.pdf

The “year of copyright” refers to the date that appears on the title page of your thesis/dissertation (this is the year you successfully defended).

To upload your file, simply click on the “upload primary file” button.

screenshot highlighting the Upload Primary File button

A box will open giving you the option to choose a file from your computer or a disk, USB key or other source.

screenshot highlighting the upload primary file browse button

Once you have chosen the file, click on “upload.”

In addition to the PDF of your thesis or dissertation, you may have supplementary files to add. Supplementary files refer to items that are part of the  approved, examined  thesis/dissertation that cannot be included in the PDF, such as multi–media, sound, video or hypertext

A list of acceptable file formats includes:

  • Documents:  Portable Document Format (.pdf), Text (.txt), Hypertext Markup Language (.html, .htm), Open Document Format (.odt, .odp, .ods);
  • Images:  Portable Network Graphics format (.png), Tagged Image File format (.tif), JPEG (.jpg);
  • Data:  Comma–separated values (.csv) or other delimited text, Extensible Markup Language (.xml);
  • Video:  8–10 bit uncompressed AVI (.avi);
  • Audio:  Free Lossless Audio Codec or WAVE (.flac or .wav).

If you wish to upload a type of file that you do not see on this list, please email  Digital Initiatives @ York  .

Keep in mind that a supplementary file is NOT an appendix. Regular appendices can be included in the PDF document of your thesis/dissertation.

To upload your file, simply click on the “upload supplementary files“ button.

screenshot highlighting the Upload Supplementary Files button

A box will open giving you the option to choose a file from your computer or a disk, USB key or other source. You may upload as many files as necessary, but no single file can exceed 500 MB. If you have a file that exceeds this size, please contact a  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator.

screenshot highlighting the upload supplementary files browse button

Once you have chosen the file, click on “upload.” To upload more than one file, simply click on the “upload supplementary files” button as many times as necessary.

When you have finished uploading all files, click “Review Details” on the bottom right to move to the next screen, or to save and return later to make further updates.

This is an opportunity for you to do a final confirmation that all of the details are accurate and your record is complete. Please make sure that all uploaded files are attached (they will be listed at the bottom of this screen).

As always, you can use the navigation bar at the top or arrows in the bottom right corner to go back and update any information.

When you are certain that all the information is correct and complete, click on “Submit for Review” at bottom right.

The final step in submitting your thesis or dissertation is agreeing to the York University Copyright License.

By clicking on “I Accept and Send for Review,” you are confirming that your thesis/dissertation is your original work, that your thesis/dissertation does not infringe on any rights of others and that you have the right to make the grant conferred by this copyright license. In addition, you are granting a license to York University to make copies, including electronically formatted copies, and/or distribute worldwide all or part of your thesis or dissertation, subject to the conditions outlined.

You retain copyright to your thesis/dissertation and may make it available on a personal website and pursue other sources of publication as well.

If you have questions or concerns about this license, please contact your supervisor or a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. You can then log back in to agree to the terms and make your submission once any queries you have are resolved.

Please carefully read this information and click on “I Accept and Send for Review” to send your thesis/dissertation to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Congratulations! You have completed your submission.

What Happens Next?

Once you send your thesis/dissertation for review, the status of your ETD record will change from “Open” to “Under Review” and you will not be able to make further changes. You will receive a confirmation email letting you know it is being reviewed.

If for some reason you realize you have made an error or forgotten to add something, you can email a  Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator  to request that your record be re–opened. Please remember to include your student ID number in all correspondence

After your submission has been reviewed by a Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator in FGS, you will receive an email notifying you of one of two outcomes:

  • Your submission has been approved and will be deposited in YorkSpace upon conferral of your degree; or,
  • Your submission has formatting or other errors and has been returned to you for modification.

If your submission is returned to you for modification, your ETD record will be reopened to enable you to make the required changes and resubmit. The required changes will be outlined in the email you receive from the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator. If you are asked to make changes to your PDF thesis/dissertation document, simply replace the previously uploaded file with the updated one. Make sure you click on “I Accept and Send for Review” on the “Submit for Review” tab to resubmit your thesis/dissertation to FGS.

At any time you can log in to your  ETD record  to check on the status of your submission. Simply click on the “Check Status” tab in the navigation bar.

YorkSpace  is York University’s Open Access Institutional Repository (IR). It is a platform that enables York community members to post, organize and preserve their research online in an institutional context. It showcases the scholarship of the York University community through the use of a special standards–based software platform that collects usage statistics and promotes visibility on the web.

Once your submission is approved by the Graduate Milestones and Progression Coordinator and all required forms received and fees paid, your thesis/dissertation will be deposited in YorkSpace at the time of conferral of your degree, according to the publication date listed on your ETD record (normally either November 1 or July 1).

Once the thesis/dissertation is deposited in YorkSpace, it will be available for harvesting by Library and  Archives Canada (LAC) Theses Portal , other  Open Archives Initiative  (OAI) metadata harvesters, and major search engines such as  Google Scholar . You retain copyright to your thesis/dissertation and may make it available on a personal website and pursue other sources of publication as well.

Students who wish to have personal copies of their thesis/dissertation bound must make their own arrangements. One options availabe includes:

  • Wallaceburg Bookbinding

Please note that you may be required to make minor formatting adjustments to your document to prepare it for binding. For example, many binders will require that the top and left margins are at least 1.5 inches.

Graduate students who are members of CUPE 3903 (Unit 1) may submit reimbursement requests for thesis, dissertation or MRP production costs to the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, using the  Reimbursement of Thesis/Dissertation Production Costs Form .

  • Theses Canada
  • Theses and Dissertations in YorkSpace

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About the PGWP

You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work.

Graduation from a DLI doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP. Check the DLI list to find out which schools have eligible programs.

How much of your online studies counts toward a PGWP?

Studies outside canada.

All of the time you spent studying online at a PGWP-eligible DLI from outside Canada between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, counts toward the length of a PGWP.

This policy changed as of September 1, 2022.

Find out if these changes affect you and how .

The following time won’t count toward the length of a PGWP:

  • time spent studying outside of Canada after December 31, 2023 New
  • time spent studying before you applied for a study permit

Studies in Canada

Until August 31, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program online or in class in Canada.

Starting September 1, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program in class in Canada .

How long is a post-graduation work permit valid?

Starting February 15, 2024 , students who graduate from master’s degree programs of less than 2 years (8 months minimum) may be eligible for a 3 year PGWP.

The length of your PGWP depends on the level and duration of your study program, as well as the expiry date of your passport , whichever comes first.

For master’s degree programs Updated 15 February, 2024

If your program was less than 8 months (or 900 hours for quebec credentials).

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.

If your program was at least 8 months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials)

You can apply for a 3-year PGWP, even if the length of your master’s degree was less than 2 years, as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria.

This does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.

For all other programs

If your program was less than 8 months (or 900 hours for quebec credentials), if your program was at least 8 months (or 900 hours for quebec credentials), but less than 2 years.

We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.

For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.

If your program was 2 years or more

We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.

If you completed more than 1 program

You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.

Each of the programs you completed must be

  • PGWP eligible and
  • at least 8 months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials) in length

You can’t get a PGWP if you already had one after completing an earlier program of study.

If your passport expires before your PGWP

Make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time you should be eligible. If your passport expires earlier

  • we’ll only issue you a PGWP that’s valid until your passport expires
  • we’ll tell you if you need to extend it to get the full validity

Normally, you can only apply to extend a PGWP if we tell you to do so . If this happens, you have to apply on paper to extend your PGWP so it will be valid for the full length it should be.

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The QS World University Rankings by subject 2023 lists 25 universities from Canada for Computer Science. The University of Toronto tops the list in Canada.

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Canada is one of the most preferred destinations for international students looking to enrol in higher studies. Multi-cultural, friendly and open, the environment is everything you could wish for. Apart from this, universities in Canada give you a world-class education (courtesy of reputed faculty), but at a cost that is more pocket-friendly than other popular destinations like the USA. Excellent co-op opportunities further make it a smart choice to pick universities in Canada for masters in computer science.

Top Colleges in Canada for Computer Science

Several colleges in Canada made it to the QS World University Rankings 2023 for the subject of Computer Science. Here are the top 10:

1

The University of Toronto

12

2

The University of British Columbia

21

3

The University of Waterloo

22

4

McGill University

34

5

Université de Montréal

47

6

The University of Alberta

114

7

Queen’s University at Kingston

139

8

Simon Fraser University

151 – 200

9

The University of Calgary

151 - 200

10

The University of Ottawa

201 - 250

Read further for details about the 5 top colleges in Canada for Computer Science:

1. The University of Toronto ranks 12. It is one of the world’s most renowned research-focused institutions.  The university stands among the top 5 in the world for research citations (IncitesTM, 2016-2020) and 6 th as per performance ranking for scientific papers (National Taiwan University Ranking, 2022). It also ranks 11 th in the world for Graduate Employability (Times Higher Education 2022).

2. The University of British Columbia ranks 21. With innovation as its driving force, this university leads from the front when it comes to giving students comprehensive training backed by real-life experience. Over 375,000 alumni spread across 160 countries ensure that those who enrol here have some great networking opportunities at hand.

3. The University of Waterloo ranks 22 in the world. The university’s alumni include a Nobel Laureate. It is ranked at the top today for experiential learning and it also has a formidable reputation for employer-student connections. The many work-integrated study options are one of the main attractions of the University of Waterloo.

4. McGill University ranks 34. 30% of the students here come from outside Canada, something that is unique to McGill. The university has been ground zero for Nobel prize-winning research and this only underlines the institution’s commitment towards innovation and enterprise. With a reputation for attracting the cream of the student population not just from Canada but globally, McGill is well deserving of its global reputation.

5. Universite de Montreal ranks 47. The university stands first in Quebec for higher education and is also among the top 5 universities in Canada by research volume. Universite de Montreal has earned a reputation as the most influential global French-speaking university.

Universities preferred by Indian students for CS in Canada

Not everybody can gain admission to the top universities in the world. However, there are several other universities and colleges in Canada that attract a large number of Indian students because of multiple factors such as affordability, the quality of education they offer and the support given to international students.

Our website lists more than a hundred institutions in Canada that offer Computer Science courses and degrees.

Here are some of the popular universities picked by Indian students for their masters in computer science in Canada.

Concordia University

The University of Ottawa

Dalhousie University

Lakehead University

Carleton University

The University of Windsor

St. Francis Xavier University

Bishop’s University

Let’s get to the details about these universities, the computer science programmes offered, the course details, tuition fees and entry requirements.

With almost 25% of its student body comprising of international students and with Indian students in majority, it is clear that this university is a preferred choice.  Emphasis on innovation and aligning coursework to emerging technology are cornerstones of the programmes here.

The University offers a Master of Applied Computer Science (MApCompSc) that is designed to lay foundation for a career in computer application in industry and commerce. Focus on theory and practice makes this programme perfect as a launch pad into a lucrative career. The programme is also offered with a thesis submission option. Some more details you should know:

  • This is a two-year full-time programme with co-op opportunity that is also available part-time
  • English language proficiency requirements: IELTS overall score band of 6.5 with no additional English courses needed. Or, overall score of 6.0 with no section below 5.5 with two mandatory English courses. 
  • Course fee: Approximately CACAD35,000 to CACAD36,000 for the full-time course based degree and CACAD33,833.60 for the full-time thesis submission MSc.

This university is a great choice for CS Canada for Indians because of the customization it offers with your degree programme. Located in Ottawa, which offers a great quality of life, this university offers international exchange programmes, and work-study courses and has a clear focus on hands-on learning.

The University offers a Joint programme with the School of Computer Science at Carleton University for students who want to do a PhD. The MCS course can also be done with a specialization in Bioinformatics or Applied Artificial Intelligence. There are three formats offered in the Master courses, 10 to 12 months course-based, 12 to 18 months with research paper, and 24 months with thesis. The programmes are designed to lay the foundation for a career in computer application in industry and commerce. More details:

  • The two-year full-time programme may also be available part-time. 
  • Tuition fee for the full-time MCS coursework and project programme works out to CACAD1,123.11 a term for 9 terms or more. The PhD programme costs CACAD5,967.32 a term for 9 terms or more. 
  • The full-time Masters with thesis costs CACAD10,210.05 per term
  • English language proficiency requirements: IELTS overall score band of 7.0 with no section below 6.0

The primary research-intensive university in Atlantic Canda, Dalhousie is a collaborative experience for students. It has featured among the top 15 universities in Canada and boasts 93 Rhodes scholars. With about 23% of its students hailing from outside Canada, it is clearly a preferred destination for international students.

The University offers the Master of Applied Computer Science, Master of Computer Science, Master of Digital Innovation as well as PhDs in Computer science.  The faculty includes award winning professors and you also have the option to work with more than 30 top notch researchers. Big data analytics, systems and networks and machine learning are areas where the university’s programmes have heavy focus. Details you should note:

  • These are typically full-time two year programmes.
  • The tuition fee for Non thesis Masters is CAD18546 per year and for Masters with Thesis is CAD7613.80.
  • English language proficiency requirements: IELTS score of 7.0 is mandatory for Indian students

Host to 11 Canada research chairs and home of the well-known Paleo-DNA lab and biorefining research institute, Lakeview is well respected. 94% of its graduates find employment within six months of graduation. The university is ranked among the top 50% of global universities by Times Higher Education.

The University offers three Master's programme options: a one-year Master’s by Course, a two-year Master’s by Project and a two-year Master’s by Thesis. For the latter two, the university has many co-op opportunities to enhance hands-on experience. There is also a two-year Master of Science with thesis programme with an Artificial Intelligence specialization.  Other details:  

  • English language proficiency requirements: IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no band lower than 6.0
  • The total term fee for Masters works out to around CAD8500 to CAD9000
  • Extensions for the Masters programmes work out to CAD2728 per term

The university’s location in bustling Ottawa is one big advantage that ensures students are in a robust employment market as soon as they graduate. The institution is known for exceptional support to students and that makes the transition easy for Indian students, especially if they are abroad for the first time. Alumni numbering over 177,000 ensure that you have a great network to rely upon when you finish your CS in Canada from here.

Carleton University offers a Master of Computer Science programme in collaboration with the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa. The students have the scope to combine coursework with research in a slew of areas such as computer security, gaming, robotics, algorithms and more. From either school, you can choose from more than 50 courses to make up your coursework. There are other Master's degrees offered too, for example, MCS in Human-Computer Interaction and MASC in Biomedical Engineering apart from specialization options in data sciences and cyber security.

Some details to note:

  • This is a two-year course with a co-op option
  • International students are not easily accepted into the programme but exceptions are made for gifted applicants
  • The fee for the programme may vary depending on the coursework you chart out but expect to pay between CAD42,950.29 and CAD77,440.29.

The 29:1 student faculty ratio is one of the biggest draws of this university for international students. Hands-on learning only makes the university even more attractive to those who understand the value of practical training in the field. 250+ companies partner with this university to offer work-integrated learning opportunities to students. The dedicated career services are a bonus, especially for Indian students who find the extra help very valuable.

The university offers a Masters in Applied Computing programme that starts with a foundation in computing and associated areas, covers business aspects and gives a grounding in the industry-specific aspects of computer science. This CS programme in Canada has limited seats so applying well in time gives you an advantage. They also offer an MSc in Computer Science from which students can transition into an Artificial Intelligence specialization. Here are other details you should know:

  • Full-time and part-time options are both available.
  • The course costs an estimated CAD11450 per term for the full-time MAC programme and CAD9540 per term for the full-time MSc programme.
  • English language proficiency requirements: IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no band lower than 6.0 and not more than one band with 6.0

Known as Canada’s most beautiful campus, this university is definitely a good choice with its very attractive student-faculty ratio. The university is known for friendly professors who have a personal interest in the success of their students, taking an active role in helping you achieve your goals. Plenty of co-op, research and work-integrated projects help you get practical training well before you graduate. 

The institution offers a Master of Applied Computer Science course-based programme. It is a two-year long programme that undergraduates with a major in computer science can enrol in. Otherwise, you must have done a combination of equivalent courses during your under-graduation. To complete your master's in computer science in Canada from the university, you have the choice of taking either a project-based elective course in a workplace or a co-op programme. Other relevant details:

  • The total tuition fee for international students works out to CAD18534.15 per year (18 credits).

2900 full-time students and a clear focus on in-campus education ensure that Bishop’s has a student body that is immersed in the area of education they choose to follow. The university takes pride in its small class sizes and personalized attention from world-class professors. The emphasis on hands-on training experiences for students makes this university a great place to get acquainted with real-life work environments while you study.

The master’s in computer science in Canada offered at Bishop’s is of two kinds; course-based one and a thesis-based one. The course-based one readies the student for opportunities with the best employers as soon as they graduate while the thesis-based one is ideal for those who are keener on a PhD.

  • Candidates with inadequate exposure to computer science courses during under graduation may have to catch up by taking extra courses during the Masters course course-based programme. For the Thesis-based programme, the requirements of a CS or equivalent undergraduate degree are mandatory.
  • English language proficiency requirements: IELTS score of 6.5 overall minimum 
  • The thesis-based master’s in computer science in Canada from this university costs CAD21,459.33 while the course work-based Master’s costs CAD28,737 for the year.

FAQs on studying Master’s in Computer Science in Canada

Why should I do my masters in computer science in Canada?

Top-notch universities, a bustling job market, a steady economy, a safe community and a global reputation as a quality education hub—these are all good reasons to pick Canada.

What should I expect from my CS in Canada?

You will learn advanced theory as well as train in computer applications. Problem solving, computer architecture, algorithm design, programming, AI, and software engineering are also areas you will be covering.

Do I need a computer science graduation to enrol in universities in Canada for a master’s in computer science?

Colleges have their own admission criteria for admission in this course. Look through the website of the university you wish to apply to find out if a CS foundation is mandatory. There are many CS Canada masters courses where you can enrol with a graduation in any field but something equivalent to CS may be a requirement.

How long does it take to complete a master’s in computer science in Canada?

This again varies with what kind of master’s course you enrol in. On average, the Master’s in takes two years to complete.

Do Indian students need GRE scores to apply to universities in Canada for a master’s in computer science?

Yes, most universities do ask for your GRE scores. Check on individual websites to know what the minimum scores are. Plan ahead so that you can take your GRE in time for the scores to be sent in along with your application for the Master’s programme.

Canada is a top-notch destination for Indian students to pursue further studies. The safe environment, friendly people and world-class colleges make it a very appealing prospect. Especially for those students who would like to have the utmost flexibility in choosing their specialisation, Canadian universities are a great choice. Learn about the different aspects favouring the universities right here and then take your pick of universities in Canada for masters in computer science.

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Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Computer Science

[Note: The M.Sc. programs have undergone a revision starting Fall 2020. The main change is a reduction in the course credit requirements and an increase in the research credit requirements. Students who began the M.Sc. program prior to Fall 2020 may follow the requirements of the new program if they wish.]

We offer two M.Sc. programs - the Thesis and Non-Thesis. The Non-Thesis program will be sometimes referred to as the Project option since it substitutes a project (and additional courses) for a thesis. Both programs are designed to take between 1.5 and 2 years. The maximum allowable is 3 years. Students begin in the Thesis program, and may switch to the Project option any time after their second semester.

Students intending to pursue a Ph.D. after the M.Sc. should follow the Thesis program rather than the Non-Thesis program. Alternatively, students may apply to be fast-tracked to the Ph.D. program without completing the M.Sc.. Such applicants must have completed a minimum of two and a maximum of four full-time semesters, according to GPS rules. For more information, see the bottom of this web page.

Students in either M.Sc. program have a minimum residence requirement of three full-time semesters. Students may register for the Summer semester if they wish to complete their residence requirements. For further details on student status, see here .

Students should take a minimum of two Complementary courses in their first semester and should complete all four Complementary courses by the end of their second semester. In addition, students in their first two semesters should take the Seminar courses COMP 602 (Fall) and 603 (Winter).

Here is a brief summary of the requirements of the two M.Sc. programs. Both programs require:

  • three full-time terms of residence
  • two seminar courses COMP 602 and 603
  • a total of at least 45 credits

In addition, the Thesis program requires:

  • at least 14 credits of COMP (or approved) Complementary coursesat the 500 level or higher, which satisfy a Breadth Requirement (see below)
  • a thesis with significant scholarly content

and the Non-Thesis program requires:

  • at least 28 credits of COMP (or approved) Complementary courses at the 500 level or higher, which satisfy a Breadth Requirement (see below);
  • a research project (see guidelines )

Further details on the two programs including the course Breadth Requirement, the Letter of Understanding agreement between student and supervisor, and the Progress Report are given below.

M.Sc. Computer Science (Thesis) (45 credits)

Thesis courses (29 credits).

At least 29 credits selected from:

  • COMP 691 Thesis Research 1 (3 credits)
  • COMP 696 Thesis Research 2 (3 credits)
  • COMP 697 Thesis Research 3 (4 credits)
  • COMP 698 Thesis Research 4 (10 credits)
  • COMP 699 Thesis Research 5 (12 credits)

Required Courses (2 credits)

  • COMP 602 Computer Science Seminar 1 (1 credit)
  • COMP 603 Computer Science Seminar 2 (1 credit)

Complementary Courses (14 credits)

At least 14 credits of COMP (or approved by MSc Graduate Program Director) courses at the 500-, 600-, or 700-level. Complementary courses must satisfy a Computer Science Breadth Requirement, with at least one course in two of the Theory, Systems, and Application areas.

Course Breadth Requirement

Courses must be taken from at least two of the three categories below (Theory, Systems, and Applications). The category of any course not listed below such as a new course or a 500 level Topics courses follows the general pattern of the existing courses. In cases of doubt, students should contact the Computer Science Graduate (M.Sc.) Program Director.

Category A: Theory

COMP 523 Language-based Security (3 credits) COMP 524 Theoretical Foundations of Programming Languages (3 credits) COMP 525 Formal Verification (3 credits) COMP 527 Logic and Computation COMP 531 Advanced Theory of Computation (3 credits) COMP 540 Matrix Computations (4 credits) COMP 547 Cryptography and Data Security (4 credits) COMP 552 Combinatorial Optimization (4 credits) COMP 553 Algorithmic Game Theory (4 credits) COMP 554 Approximation Algorithms (4 credits) COMP 560 Graph Algorithms and Applications (3 credits) COMP 566 Discrete Optimization 1 (3 credits) COMP 567 Discrete Optimization 2 (3 credits) COMP 610 Information Structures 1 (4 credits) COMP 627 Theoretical Programming Languages (4 credits) COMP 642 Numerical Estimation Methods (4 credits) COMP 647 Advanced Cryptography (4 credits) COMP 649 Quantum Cryptography (4 credits) COMP 690 Probabilistic Analysis of Algorithms (4 credits) COMP 760 Advanced Topics Theory 1 (4 credits) COMP 761 Advanced Topics Theory 2 (4 credits)

Category B: Systems

COMP 512 Distributed Systems (4 credits) COMP 520 Compiler Design (4 credits) COMP 529 Software Architecture (4 credits) COMP 533 Model-Driven Software Development (3 credits) COMP 535 Computer Networks 1 (4 credits) COMP 575 Fundamentals of Distributed Algorithms (3 credits) COMP 612 Database Programming Principles (4 credits) COMP 614 Distributed Data Management (4 credits) COMP 621 Program Analysis and Transformations (4 credits) COMP 655 Distributed Simulation (4 credits) COMP 667 Software Fault Tolerance (4 credits) COMP 762 Advanced Topics Programming 1 (4 credits) COMP 763 Advanced Topics Programming 2 (4 credits) COMP 764 Advanced Topics Systems 1 (4 credits) COMP 765 Advanced Topics Systems 2 (4 credits)

Category C: Applications

COMP 521 Modern Computer Games (4 credits) COMP 522 Modellin and Simulation (4 credits) COMP 526 Probabilistic Reasoning and AI (3 credits) COMP 546 Computational Perception (4 credits) COMP 550 Natural Language Processing (3 credits) COMP 551 Applied Machine Learning (4 credits) COMP 557 Fundamentals of Computer Graphics (4 credits) COMP 558 Fundamentals of Computer Vision (4 credits) COMP 559 Fundamentals of Computer Animation (4 credits) COMP 561 Computational Biology Methods and Research (4 credits) COMP 564 Advanced Computational Biology Methods and Research (3 credits) COMP 579 Reinforcement Learning (4 credits) COMP 618 Bioinformatics: Functional Genomics (3 credits) COMP 680 Mining Biological Sequences (4 credits) COMP 652 Machine Learning (4 credits) COMP 766 Advanced Topics Applications 1 (4 credits) COMP 767 Advanced Topics: Applications 2 (4 credits)

M.Sc. Computer Science (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)

Research project courses (15 credits).

  • COMP 693 Research Project 1 (3 credits)
  • COMP 694 Research Project 2 (6 credits)
  • COMP 695 Research Project 3 (6 credits)

Students who have taken any Thesis Research (1-5) courses prior to switching to the Non-Thesis program and who wish to use these credits (instead of Research Project course credits) toward their M.Sc. Non-Thesis program should contact the M.Sc. Graduate Program Director.

Complementary Courses (28 credits)

At least 28 credits of COMP (or approved by MSc Graduate Program Director) courses including at least three 4-credit courses at the 500, 600, or 700 level. The courses must meet the same Breadth Requirement as in the Thesis program (see above), namely courses must be from at least two of the three areas of Theory, Systems, and Applications.

Letter of Understanding

The letter of understanding must be filled by the student and the supervisor(s) at the initial meeting and signed by both. This letter of understanding must be uploaded by the student into MyProgress. If there are significant changes in the understanding, a new letter can be created and uploaded.

Annual Progress Report

Each student must meet annually with his/her supervisor or co-supervisors to assess the progress made during the previous year, and describe plans for the coming year. The progress form below must be filled by the student, discussed with the supervisor, and signed by both. A progress form must be filled each year (except the first year) before September 30th, and submitted to Ann Jack.

Annual Progress Form (PDF document)

Fast-tracking from the M.Sc. Thesis to the Ph.D. program

Excellent M.Sc. students who would like to pursue doctoral studies can apply to be "fast-tracked" to the Ph.D. program, after having completed a minimum of two and maximum of four full time semesters of the MSc Thesis program. Each fast-tracking application will be evaluated by the Ph.D. committee, in concert with the proposed Ph.D. supervisor, on a case-by-case basis. Evaluation criteria will include excellence of the academic record and achievements in research. M.Sc. students interested in fast-tracking to the Ph.D. program should discuss this option with their supervisor.

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  • Master of Arts in Languages...
  • University of Calgary

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Master of Arts in Languages, Literatures and Cultures - Applied linguistics (Thesis Based)

At university of calgary.

Qualification

  • Masters Degree

Next intake

11 August 2025

Entry Score

About the course

This program has three streams - applied linguistics, literature and/or film studies, and transcultural studies. Students in each stream enjoy personal attention and interaction with professors with far-reaching subject-area expertise who embrace a range of theoretical approaches. The applied linguistics stream focuses on language acquisition, language learning and teaching, and sociolinguistics. Students may choose to undertake experimental studies in any of these areas. The focal languages for applied linguistics are French, Chinese, German and Spanish. The stream in literature and film studies offers students an opportunity to delve into the study of literary and cinematic productions in French, German and Spanish. Students will acquire theoretical and critical expertise in their chosen field of study. The stream in transcultural studies, the only one offered in Canada, examines the inner differentiation and complexity of cultures from the geographic areas where French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish are spoken. This program has an interdisciplinary emphasis, and students acquire a high degree of cultural literacy. All of these streams will provide students with a broad set of advanced research and communication skills, specialized knowledge, and enhanced language proficiency. The Applied Linguistics specialization incorporates projects that may or may not be connected to one language only, and focuses on language acquisition, language learning and teaching, and sociolinguistics. You can choose to undertake experimental studies in any of these areas and in any of the languages taught in the School. Outcomes Graduates will be prepared for a profession in the post-secondary sector, cultural organizations, education, finance, government services, immigration, public relations, publishing, tourism and travel, advertising, or communications and media.

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Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. to get an accurate price.

Duration: 2 Year (s)

Fees: CAD 14254

Location
Fall (September), 2025
Fall (September), 2025
Fall (August), 2024
Fall (August), 2025

How to apply

Entry requirements for university of calgary, application deadline.

The application deadline isn't available Speak to an IDP counsellor for more detailed information

Further information

If you aren't eligible for the above entry requirements, you might ant to explore pathway options at University of Calgary . If you want to find out more, speak to our counsellors.

Career outcomes

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The world ranking.

201 st / 1250

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  1. Canada- Application Procedure for Thesis Based Masters, MSc, Study in Canada

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  6. Course Based Vs Thesis Based Masters in Canada

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  2. Canadian Master's and PhD programs

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  3. Course vs. thesis-based Masters? : r/premedcanada

    Most course-based masters (but not all) still have a research capstone course, but those are much less intensive than a thesis-based masters. Also given timelines for publication, less likely to result in a pub, but even publishing during a thesis based masters is mostly a result of luck and careful journal choice.

  4. Thesis-based Masters in Canada : r/GradSchool

    Thesis-based Masters in Canada. Admissions & Applications. Hey guys, I'm planning to do a thesis-based masters in Canada and was wondering, how competitive is it to get into one? I'm going for Biological Sciences at U of Alberta and U of Calgary, and Food Science at U of Saskatchewan. I've emailed several potential supervisors in U of Alberta ...

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  6. Does it matter whether we study a thesis-based master's degree ...

    Doing a thesis-based Master's myself, and I had had a choice for a project/course-based one (three more courses plus project) I decided to go the thesis route after discussions with my friends who are either in, or have been through, academia at the higher levels, and who work in fields where Master's degrees are appreciated.

  7. Graduate studies in Canada

    In virtually every field of academic study, Canadian universities offer graduate degree programs. Master's degrees require 1 or 2 years of study after completing your bachelor's degree. In Canada, your master's studies can include a thesis, practicum, research paper or a course‑based program. PhD and doctoral degrees involve 3 to 5 ...

  8. How to Choose Between Course-Based and Thesis-Based Master's Programs

    In this article, we will explore the differences between course-based and thesis-based master's programs in Canada to help you make an informed decision. Key Takeaways. Course-based master's programs provide a comprehensive understanding of a field through coursework and offer flexibility for individuals with full-time jobs.

  9. Does it matter whether we study a thesis-based master's degree ...

    The university offers the major I want (Software Engineering) as a course based M.Eng. and as a thesis based M.Asc. Since I'm really not into research, and I'm not planning on getting a PhD; I wanted to choose the course-based one, but I was wondering about its future job prospects since my plan is to find a job in Canada.

  10. MSc in Computer Science

    International Masters Tuition Scholarship (IMTS): International students currently completing their undergraduate degrees at the University of Guelph will be eligible for funding of $20,000 ($10,000/year for 2 years) for a thesis-based master's program, or $6,000 for a course-based program. There is no application necessary, as International ...

  11. What kind of master's degree is right for me?

    Complete your master's degree in months vs. years. Another big difference between course-based and thesis-based is the length of the program. Course-based master's programs typically take around 1 year to complete (3-4 semesters of full-time study), while thesis-based programs are a longer commitment and are often completed in 2 years (5-6 semesters of full-time study).

  12. Help from International thesis based masters students in Canada

    If your wondering afaik there isn't a distinction between thesis based or course based masters. Ok so for thesis based masters, it's fully funded by the uni and plus the student gets monthly stipend, which is not the case for course based masters. For course based masters, during the visa application process you need to show 10,000 CAD as GIC.

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  16. Master's Studies (Thesis-Based)

    At the University of Alberta, our thesis-based master's programs empower students to conduct methodical, systematic, theory-based and collaborative research alongside esteemed peers and in cutting-edge facilities. In today's dynamic job market, a thesis-based master's equips individuals with the expertise to tackle challenges across various ...

  17. Master's Thesis

    Master's theses submitted by students in partial fulfillment of degree requirements must embody the results of original research and must be successfully defended at oral examinations. Master's theses shall be on a topic approved by the student's supervisor and supervisory committee, and shall include submission and approval of a thesis proposal, including appropriate ethics review and ...

  18. Work in Canada after you graduate: About the post-graduation work

    time spent studying outside of Canada after December 31, 2023 New; time spent studying before you applied for a study permit; Studies in Canada. Until August 31, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program online or in class in Canada. Starting September 1, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program in class in Canada.

  19. Masters in Computer Science in Canada

    The thesis-based master's in computer science in Canada from this university costs CAD21,459.33 while the course work-based Master's costs CAD28,737 for the year. ... There are many CS Canada masters courses where you can enrol with a graduation in any field but something equivalent to CS may be a requirement.

  20. Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Computer Science

    Complementary Courses (14 credits) At least 14 credits of COMP (or approved by MSc Graduate Program Director) courses at the 500-, 600-, or 700-level. Complementary courses must satisfy a Computer Science Breadth Requirement, with at least one course in two of the Theory, Systems, and Application areas.

  21. Master of Arts in Languages, Literatures and Cultures

    Find entry requirements, course fees and intake dates for studying a Master of Arts in Languages, Literatures and Cultures - Applied linguistics (Thesis Based) degree at University of Calgary in Canada

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    Master of Arts (MA) Thesis-based program. The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut'ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw ...

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