Is the Masters in Canada a better option than the US in 2021?

January 27, 2021 Kristin

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Are you planning to study Masters abroad but confused between Canada or the USA? Read on to find out whether Masters in Canada would be your ideal choice. The USA has remained the most popular study abroad destination over the past several years. However in recent times, Canada is becoming the new favorite for students willing to study in foreign country.

After completing Masters in Canada one can earn nearly – 169,000 CAD. For that instance, after Masters in the USA, one can earn around 120,000 USD. Besides career outcome the other parameters to be considered are – visa process, living costs & scholarships. Canada is ranked 6th in the Global Peace Index 2019, while the USA is at 128th spot.

Rest in this article, you’ll find a comparison between Masters in Canada and the USA so that you can decide better.

Masters in Canada or the USA?

Here, we will share some of the parameters that require consideration before you plan for Masters in Canada or Masters in the USA. Also, check the table with a brief comparison between the two courses:

1. Visa Policy

The first reason is the strict and complicated USA visa policy. Students in the USA need to reapply for their visa each year while studying there. Besides, the USA visa procedure is quite lengthy, complicated and requires plenty of waiting. Students will also have to appear for a personal interview and submit their biometrics.

Contrarily, the student visa process for Canada is simple and short. Students can get their Canadian study permit within a period of three weeks only. Also, as the population of Canada is less, the country invites and accepts a large number of applications every year. It even provides post-study work and permanent settlement opportunities, which is advantageous for international students.

2. Eligibility requirements

Eligibility criteria to apply for a Masters in Canada are slightly relaxed than in the USA. USA universities demand at least 16 years of education along with GMAT scores for management courses and GRE scores for Engineering courses.

In case students have pursued a three years’ bachelor’s degree, they will have to take up a one-year course to cover up the gap. Students also need to appear for TOEFL or IELTS to prove their English Language Proficiency.

For Masters in Canada, students can apply for admission to vocational courses directly. They will however need to prove their English Language Proficiency by submitting IELTS or TOEFL scores as required by their college.

Few colleges do prefer GMAT and GRE scores for management and engineering courses but it’s not mandatory for most colleges. Hence, getting into a Canadian University for a master’s degree is easier than in the USA.

3. Cost of living

One of the factors that affect your decision the most when it comes to choosing your study abroad destination, is expense! If you plan to pursue a Masters in Canada, you’ll end up spending less than that of a Masters in the USA.

Rent, tuition fees, transportation, or even utilities, everything is affordable in Canada. In short, students can cover all their expenses even when they are on a tight budget. Refer to the table below to find out more about the costs of studying in Canada and studying in the USA.

Particulars	Masters in USA	Masters in Canada
Tuition fees	11,000 – 60,000	8,000 – 35,000
Living expenses (shopping, groceries, etc.)	10,000 – 25,000	11,000 – 15,000
Room rent	3,000 – 8,000	6,000 – 7,500
Transportation	45 – 100	60 – 85
Health care & insurance	700 – 1,000	227 – 600
Duration of course	2 years	1 – 2 years

4. Post-study work visa

Most of the students who plan to study abroad, also choose to settle there. Talking about the post-study work permit in both the USA and Canada, the latter allows students to stay back for a longer period to gain work experience.

The USA permits students to stay for a period of 12 months after completion of their studies to gain practical knowledge through OPT. Whereas Canada allows students to work after completion of studies for a time depending on the duration of their course up to maximum three years. Students are also permitted to work in any field or industry during this time.

5. Job opportunities

Considering the job opportunities, both USA and Canada open up a pool of employment opportunities for students. In the USA the high paying jobs are medical officers, doctors, software engineers, management executives, dentistry, etc. In the USA, the average salary after Masters is 65,000 to 126,000 USD.

On the contrary in Canada, professionals mostly work as teachers, program analysts, nurses, construction manager, pharmacist, etc. Canadian students get the benefit of working for up to 3 years after graduation, and can apply for citizenship as well. The average salary is between 70,000 to 169,000 CAD.

6. Permanent residency opportunities

Another reason why Masters in Canada is preferred by many students is the possibility to reside permanently. The USA does allow permanent residency, but the process is lengthy and slow which takes years to complete. A student should have resided in the USA for a minimum of five years on the basis of employment to get a USA Green Card.

On the contrary, Canada grants a post-study work permit after which students can apply for Permanent Residency in Canada. Later, students can also apply for Canada Citizenship as well. The entire process of getting PR and Citizenship in Canada is easier.

7. Scholarships

To cover the cost of living and tuition fees for international students, both Canada and the US offer numerous scholarships to international students. Tabulated below are some scholarships offered to students planning to study in Masters in Canada and the USA.

Scholarships in the USA	Scholarships for Masters in Canada
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships	Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships	Canada Graduate Scholarships
Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellowships	IDRC Research Awards
Yale University Fox International Fellowship	Canada-Asia Pacific Awards
Asian Women in Business Scholarship Fund	International Research Linkages funded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Both countries offer university-specific scholarships for Masters based on the merit of the students. Students can check the university website to find more details about applications and eligibility for scholarships at a particular university.

Overall, considering all the major points including living costs, quality of education, financial aid, permanent residency, and job opportunities, Masters in Canada offers equal benefits to that of the USA. No doubt, the USA is the Economic Capital of the world and the quality of life is really good. But Canada too is not far behind. We hope the above article offers all information to help students out whether to pursue Masters in Canada or the USA. Rest it is up to you all to decide!

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