Canadian universities usually have the authority to grant undergraduate/bachelor’s degree (e.g. BA, BBA, BSc, BID, BPR, etc.), master’s degree (e.g. MA, MBA, MSc, MEng, etc.), and doctoral degrees (that is, PhD). Several universities also offer a range of certificate and diploma courses, as well as short career-focused programs.
TYPES OF DEGREES AT CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES
Canadian universities typically offer three (3) types of degrees:
1. A Bachelor’s or Undergraduate Degree: takes between three (3) to four (4) years to complete, with some exceptions. With a three-year bachelor’s degree, students must complete an additional year (i.e. the fourth year) to obtain an "honours degree" and if they want to go to a graduate program (Master's degree).
2. A Master’s Degree: typically requires between one (1) to three (3) years of full-time study after an honours degree, and may include a thesis (a long essay based on original research), a practicum or research paper.
3. A Doctoral Degree, or PhD: is an academic degree of the highest level. It entails a minimum of two (2) to three (3) years of full-time study beyond the master’s level, and the completion of a thesis.
* Several universities also offer a range of certificate and diploma courses at the undergraduate, graduate or diploma level, as well as short career-focused programs.
GRADUATE STUDIES & RESEARCH IN CANADA
There are three (3) types of graduate degrees in Canada:
1. Course-Based Master’s Degree: This requires successful completion of specific graduate-level courses and is typically one (1) or two (2) years in duration.
2. Research-Based Master’s Degree: Requires completion of both graduate-level courses and a thesis and is typically two (2) years in duration. Graduate students usually choose a thesis topic in consultation with a graduate supervisor, although many universities require a statement of research interests as part of the application process.
3. Doctorate or PhD Degree: This requires completion of original research and defence of a thesis that makes a significant contribution to the chosen field of study. A doctorate degree typically requires two (2) or three (3) years of full-time residency, although it is common to require more time for directed research and writing to complete the thesis portion.
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