Canada’s multicultural outlook and the cosmopolitan environment have made it an incredibly popular destination for pursuant of undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses. The country is tolerant, easy-going and almost a home away from home for Indian students, considering the huge population of NRIs. Here we spell out the basic requirements for pursuing your PhD in Canada since the country’s research stems from its world-class universities.

PhD study in Canada is generally cheaper than in the neighbouring USA, with some universities actually reducing – or even waiving – international fees. And who would miss a chance to stay around the Great Lakes of Ontario and Québec?

Admission Requirements

The requirements to study in Canada at doctorate level vary between universities and courses, but you generally need the following:

• A master’s degree in a related field, with good grades and proven research ability.
• Proof of language ability, depending on whether you study in English or French if either language is not your first language and you haven’t previously studied in either language. You’ll have the option of completing a Canadian PhD in either English or French, depending on which province you choose to study in.
• A strong Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score

If you are exceptionally brilliant, you may be able to pursue ‘’accelerated admission’’- a PhD without a master’s degree, but you’ll need amazing grades in the last two years of your bachelor’s degree, and preferably a distinct academic record showing your research potential and published works.

Most PhD courses require at least three years of full-time study and research, but some students study for longer, with a typical maximum registration of six years.

Cost to study a PhD in Canada

International fees for a Canadian PhD programme are around CAD $10,000-20,000(USD $7,500-15,000) per year, which is almost double of what Canadian students pay. The University of Toronto has begun charging the same fees to domestic and international PhD students from 2018.

Applying for PhD:

There are normally two routes to applying for a Canadian PhD:

Find an advertised project and apply for it. Many projects will already have a scholarship or stipend attached and will be looking for the ideal candidate, rather like a conventional job opportunity.

Apply to a university’s doctoral programme with your own research project. The first step, in this case, is usually to identify a suitable supervisor and/or research group and contact them, and you may need a recommendation from them.

Documents for the application:

• Statement of purpose – this should outline your background and academic/professional experience, including any awards, publications or relevant experience you can offer. You should also discuss your career goals and anything else stipulated by the university, keeping to the word limit.
• Two or three letters of reference (including one from your intended supervisor). Your referees should be academic, where possible.
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates – Canadian universities may require that your university mail an official transcript, which should be in English or accompanied by a perfectly translated document.
• Writing sample (most likely for arts and humanities PhDs)
• Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Language test results, if needed
• Portfolio of creative work (if applying for an arts/humanities PhD)

Some Canadian universities may also ask you to attend an admission interview.

Once accepted, the next step is to apply for your study permit, which acts as your student visa for your stay. You should also take out health insurance, and check your university’s website for orientation advice.

Working part-time in Canada:

All full-time students with a valid study permit can work part-time on or off campus for up to 20 hours per week during university semesters and full time during semester breaks. However, due to the extensive nature of some PhD courses, it is advised that you shouldn’t work for more than 10 hours per week during term time.

Working after PhD

You can apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) which allows you to stay and gain valuable work experience for a maximum of three years.