Do you know the difference between a Masters or a PG Diploma in Canada? Here is a 10 point comparison between these two and this will help you figure out which is the best option for you. The comparison is as follows:

1. Eligibility requirements – For Masters, you must have a minimum of 7 out of 10 GPA in bachelors whereas for PG Diploma, it is 6 out of 10 GPA. The IELTS requirement is same, that is overall 6.5 and not less than 6 in each band. The minimum years of education for Masters can vary from 15 to 16 years whereas for PG Diploma you have 15 years of education.

2. Scope – Masters is a professional degree, it is more detailed, researchoriented and has a higher difficulty level. Whereas, PG Diploma is relatively more practical & skill based, it helps you make job ready by working on a particular skill. PG Diploma is also easy & has more coursework than research.

3. Level of Study – Masters is considered as a higher level of degree as you can directly pursue PhD afterwareds. However, you cannot pursue PhD directly after a PG Diploma. On hierarchy, Bachelors is the first step then comes PG Diploma, then Masters and at the top in the PhD study.

4. Scholarships – There are more scholarships in research based masters than course based masters. Whereas, there are many Entrance scholarships for students in Colleges. Overall, there are only few scholarships available compared to USA or other countries.

5. Duration of Study – The duration of a masters course can vary from 1 to 2 years. As, it is a professional degree, mostly masters are of 12 months only exceptions are thesis based masters that take up to 3 years. In comparison, PG Diploma can vary from 8 months to 24 months (12 years), But mostly people prefer to take a 2 years diploma course in Canada.

6. Fee Structure – The fees for a masters program vary from 30 to 40k CAD per year therefore depending upon your course duration, your Tuition fees for a masters program can vary from 20 to 50 Lakhs. Mostly, 1 year Master Degree cost around 2025 Lakhs. Whereas, the Tuition Fees for a PG Diploma course can vary from 15,000 to 20,000 CAD per year, that is around 8 to 10 Lakhs per year. Therefore, you can expect the PG Dpiloma fees to be between 16 to 20 Lakhs for entire diploma course. The best part is, you can easily manage to gather your College Tuition Fees while working parttime job, but it is difficult to manage University Tuition Fees by yourself as their study is hard & more intense, also the overall fees for a degree is higher than diploma.

7. PGWP Duration – The Post graduate work permit duration after a Masters is mostly 3 years because masters is considered as a professional degree. Whereas, the PGWP duration after a PG Diploma varies on the length of study. For example – 1 year study give you 1 year of work permit, 2 years of study gives you 3 years of work permit.

8. Salaries & Job Market – The average salaries after a Masters degree can vary from 50,000 to 70,000 CAD per annum compared to 40,000 to 60,000 CAD per annum after a PG Diploma. Masters is a professional degree, this helps you to easily find your field job & you also start at a slightly higher pay with a higer salary. However, if you have good skillset then you can also grab a good job role & salary after a PG Diploma. Therefore, key point is to focus on your skillset.

9. PR Opportunities – Masters give you the best options for Permanent residency in Canada. The best way to apply for PR after Masters is through PNP programs. There is a dedicated stream for International postgraduate students in PNP Pathway to apply for PR without any Job Offer or Work Experience. It is only based on a Masters or a PhD Degree from an eligible university in Canada. However, PR takes long time & is becoming difficult in major cities after a PG Diploma course. The best way to get Canada PR after a PG Diploma is through Express Entry. One has to work for 2 to 3 years to maintain a decent CRS score that they can now clear CRS cutoff to get invite for PR.

10. Famous Universities & Colleges – The best options for a masters degree in Canada are University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Alberta, Mcgill University, university of Waterloo, University of Manitoba, McMaster University, Simon Fraser University, etc. Whereas, the best colleges to pursue PG Diploma courses are Centennial college, Conestoga College, Humber College, Selkirk College, Seneca College, Sheridan College, BCIT, Langara & Douglas College, etc.

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