Over the next three weeks, SL2College will present a series of articles that focus on the graduate application process, requirements, deadlines, funding opportunities and much more in Canada and the US.
Students who are planning to apply to study in Canada or the US are advised to visit the web-site of universities of their choice to get more up to date and current information - especially relating to admission requirements, deadlines and student visa.
1. What is the difference between entering a graduate school in Canada when compared with the US?
Apart from a few differences, entering a graduate school in Canada is the same as entering one in the US since the graduate education system is uniform across North America. The graduate application should focus on the following areas:
1. Academic records and research experience/skills
2. Standardized exams (TOEFL/GRE)
3. Statement of Purpose / Resume
4. References
The graduate admissions committee reviews all graduate applications and ensures that all requirements requested by the Department have been met by the applicant. It is easy to get your application approved if you have a supervisor who has funding for your research project and is willing to accept you. Hence, it is very important to write to a professor of your interest before you submit your application and convince him/her with your records and skills. The professor has the power to convince the admissions committee to accept you, especially in non-competitive universities.
2. How long does it take to prepare the application?
It is generally recommended to start preparing the application during the third or fourth year of your undergraduate study. If you have an idea of the qualifications you want to achieve or need for a particular job position or field (ie, MSc, M. Eng, PhD, etc), you can plan accordingly well ahead. Preparation for the standardized exams, collecting references letters and finalizing the statement of purpose can take several months. For more information about this process, visit the forum and resources sections of www.sl2college.com .
3. Are standardized test requirements in Canada similar to those in the US?
The test requirements for Canada are the same as they are for the US. It is necessary to do the TOEFL, IELTS or a similar exam which tests proficiency in English. If you are planning on pursuing a Master's degree the GRE would be necessary for most programs. However there is a slight difference in the way
they treat the scores. In most Canadian universities GRE is only considered as a completeness factor for the application. That is, universities only check whether you have done the GRE or not, they will not place as much weight on a moderate score as would US universities. This fact will be noted on most university web sites. On the other hand a much greater degree of importance is placed on your English proficiency exams. Most Canadian universities have a higher TOEFL cut off value than US universities. If you don't have the sufficient mark, consider retaking the exam before applying. Canadian universities will not consider your application if you have failed to obtain their cut off mark.
When looking for the cut off mark for English proficiency exam or the GPA, generally the Faculty of Graduate Studies has a common cut off while each department has its own which is often higher than the common one. Thus you should look for the cut off mark of the department that you are going to apply. Also, when applying if you haven't already completed the TOEFL or GRE exams it is okay to put these scores as pending and mention the exam date. You should aim to do these exams on the earliest date possible and ensure that scores are sent directly to the universities you have applied.
4. What are the different types of graduate programs?
In any field, there are two major levels of study when it comes to a graduate education – masters programs and doctorate (PhD) programs. A masters program can be based on course work or a thesis and has a limit in the number of years a student can take to complete it. In a course work based masters program, a student is expected to take the courses required by the department to obtain the degree. A thesis based masters program focuses primarily on a research project. The results of your research may lead to publications in renowned journals in your area of study and often, presentations in local and international conferences. You can gain recognition among the scientific community and professionals in your field for your work. A doctorate (PhD) degree allows a student to pursue research even further. The objective of a PhD degree is to come up with an original contribution in research that is accepted by experts in a particular field of study.
5. What is the duration of different graduate programs?
Course work based masters programs are shorter in duration. A thesis based masters program often takes 20 to 30 months to complete. The period of completion for a PhD will depend entirely on the area you pursue and the university you decide to attend. On average it could take 36 to 70 months to complete a PhD in Canada. Considering the exposure you would receive, it will be more or less the same in the US. In certain departments, a PhD program could be shorter in length if it is carried out under the same professor who supervised your thesis based masters program and if it is an extension of your thesis.
6. What are the deadlines for international graduate applications?
Individual departments set their own deadlines for receipt of applications and documents. Application deadlines for international students are often several months before the deadlines for local students and may be as early as 12 months before the program begins. Department deadlines are often tied to funding and award consideration. Since admission requirements, other application materials and deadlines vary with each university and/ or program, students are advised to check the relevant web-sites well in advance. Deadlines are strictly enforced by most departments and applications of students are not accepted after the deadline, unless the student has an outstanding application, funding and faculty support.
7. What is the process to obtain a Canadian visa?
The process to obtain a Canadian student permit takes some time. It is recommended that you apply for the permit at least 10 weeks prior to the scheduled departure date. You can download the forms from the internet (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/menu-immigrate.asp). However, it is always advisable to get the forms from the Visa office due to slight changes that can occur between the online version and the version available at the visa office. In addition, you have to stay for a medical test and provide a police clearance. You are granted a period of 4 weeks to produce a police report, but you should apply for it at the same time you apply for the visa. As soon as you get your offer of acceptance letter, you should start with the process of obtaining visa.
8. How does funding differ when choosing to do your Masters or PhD in Canada or the US?
Research projects are carried out with funding support from industry leaders, private sector, provincial/ state and federal agencies. There are no funding opportunities for coursework based masters programs. Graduate students in these programs can apply to work as research and/or teaching assistants. However, it is not encouraged by most faculty members to obtain funding for your program solely through these means. In Canada, many universities offer funding for thesis-based masters and PhD programs. The tuition fee for international students is generally higher than that of local students. Students can obtain funding through scholarships, research assistantships (RAs) and teaching assistantships (TAs). In the US, masters programs are not always funded. However, there is a degree of ease when it comes to obtaining funding for a PhD than a masters since it shows long-term commitment for research by the student, which is highly supported by the Department.
9. How does enrolment in graduate programs differ in Canada and the US?
In the Canadian academic arena, students with an undergraduate degree have to apply for the masters program first even if their ultimate objective is to do a PhD. Most Canadian universities do not enrol new PhD students if they do not already hold a masters degree. The enrolment requirements are almost the same as in the US, although the GRE is not as strictly evaluated as in the US.
Students who want to enrol in a PhD program directly would need to exhibit exceptional qualifications. The chances of getting accepted are higher if the student has a bachelors degree from a North American university. There is also an option that allows students in a masters program to switch to a PhD after the first year given that your supervisor agrees to take you on as a PhD student. In the US, increasingly, students can apply for a PhD program directly after completing their undergraduate degree if they meet all the requirements set by the Department. Some universities may offer a masters after the student completes course work and passes the written and oral qualifications that are set by the relevant Department while pursuing a PhD. In this process you are taking a masters degree along the way while in the PhD program.
10. Are there other major differences to note between Canada and the US?
One main difference, although unrelated to academics, is the cooler climate and long winters in much of Canada compared to the US. If cold weather conditions appeal to you then that should not be an issue!
This article has been put together by Yoshani De Silva, a graduate from the Neuroscience Department at the University of Toronto ; Primal Wijesekera, a second year graduate student in Computer Science at the University of British Columbia ; and Tharindu De Silva, a second year graduate student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Western Ontario.
Author(s) : Yoshani De Silva, Primal Wijesekera,Tharindu De Silva
Publisher : The Sunday Observer (in 3 parts)
Date(s) : 7th, 14th and 21st November 2010
