Masters in Engineering in Canada is a very well known degree among international students. Canada is home to around 50 renowned Universities offering two-years Master's degree programs in the various fields of Engineering. Candidates with a four-year Bachelor's degree in the relevant field of Engineering and having qualified the specific English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests like IELTS, TOEFL can apply to Canadian Universities. Total tuition fees range from $ 25,000 CAD (INR 14,96,567) to $ 70,000 CAD (INR 41,90,388) among the top Universities and any graduate with a Masters in Engineering in Canadian institute can expect an annual wage of $ 60,000 CAD to $ 110,000 CAD.

A student can apply for one of the many scholarships available for international students by the Canadian Government or their University for M eng in Canada.

Table of Content

  1. Why study Masters in Engineering in Canada ?
  2. Master's in Engineering Specialisations at Canadian Universities
  3. Top Universities offering Master's in Engineering courses in Canada
  4. Admission Process for Master's in Engineering courses in Canada
    4.1 Admission Deadlines
    4.2 Admission Requirements
    4.3 Admission Documents Required
  5. Cost of Living in Canada
  6. Master's in Engineering Course Scholarships
  7. Jobs after Master's in Engineering Course in Canada
    7.1 Top Recruiters
  8. Work Permit, Study Permit and Cisa

Why study Masters in Engineering in Canada?

Let us look at a few factors which make Canada a popular choice for students wishing to study Master's degree courses in Engineering.

  • Eleven Canadian Universities make it to the top 250 of QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering and Technology.
  • Canada provides a high standard of living at minimal costs compared to the USA and other countries; less tuition fees and cost of living as compared to the USA with a similar curriculum and a less saturated workplace.
  • One can stay back in Canada for upto three years to get a taste of the Canadian work ethics by applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
  • Current students can holding a valid study permit can apply for various on-campus assistantships or off-campus jobs.

Master's in Engineering Specialisations at Canadian Universities

Master's in Engineering (M.Eng.) is a two-year post-graduate degree offered by Canadian institutes with the following specialisations:

  • Masters in civil engineering in canada 
  • Masters in electrical engineering in canada
  • Masters in chemical engineering in canada
  • Masters in electrical and computer engineering in canada
  • Masters in biomedical engineering in canada
  • Masters in mechanical engineering in canada
  • Masters in software engineering canada
  • Masters in industrial engineering in canada
  • Masters in automotive engineering in canada

Most of these Universities offer Master's in Science (MS) and Master's in Applied Science (MASc) programs for the same specialisations.

Top Universities offering Master's in Engineering courses in Canada

Among the various Canadian Universities, University of Toronto is the first choice for applicants aspiring to pursue Master's in Engineering in the country. The following are a handful of Universities offering MS in civil engineering in Canada:

Institute Name Tuition fees
University of Toronto M.Eng. fees: $63,378.63/year (full-time) (INR 38,84,333)
$33,178.65/year (INR 20,33,444)
(extended FT)
$19,918.13/year (INR 12,20,737)
(part-time)
MASc fees: $24,853/year (INR 15,23,184)
University of British Columbia M.Eng. fees:
$23,913.63/year (INR 14,65,612)
MASc/MSc fees:
$9,500.19/year (INR 5,82,245)
University of Waterloo M.Eng. fees:
$8,286/year (full-time) (INR 5,07,830)
$4,143/year (INR 2,53,915) (part-time)
MASc fees:
$6,762/year (INR 4,14,427) (full-time)
$3,381/year (part-time) (INR 2,07,213)
McGill University $13,505.70/year (INR 8,27,691)
(non-thesis-based programs)
$9,577.35/year (thesis-based programs) (INR 5,86,974)
University of Alberta $17,113.68/year (INR 10,48,858)
(course-based programs)fees ,874/year (thesis-based programs)

Admission Process for Master's in Engineering courses in Canada

The entire admission procedure for any International student wishing to pursue a Master's in Engineering or other similar programs in Canada is a laborious task and is elucidated as follows,

  1. Visit the University website from time to time to keep an eye on the opening of application portals for the desired intake.
  2. Complete the online application and submit the requisite application fees.
  3. Upload the mentioned documents keeping the specifications in mind.
  4. Keep an eye on the official University website for any application update and keep checking the email for the letter of acceptance from the University.
  5. Confirm the letter of acceptance and pay the tuition fees to reserve your seat.
  6. Once your seat is confirmed by the University, proceed with your study permit application.

Admission Deadlines

An aspiring applicant to Master's in Engineering programs at the respective Universities must keep a note of the admission deadlines and make sure to start the application procedure early in order to avert a rush later on. The admission deadlines for the handful of Universities offering Master's in Engineering programs are enlisted below. Do keep checking the official University websites for any further changes in the dates.

University Admission deadline
University of Toronto Prior to April 15 (September/Fall intake) Application fees must be paid by April 1 [closed]
Prior to August 15 (January/Winter intake) Application fees must be paid by August 1 [open]
University of British Columbia M.Eng.: Prior to April 1 (September/Fall intake) [closed]
MASc: Prior to,
  • September 1- Mechanical Engineering (January/Winter intake) [open]
  • August 1- Chemical and Biological Engineering (January/Winter intake) [open]
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering & Biomedical Engineering- June 1 (January/Winter intake) [open]
MSc: Prior to August 1- Chemical and Biological Engineering (January/Winter intake) [open]
University of Waterloo Online application and fee payment must be completed by February 1 and uploading of relevant documents including the admission information form (AIF) must be completed prior to February 13. (September/Fall intake) [closed]
McGill University Prior to January 15 (September/Fall intake) [closed]
Prior to July 15 (January/Winter intake) [open]
University of Alberta M.Eng. (course-based): Prior to March 1 (Fall/September intake) [closed]
MSc (thesis-based): Prior to April 15 (Fall/September intake)
Prior to July 15 (January/Winter intake) [open]

Admission Requirements

Before starting with the application procedure at the desired University for Master's in Engineering programs in Canada, one must make sure that they are satisfying the basic eligibility criteria laid down by the respective Universities. This includes their previous educational qualifications, grades and test scores (if mentioned by the University concerned). The requirements are listed below.

University Educational qualifications Test scores required
University of Toronto
  • Bachelor's degree from a recognised University with a minimun of 3.0 GPA out of 4.0 (73-76 %)
  • Indian aspirants must have completed a four-years Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a three-years Bachelor's degree with a Master's in the relevant field
  • 8.0 GPA out of 10 (First/Class Division) [or 7.5 GPA out of 10 from Indian Institutes of Technology).
TOEFL test (iBT), a minimum of 22/30 in both "Writing" and "Speaking" sections
Minimum score of 93/120
For paper-based TOEFL, minimum overall score of 580 and a Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5. OR,
For IELTS, minimum of an overall band of 7 with no individual component below 6.5.
McGill University
  • Four-year undergraduate degree in Engineering with a minimum of 3.0 CGPA on a scale of 4.0 or
  • a mimmum of 3.3 CGPA on a scale of 4.0 in the last two years of undergraduate education.
Minimum of an overall score of 94/120 in internet-based TOEFL with no individual component score below 20
OR,
Overall band of 7.0 in IELTS with no individual band below 6.0.
University of British Columbia
  • Four-years Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a three-years Bachelor's degree with a subsequent Master's degree in relevant field
  • First Class/Division (65%) or a 8.0 on a 10 point-scale.
Minimum overall IELTS (iBT) score of 6.5 with no individual component below 6.0. IELTS Indicator scores are not accepted.
OR,
Minimum overall TOEFL iBT or TOEFL home edition score of 90 with atleast 22/30 in "Reading" And "Listening" and at least 21/30 in "Writing" and "Speaking".
For TOEFL paper-based test, a minimum of 55 in " Reading ", " Listening" and "Writing"and 4.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE).
University of Waterloo International candidates must have a 75% overall score in a four-years Bachelor's degree in Engineering. Indian students with a four-years Bachelor's degree or a less than four-years Bachelor's degree with a Master's degree in a relevant field of Engineering with First Class/Division or 8/10 are eligible to apply. Minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90 with minimum of 25 in "Speaking "and "Writing"
OR,
Minimum IELTS (Academic) overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 bands in "Speaking" and "Writing"
Minimum scores of other ELP tests can be found on the website.
At times, the various departments accept alternative (lower) minimum ELP scores.
University of Alberta Applicants must have a four-years Undergraduate degree with a mimmum of 3.0 GPA on a scale of 4.0 from the University of Alberta or any other recognised University. Indian applicants must have secured a mimmum of 65% or First Class (Division B) in a four-years Undergraduate program from a recognised University. Minimum TOEFL (iBT, in-person or, special at-home edition) score of 90 with a minimum of 21/30 in each individual skill component.
OR,
Minimum of 6.5 overall in IELTS (Academic) with no individual band below 6.0.

Admission Documents Required

The aspiring student must keep the following documents handy while applying to selected Master's in Engineering programs at the desired University:

  • Personal information, Statement of Purpose, CV/Resume
  • Academic history, detailed grades (transcripts)
  • ELP test scores
  • Letters of Recommendation (with contact information of the referee)
  • Copy of Passport
  • Student visa
  • Finance proof

Cost of Living in Canada

The average cost of living in Canada is calculated below (in CAD):

Factors Expenses per month
Accommodation $ 400- $ 600 CAD (INR 24515 - 36772)
Food $ 200- $ 300 CAD (INR 12257 - 18386)
Transportation $ 100- $ 250 CAD (INR 6128 - 15321)
Internet $ 30- $ 50 CAD (INR 1838 - INR 3064)
Miscellaneous expenses $ 600- $ 700 CAD (INR 36772 - 42901)
Total monthly expense: $ 1,330- $ 1900 CAD (INR 81512 - 116446)

Master's in Engineering Course Scholarships

A few scholarships that international students pursuing Master's degree programs im the various specialisations of Engineering at the above-mentioned Universities can avail are,

Scholarship name Eligibility Amount granted
Dekta Kappa Gamma World Fellowship Applicants must be:
  • Not an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International;
  • Must identify themselves as Woman;
  • Must be enrolled in a full-time Master's or Doctoral program at University of Toronto;
  • Must satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements
  • Must be an international student with a valid study permit;
  • Must not be completing her course in the year in which she is applying for the scholarship.
$ 4000 USD for an year
Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program Ontario Grafuate Scholarship (OGS) is a merit-based scholarship awarded to individuals fulfilling the following criterias-
  • enorolled in a full-time master's or doctoral program having a mimmum of two terms per year
  • must he attending one of the mentioned schools in Ontario. These include University of Toronto anr University of Waterloo among others.
$10,000 CAD for two consecutive study terms and $15,000 CAD for three consecutive study terms. Each OGS award is granted for a mimmum of one year (2-3 terms) and for a maximum of two-years (upto six terms) for Master's students.
Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan This scholarship is awarded to academically bright individuals who are applying to advanced learning and research programs, at the Master's and Doctoral level in Canadian Universities. $ 10,000 CAD to cover the costs of tuition, transportation, living expenses for 5-6 months.

Jobs after Master's in Engineering Course in Canada

After successful completion of a Master's in Engineering program from the Universities discussed in this article, an individual can get attractive job options in Canada, India or in any other country. A few job profiles and their average annual wages are listed below.

Job Profile Average annual salary (in Canadian Dollars, CAD)
Mechanical Engineer $51,000- $82,000
Software Engineering Manager $96,000- $1,80,000
Director of Engineering $89,000- $1,45,000 (INR 5454609 - 8886723)
Project Engineer $38,000- $63,000 (INR 2328934 - 3861128)
Civil Engineer $51,000- $1,13,000 (INR 3125675 - 6925515)
Chemical Engineer $43,000 - $76,000 (INR 2635373 - 4657869)
Biomedical Engineer $49,000- $96,000 (INR 3003099 - 5883624)

Top recruiters for Master's in Engineering course in Canada

A few of the top recruiters offering lavish packages to students who have completed Master's in Engineering in Canada are mentioned below along with the average annual salary (in Canadian dollars, CAD)

Firm Annual average salary (in CAD)
WPS Global $53,607- $1,08,218
Lockheed Martin Corp $61,000- $1,30,000
Hatch $53,360- $1,04,810
Geosyntec Consultants $55,000- $1,03,000
Bayer Corp Science $72,445

Work Permit, Study Permit and Visa

After successful completion of a Master's in Engineering or similar program from a Canadian University one may obtain a PGWP if they graduated from a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) and want to gain a taste of Canadian work experience.

  • For a program of less than 8 months duration, one won't get a PWGP.
  • For a course of more than 8 months but less than 2 years, the
  • Government of Canada may give a work permit of up to the duration of the course the person has completed.
  • A PWGP applicant may get a three-years work permit for a program stretching or extending beyond two years
  • A person cannot apply for a fresh work permit if he/she has already been offered one previously, even after completion of a new, separate course from a DLI.

To be able to study in Canada, international students would be required to obtain a study permit and a visitor Visa approved by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada). The Study permit is granted once the individual presents the letter of acceptance at their desired institute for the relevant course and requires an application of $ 150 CAD. The IRCC issues a Visit Visa along with the study permit (if granted). Without the Visa, an international student can't enter Canadian territory.

The eligibility requirements for a Visa and a Study Permit application are:

  • The candidate must be accepted into a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) at Canada,
  • The person must be having enough money to finance their tuition fees, their and their family's (if they accompany) living expenses and return transportation from Canada,
  • The person must be medically sound
  • They must abide by the law and have no criminal record,
  • The person must prove to an officer that he/she intends to leave Canada post completion of his/her program.

Thus Canadian Universities attract many international students wishing to pursue Master's in Engineering courses each year because of its affordability compared to the USA and its currently booming Engineering sector.