Collegepond Logo
Career & Course Selection

Post Graduate Diploma vs Masters in Canada

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When looking to go abroad for your education, most of us gravitate towards doing a Master’s course. Doing a PG Diploma doesn’t cross our mind as we tend to think that it is not as valued and may not help us get jobs. Our decision should be based on the country we are targeting. If your goal is to study in the USA, then Master’s is your best bet as you will not get a work permit by doing a PG Diploma. But if you are looking to study further in Canada, then doing a PG Diploma could be a better option for a variety of reasons as it is valued and recognized globally and also gives you a work permit. Let’s understand the difference between both the programs

Masters PG Diploma
1. The duration is mostly 2 years. However some can be of 1 or 1.5 years The duration is mostly 1 year. However some can be of 2 years
2. About 90% of programs need a 16th year of education You are eligible if you have 15 years of education. A great boon for Indian students who have BCom, BSC, BA, BAF, BMS, etc. which are 3 year undergraduate programs
3. The cost of is very high as compared to a PG Diploma It is way cheaper than a Masters
4. The work permit is dependent on the duration for the program The work permit is dependent on the duration fo the program.
For a 1 year course, you qualify for a 1-year work permit. Most people circumvent this rule by enrolling for another PGD which gives them a 3 year work permit.
5. The seats are less and hence very competitive to get into More seats, less competitive
6. IELTS requirement is 6.5 or more IELTS requirement is 6 or more
7. If you wish to go into research, PhD, then Masters is the right choice Many people opt for diploma if they don’t want to do research but enroll for a more hands-on program
8. Most of them do not have co-op Some programs have Co-Op options that help students network and build professional relationships, which can help you in securing a job later.
9. Usually provided by universities Usually provided by colleges
10. Locations – most universities are spread across the geographies Most colleges are in and around Toronto, having a huge location advantage

The best analogy for students doubting the value of PGD is studying from an IIMs in India. These institutions DO NOT give a degree, but a PGDM. It’s the tag of IIM that gets you the job. On the same grounds, it’s how well you perform and network there, etc that will help you get the coveted job.

Read More
Collegepond January 15, 2022 0 Comments
VISA & Predeparture

Canada now makes it easier to obtain a Study Visa to counter the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Interested in a Canadian Study Visa? Here’s some good news! The Canadian government has recently relaxed the rules so that the entire visa procedure is more friendly. Also, India and Canada have recently signed an MOU relating to areas like student and faculty exchange, research and curriculum development, and mutual recognition of educational qualifications.

The Canadian immigration authority, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has stated that students from India will get faster visas because of major changes in visa procedures which will reduce the processing time to within 45 days as compared to within 60 days earlier. IRCC is also exploring more efficient ways to process applications.

Under the process called the Student Direct Stream (SDS), students from India who prove that they have the financial resources and language skills to succeed academically in Canada will be processed faster. What’s more, SDS complements the Express Entry system for permanent residence in Canada, if that’s what you are looking for.

Of course, to qualify for SDS, you need to meet additional requirements too such as language levels that are stricter than regular study permit requirements. But don’t be discouraged, because even if you don’t have all of the additional information required for SDS, there is a way out. You can apply through the regular study permit application process, either online or at a Visa Application Centre.

Here are the requirements to be processed quickly for the student visa and to be eligible for SDS as per the High Commission of Canada:

– You need to be accepted by an eligible post-secondary Designated Learning Institute (DLI)
– You need to have paid your tuition for the first year
– You need to obtain a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000 from one of the financial institutions approved by IRCC
– You need to complete an upfront medical examination
– You need to have the minimum-required IELTS level of English language ability of 6.0 in all categories (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Make sure the above requirements are fulfilled and you could be well on your way to a better future.

Have more queries? Get in touch with our study abroad counsellors or book a session with our career counsellors at Collegepond, a premier study abroad consultant.

Read More
Collegepond August 16, 2020 0 Comments