Nine (9) Best PG Diploma Courses in Canada

When it comes to enrolling for Postgraduate Diploma in Canada, some colleges are better than others.

The best PG Diploma courses in Canada are available for international students who want to get a PG diploma in any Canadian college or university. If you’re looking for a good way to further your education and get ahead in your career, then you may want to consider pursuing a PG diploma course in Canada.

There are many great schools that offer these programs, and the courses cover a range of interesting topics. So whether you’re interested in business, law, or engineering, there’s definitely a PG diploma course out there that’s perfect for you. Check out this list of nine of the best PG diploma courses in Canada and start planning your future today!

Canada has the cheapest universities in the world among the developed English sparking countries and also has a high-quality education system.

The Postgraduate Diploma is also known as Graduate Diploma (Grad.Dip.). It is a postgraduate qualification that is popular among Anglo-Saxon countries. It is considered academically over the level of a Bachelor’s, but under a Master’s level.

You can complete a Postgraduate Diploma immediately after your Bachelor’s degree and is typically completed in one or two years.  

Postgraduate Diplomas can help you to achieve your master’s degree such as a Master of Science or Master of Arts. Postgraduate Diplomas are becoming more popular because they are more affordable than a Master’s degree. 

Getting a PG Diploma in Canadian Universities will take about one to two years depending on the program of your choice. 

Why Pursue PG Diploma in Canada?

There are many reasons for pursuing a PG Diploma in Canada. Studying for your PG Diploma in Canada comes with a lot of advantages which include:

  • PG Diplomas are more job-oriented programs
  • PG Diploma courses in Canada allow you to intern while studying 
  • PG Diploma colleges in Canada are much cheaper than in universities. 
  • PGDM Programs focus on more career-oriented education than research-based.

Eligibility Criteria PG Diploma in Canada

To study PG Diploma in Canada, you have to meet the eligibility criteria to study for your preferred programs in Canada. The requirements for a PG Diploma in Canada are below

  • The applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a field similar to the PG diploma course they are applying for.
  • GMAT or GRE scores of PG diplomas in Management and GRE scores for graduate diplomas in Science, Engineering or Technology.
  •  Language proficiency scores of IELTS/TOEFL/PTE
  • Statement of Purpose (SOP) 
  • Letters of Recommendation (LORs).
  • Transcripts of previous education
  • Study permit
  • Proof of finances
Application Deadline for PG Diploma in Canada

College    Deadline

Algonquin College    Fall- Oct 1 to Feb 1

(upcoming session Winter 2022- Jan 10)

Centennial College    Offers are sent out in Feb, Applicants are suggested to apply early

Durham College    Fall: Feb 1

Winter: Oct 1

Lambton College    Feb 1

Seneca College    Rolling

Humber College    Feb 1

Douglas College    Fall: May 31

Winter: Sep 30

Fanshawe College    Mid Oct- Feb 1

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Types of Postgraduate Diploma in Canada

In Canada, there are two types of PG Diploma which a student can study, they are

  • One year PG Diploma
  • Two years PG Diploma

One-year PG Diploma in Canada

In a one-year graduate diploma in Canada you will have to study for  2-3 semesters that cost around 10,000-15,000 CAD. This provides you with the essential skills which you need for your employability chances in your chosen field of specialization. 

2 Year PG Diploma in Canada

A two year PG Diploma in Canada has 4-6 semesters and costs around 13,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD (7-11 Lakhs INR). You also have a chance to combine two one-year PGDMs to make up your own two-year PG Diploma program. The major advantage of a 2-year PG Diploma in Canada is that it provides you with a three-year work stay back option.

Here are the top colleges to pursue 2 years PG Diploma courses in Canada:

  • Centennial College, Ontario
  • University of Winnipeg
  • North Island College, British Columbia
  • College of New Caledonia, British Columbia
  • Simon Frasier University
  • McMaster University
  • Fleming College, Ontario
  • Humber College, Ontario
  • Lambton College, Ontario
  • Fanshawe College, Ontario
  • St. Lawrence College, Ontario
Top Colleges for Popular PG Diploma Courses in Canada

There are popular PG Diploma courses that are more popular than others and not every college offers a diploma in these courses, so below is a list of top colleges for popular diploma courses in Canada:

  • PG Diploma in Finance    Lambton College    25,260
  • PG Diploma in Marketing    Centennial College    16,169
  • PG Diploma in Human Resources    Seneca College    15,590
  • PG Diploma in Business Analytics    Seneca College    15,164
  • PG Diploma in International Business Management    Algonquin College    16,680
  • PG Diploma in Supply Chain Management    Humber College    17,537
  • Pg Diploma in Accounting    Douglas College    19,144
  • PG Diploma in Project Management    Douglas College    19,144
  • PG Diploma in Data Science    University of Calgary    61,200

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Nine Best PG Diploma Courses in Canada

The nine best PG Diploma courses in Canada for the international student population include:

1. Operation management

Operation management is a one-year course in Canada costing around 10 lakhs or more for international students. The program trains students on techno-managerial requirements needed for the manufacturing and services sector. 

2. Business analytics

Business analytics is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on technology and business. The cost of the program is around 8 lakhs or more and it is cheaper than the cost of pursuing masters in business analytics in Canada. Graduates of business analytics can work across different sectors. 

3. Supply chain management

This is a PG Diploma program that focuses on understanding the flow of production. To study SCM, you will be needing around 9 lakhs.

4. Finance

A diploma in finance covers the fundamentals of business and financial planning. The program costs around 13 lakhs. 

5. Project management

There is a wide range of project management courses in Canada. PG Diploma in project management from Canada costs around 10 lakhs. 

6. Global business management

This program costs around 9 lakhs to complete for international students. Global/international business management courses in some of the Canadian colleges are exclusively available only for international students. 

7. Marketing

If you want to develop a skill in marketing, you can opt for this program which focuses on market research skills. As a graduate of PG Diploma in marketing, you have a lot of opportunities to work in the corporate world. The program costs around 9 lakhs. 

8. Human Resource Management

As a graduate of PG Diploma in HRM, you are trained to handle resources and develop a symbiotic work environment for top global companies which are very plenty in Canada. 

9. Accounting

Studying for PG Diploma in Accounting in Canada costs around 10 lakhs it has fewer eligibility requirements than MAcc in Canada

Cheapest Colleges For PG Diploma in Canada

Even though Canada offers one of the best PG diploma programs in the world, there are a lot of colleges where you can get a PG Diploma at a low cost. 

NBCC

The first college is the NBCC which is the New Brunswick Community College. The college is located in Moncton but with other campuses around the province.

Requirements for admission

  • High school/ secondary school diploma
  • IELTS 6.0 no band less than 5.5
  • or the Duolingo test: 100 out of 160

NBCC Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 12, 000

Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat is the next college for your cheap PG Diploma in Canada. It is a college located in Alberta. Forget the name because the college has nothing to do with medicine. It’s just a name derived from the name of the city. Hence, the college is located in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Requirements for admission

  • High school/secondary school diploma
  • IELTS 6.0 no band less than 6.0

Medicine Hat College Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 10,500

Holland College 

Holland College is located in the most beautiful city on the east coast of Canada: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It is another cheap college in Canada for your PG Diploma in Canada. The college offers a two-year business administration program and for the two years, you are likely to pay around 20,000 to 22,000 CAD.

Requirements for admission

  • High school/secondary school diploma
  • IELTS: 6.5 no band less than 6.0
  • Duolingo test: 105 out of 160

Holland College Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 10,000

Northern Lights College

Northern Lights College is located in British Columbia. For those of you who don’t like winter weather, there is a college in a city called Dawson creek. The college is called northern lights college.

Requirements for admission

  • High school/secondary school diploma
  • IELTS: 6.0 no band less than 5.5

Northern Lights College Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 9,000

CNA

Another college that offers a cheap PG Diploma in Canada is CNA, a college located in the Atlantic provinces. The college is also located in Saint John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, hence, it is called the College of Northern Atlantic(CNA). The cost of tuition is less than 10k but you expect to live in a small city. It will be like a village outside of popular areas.

Requirements for admission

High school/secondary school diploma

IELTS: 6.0 no band less than 5.5

CNA Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 8,250

Canada College

The second cheapest college for your PG Diploma in Canada is the Canada College located in the city of Montreal. The college offers only three programs one of which is business administration.

If your dream is to live in a big city and at the same time pay low tuition fee for your college, this is your perfects solution.

Requirements for admission

  • High school/secondary school diploma
  • IELTS: 6.0 no band less than 5.5

Canada College Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 8,250

Herzing College

This is the cheapest college to study for your PG Diploma. Herzing College is located in Montreal. Imagine having the cheapest college in Montreal and it’s called Herzing College.

This makes it a lot cheaper than studying in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. This is perfect if you want to save money on your studies.

Requirements for admission

  • High school/secondary school diploma
  • IELTS: 6.5 no band less than 6.0

Herzing College Tuition Fees:

First-year: CA$ 8,000

Cost of PG Diploma in Canada

As you plan to study in Canada, you will also have plans on how to pay for your tuition fees. It takes a lot of money for international students to study abroad. So, you will have to plan ahead for the expenses you will make for your PG Diploma programs in Canada. So, be prepared to make the following expenses for your PG Diploma in Canada.  

Pre-Arrival Expenses for PGD

Pre-arrival means the period before you arrive in Canada and it includes application fees, visa fees, fees for English language tests required, and any other necessary expenses that you will make before leaving your home country.

The following fees may apply for a prospective postgraduate diploma student pre-arrival to start PGD program in a Canadian DLI.

Program Application Fees : $75 to $100

Study Permit Application Fees: $235

Health Insurance: $13,000 (some provinces have coverage for students). 

IELTS Fees: $243 to $250 (if you need proof of language).

TOEFL Fees: $210 to $320 (TOEFL is optional for most schools in Canada).

Tuition Fees for PG Diploma in Canada

Are you thinking of doing a PG diploma in Canada? You may be wondering about the tuition fees. In this section, we will give an overview of the cost of doing a PGD in a Canadian University or College. Keep in mind that tuition fees vary depending on the institution and the program.

In general, tuition for a PG diploma in Canada ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 per year. There are some programs that cost more and some that cost less. For example, a diploma program in Engineering at McGill University will cost more than one in humanities at the same school.

It’s important to do your research and find out what each school charges for their programs. Also, remember that there are other expenses to consider such as room and board.

Best Colleges in Canada for PG Diploma

Choosing a college can be a difficult decision. You want to find a school that offers the right program for you, and one that is also affordable. If you’re looking for a quality postgraduate diploma program, Canada has some great colleges to choose from. In the table below, we’ll take a look at some of the best colleges in Canada for PG diploma programs and their average tuition fees per year in Canadian Dollars.

College Avg. Fees (CAD/year)
Algonquin College 15,800
Centennial College 14,500
Durham College 13,300
Fanshawe College 7,500
Fleming College 18,000
George Brown College 4,900
Humber College 17,000
The Sheridan College 19,000
Sault College 15,900
Mohawk College 17,633
St. Stephens College 10,000
North Island College 16,000
Luther College 20,800
St. Lawrence College 8,543
Niagara College 14,750

Best Universities for PG Diploma in Canada

The following universities are considered best and most affordable when it comes to getting a postgraduate diploma certificate in Canada. As seen from the fee comparison table below, Thompson Rivers University is the cheapest Canadian university for PGD programs while Concordia University is the most expensive.

University Fees (CAD/Year)
University of Winnipeg 23,000
Thompson Rivers University 15,400
Royal Roads University 16,900
Carleton University 15,900
Concordia University 25,800
McMaster University 11,800
Simon Fraser University 11.200

Cost of Living in Canada

Many factors will affect your cost of living in Canada. Some of the factors include the province of study, accommodation type, lifestyle, etc. Table below compares cost of living for largest Canadian cities based on family sizes.

Urban area/city Cost of living (Single) Cost of living (family of 4) Price index
Thunder Bay, Ontario 1415 3192 121
Moncton, New Brunswick 1,279 2,721 124
Quebec City, Quebec 1,244 2,984 126
Kitchener-waterloo, Ontario 1, 542 3,584 127
Guelph, Ontario 1,916 4,276 128
Kingston, Ontario 1,558 3,933 132
London, Ontario 1,564 3,668 133
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 1,409 3,039 134
Abbotsford, British Columbia, 1,432 3,481 135
Winnipeg, Manitoba 1,540 3,483 137
Halifax, Nova Scotia 1,625 3,652 138
Barrie, Ontario 1,454 3,411 142
Kelowna, British Columbia 1,678 3,950 143
Edmonton, Alberta 1,669 3,694 143
Oshawa, Ontario 1,435 3,164 146
Ottawa, Ontario 1,808 4,094 153
Victoria, British Columbia 1,775 3,985 154
St. John’s, New Foundland and Labrador 1,446 3,342 154

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PG Diploma Scholarships in Canada

There are some PG Diplomas in Canada with scholarships. Some of these scholarships are also available to international students. Listed below are popular scholarships to study in Canada while pursuing PG Diploma courses:

International students in Canada Scholarship

This is offered by Niagara College to international students holding a study permit admitting with one of their courses. It awards 2000 CAD to the students.

Paul Foundation Scholarships

Paul Foundation scholarships are available to all Indian students planning to study abroad. The recipients are offered financial assistance of around 26,900 CAD.

Forktip Women Innovation Scholarships

Offered to women who wish to study abroad. The grant offers 2000 CAD. 

Brokerfish International Student Scholarships

These are awarded to help students cover their health insurance expenses. The award amount is 1300 CAD.

You may need a student visa to to PGD in Canada

To study PGD in Canada, you must need a study permit to be eligible to enter Canada for your studies. To get a study permit for Canada, you must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicants must be enrolled at a designated learning institute (DLI).
  • Applicants must have proof of sufficient funds to finance the Tuition fees, Living expenses for themselves, and Return transportation expenses. 
  • An eligible applicant must be a law-abiding citizen with no criminal history and must not be a threat to the security of Canada. Students might also have to provide a police certificate.
  • It is important for applicants to be in good health and may require to submit a valid medical certificate if required.
  • Applicants must prove to an immigration officer that he/she will leave Canada at the end of their authorized duration of stay.

Conclusion

If you’re interested in studying postgraduate diploma programs in Canada, be sure to check out our comparison of Masters and PGD programs. This will help you understand the differences between the two types of programs and make an informed decision about which one is right for you. And don’t forget, if you need any help with the application process or visa requirements, our team is here to assist you every step of the way.