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Canada

Master’s degree in Canada

Thesis and course-based routes, funding, and why master’s students skip the PAL.

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Last updated 29 September 2026Figures checked against official sources, listed at the end

The Canadian master’s at a glance

1 to 2 yearsTypical master’s
CAD 24,028Average graduate tuition
No PALAt public institutions
CAD 5,000/termOGS in Ontario
24 hrs/weekOff-campus work
Up to 3 yearsPGWP for 2-year programmes

Thesis or course-based?

Thesis-based master’s are research degrees that usually need a supervisor and often come with funding. Course-based master’s are taught and usually self-funded. Your PGWP matches your programme length: under 2 years gives a matching permit, 2 years or more gives 3 years.

Visa points for master’s students

  • Master’s and PhD students at public institutions do not need a PAL.
  • You still show first-year tuition plus CAD 23,448 and 4 to 6 months of bank records.
Read the study permit guide

Official sources

These are dated editorial checks, not a live data feed. Recheck the original page before applying or paying.

About this guide. Researched by the Student Visa From Bangladesh editorial team from the official sources listed above and last checked on 29 September 2026. We are not a university or a government agency, and admission and visa outcomes are never guaranteed. Read our editorial policy.