Education systems in Canada

Education in Canada is the responsibility of individual provinces and territories. There is little variation between the provinces, except in Quebec, which has a different education system consisting of école primaire, école secondaire, and College d’enseignement general et professionel (CEGEP). The following exclude Quebec. Please visit each Province’s Ministry of Education site for more detailed information.

Secondary Education in Canada

• From grade 9 to 12, typically for students from the age of 14/15 to 17/18.
• After the successful completion of Grade 12 students are awarded with a high school diploma.

Post Secondary Education in Canada

In Canada, colleges, institutes and other non-degree granting institutions primarily offer diplomas and certificate programs in numerous semi-professional and technical fields, while universities focus on degree programs and university colleges typically offer degrees, diplomas and certificates. Nonetheless, some colleges offer degrees and some universities offer certificates and diplomas.

Diplomas and Certificates

• Offered at colleges, community colleges, technical and vocational institutions.
• Generally requires the successful completion of secondary school.
• This is a one to three year vocationally oriented program for diplomas, usually in a chosen career, technical or academic program.
• One year programs for certificates, with additional courses for an advanced certificates.
• University transfer programs are offered at some colleges.

Bachelor’s Degree

• Offered at universities, university colleges and institutes.
• Requires successful completion of a secondary school program.
• A Bachelor’s degree can last from three to four-years, depending on the province and whether it is general or specialised.
• Diplomas and certificates also offered at some institutions.
• Typically, Honours Bachelor’s degrees are awarded for a higher degree of concentration or academic achievement.

Graduate study in Canada

Master’s Degree

• Typically a two-year program at a university
• Generally requires the successful completion of an honours Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s degree.
• As part of the admissions process, MBA programs evaluate students’ Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores and relevant work experience among other criteria.
• As part of the admissions process, most science programs evaluate students’ Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, among other criteria.

Doctoral Degree

• Minimum length of three years at a university or university college.
• Typically requires the successful completion of a Master’s degree.
• As part of the admissions process, MBA programs evaluate students’ Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores, among other criteria.
• As part of the admissions process, most science programs evaluate students’ Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, among other criteria.

International students

Most schools and programs require an adequate score on the TOEFL or IELTS as proof of English competency for entry. International students must show that the quality of education received in their home country is comparable to that of Canadian institutions. A study permit is required if students intend to study for more than six months.

Kaplan Aspect English schools in Toronto and Vancouver offer international students specialist preparation courses for the TOEFL and IELTS to ensure a higher test scores. The TOEFL and Academic English course is designed to help students achieve a high score using excellent teaching materials and curriculum developed by Kaplan Aspect, the established world leader in test preparation. Our IELTS course includes highly focused exam preparation classes that will cover all sections of the exam in detail and teach test taking strategies you need to succeed.

If it is your aim to get a degree from a Canadian university, the Kaplan Aspect University Placement Service (UPS) will help you gain entry. Students using this service will benefit from our extensive network of partner institutions and our long experience of guiding students through the admission process.

For more information, email UPS.Canada@kaplanaspect.com
or go to the Council of Ministers of Education Canada 
Study Canada 
or find a Department of Education in a specific province.