What is the difference between Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Canada?
To make things simple for you, there is frankly NO difference. While some College in Canada call it Graduate Diploma, most Colleges in Canada call is Graduate Certificate
Indian students can study graduate certificate or graduate diploma in Canada after their Bachelors in India. These courses in Canada are equivalent to the Post Graduate Diploma in India. Thus, many students refer to these programs as Post Graduate Diploma in Canada.
Most Graduate Certificate programs can be completed in eight months (two semesters) to 1 year. Few Graduate Certificate programs are for 2 years as well.
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma programs in Canada are intensive, highly focused programs designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to enter a particular job market. These programs cover a broad range of employment areas. Eg. Graduate certificate course in Marketing can be of one year duration and will provide you the necessary skills to make a career in to Marketing
These post graduate diploma in Canada can lead you to become eligible to study a Masters in Canada. Many students in India study a 3 years Bachelors which is not enough to study a Masters in Canada. So many Indian students opt to study a PG Diploma in Canada (in stead of studying MCom Part 1 or any such Masters) and then continue on to their Masters. If you plan to study in Canada, please contact us. We help you throughout the application process.
Quick notes on Graduate Certificate Programs:
Offered By: Graduate certificate courses are offered by several colleges across Canada and also few Universities. Colleges like Seneca College, Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Conestoga College, Centennial College, George Brown College, Humber College, Northern Lights College, Lambton College, Mohawk College, Sheridan College, and more offer several exciting 1 year Graduate Certificate Courses.
Duration: Duration of most of the Graduate Certificate Courses are from 8 months to 1 year. Very few program are for 2 years.
Who should study Graduate Certificate Programs: Graduate certificates require a university degree or a college diploma for admission, building on knowledge and experience gained through previous post secondary study. Intended for students who have 15 yrs of education working professionals, these programs offer practical, hands-on training for real world. Graduate Certificate programs also may prepare students for advanced degree programs and universities accept graduate certificate program courses for entry into their Masters course, you may have to undertake few pre-requisites courses in few Universities. Several Graduate certificate courses have co-op (internship for 3-4 months) element which is beneficial to get hands on experience in the line of your studies.
Cost: You may spend about CAD$ 15000 to CAD$ 17000 equivalent to 7.5 to 8.5 lacs for the entire course.
Work During your Study in Canada:
On- Campus Employment:
Students may work up to 20 hours per week for the college/ University they are attending. Typical on-campus jobs might include working in a cafeteria or working in the Athletic Centre. These jobs are, however, scarce and usually assigned on a first come, first served basis. There are jobs available for only a few students each semester and you shouldn’t count on getting an on-campus job during your first semester. Usually, all the jobs are filled by students who apply during the previous semester. No work permit is required to work on campus.
Off Campus Employment:
You may qualify to work off campus without a work permit. If you qualify, your study permit will allow you to work for a total of 20 hours per week and during vacations a maximum of 40 hours per week.
Spouse Work permit:
Your spouse may apply for an open work permit (which means they need not have a job offer or a labour market opinion from service Canada) if you are a full time student and have a valid study permit. Work permits of Spouse are valid for the same period of time as your study permit.
Internship (Co-op) Work:
Co-op programs include scheduled periods of employment in related industries within the academic year. These placements are typically paid positions and may be a requirement for graduation. Few Graduate certificate courses offered at several colleges in Canada offer the co-op option i.e. internships for a period of 3 to 4 months. This gives an extra edge of working in the real world and applying the knowledge that has been gained while studying. Most of the time students interning in a company are easily absorbed by it upon the completion of their internship. You must apply for a co-operative education work permit for the same after you have got a study permit while you are studying at the college. Help for the same is given by the International student centres/advisors at the college / University where you are studying.
Work After your Study in Canada:
To work in Canada you must apply for Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). A student is allowed to stay back in the country for the length of your program upto a maximum of 3 years to look for a job and work full-time Over 90% of Canada’s college graduates are employed in their field of study within six months after graduation and 93% of employers are satisfied with graduates. In case of Graduate Certificate course the stay back option would be 8 months to 1yr depending on the length of the program. In case of Graduate Diploma courses which are for a period of 2 years you would have stay back option of 3 years.
Some international students with Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience may apply for permanent residency without having to leave Canada? Skilled Canadian work experience gained through the Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) helps graduates qualify for a permanent residence in Canada through Express Entry.
List of Popular Post Graduate Diploma courses in Canada:
3D Animation | Environmental Engineering Application | Manufacturing Management |
3D Animation & Character Design | Environmental Management | Marketing Management |
Advanced Film Making | Event Management | Marketing – Research & Analytics |
Advanced Television & Film | Event Marketing | Marketing -Sales & Account Management |
Arts Management | Financial Planning | Marketing Management-Financial Services |
Advertising – Account Management | Financial Services | Mobile Application Development |
Analytics for Business Decision Making | Food & Nutrition Management | Mobile Solutions Development |
Artisanal Culinary Arts | Food Safety & Quality Assurance | Network & Security Architecture |
Big Data Analytics | Fashion Management & Promotion | Network & System Security Analysis |
Bioinformatics | Game Development – Advanced Programming | Operation Management |
Brand Management | Game Level Design | Practical Elements of Mechanical Engineering |
Business Management-Human Resource | Global Business Management | Process Quality Engineering |
Business Management-International Business | Global Hospitality Business Development | Professional Financial Services |
Business Management – Marketing | Global Hospitality Operation Management | Project Management |
Business Management -Logistics & Supply Chain | Green Management | Project Management-Information Technology |
Construction Management | Health System Management | Public Relation-Corporate Communication |
Construction Project Management | Hospitality & Tourism Management | Quality Assurance-Manufacturing Management |
Creative Writing | Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Management | Research Analyst |
Design Management | Human Resource Management | Regulatory Affairs Sciences |
Digital Design – Game Design | I.T. Business Analysis | Strategic Relationship Marketing |
Digital Media Marketing | Information Security Management | Sports Business Management |
Digital Design- Game Design | Information System Business Analysis | Strategic management |
Embedded System Development | Insurance & Risk Management | Television Writing & Producing |
Enterprise Software Development | Integrated Marketing Communication | VFX & Digital Cinema |
Energy Management-Built Environment | Interactive Media Management | Visual Effects for Film & Television |
Environmental Control | International Business Management | Web Design |
Canada Admission Counseling
In case you’re confused about your studies in Canada, we can help you solve the problem. Once we meet you, and your parents or spouse, we ask you questions to get a clearer idea of your preferences, restrictions, and goals. This will allow us to make a range of suggestions with regard to locations and universities. With more discussions we’ll help you pick between them and narrow it down to the right selection of safe, moderate and ambitions options. We will make your process of studying in Canada hassle-free.- Experience
- Personal Attention
- Connections with Universities
- Total Solution for Studying Abroad
- Satisfaction Guaranteed
We are experts at what we do. Since 2002 we have helped 1000s of students (personally). As one of the leading overseas education consultants in Mumbai, the collective experience of our team of experts go beyond a 100 years. Many of us have studied abroad and know exactly what your requirements will be, what kind of universities should be best suited for your future, what you need to do to get there.
We are extremely personal. Students ask us 1000s of questions and we enjoy replying to these. You will have one dedicated team member who you will be able to contact throughout the service. We don’t count the number of hours spent on you. We don’t shed away responsibilities. We work on your side and have just one thing in mind—to get you your best in your career.
We enjoy when you get scholarships or you save money. Over 70% of our applicants will earn some form of scholarship / financial aid / bursary.
We keep in touch with Universities. We keep in touch with our past students. We know exactly what a University will require or we can identify it very (very) easily. We help you build your profile, craft a great resume, and statement of purpose (SOP)/essays and bring out the best in you while presenting you to a University. Chances of your admissions evidently rise because we are around.
We help you right from start to end in the process ie. from selecting the right course and university list, documentation preparation, filling out and checking of forms, applying to universities, to securing admission offers, helping you finalize the best choice of university, visa guidance (including documentation, mock interview rounds, application), accommodation booking and much more. Hey! IELTS coaching is also available at our centre. We are brilliant with our essay editing services (remember – you will have to end up writing 18 to 24 essays when you apply to 8 to 10 Universities). We are simply there for everything! #enoughsaid
Mostly all of our students are through word of mouth. You will ENJOY your process and will not have to think how ordinary a question is while you ask us. We reply. We ensure that you remain satisfied. Nearly all our students would give us a 100/100 for our services.
Wall of Fame
We are proud that we could help our students get into some of the top universities in Canada
Thank you ILW for the wonderful start to the UOT in Canada for my Bachelors in Life Sciences.
I would like to give a big THUMBS UP to Vishal and Rupali. It has been a great experience working with Vishal and his team. They are very patient and always just a call or a whats app away. Rupali has always been very helpful and stays calm and composed no matter how much I panicked. They are always there to help you but you have to take an initiative as well and liaison continuously. I did not have to go to the office again once I paid the fees. Vishal has always been transparent and upfront and always pushed me to do my best. I would highly recommend ILW. These people know what they are doing! I genuinely thank you 🙂 from the bottom of my heart Vishal and RUPALI!!
First of all hats off to Hafeezan Ma’am for making me feel this difficult application process like a piece of cake. She answered all my doubts with such ease and patience which is a remarkable thing. Moreover ILW made my dream come true. Also a big thank you to Vishal Sir for his support and help. Finally I will cherish this endeavour forever in my life. Thank you to the entire team of ILW.
The most important part was that I had applied by myself to Canada before taking the service of ILW Education Consultants. I did not get any offers but after I used their help, here I am at the No. 1 University in Canada. Its a dream!
a few things, a little bragging
Over 70% students secure some scholarship / funding
19+ years of experience in placing students worldwide