Types of Degrees in Canada
Types Of Degrees in Canada
Course-based and Thesis-based
These programs prepare students for careers in the business world. Classes include not only lectures but also group projects and case study exams. MBA (course-based degree in business administration) students, for example, learn to apply the solutions and strategies taught by their professors within the confines of case studies. These tools should eventually help graduates navigate through the workplace and solve specific business problems.
Thesis-based Degree
A thesis-based master’s in Canada trains students to conduct scientific research. For this reason, the main component of the degree is a thesis, which is based on original research. Students collect data to test specific research hypotheses, perform statistical analyses of the data, and write a report of the completed work.
A faculty member manage the process, but the students have the responsibility to do the literature review of the chosen topic, prepare the plan of research method, and work with data. All this work ensures that students learn broad strategies to find solutions to various problems rather than apply existing solutions.
In a nutshell, the main difference between a thesis-based from a course-based degree is in its primary focus on knowledge development rather than knowledge application.
Why Choose Course-based Masters in Canada?
- Personal preference
Not everyone likes to research. It can be a very challenging experience. Spending a year on something you dislike will be difficult.
- Networking
Course-based degrees in teamwork and help you develop the communication skills necessary for any field.
- Less Literary work
It does not require writing a 100-page long report. Still, keep in mind that you won’t avoid writing completely because graduate-level courses involve a lot of written assignments and often include a capstone project.
- Career Focused
If your purpose is to increase your value on the job market with an additional qualification, a course-based degree is a better choice.
Study in Canada: Guide for International Students (studying-in-canada.org)
Why Choose a thesis-based Master’s in Canada?
- Interested in Teaching
Suppose, you wish to continue your studies as a doctoral student and eventually become an independent researcher. A thesis-based master’s degree will be a perfect option for that. Many universities even offer fast-track options for students with good grades: after the first year, the master’s student shifts to doctoral studies without defending the master’s thesis.
- Focus on a Particular Area
For a Master’s thesis, you will spend one year researching one specific topic. This will let you go into as many details as you want and become specialized in this narrow field.
- Good at Statistical Analysis
The thesis work requires a very good understanding of statistics. If you really struggle to understand it, you may have a hard time completing the degree.
More Information about Thesis and Course based degrees
- Students can be employed as teaching assistants. Usually, it requires correcting exams for undergraduate courses or preparing study materials. It does not matter if the student is enrolled in a thesis-based or a course-based program, both have a chance to get a position as a teaching assistant.
- A research assistantship is another option of making extra money to pay the tuition fees. Basically, it involves working on a research project for a faculty member. Research assistants rarely do any conceptual work, such as writing journal articles or designing research experiments. The tasks usually include data entry, analysis, literature review, and write up of the methodology. Even though this option should be open for both programs, students in the thesis-based programs are better equipped for this position because they have to take courses in research methodology and statistical analysis during the first year.
- Universities have a set of graduate scholarships given to deserving students in master’s programs. Most of them are reserved for students in thesis-based programs to support their research projects. However, it is still possible to get a scholarship if you are enrolled in a course-based program. Try to research the available scholarships in your university or contact the office of graduate awards.
- Research grants are also provided by the provincial and federal governments. For example, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada awards $17,500 to master’s students doing research in social sciences (including business). It may not sound like much but it should cover not only tuition fees but also a big chunk of living expenses. Unfortunately, this option is open only to students in thesis-based programs because the main objective of research grants is to encourage scientific developments and achievements.
Both programs have a lot in common but also have some very important differences. Many fields, such as business, quantitative analysis, or history offer both types of programs. Carefully examine the requirements of each program in your selected university and decide which one interests you most.
