What is a Post-Graduate Diploma in Canada?
PG Diploma stands for post-graduate diploma which is generally 1 to 2 years of study after your Bachelor’s Degree which holds the same academic level of Master’s degree but not equivalent to it.
Sometimes a term post graduate certificate might confuse you but these are almost same thing. These are the programs which help you get a specialized knowledge about the field of your study. PG Diploma/certificate is popular among international students who have completed their Bachelor’s Degree.
Admission for direct Masters might be more competitive and expensive; you can opt for PG Diploma. It also prepares a good base for your Masters. Moreover, these courses are more focused to prepare students for the job market with rigorous skill-based education and training.
What is the difference between Post-Graduate Diploma and a Master’s Degree?
Though PG Diploma/Certificate and Masters stands at the same academic level, they widely differ from each other. Master’s Degrees are generally longer in duration than PG Diploma/Certificates.
Master’s Degrees in Canada are usually of 2 years whereas PG Diploma/Certificates are generally of 8 months to 1 year.
However, some PG Diploma programs may be longer than a year. Besides some exceptions, tuition fees for Master’s program in Canada are generally higher than those of the PG Diplomas.
Experts think that Master’s Degrees are more focused academically whereas PG Diplomas are more focused to develop practical skills to quickly launch yourself in the job market.
PG Diplomas are helpful if you want to change your career as a professional in a different field. Similarly, the course load and the entry requirements to study PG Diplomas are generally less than Master’s Degress.
Meeting the admission requirements for Master’s Degree and securing an admission may not always be easy. In this case, PG Diplomas could be a better option.
Why should Nepalese Students Consider Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD)?
Considering to study PGD in Canada after the undergraduate studies could be beneficial to Nepalese students. PGD is a job skills-oriented course which prepares students for their career in the particular field within short period of time and Nepalese students can benefit from this.
They will be able to land in desired profession in short period of time and save some bucks at the same time. Many Nepalese students dream of studying in Canada and but do not meet the requirements for admission in Canadian universities, PG Diploma could be the right start for those students.
For example, most universities in Canada ask for 7 in IELTS and 500+ score in GMAT for MBA program which sometimes may be difficult for a student to meet. In this case, opting for a PGD of his/her interest in business could be feasible.
If any Nepalese student is thinking of switching his/her career to a different field, PGD is the best possible solution. Similarly, those students who are not willing to spend time on rigorous academic studies and research but want to specialize in their field of the interest may benefit from PGD.
Some people question about the visa chances if they apply for PG Diploma but it is not true. Applying for PG Diploma instead of Masters Degree is never a valid reason of your visa denial. Please visit us or contact our counselors if you want to learn more about studying PGD in Canada.
What is a Pathway program in Canada and how can student benefit from it?
Pathway program prepares students for the main program of studies. Pathway programs bridge the progression of the students to the degree program even if they fail to meet the requirement to study degrees directly.
Students may choose pathway programs if they do not meet the requirement for the direct entry in the desired program including English proficiency or if they want to develop a strong base of the program before diving deeper into university.
In Canada, colleges like ICM and FIC offer pathway programs as UTP Stage I and II for undergraduate students. UTP stage II is equivalent to the 1st year of the Bachelor Degree.
Upon successful completion of UTP stage II, student can jump to 2nd year of the Bachelor’s Degree. Similarly, Pre Master’s program is the common pathway program for Graduate Studies.
Pathway programs are very helpful to boost the confidence and the learning skills of the students. The classes in the pathway programs are started at an introductory level and class environment is more eased and relaxed than that of the university.
Sometimes international students from country like ours who are used to learning in small school settings might find it hard or get lost in the big universities. Pathway programs are also beneficial to make students comfortable and adapt in the new atmosphere of the foreign universities.
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