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Masters in Data Science in Canada – All you need to know

Written by  Piyush Bhartiya, MBA

Published on Sat, November 17, 2018 11:26 AM   Updated on Wed, February 9, 2022 11:42 AM   13 mins read

Source: Centre for International Governance Innovation

In Canada, a Masters in Data Science programme lasts 10-16 months and costs roughly $17,000 USD on average. This cost is around 12 lakh INR for an Indian student who aspires to study in data science colleges in Canada. When international students decide to pursue MS in data science in Canada, the exorbitant tuition expenses might be overwhelming. Many institutions that offer the curriculum provide scholarships of up to 5,000 USD per year to overseas students.

Masters degrees in Computer Science, Big Data, or Mathematics are available as a general degree or as a speciality. A master’s degree in data science is a multidisciplinary discipline that includes data purification, preparation, and analysis.

Top Colleges for Masters in Data Science in Canada

International students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in data science in Canada could apply to one of the country’s best universities, which are listed below.

UniversityProgramAnnual Tuition Fees (USD)
University of British ColumbiaMasters in Data Science33,400
Ryerson UniversityMasters in Data Science and Analytics17,400
University of TorontoMasters of Science in Allied Computing- Data Science27,000
Carleton UniversityMasters in Computer Science- Data Science (collaborative masters)MSDAI- 3,400 MMath- 10,650
University of WaterlooMDSAI and MMath in Data Science11,400-16,220
HEC MontrealMS Data Science and Business Analytics20,353-20,730

Why Masters in Data Science from Canada?

Data Science is a field of study that involves interpreting, analysing, and extracting information from data. It is useful for obtaining insights from data for making meaningful business decisions

  • A data scientist at the beginning level may expect to earn around 60,000 USD per year.
  • According to the Canada Big Data Consortium, the overall number of data scientists has more than quadrupled in the last 3 years, yet there is still a lack of around 19,000 specialists.
  • In upcoming years, there will be a surge in the number of jobs needing data science, with an estimated 4 million openings.
  • Data scientists are in more demand than software engineers, with a demand that is 50% higher.

Check out : MS in Canada eligibility


Masters in Data Science in Canada Course Details

In Canada, master’s in data science programmes typically last one to 1.5 years. Some schools provide an 8-month on-campus programme followed by an 8-month internship. In Canada, data science courses may be combined with data analysis to form a single curriculum.

Data Science vs Big Data

When it comes to picking which related degree to pursue, overseas students may be perplexed. A fundamental distinction between the two fields is provided below to assist you in making a more informed selection.

Basis of DifferenceData ScienceBig Data
ScopeMicroMacro
Major FieldsMachine learning, AI, search engine engineering, corporate analyticsCustomer, compliance, financial analysis; data communication and retail
GoalCleans, prepares, and analyses of data.Insights are analysed in order to make better judgments and strategic company movements.

Data Science vs Data Analytics

“Data science” and “Data analytics” terms are frequently interchanged. The two programmes, however, are not identical. Data analysis aids in the transmission and display of data by focusing on processing and performing statistical analysis on pre-set data.

A table covering other differences between the programmes is provided below:

Basis of DifferenceData ScienceData Analysis
ScopeMacroMicro
Major FieldsMachine learning, AI, search engine engineering, corporate analyticsGaming, healthcare, travel, industries with immediate data needs.
GoalIt aids in the selection of appropriate queries.Assists in the discovery of data that can be used to make decisions.

Online courses in Data Science in Canada

Many people opt for online education, and getting education online has become an easy task after the advent of technology. One can have virtual classrooms, teachers, exams hence data science stream can be taught online, many universities all over the world give the facility to students gain online education in this subject.

Some of the online courses are:

  • Data Sciencetech Institute– MS in Data Science (France)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology – MS in Data Science (Chicago)
  • Merrimack College – MS in Data Science (Massachusetts)
  • North Central University – MS in Data Science (San Diego)
  • The University Of California – MS in Data Science (California)
  • The University Of Missouri – MS in Data Science (Columbia)

Machine learning, data analytics, statistics, all of them are related subject, let us take a look at some courses which offer both data science and machine learning

Here is an overview of the admission process.

  • Students have to apply to the university of their choice online by registering on the website of that university.
  • They must fill in all details of the form and attach supporting documents.
  • Students are also required to submit Language Proficiency test scores.
  • Once the student applies, the university may take some time to process it.
  • After this, if a student receives an acceptance letter, then he can go ahead and apply for a study permit in Canada. 

Check out : IBM data science professional certificate


Admission Process for Masters in Data Science in Canada

The admission procedure for master’s degrees in data science in Canada differs per university. Admissions are, however, primarily available for the winter, summer, and fall semesters. For international applicants to apply for a master’s degree in data science in Canada, they must have completed 16 years of study.

NOTE : International applicants can visit the official websites of the colleges that offer the programme

Application Deadlines for Masters in Data Science in Canada

Mention below are some of the universities deadline date for application process for masters in data science in canada :

UniversityDeadlines
University of British ColumbiaJanuary 31
University of TorontoJanuary 31
Ryerson UniversityOctober 15
University of WaterlooJanuary 15

Eligibility for Masters in Data Science in Canada

International students have to meet certain eligibility requirements to be able to apply to Masters in Data Science programs in Canada. Although the overall requirements of each university are different, there are some common requirements that a student must meet. Let us take a look at these requirements.  

TypeRequirements
Academic RequirementsA full time Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute with a competitive GPA. (3.0/4.33)
English Language TestIELTS (Overall 7 with no band less than 6.5), TOEFL (varies)
GMAT/GRE scores (if required)GMAT (550-600)
Work Experience (if required)Some programs may require full time work experience of 2-3 years.

Other university-specific entrance criteria are listed below:

UniversityMinimum Eligibility
University of British ColumbiaProfessional experience (optional but desirable), 65% or 8 on a 10 point scale in UG degree.
University of Toronto77-79% or B+ grade in bachelor’s
Carleton UniversityGRE/GMAT score 
Ryerson UniversityB grade or a score of 73-76%
University of WaterlooAverage of 78% or B+ grade, 1 year of senior-level experience in statistics or CS. 
HEC MontrealGMAT– 600, GRE, French language proficiency: TEF/TCF- B2 to C1 level

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Mention below are the minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements

UniversityTOEFL iBT (minimum score)IELTS (minimum score)
Carleton University100 7 (band score- 6.5)
University of Toronto937 (band score- 6.5)
University of British Columbia100 7.0 (band score- 6.5)
HEC Montreal95-1147-8
University of Waterloo1007.5 (band score-7)
Ryerson University937

Required skills

Data scientists should expertise in three major skills

  • Mathematics – Building data product is the ability to view data through a quantitative lens. The texture, co-relations in data, data which is expressed mathematically is data product.
  • Technology (Hacking skills) – The meaning of hacking skills meaning is entirely different here; it is to use technical skills creatively and find clever solutions to problems. These data scientist hackers are solid algorithm thinkers who can break down messy problems and recompose them in ways that are solvable.
  • Business and Strategy – Data scientists are also business consultants, the way they analyse data no one else can, hence they create strategies to solve business problems.

Masters in Data Science in Canada fees 

The fees of various Masters programs differ on the basis of subjects required and the university. We have listed a few popular Masters in Data Science programs from the top universities in Canada.

UniversityProgramFees 
University of TorontoMSc in Applied Computing in Data Science program65,000 CAD
Ryerson UniversityMSc in Data Science and Analytics24,809 CAD
University of British ColumbiaMaster of Data Science (MDS)95,500 CAD 
McGill UniversityProfessional Development Certificate in Data Science and Machine Learning7,000 CAD
HEC MontrealMaster of Science in Data Science and Business Analytics30,500 CAD
University of WaterlooMaster of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI)5,110 CAD per course tuition

Masters in Data Science in Canada Cost 

The costs related to pursuing a Master’s in Data Science in Canada can be divided into two parts, the pre-arrival costs, and the post-arrival and settlement costs. An accurate figure of the cost of living and other costs is hard to estimate, but we have listed the approximate costs one may incur. We have taken some of the figures from the official student resources website of the Government of Canada.

Pre-Arrival Costs:

  • Visa Cost (Study Permit)150 CAD, but the cost for acquiring supporting documents may be extra
  • Language Test Costs – Costs in India for TOEFL are (180 USD approximately), and IELTS costs (240 USD approximately)
  • Insurance cost – Varies
  • Tuition Fees cost – Varies depending on the University
  • Post – Arrival and Settlement costs
  • Accommodation Costs – Between 350 CAD to 2000 CAD (Depending on the type of accommodation)
  • Public Transport – Upwards of 100 CAD a month
  • Entertainment and other lifestyle costs – Between 50 CAD to 100 CAD
  • Utility costs – Around 80 CAD
  • Food and Beverages Cost – Varies depending on the lifestyle

Degrees available in Data Science

Data Science studies are available for higher studies like Masters or Ph.D. degrees. The program consists of subjects like applied statistics, lessons in programming skills (SQL, Python). You can later apply in fields of data architecture, computer engineering, programming etc.

Check out this extremely helpful student-mentor program for foreign education!

  • Business Analytics – Analysts study consumer and market-related data, observe the latest trends of businesses, markets etc.
  • Information Systems – Information systems students are trained in IS design and analysis, database management and systems architecture.

Data analytics is also another related field.

The key feature in this master’s degree is the capstone project where students will deal with real-world problem by collecting and processing real data to design the best method to solve that problem with the given data and then implementing it. USA and Canada are the most famous countries which offer you good courses in MS – Data Science.

Apart from the masters’ degree, the University Of Ontario offers graduates i.e. bachelor’s degree in Data Science.

  • Computer Science (Acadia University)
  • Mathematics and Statistics (Acadia University)
  • MS in Machine Learning (Montreal Institute for learning algorithms)
  • Data Mining Courses (University of Toronto)

Check out : Canada top Universities for MS data science


Masters in Data Science in Canada: Scholarships

Students who want to pursue their Masters in Data Science can take the help of student aid and scholarships to offset education costs in Canada. Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements that a student must meet. Let us take a look at some of the scholarships available to students.

ScholarshipUniversityAmount Offered (USD)
Ontario Graduate ScholarshipCarleton University3781/semester
Ontario Graduate ScholarshipUniversity of Waterloo3781/semester
Master of Data Science International ScholarshipUniversity of British Columbia18,874 /year
Ontario Graduate ScholarshipRyerson University3781/semester
School of Graduate Studies University-wide awardsUniversity of Toronto5293.75/semester
Entrance ScholarshipHEC MontrealVaries

Masters in data science : Conclusion

It is important to consider whether studying data science abroad could get one a good job in India.

  • The curriculum abroad includes topics such as machine learning, data mining, applied statistics, probability models, inferences, database management, data analysis, data visualisation, and big data analytics, among others. A Master’s degree from abroad focuses not just on academic credibility but on the training outlook as well. Hence it adds great value to your CV and a good impression on the interviewer when you apply for a job.
  • There are also de-merits for the same. The masters’ degree for data science is extremely costly but in Canada, you need to pay comparatively less amount of fees in the universities.  
           
  • MS in data science abroad is beneficial as it makes the CV improved and one can get a high-paid job in India for the same. The course is highly exhaustive where students are loaded with a bunch of assignments and projects all semester. Applied learning and on-field tasks make students ready for the real world which usually they don’t get to experience if they study in India.

Career after doing Masters in Data Science in Canada 

The field of Data Science has a lot of scope for growth. There are many opportunities in this domain. People who hold a degree in Data Science can work in various positions.

We have mentioned a few career options in the field of Data Science 

  • Data Scientist
  • Data Analyst
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Data Architect
  • Business Analyst
  • Statistician

Check out : SOP for data science


Few companies who hire data scientists are

  • NextDataScience
  • LatentView
  • BlueOcean
  • Manthan
  • Fractal Analytics

In today’s data-based world, companies are using the insights that data scientists provide to stay one step ahead of their competition while keeping their overhead costs low. Big companies like Oracle, Apple, Microsoft, Booz Allen Hamilton, State Farm, Walmart, and more all regularly have job postings for data scientists. These companies also pay a good package for the job and getting into these companies is a matter of pride.

Hence, it is clear that the field of data science is not just educationally prosperous but also holds a lot of value in the job market.

Also read :

Masters in Data Science in Canada

FAQs

✅ Is Data Science in demand in Canada?

Ans: Canada’s data analytics market is expected to generate roughly $1.8 billion annually in revenue according to a recent report from the Information and Communications Technology Council, with direct employment in the big data market expected to exceed 43,000 jobs by 2020

✅ Is GRE required for Masters in data science in Canada?

Ans: MS in Data Science in Canada without GRE
GRE is required for master’s level admission; in Canada, some of the universities and programs need a good score in the test. While many other universities don’t require GRE scores for grad school admission.

✅ Can I get job as data scientist in Canada?

Ans: When it comes to data science, the job market in Canada or any other country in the world has never been better. Apart from a pretty glamorous work lifestyle, data scientists and data analytics experts usually have a high median salary, even at the entry levels.

✅ Can a fresher become data scientist?

Ans: With the advent of Data Science, industries are able to make careful data-driven decisions. No wonder there are so many data science openings for freshers. In order to become a full-fledged data scientist, you must be proficient in mathematics, statistics and computer science.

✅ How do I start Python for data science?

Ans: 5 Steps to Launch Your Data Science Career (with Python)
Step 0: Figure out what you need to learn.
Step 1: Get comfortable with Python.
Step 2: Learn data analysis, manipulation, and visualization with pandas.
Step 3: Learn machine learning with scikit-learn.
Step 4: Understand machine learning in more depth

About the Author & Expert

Avatar

Piyush Bhartiya

Author • MBA • 20 Years

Piyush values education and has studied from the top institutes of IIT Roorkee, IIM Bangalore, KTH Sweden and Tsinghua University in China. Post completing his MBA, he has worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group and focused on building sales and marketing verticals for top MNCs and Indian business houses.

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