Online Degrees Canada Has to Offer

The advancement of technology has forever changed the way that we are able to obtain new information. Just one of the many fields that have been positively affected by technology is education. With the innovation of online learning, you can obtain a university degree from anywhere in the world, regardless of how far you live from the college itself. Let’s take a look at the online degrees Canada has to offer, as well as the institutions that offer them.

What Is Distance Learning?

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Before you choose an online degree to study, you need to understand how you will go about studying without being physically present on campus. This system of education is known as distance learning.

Distance learning is where students study an entire course without attending in-person classes at a physical university. Typically, course materials and interactions with other people take place over the internet. This could be via email, video, forums, and bulletin boards.

This form of studying can save you accommodation and transportation costs, as you do not have to worry about renting a place close to your university or travelling to classes daily.

Online Degrees in Canada for Working Students

If you are someone who is currently working a full-time job, studying online may be the best option for you. Online programs allow you to study from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. This will save you a lot of travelling time, and make it easier to balance work and study.

Types Of Online Degree Programs

1. Associate Degree

An associate degree typically takes two years to complete, but they can take less. After completing an associate degree, you will be able to get a job more easily than without one. You will also have the option to pursue a bachelor’s degree afterwards.

2. Bachelor’s Degree

This is the most common type of degree in Canada. This degree takes four years to complete, and you will need to complete 180 credits to graduate. This type of degree will help you to not only secure a job more easily, but also get a higher salary.

3. Master’s Degree

This degree requires you to do a lot of research in a specialized field. Because of this, it will give you an edge over people with bachelor’s and associate degrees when looking for work. This degree normally takes two years to complete, and can only be pursued after you obtain a bachelor’s degree.

4. Doctorate Degree

This degree, known as a PhD, is the highest degree that you can pursue. While this degree can allow you to earn a very high salary, it is often difficult for people who are working to find the time to complete it. This is because a doctorate degree involves a lot of hands-on work.

Top Universities That Offer Online Degrees in Canada

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1. Athabasca University

Because this is an online university, all degree programs at this university are done entirely online.

Tuition for bachelor’s degrees are estimated to cost anywhere between $20,077 and $68,890. Prices vary according to the number of credits that the degree includes (either 90 or 120 credits), as well as whether the student is a Canadian citizen, resident, or international student. For master’s and doctorate degrees, tuition varies between $15,675 and $53,600 based on the same conditions.

2. Royal Roads University

This is an on-campus university, however it does provide online options for some degrees.
Tuition for online bachelor’s degrees is $846 per each three-credit course.

The tuition for the Master of Arts in Learning and Technology is $25,280, while the Master of Arts and Master of Science in Environmental Practice costs $795.33 per academic credit.

The programs that can be done entirely online at Royal Roads are the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Practice. The Master of Arts, Master of Science in Environmental Practice, and the Master of Arts in Learning and Technology are mostly online with some activities taking place on campus.

3. Thompson Rivers University

This is an on-campus university with some options to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees online.

Tuition for all online degrees is approximately $119.18 per credit. This, of course, varies depending on the degree as well as how many credits are required to graduate.

Undergraduate programs that can be done entirely online include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Public Administration, Bachelor of Health Science, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Technology, and Bachelor of Tourism Management.

Online postgraduate programs include the Master of Business Administration and Master of Education degrees.

4. McGill University

This is an on-campus university, and is known to be one of the world’s leading universities. In fact, McGill was ranked 42nd in the World University Rankings 2020 as well as 39th in the World Reputation Rankings 2019. While McGill does provide online courses, it does not provide any fully online degree programs.

Should you want to study online with McGill, you can choose between a number of certificate programs, such as Project Management, Computers and Information Technology, Public Administration and Governance, and Parliamentary Management.

5. Laurentian University

Another on-campus university, this institution offers both bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees that can be completed online.

Tuition for bachelor’s degrees ranges from $6,000 to $7,434, depending on which degree.

For the Master of Business Administration degree, students are charged $1,234.10 for every three credits they take.

Programs that are entirely online include the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Forensic Identification, Bachelor of Indigenious Social Work, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Business Administration.

6. University of Manitoba

An on-campus institution, this university offers some online degree programs.

Tuition for bachelor’s degree programs ranges from $739.20 to $931.56 per six credit hours.

Currently, there are no master’s or doctorate degrees offered online.

The programs that are fully online are the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work.

7. Yorkville University

All programs at this university are offered on-campus as well as fully online.

Tuition ranges from $2,700 to $5,775 per term for bachelor’s degrees and from $4,470 to $6,930 per trimester for master’s degrees.

This university offers Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Interior Design, Master of Arts, and Master of Education degrees.

8. Memorial University

This on-campus university provides an array of online degree programs.

Tuition for online programs costs the same as it does for on-campus programs. Tuition for bachelor’s degrees ranges from $85 to $2,045 per credit hour. This depends on where the student resides as well as the course that is selected.

Tuition for master’s degrees ranges from $635 to $2,218 per semester. This depends on what course is taken as well as the chosen payment plan.

Bachelor’s degrees include Business Administration, Maritime Studies, Technology, and Education. Master’s degrees available online are Education, Physical Education, Marine Studies, Maritime Management, Technology Management, and Nursing.

9. Thompson Rivers

This university provides bachelor’s degree programs in Arts, Commerce, Public Administration, Science, Technology, and Tourism Management.

Master’s degrees include MBA and Master of Education.

10. University of Fredericton

A private university offering all courses fully online.

Bachelor’s degrees are not offered, however there are numerous MBA degrees with specializations in Business Analytics, Human Resources, and even Real Estate.

11. Queen’s University Canada

Provides Bachelor’s degrees in Arts, Mining Engineering Technology, and Health Sciences.

Master’s degrees include Master of Education and Master of Science.

Pros and Cons of Getting an Online Degree

The Pros

• You get to study from anywhere in the world
• Lower costs — you don’t have to pay to travel to Canada if you’re an international student, or worry about daily transport fees
• You set your own schedule — if you have a job, are sick, or have other responsibilities, you can fit your studies in with your lifestyle

The Cons

• You need to be self-disciplined, as no one is around to nag you
• More difficult to get help — because you are not physically with your lecturers, you may not be able to ask them questions as soon as they arise
• Price for international students — often, online degrees in Canada are cheaper for Canadian citizens than international students

Academic and Language Requirements

To pursue an online degree in Canada, you must be able to speak good English or French. Sometimes, there are language tests that apply to international students.

Low-Cost Online Schools in Canada

As can be seen from the tuition fees above, there are numerous universities that provide cheaper online tuition. While this is a good alternative to on-campus universities, how would you like to pursue an online degree tuition-free?

With University of the People, you can! University of the People is a tuition-free university, meaning that you only pay an application fee and course assessment fees. If you still find yourself unable to pay for your online degree, there are a number of scholarships that you can apply for.

University of the People is 100% online and offers degree programs to students from more than 200 countries and territories. This means that you can enroll no matter where you are in the world. Learn more about our in-demand degree programs today.