Admission Procedure of Doctoral Degree for International Students

Doctoral Degree programs are offered by Universities. Entry into higher education- Doctoral Degree courses in Canada is highly competitive, and a high standard of English or French language is required for Doctoral Degree study. The doctoral research degree allows the applicants to uncover new knowledge either by the breakthrough of new facts, the formulation of theories or the modern reinterpretation of known information and conventional ideas. Doctoral degree is for graduates who want to investigate and contribute knowledge in a particular academic discipline. Doctoral degrees recognize a considerable original contribution to a given field in the form of new knowledge or the adaptation, application and interpretation of existing knowledge. There are two forms of Doctoral Degree: the Doctoral Degree (Research) and the Doctoral Degree (Professional).

Research doctorate (PhD): The research doctorate consist primarily of supervised research. One should have a master degree by research or an honours bachelor degree to get entry to this course.
Professional doctorate: These combine coursework and research for professionals desiring to advance their knowledge in their domain without the research commitment of a PhD. Entry typically requires a Masters degree by research or a bachelor degree (honours). In addition, considerable professional experience is required either before or during the course.

Entrance Test/Admission Requirements

Entry into Doctoral Program in Canada, most important prerequisite is English or French language proficiency. At all Canadian universities, English or French is the language of instruction. An applicant has to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language.

Standardized test: The Standardized admission tests for Doctoral include

GRE Graduate Record Examination: The GRE grade is required by most universities.

English Proficiency:

IELTS: IELTS or International English Language Test. Most universities require international students to take this test. Or,

TOEFL: TOEFL or Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Other Requirements

There are different entrance requirements by various education provider. One requires to have prior knowledge about certain subject, official academic transcripts, work history details, statement of purpose, research proposal and letters of recommendation.

Statement of Purpose: The Statement of Purpose is a short essay about you. Imperative to mention your area of interest, reasons to join the course and the university, background, educational details, accomplishments, experience details and your goals. SOP depicts your personality. Be specific and clear.
Letter of Recommendation: A letter of recommendation is a signed letter written by a person- faculty or a professional who knows you well and has had a detail encounter with you during your learning process. It is a chance for someone to vouch for you. Letter of recommendation includes your strengths and weaknesses, skills, accomplishments, and personal qualities. A letter of recommendation provides insights that cannot be gleaned by simply reviewing an applicant's score. A cogent Letter of recommendation can be very helpful for admissions. At least two letters of recommendation are required.

Research Proposal: Students pursuing a post graduate research course or doctoral degree need to submit the below documents as well.

Detailed Research Proposal
Abstracts, Research Publications, etc.

Resume: The resume should include your postsecondary institutions attended, academic honors and awards, publications if any, and academic and professional qualification details. Sample of Written work (if any): 50 pages maximum or less, depending upon the requirement of the university/institution applying – for example a thesis chapter, article, etc.

Eligibility Requirements

For admission to a doctoral degree program an applicant normally shall have studied for a minimum of four years in a tertiary institution and at least one of the following entry requirements must be met:

Graduated with or qualified for the award of the degree of master within the University which requires the completion of a publicly available thesis or research project to an acceptable standard.
or
Graduated with or qualified for the award of the degree of bachelor with first class honours or upper second class honours within the University.
or
Graduated with a bachelor degree and completed a postgraduate diploma or its equivalent, or completed a master degree by coursework, with, in both cases, a course-weighted average of not less than 70 percent within the University.

Duration

The duration of Doctoral degree program is generally four and six years, up to maximum of seven years. For two to four years, students are involved in research work and ending the course with a thesis. During the preparation of the dissertation, they would have to be prepared for an open discussion that might initiate among a few universities. If successful, this completes the Doctorate Degree.

Academic Calendar

Starting dates vary widely depending upon the course undertaken. Applicants opting for doctoral degree or other research degree can negotiate an alternative starting date with their project supervisor.