Accounting is quite a predominant course taught in Canada. Available at some of the top universities in Canada, accounting as a discipline is quite popular among the international population. Best universities in Canada for international students are known for their stellar academics, excellent industrial exposures along with a high employability rate post graduation. After pursuing your accounting studies in Canada, you can get a starting salary of approximately 43,546 CAD per annum. Also, studying at some of the best accounting colleges in Canada will land you jobs at top recruiters like Google, Deloitte, Apple, and lots more!
Want to know more? Keep reading as we are here to make you explore the best of accounting in Canada!
Why Study Accounting Courses in Canada?
Accounting courses in Canada are one of the highly chosen programs among the international population. Let's find out why:
- Excellent job opportunities: Accounting universities in Canada provide both domestic and international students with excellent job opportunities upon graduation. The average salary observed for account graduates in Canada stands at 52,876 CAD per annum.
- Quality Education: Providing the best infrastructure, best universities in Canada for accounting have stood out across nations. Canada is popular for offering international students with outstanding educational as well as industrial experiences.
- Abundance of courses and specializations: There are numerous accounting universities in Canada which offer students with various types of specializations like taxation, administration etc, at study levels like PG, UG and doctoral. These universities also offer some of the most popular diploma and certificate programs in accounting.
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Overview of Accounting Courses in Canada
Let us tabulate some key aspects of the accounting program in Canada:
Duration |
2-5 years |
Level of Study |
PG/UG/Doctoral |
Type |
Full-time / Part-time |
Mode |
Online / Offline |
Average Tuition Fee for International Students |
20,000 CAD to 40,000 CAD/ year |
Top Universities |
● University of Toronto ● McGill University ● University of British Columbia ● York University ● McMaster University |
Specializations and Degrees in Accounting Courses in Canada for International Students
Accounting courses in Canada for international students are observed to be in high demand precisely due to numerous degree programs available including UG, PG, doctoral as well as certificate and diploma courses. Accounting programs in Canada are also offered in various specializations like:
- Taxation
- Forensic Accounting
- Professional Accounting
- Banking
- Business administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Analytics
Some of the most popular degree programs offered at accounting universities in Canada are:
- Masters in Accounting
- BBA Accounting
- BCom Accounting
- LLM Taxation
- Certificate in Accounting
- Diploma in Accounting
- Graduate Diploma in Accounting
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Eligibility and Admission Requirements to Study Accounting in Canada
Let us now check out the requirements and eligibility criteria to study the best accounting courses in Canada:
- Academic Requirements
- English proficiency test scores
- GMAT or GRE Scores
- Additional requirements
Talking about the requirements for accounting courses requirements in Canada briefly, let's start with:
1. Academic Requirements
The most basic requirement to apply to all accounting courses in Canada for international students is to have academic transcripts for every level of study. If you're applying to a PG program in accounting, you should have a bachelor's degree in any related field. Some prerequisite subjects for a majority of accounting programs in canada are:
- Mathematics
- Advanced functions
- Calculus
- English
2. English Proficiency Test Scores
It is essential for you, as international students, to have an English proficiency proof in terms of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or other tests. The minimum IELTS requirement to study accounting courses in Canada is a score of 6.5 or above, depending on the university/ program you choose.
3. GRE or GMAT Scores
Some Accounting universities in Canada may also ask for your GMAT/GRE scores if applied to accounting courses at the PG levels.
4. Additional Requirements
Additional requirements such as an interview, along with work experience, statement of purpose (SOP), and a Resume/ CV can also be asked by your university depending on the program you choose.
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Application Process to Study Accounting Courses in Canada
The application process for applying to some of the famous accounting universities in Canada has been discussed briefly below:
- Choose your course and a university to start your accounting degree in Canada.
- Submit the application form along with the application fee.
- Submit all the required documents including transcripts, bachelor's degree (if required), along with additional requirements like SOP, Resume, LORs, and proof of work experience, as asked by the particular university.
- You may also be asked for an interview process.
- Apply for a scholarship or financial aid, if available at the university.
- Wait for the admission decision.
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Cost of Studying Accounting in Canada
The tuition fees for accounting in Canada depends entirely on the degree and study level you choose. Diploma and certificate courses in accounting range annually from 5,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD; whereas UG degree programs lie in the range of 20,000 CAD to 60,000 CAD annually. the PG level programs, on the other hand lie somewhere in between 30,000 CAD to 40,000 CAD annually.
Students should budget for the cost of living in Canada of about 900 CAD - 1500 CAD per month in addition to program fees. This estimate is based on a single person's basic needs, which include lodging, groceries, clothing, public transit, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Top 8 Universities to Study Accounting in Canada
Accounting studies in Canada can be summed up as innovative, rewarding and filled with out of the box experiences. We have curated below the list for the top 8 best universities in Canada for accounting:
Universities |
QS World University Ranking 2022 |
Popular Programs Offered |
Average Tuition Fee for International Students (in CAD) |
26 |
BCom Accounting Masters in Accounting and Finance BBA Management and Accounting Master of Forensic Accounting
|
35,000/ year |
|
46 |
PhD Accounting BCom Accounting Diploma in Accounting |
20,000-30,000/ year |
|
- |
Graduate Certificate in professional Accounting
|
40,000-59,690 (Total) |
|
494 |
Master of Accounting (MAcc) Post Graduate Certificate in Accounting Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Accounting |
18,000/ year |
|
140 |
PhD Accounting Graduate Diploma in Financial Accountancy |
10,000-15,000 CAD/ year |
|
- |
BCom Accounting Certificate in Accounting |
51,275/ year |
|
126 |
Master of Accounting (MAcc) PhD in Accounting |
25,200/ year |
|
111 |
Certificate in professional Accounting Certificate in Accounting Management of Services |
29,400/ year |
Scholarships to Study Best Accounting Courses in Canada
Numerous scholarships are available to pursue the best colleges for accounting in Canada, including a lot of university-specific, privately funded and government funded scholarships are available for international students.
Given below are some scholarships to aid your accounting studies in Canada:
Scholarships |
Eligibility |
Award (in CAD) |
C.Douglas Mellor Prize, McGill University |
● Graduate certificate in financial accounting student ● Outstanding academics |
2,200 |
Kenneth F Byrd Prize, McGill University |
● Graduate certificate in financial accounting student ● Outstanding academics |
250 |
Principal’s Scholarship, Queen’s University |
International Applicants showing high academic performance |
4,000 |
Principal’s International Scholarship India, Queen’s University |
● Indian applicants ● 3.5 GPA |
20,000 |
Bourse H Marcel Caron Scholarship, HEC Montreal |
Student in BBA Accounting demonstrating financial need |
2,000 |
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Career Opportunities after Pursuing Accounting in Canada
Upon pursuing an accounting course in Canada, you can definitely get into corporate giants like Deloitte, Accenture, Microsoft, Google, Apple etc. The average base salary for accounting graduates in Canada has been observed as 52,876 CAD per annum.
Let us make you explore some career options post graduation in accounting in Canada:
- Higher education in various specializations like taxation, auditing, banking, etc
- Pursue Chartered Professional Accounting (CPA)
- Get employed at various corporate giants
- Start a business/ venture of your own
- Become an educator in the field of accounting
- Become an auditor, accountant, financial analyst, tax specialist, consultant
For a better understanding of how careers post various accounting courses in Canada look like, we have tabulated some top accounting recruiters in Canada for the job profile of accountant, with their average salaries:
Top Recruiters |
Average Annual Salary (in CAD) |
Ernst & Young |
54,054 |
Deloitte |
45,505 |
Grant Thornton LLP |
41,369 |
KPMG |
47,500 |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Accounting in Canada
- Which are the top accounting universities in Canada?
Ans. The best colleges for accounting in Canada are:
- University of Alberta
- University of Toronto
- Queen’s University
- McGill University
- What is the cost to study accounting in Canada?
Ans. Certificate and diploma programs can cost you around 5,000 CAD to 20,000 CAD per annum; whereas masters degree programs can range around annually range from 30,000 CAD to 50,000 CAD depending upon the university you choose. The UG level programs can cost around 20,000 CAD to 50,000 CAD per year.
- What are some career prospects after pursuing accounting courses in Canada?
Ans. some career prospects include:
- Pursuing higher education
- Starting your own business in accounting management
- Get employed as an accountant/ consultant
- Are scholarships available for pursuing accounting programs in Canada?
Ans. Yes, top universities in Canada for accounting provide international students with numerous scholarships in the range of 2,000 CAD to 30,000 CAD per annum.
- What is one of the most popular programs in the field of accounting at the PG level?
Ans. One of the most popular programs in the field of accounting is the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting.
After pursuing your accounting degree in Canada, you are bombarded with numerous career options like working for corporate giants, pursuing higher studies, and even starting your own venture. The accounting degree in Canada is also considered to be quite rewarding in terms of high ROI, and job security!