As the world becomes more digitalized, online education has become an increasingly popular choice for individuals seeking higher education. In Canada, many universities have responded to this trend by offering accredited online programs. These programs provide students with the flexibility to pursue their academic goals while also accommodating their personal and professional commitments. In this article, we will explore a list of accredited online universities in Canada that offer a variety of programs and provide students with the opportunity to earn a degree from the comfort of their own homes. Whether you’re a busy professional looking to enhance your skills or a student seeking an alternative to traditional campus-based learning, this list will provide you with a wealth of options to choose from. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the world of online education in Canada!
Online Degrees in Canada for Working Students
If you are currently employed full-time, studying online may be the best option for you. Online programs allow you to study from anywhere with an internet connection. This will save you a lot of travel time and make balancing work and study easier.
Different Types of Online Degree Programs
One of the most important factors that students considering online universities are concerned about is the types of degrees and diplomas that will be offered. After all, the job market’s requirements are crystal clear. There are general degrees that are recognized all over the world, and if you don’t have them, you’re unlikely to be regarded as a valuable specialist on a professional level. Fortunately, the academic rankings offered by top online courses in Canada are identical to those offered by full-time universities.
1. Associate Degree
This is a less difficult-to-obtain but more credible degree that will improve your job prospects. Choose your program of study, select your electives, and be assigned various tasks and reading materials. When such academic rank is provided online, it can take up to two years. It is determined by the location you have chosen.
2. Bachelor’s Degree
This degree will be more respected because it requires more effort to obtain. First, decide whether you want to pursue a BS (Bachelor of Science) or a BA (Bachelor of Arts) (Bachelor of Arts). It will determine the tasks and direction of your online education. The good news is that most programs for this academic rank last about two years, so you won’t be studying for an extended period.
3. Masters of Science
This degree is regarded as one of the most prestigious because it indicates a higher level of knowledge. Again, you’re on the Master of Science or Master of Arts track. To join, you must already have a Bachelor’s degree. Please keep in mind that some courses may also require at least some minimal work experience for you to qualify, so make sure to check all requirements at once. Such programs will continue for another two years.
4. Doctorate Degree
It is not sufficient to simply select your program from the list of accredited online universities in Canada. You must be clear about your objectives and how much effort you are willing to put forth to achieve them. A doctorate is divided into narrower types, and it takes between 3 and 7 years to complete. You will become a true master in your field, acquiring all research and analysis skills, but don’t be deceived by the promising prospects. Apply only if you are completely prepared and understand how difficult studying can be.
12 Online Universities in Canada
1. University of Athabasca
Because this is an online university, all degree programs are completed entirely online.
Bachelor’s degree tuition is estimated to range between $20,077 and $68,890. Prices vary depending on whether the degree includes 90 or 120 credits and whether the student is a Canadian citizen, resident, or international student. Tuition for master’s and doctorate degrees ranges from $15,675 to $53,600 based on the same conditions.
2. Royal Roads University
Although this is an on-campus university, some degrees are available online.
Each three-credit course costs $846 in tuition for online bachelor’s degrees.
The Master of Arts in Learning and Technology costs $25,280 in tuition, while the Master of Arts and Master of Science in Environmental Practice costs $795.33 per academic credit.
Royal Roads University offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Practice that can be completed entirely online. The Master of Arts, Master of Science in Environmental Practice, and Master of Arts in Learning and Technology programs are mostly online, with some on-campus activities.
3. Thompson Rivers University
This is an on-campus university with some online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Tuition for all online degrees is around $119.18 per credit hour. This, of course, varies depending on the degree and the number of credits needed to graduate.
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 are all undergraduate programs that can be completed entirely online. Master of Business Administration and Master of Education degrees are available online.
4. McGill University
This is an on-campus university that is regarded as one of the best in the world. McGill was ranked 42nd in the World University Rankings 2020 and 39th in the World Reputation Rankings 2019. While McGill offers online courses, there are no fully online degree programs.
If you want to study at McGill online, you can choose from a variety of certificate programs, including Project Management, Computers and Information Technology, Public Administration and Governance, and Parliamentary Management.
5. Laurentian University
Another on-campus university, this one provides bachelor’s and master’s degrees that can be completed online.
Bachelor’s degree tuition ranges from $6,000 to $7,434 depending on the degree. Students for the Master of Business Administration degree are charged $1,234.10 for every three credits taken.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Forensic Identification, Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Business Administration are all entirely online programs.
6. University of Manitoba
This on-campus university also offers some online degree programs.
Bachelor’s degree tuition ranges from $739.20 to $931.56 per six credit hours. There are currently no online masters or doctorate programs. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work is fully online programs.
7. Yorkville University
This university offers all programs both on-campus and completely online.
Tuition for bachelor’s degrees ranges from $2,700 to $5,775 per term, and tuition for master’s degrees ranges from $4,470 to $6,930 per trimester.
This university offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, and interior design, master’s degrees in arts, and master’s degrees in education.
8. Memorial University
This on-campus university offers a wide range of online degree programs.
Tuition for on-campus programs is the same as tuition for online programs. Bachelor’s degree tuition ranges from $85 to $2,045 per credit hour. This is determined by the student’s location as well as the course chose.
Master’s degree tuition ranges from $635 to $2,218 per semester. This is determined by the course chosen as well as the payment plan selected.
Bachelor of Science degrees are available in Business Administration, Maritime Studies, Technology, and Education. Education, Physical Education, Marine Studies, Maritime Management, Technology Management, and Nursing are among the master’s degrees available online.
9. Thompson Rivers
Thompson Rivers University’s approach to learning is guided by four fundamental pillars: accessibility, flexibility, choice, and credibility. The open model is used by the British Columbia-based school, which strives to make postsecondary education as accessible as possible by requiring minimal admission requirements and continuous enrolment for most programs.
TRU students have a lot of options, with over 550 courses available through over 60 programs in the arts, business and management, education, health sciences, nursing, science, social work, trades and technology, and tourism. The tuition-free adult basic education program assists prospective students in meeting some TRU program requirements or earning a high school diploma.
TRU gives students the most flexibility in their learning style, even when choosing between self-paced and paced programs. Self-paced programs allow students to enroll and begin at any time and learn at their own pace over 30 weeks, with flexibility even around final exam dates. Paced programs are semester-based and cohort-based. Some individual courses, such as microbiology and anatomy, include lab sessions that must be attended in person.
TRU’s online courses rely heavily on personalized faculty attention and interaction. To receive direct discussion and motivation, students work and communicate directly with instructors via email through the school’s course management system and by phone. TRU also has dedicated program advisors who work with students to create education plans that will help you achieve your learning objectives.
10. University of Fredericton
A private university that offers all courses entirely online. There are no bachelor’s degrees available, but there are numerous MBA degrees available with specializations in Business Analytics, Human Resources, and even Real Estate. The University of Fredericton, or UFred, is a private, for-profit university that was established in 2005. The New Brunswick-based school’s reputation has been built on the strength of its business and leadership programs. Its programs, like the administration, faculty, and staff of the University, are entirely online.
Through its Sandermoen School of Business and School of Occupational Health and Safety, UFred offers a focused selection of certificate, degree, and diploma programs entirely online (OHS). OHS courses include, among other things, certificates and diplomas in psychological health and safety, OHS and environmental systems, and ergonomics.
The Master of Business Administration, however, is UFred’s flagship program and a perennial leader among CourseCompare’s best online MBA programs. Students in the comprehensive and multidisciplinary program can choose from nine leadership specialties, including innovation, consulting, professional selling, HR, business analytics, and cybersecurity. There are also Pre-MBA, Executive MBA, and MBA certificates available for aspiring leaders at all stages of their careers.
11. Queen’s University in Canada
Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, was the first in North America to offer distance education, beginning with mail courses in 1889. More than 4,000 students “attend” Queens online today, earning diplomas, degrees, certificates, and micro-credentials in a variety of fields.
Queens University offers over 140 online courses across ten schools, including arts and science, education, health sciences, engineering and applied science, law, and the prestigious Smith School of Business, as well as numerous postgraduate degrees.
There are 19 free self-directed courses in a robust menu of career-enhancing micro-credentials, including neuroscience for neurotech, behavioral assessment techniques, and entrepreneurship.
Queen’s online courses are designed with interactivity and collaboration in mind. Peer and professor engagement is highly valued, and communication and teamwork are emphasized through group projects and online discussions.
The school’s customized OnQ platform, which is based on the popular Desire2Learn system used at universities across Canada and internationally, is used to deliver courses. Certain programs and faculties have developed their proprietary tools to promote online learning and collaboration.
The majority of Queen’s online courses are asynchronous. While some live events occur, students can access recordings at any time to plan their learning. Courses do have start and end dates, and assignments also have deadlines.
12. Waterloo University
The University of Waterloo is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s most innovative postsecondary institutions, and it was an early adopter of online learning. The University of Toronto has been providing web-based learning since 1997, four years before Wikipedia was founded.
Since then, its Centre for Extended Learning has grown to include over 600 courses in 40 undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines, including arts, engineering, environmental, health, mathematics, and science, as well as a diverse range of individual courses such as the history of the Internet, workplace success tactics, applied epidemiology, business law, and Vikings! (Yes, there is an exclamation point in the course title.)
Waterloo also offers more than 170 online professional development courses and certificate programs in areas such as business administration, computers, and IT, languages, project management, sales and marketing, and writing and publishing, in addition to its degree programs.
20 Online Accredited Courses Canada
Here are 20 online accredited courses available in Canada:
- Business Administration – offered by Athabasca University
- Computer Science – offered by the University of Waterloo
- Education – offered by the University of British Columbia
- Nursing – offered by the University of Victoria
- Psychology – offered by Carleton University
- Social Work – offered by Dalhousie University
- Accounting – offered by Ryerson University
- Criminology – offered by Simon Fraser University
- Engineering – offered by the University of Toronto
- Environmental Science – offered by the University of Guelph
- Finance – offered by the University of Calgary
- Graphic Design – offered by OCAD University
- Health Sciences – offered by McMaster University
- Human Resources Management – offered by York University
- Information Technology – offered by Thompson Rivers University
- Journalism – offered by the University of King’s College
- Marketing – offered by the British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Political Science – offered by the University of Ottawa
- Public Administration – offered by the University of Saskatchewan
- Sociology – offered by the University of Manitoba
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there are many other online accredited courses available in Canada.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Earning an Online Degree
There are some things you should be aware of before looking for an accredited online school. While this type of education is popular and widely regarded as excellent, it is not without drawbacks. So, look over the list of benefits and drawbacks of accredited online degrees in Canada and decide for yourself whether it’s worth it!
Benefits
- You can study from anywhere on the planet. This is the primary reason why so many young people choose to pursue this type of education. Obtaining an academic rank from a relevant Canadian university while traveling to Italy, for example, can be difficult, but an online form allows you to apply without having to travel and live away from your family.
- Such education is less expensive. This is a huge benefit because education is so expensive these days. It is especially high for international students who live in countries where the dollar is extremely valuable. They simply cannot afford to study anywhere because of this unfortunate fact. Obtaining a degree will provide them with comparable knowledge at a much lower cost.
- This type of education is significant. As long as you apply to accredited universities, you will receive the same benefits as people who studied on physical campuses. No one will dismiss your CV simply because they believe your education is invalid. So, be cautious and review the list of accredited online universities in Canada below to ensure that you’ve made the right decision.
- Create a schedule. Because online education is less demanding than traditional education, you can work and study at the same time. You can also much more easily balance your personal and educational responsibilities. Make changes to your schedule if you are sick, have an unexpected arrangement that you cannot miss, or simply have other plans. When you’re ready, we’ll give you a lecture as well as reading materials and homework.
Drawbacks
- Extreme self-organization abilities are required. If you have difficulty motivating yourself to do something, this type of education may not be for you. Professors will assign tasks without having any control over whether or not you complete them until the due date. When studying in physical universities, students are wary of upsetting their professors and feel more pressure to finish everything on time. It is not possible with this level of education.
- Bias. While academic ranks from accredited universities are valid, you may still be passed over for a job if your CV is considered alongside a similar CV from someone with a physical university academic rank. You may lose such a competition unless you have more accomplishments.
- There are fewer opportunities to seek assistance. With online education, you only study according to a set schedule. You will be unable to ask questions outside of the online classroom because the professor will be unavailable. The same is true for lessons — because they are delivered online, you may be limited in your ability to ask questions.
Bottom Line
Several accredited online universities in Canada offer a wide range of courses and programs. These universities have made it possible for students to pursue higher education without the constraints of time and location. The online courses and programs offered by these universities are accredited and recognized by various regulatory bodies, ensuring that students receive a high-quality education that is recognized and respected by employers.
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