What type of program should you choose?
A program’s name alone does not tell you what you will do in it. Before comparing institutions, consider whether you want to build a foundation, explore applications in greater depth or conduct supervised research.
| Your situation or goal | Pathway to explore | Key question |
|---|---|---|
| Starting university studies | Bachelor’s degree with a major or concentration in AI | What foundations are taught, and how do you enter the specialization? |
| Building on professional experience | Graduate certificate | Who is it intended for, and what prior knowledge does it require? |
| Exploring applications after earning a first degree | Professional or course-based master’s degree | How much of the program is devoted to courses, a project or an internship? |
| Exploring a scientific question | Research master’s degree | Do you need a supervisor’s approval before applying for admission? |
These categories are useful reference points, not a ranking. A course-based master’s degree may include a project or internship; a research master’s degree centres on a scientific question and its supervision. Read the program requirements and find out what final work is required rather than relying on the title alone.
Mila, Vector and Amii: three environments to understand
The Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy is supported in part by Mila in Montreal, Vector in Toronto and Amii in Edmonton. These institutes can help you identify research environments, but their presence does not replace choosing a degree and a university.
Mila is a research institute, not a university that grants degrees. If you are pursuing a project associated with its network, distinguish between finding a research supervisor and applying for admission to the university where you will be enrolled. Admission to a Montreal university does not automatically mean affiliation with Mila.
Vector offers, among other things, an entrance scholarship for eligible master’s programs in Ontario. Amii, meanwhile, indicates that some affiliated researchers recruit undergraduate research interns. Conditions depend on the specific opportunity: neither a position nor funding is automatic.
For a research project, the useful question is therefore: which program, team and supervisor match my interests?
Universities and programs: examples to compare
The following examples illustrate several levels of study. They are neither a ranking nor an exhaustive list. StudyCanada profiles can help you get an overview of institutions; then consult the program requirements for your intended start date.
McGill: undergraduate study and a professional master’s degree
At McGill University, the Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence Major (B.Sc.) is an undergraduate major in computer science and AI. It is an option for building an initial foundation. Check the requirements for entry to the major and the courses it includes.
After earning a relevant first degree, the Electrical Engineering (Non-Thesis): Applied Artificial Intelligence (M.Eng.) is a professional, non-thesis master’s degree worth 45 credits. Its June 2025 regulations include machine learning, deep learning and an applied AI project. Ask McGill about the requirements and program structure that will apply to your start date.
Sherbrooke: a course-based pathway
At the Université de Sherbrooke, the master’s degree in computer science includes a course-based pathway focused on AI and data. It is offered in Sherbrooke, with admission in the fall. It includes, among other things, mathematics for AI and a 9-credit internship; in exceptional cases, an essay may replace the internship with departmental approval. Do not assume that the internship is paid.
Alberta: a fully online certificate
The University of Alberta’s Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence comprises four distance courses and is intended, among others, for professionals without prior technical training. This certificate is not a research master’s degree and does not require a stay on campus.
The university normally requires a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. It also provides for a special assessment for some experienced applicants. If you are considering this pathway, compare its online format with your availability and training goals.
Mathematics and programming: where do you stand?
Take stock of your background in calculus, linear algebra, probability, statistics and programming. This list can help you prepare questions; it does not replace a program’s official prerequisites.
Requirements depend in part on the intended audience. McGill’s School of Computer Science indicates that prior programming experience is not necessary to begin its undergraduate computer science studies. By contrast, its master’s programs in electrical and computer engineering require a relevant first degree. The University of Alberta’s online certificate states that it does not require prior training in programming or mathematics, while having its own admission requirements.
Keep your transcripts and course descriptions. If you studied abroad, ask the university how it assesses equivalencies: a course taken elsewhere does not automatically replace a prerequisite. Also check the language of instruction and the proof of language proficiency required for your circumstances.
Preparing for a research master’s degree
If you want to work on a scientific question, look for research teams whose work matches your interests. Read project summaries and prepare a short presentation of your background and what you would like to study.
The order of steps varies. At Sherbrooke, applicants seeking admission to the research pathway in computer science must first obtain a faculty member’s agreement to supervise their project. Do not automatically apply this requirement to the course-based pathway described above.
Before accepting an offer, ask what supervision, research resources and financial support include, and what conditions apply. A professor’s interest in your project does not replace an admission decision.
Funding your master’s degree: two scholarships to distinguish
Prepare a budget with two columns: confirmed resources and support you hope to receive. A scholarship you are considering should not be treated as money you have secured.
| Funding mechanism | Amount and eligible students | Application process or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Vector entrance scholarship, 2027-2028 | CAD 21,000 for an eligible full-time master’s program in Ontario | The university program submits the nomination; international applications are possible subject to conditions. |
| Federal Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s | CAD 27,000 for 12 months | Applicants must, among other things, meet a status requirement in Canada and the competition’s other criteria. |
For Vector 2027-2028, the announced nomination period runs from January 4 to March 17, 2027. Students cannot nominate themselves, and the university may set an earlier internal deadline. The program must be recognized by Vector or include an individual study plan that meets the AI focus criteria. The McGill, Sherbrooke and Alberta examples in this guide are not master’s programs at Ontario universities.
For the federal Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s, applicants must, among other things, be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons by the deadline. International students should not include it in their budget without checking their status and eligibility.
If a supervisor or university offers you support, ask for its duration, payment schedule, tuition fees payable and whether it can be combined with other funding, in writing.
Budget and distance studies
To compare two programs, use the same scope: tuition, mandatory fees and insurance, and, if you will be staying in Canada, housing, food and transportation. Ask whether the stated amounts cover one term, one year or the entire program.
As an example limited to the University of Alberta’s online certificate, the university estimates tuition at CAD 9,916.32 for 2026-2027, plus a non-refundable application fee of CAD 135. Other fees may apply. This figure represents neither the cost of a master’s degree nor a cost-of-living budget in Canada.
For international students, taking a Canadian program online does not automatically provide a pathway to living or working in Canada. The University of Alberta specifies that its fully online certificate is not eligible for a study permit or a post-graduation work permit.
In general, IRCC indicates that a study permit is generally not required for a distance learning program. The department also states that completing more than half of a program through distance learning may make a person ineligible for a post-graduation work permit, with specific rules depending on the period. This information, consulted on November 6, 2026, is general: check the official rules that apply to your circumstances before making a decision.
A decision-making checklist
For each program you are considering, gather answers to these questions:
- Level and format: What credential is awarded? Is the program delivered on site or through distance learning, and in what language?
- Preparation: What courses, degrees and proof of language proficiency are required? How will your previous studies be assessed?
- Work required: How much of the program is devoted to courses, a project, an internship, an essay or a thesis?
- Supervision: Do you need to find a supervisor before applying for admission?
- Budget: Which costs and funding are confirmed, and what balance remains to be covered?
- Timeline: What are the program dates and deadlines, including scholarship deadlines that may differ?
The best option is not necessarily the one with the most impressive-sounding name. It is the one whose content, requirements and approach to study match your background and goals.