10 Best Masters In Civil Engineering Programs In Canada | 2024

Civil engineering as a profession is in high demand in Canada. With over 70 universities offering a master’s degree in civil engineering, it will be a tough choice when determining the school to attend. This article has bridged that gap by narrowing the search to the top 10 best masters in civil engineering in Canada.

According to Statista, Canada’s population has a high percentage of immigrants. With easy migration, international students have easier access to Canada than to most countries, and the beautiful part is that there are jobs for you in civil engineering.

Now imagine studying for your master’s degree in civil engineering. Upon graduation, you will get a good job. Before this, you still have to figure out the school to attend first; not to worry, we will show you how.

The table of content is right below.

Table of contents

Why Study Masters In Civil Engineering In Canada?

There are many reasons why getting your education in Canada is one of the best choices you will make.

Firstly, Canada is one of the highest-paying countries for civil engineering. And we all know that the higher the level of education and qualification, the higher the salary. Actually, among all the world countries, Canada is in the top 10 for high-paying jobs.

Secondly, four of our 10 best schools are contained in this post among the top 100 Global universities for civil engineering as per QS rankings.

Another reason you should study in Canada is that it is relatively easy to get your student visa and work permit upon graduation. Even if you have not yet gotten a license to practice, you can work under/with a licensed engineer until you get yours.

Lastly, civil engineering is a highly sought-after course in Canada. It will be so wise to study in a place where you can base in after your studies and have a good career. In an actual sense, Civil engineering is one of the top employment industries in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

Masters in Civil Engineering Requirements In Canada

Master’s in civil engineering opens up many potential career paths for individuals. They learn to design and consider various factors, like natural disasters, load factors, etc.

To obtain your ms degree in civil engineering in Canada, you must meet criteria to be granted admission. Below are the general admissions and eligibility criteria for pursuing a master’s in civil engineering from Canada. 

  • A four-year bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related course with a minimum B grade.
  •  English language proficiency: This can be TOEFL or IELTS
  •  Submit GRE/GMAT should be submitted, if taken. However, most of universities do not mandatorily ask for the scores.
  •  Work experience, statement of intent, statement of purpose, letter of recommendation are additional documents that are required along with the applications. 

Can I Get Masters In Civil Engineering Online In Canada?

For civil engineering, you can comfortably get your masters completely online. But you know that online masters are part-time studies that can take longer than traditional classroom learning.

Nevertheless, it will give you the time and flexibility to study while working.

The requirements are the same as those listed above, including a letter of recommendation, statement of purpose, academic transcript, and English language proficiency.

Furthermore, you can get the MSC in civil engineering online for 18 months to six years.

What Is The Cost Of Getting A Masters In Civil Engineering In Canada?

Basically, tuition fees for any civil engineering master’s program depend on the school and type of master’s program you are getting. In the 2019-20 academic year, the average cost of a Masters in Canada was CAD $7,056 (USD $5,400).

Generally, Tuition Fee for the entire course of Masters in Civil Engineering from Canada ranges between $20,000- $30,000 USD. 

Then, for the top universities for masters in civil engineering, you get to pay

Which Types Of Masters In Civil Engineering Can I Get In Canada?

Basically, there are two types of master’s degree programs you can attend in Canada. They are the Master of Science and Master in Engineering in Civil engineering.

MSC In Civil Engineering

A full-time MSc Civil Engineering typically lasts a year or a part-time program for two or three years, but usually, you can complete it within 3 to 4 semesters. There are scholarships you can get for these one-year masters. The ms in civil engineering courses generally combine a mixture of theoretical and practical work, lecture, and project.

Basically, it aims to increase knowledge and prepare you for a career.

Also, Read; How To Get Masters In Civil Engineering In UK Very Fast | 2024

Master of Engineering

You can complete master of Engineering in Civil Engineering program in about two years, and most schools set a five-year deadline.

The main difference between masters of science MSC in civil engineering and masters of engineering MEng in civil engineering are below;

Actually, the key difference is whether a student pursues a thesis, in the case of a Masters of Science in Engineering degree or a portfolio project, in the case of Masters of Engineering degree.

Secondly, unlike the MSC, the MEng gives a flexible coursework option so the student can take an optional course in another department. For example, Master of Engineering students may take several courses in business, policy, computer science, and other engineering disciplines.

Lastly, You must have an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree to enter the Master of Engineering Program. Students without an ABET-accredited undergraduate degree can obtain the MS degree. 

Funding Your MSc Civil Engineering

As a Canadian citizen you’ll benefit from substantial government investment in higher education. This keeps Masters fees relatively low for domestic students, at around half the rate paid by international applicants.

On average, international students can expect to pay up to twice the tuition fee rate of an equivalent domestic student, with typical fees between CAD $13,000 and CAD $25,000 (USD $9,955-19,145).

Since you have seen all the fees to be paid, and they are even cheaper than most countries’ master’s tuition.

There is government funding for Quebec students and different grants and loans you can apply for in your chosen school’s funding portal.

However, there are individual scholarships international students can apply for to ease the financial stress.

Masters in Civil Engineering Salary In Canada

With a master’s in civil engineering, you can earn an average salary of $97,100 for a construction project manager, $86,600 for a structural engineer, and a civil engineer earns $84,800 per annum. Truth is, they are all lucrative options for a career that is both professionally and financially rewarding.

However, in Canada, the general average salary for a masters degree holder in civil engineering is C$70,106.

10 Best Masters In Civil Engineering Programs In Canada | 2024

The best schools for MSC in civil engineering in Canada have been ranked according to Accreditation, QS ranking, public acceptance, specialization, and academic reputation.

We must note that all the schools listed are ABET accredited. That is the first basis of the ranking.

Moving on, here are the best universities for masters in civil engineering in Canada

#1 University of Toronto

Obtaining your master’s in civil engineering from the department of civil and mineral engineering UofT requires students to have a great academic record and sufficient funds. This is because the tuition is quite high.

The MEng runs for 12 months and 36 months for the full-time and part-time, respectively. Whereas the MASc is for 24 months with the limit being 36 months.

UofT is one of the top universities in Canada for civil engineering. Located in Toronto, the civil engineering department has constantly been ranked as number 1 in Canada.In addition, QS worl ranking says it is number 25 in the world schools for post graduates in Civil engineering.

The tuition for domestic students is $15,020.90, while that for international students is $61,506.90. However, this is for full-time students.

We have already mentioned that it runs the master’s in two programs, MEng and MAsc. Actually, CivMin’s MEng program provides students with the right knowledge to succeed in professional practice. You do coursework in addition to an optional project.

Furthermore, the research-based Master of Applied Science (MASc) degree is the usual path to the PhD program.

Lastly, the master’s in civil engineering is in one of the following programs: Building Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geomechanics, Structural Engineering, and Transportation Engineering.

Website

#2 University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia Vancouver’s main campus ranks 45th in QS world ranking for postgraduate schools in civil engineering. In 2016, it was Canada’s number in the department for civil engineering.

Apparently, there are various specializations. You can get these with either of the two master’s programs, Meng or Masc. They are;

  • civil engineering materials,
  • environmental fluid mechanics,
  • environmental systems engineering,
  • geo-environmental engineering,
  • geotechnical engineering,
  • hydrotechnical engineering,
  • project & construction management,
  • structural & earthquake engineering,
  • transportation engineering.

Furthermore, the tuition for Domestic students is $6,194 and international students pay $21,056.

Lastly, the Meng typically lasts for 12-16 months and the thesis program MASc is for 2 years.

Website

You can also Check Out: 15 Best Online Mechanical Engineering Masters Degree Programs | 2024

#3 McGill University

McGill university is ranked 31st by QS 2024 for post graduate courses.

All program types are for 2 years. However, The Department offers three types of Master’s programs: MEng (thesis) and MEng (non-thesis), both of which are open to students who have Bachelor’s degrees in engineering. And MSc (thesis), is for students with Bachelor’s degrees in science and other non-engineering areas.

For the other universities for masters in civil engineering, Mcgill says GRE is not required but is highly recommended. What do you make of that? If your admission is a priority, take the GRE exam.

In addition, the tuition is $11,138.

Basically, the civil engineering department offers courses in the fields of study which can be classified as environmental engineering and water resources management, fluid mechanics and hydraulic engineering, geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, as well as structural engineering and construction materials. Some courses are also available in the area of transportation engineering. 

Website

#4 University of Waterloo

University of Waterloo is ranked 166 as a top global university offering civil engineering pg program by QS. Located in the Eastern province of Ontario, this university has one of the biggest civil engineeering programs in Canada because it is a practical school.

Basically, the tuition for the program is different for both program types. Meng typically lasting 12 months to pay $11,508 while Masc lasting 2 years pay $7,042.

Actually, there is no funding or financial aid for MEng in Civil Engineering students, they are expected to support themselves. In addition, GRE scores are required only from those who completed their bachelor’s outside Canada.

Students can choose any these specialty;

  • Structural Engineering
  • Infrastructure Management and Construction
  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Engineering Mechanics

 Website

#5 Concordia University

Located in Montreal, the Gina Cody School of Engineering & Computer Science offers the MSC in civil engineering. The university ranks as 477th global university.

Typically, the MEng in civil engineering is a course-based program that increases technical knowledge in the design of built facilities, their construction processes, their operation and maintenance, and their impact on the surrounding environment. While the MASc in civil engineering increases your technical knowledge in planning and designing facilities, their construction processes, operation, and impact on the surrounding environment.

Furthermore, the programs last for two years, with tuition of $22,169 CAD being the highest tuition.

Website

#6 University of Alberta

Basically, the University of Alberta located in the city of Edmonton, is  one of Canada’s leading research universities, with more than $490 million in external research funding. 

The university is #4 in Canada and 119th in the post-graduate civil engineering program by QS World Ranking.

The Meng and Msc typically have tuition of CAD $ 9465 and 10,500 respectively. In actual terms, $3,918.60 for one year. For the former, the meng program in civil engineering can be completed in 9 months and a maximum of four years.

Furthermore, the MSc program in civil engineering can be completed within 15 to 18 months. The maximum time permitted is four years from date of registration.

Actually, you can specialize in any of these research areas from the civil & environmental engineering department and the School of Mining & Petroleum Engineering at UofA.

  • Biomechanical Engineering
  • Construction Engineering and Management 
  • Environmental Engineering and Science
  • Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering

Website

#7 McMaster University

Mcmaster is one of the top civil engineering masters schools in Hamilton. With the QS ranking for 2024, it is the 6th best Canadian university.

Basically, both the Meng and MASc in civil engineering have the same tuition, which is $24,750.

Typically lasting between 1 to 2 years, you can badge the Meng certificate in civil engineering from Mcmaster. Then, the MASC lasts the same. Both require your bachelor’s degree in engineering or a physical science course.

However, the Masc has the following resaerch areas you can specialize in;

  • Bioelectrochemical systems
  • Bridge Engineering
  • Computational Mechanics and Finite Element Analysis
  • Construction Data Sensing and Fusion
  • Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics
  • Effective Design of Structures
  • Geomechanics
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Intelligent Construction Systems
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Material Durability and Service Life Modeling
  • Sustainable Communities
  • Wastewater Treatment Engineering
  • Water Resources/Environmental Information Systems

Website

#8 Western University

Located in the city of London, and founded in 1878, this Master program offers students the opportunity to mix project with course work, and it takes between one and two years to complete.

To study MEng in Western university, you require 3 terms, that is, 1 year of full-time studies. Although other programs receive funding, it is not available for Masters in Engineering (MEng) students, while the Master of Engineering Science (MESc) program lasts for 2 years, six semesters.

The specialization can be in the following areas;

  • Structural Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Geotechnical/ Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Wind Engineering

Lastly, this school’s tuition raked 8th best university in Canada, 203rd in post graduate civil engineering in the world is CAD $ 33,538.

Website

#9 University of Calgary

The Schulich School of Engineering in the university at Calgary is ideal for those seeking to begin their studies in engineering and those wanting to progress on to postgraduate education. 

The Meng can be completed in as little as one year. Well, this depends on whether you are you are running the part-time or full time program. A maximum of 6 years to complete the program. It just requires 10 courses to complete.

While the Master of science MSC in civil engineering is two years and four years maximum to complete. The specializations for msc is,

  • Avalanche Mechanics (not available)
  • Biomechanics
  • Bituminous Materials
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Structures & Solid Mechanics
  • Transportation Engineering
  • Water Resources
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Energy and Environment
  • Project Management

In addition, the Meng is just in the four basic sub-divisions of engineering. Lastly, it is ranked as the 8th best university in Canada, and 246 in postgraduate in civil engineering according to QS. In addition, tuition is 10,904 CAD.

Website

#10 University of Ottawa

The master’s in civil engineering program is a joint program with Carleton University called the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of civil engineering.

The Institute offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Applied Science (MASc), Master of Engineering (MEng), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Civil Engineering. Typically, the program is for roughly 2 years of full-time study.

Basically, the tuition is $3,154.37. And it ranks number 12th as the best Canadian University and 279 in the world post graduate civil engineering programs.

Lastly, the main areas of research are;

  • Construction engineering and management
  • Environmental engineering
  • Geotechnical engineering
  • Structural engineering
  • Sustainable Materials and Construction
  • Water resources engineering

Website

Conclusion

We have reduced the list to the best 10. Read about these top and best civil engineering masters program and university and apply to them. Kiiky wishes you the best!

FAQ For 10 Best Masters In Civil Engineering Programs In Canada | 2024

What are the best civil engineering programs in Canada?

university of Toronto
university of British Columbia
McGill university
university of waterloo
Concordia university
university of Alberta

Are there civil engineering schools in Florida that give student funding?


Yes, there are.
Actually, all the schools we listed have funding for masters in civil engineering. However, the Meng students do not get funded at the University of Waterloo and Western University.

What are the wo programs in civil engineering masters program in Canada?

There are basically two programs you can get master’s in civil engineering in Canada which are masters in applied science MASC and master of engineering MENG.

Actually, the key difference is whether a student pursues a thesis, in the case of a Masters of Science in Engineering degree or a portfolio project, in the case of Masters of Engineering degree

Are there accelerated programs in

Not exactly, there are no accelerated programs, but there are masters that can be gotten in one year. They are from the University of Calgary and the University of Toronto.

Reference

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