Journalism Courses in Canada: Eligibility Criteria, Universities & Specializatio

Canada’s active role in the mass media keeps journalism at the prime center of the country’s functioning. No wonder there is a significant influx of students who want to pursue journalism courses in Canada, considering the relevance of the subject in today’s world. 

The field is relatively uncomplicated. It involves collecting and collating essential information to create informative pieces. Besides that, journalists must have a strong opinion or drop comments about the events they report without any diplomacy or bias. 

Now, if an individual enrolls for a journalism degree, Canada would be a perfect place to do so. 

Considering the proximity shared by the USA and Canada, one can find several news organizations headquarters in the latter. It ensures that a student can receive hands-on exposure to explore the ever-evolving aspect of the field. Additionally, the number of job prospects after finishing a journalism course in Canada is endless. 

Tons of top-notch universities in Canada offer journalism courses across all levels of education. Let’s take a deeper look!

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Top Universities Offering Journalism Courses in Canada

Wondering which university would be the best to further your higher education in journalism? Let’s look at the best journalism courses in Canadian universities: 

University	Ranking (as per Q.S. university ranking 2023)	Course name	Duration
University of Toronto	34	B.A. in Media, Journalism and Digital Cultures	4 years
The University of British Columbia	47	Master’s in Journalism	20 months
University of Alberta	110	BA in Media Studies	–
McMaster University	152	Honours Communication Studies (B.A.)	4 years
University of Waterloo	154	Honors Arts in Communication Studies	3 years

Eligibility for the Course

Depending on the education level that a student is applying for, the journalism courses in Canada requirements will differ. These stipulations are also reliant on the university’s preferences and operational requirements. 

Although usually, any student applying for an undergraduate degree in journalism should have completed their 10+2 education. They must have attained a minimum aggregate of 50% grades or above from well-recognized institutions.

Let’s look at the postgraduate journalism courses in Canada eligibility now.

A student must have finished their undergraduate degree in any related field and should’ve attained a minimum of 3.0 GPA out of 4.0. Some universities also require prior work experience as a compulsory admission eligibility criterion.

To enroll in one of the best journalism courses in Canada, admission, mostly for a postgrad, a certain level of work experience, is a bonus.

Besides all the apparent requirements for courses mentioned above, the university may ask for the following as well:

• English proficiency test score
• Resume
• Transcripts of previous educational qualifications
• Letter of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• TOEFL/IELTS/DET/PTE/CAEL scores
• Relevant certificates of prior work experience

Levels of Education

Individuals interested in the journalism or media and communications field will find plenty of undergrad or UG courses as well as postgraduate/master’s (PG) courses. Some universities also offer specific diploma courses.

Specializations

Journalism courses come with a lot of specializations. These offer the students an opportunity to put their focus on particular themes that suits their interests and will make them a better fit for a role in their professional pursuits.  

Here are some journalism courses in Canada subject areas one can specialize in: 

• Global Journalism
• Public relations and advertising
• Journalism design and graphics
• Political journalism
• News reporting and writing
• Sports journalism
• Digital and interactive-media journalism
• Photojournalism
• Science and environmental journalism
• Broadcast journalism
• Enterprise journalism

Cost of Attendance

The fees of journalism courses vary from one university to another, based on the program chosen, duration, and education level. On average, though, journalism courses in Canada fees are CAD 60,510 for Bachelor’s and CAD 29,414 per year for a Master’s. 

Besides that, you must also factor in the cost of living. This will depend on individuals’ preferences and quality of lifestyle. 

International students might spend between CAD 900-CAD 1,500 every month for basic amenities like food, housing, stationery, travel, entertainment, etc.

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Job Prospects

The field of journalism is expansive and ever-evolving. It opens many doors of different pathways that one can undertake and explore. For those curious, here’s a quick list of some of the best job prospects you may find after finishing the journalism course.

• Public relations manager
• Technical writers
• Authors
• Editors
• Newspaper, book, periodical, and directory publishers
• Television and radio journalists
• Sports journalists

 

Expected Remuneration

What are the best, top-paying jobs in Canada offered to brilliant young minds who have completed their journalism course?

Job	Average Annual Pay (Glassdoor)
Television journalist	CAD 86,048
PR manager	CAD 77,041
Technical writers	CAD 67,288
Editors	CAD 57,989
Sports journalist	CAD 54,427
Newspaper publisher	CAD 51,652

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