Top 20 best short courses in Canada for international students

You can enroll on some of the best short courses in Canada for international students in fields like business, technology, and hospitality. These programs help students gain practical skills quickly and earn recognised certificates. Short courses are ideal for those who want to boost their careers without committing to long-term study.

Key takeaways

• In Canada, short courses are time-efficient, often ranging from 3 months to 1 year, and provide industry-relevant skills.
• Many programs offer recognised certificates that boost employability and career growth.
• Some courses are free or do not require IELTS, making them accessible to more students.
• Choosing the right course depends on your career goals, budget, and desired skill set.

Top 20 best short courses in Canada

The country offers a wide range of short courses, depending on your interests and career goals. Here are some popular short-term courses in Canada for international students.

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20. Metal Fabricator

Canada has a huge steel industry. Metal fabricator equips learners with skills to use metal fabrication power tools such as grinders, sanders, threaders, and drills. Among others, the course covers:

• Standard tool operation
• Maintenance of tools and equipment

These are some of the best short courses in Canada. When choosing a course, always consider your interests, career goals, and the skills in demand in your field.

19. Professional Cook

A professional cook course is another that's quite popular. Offered at the prestigious Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, the course focuses on:

• Gastronomy
• Baking
• Safety and hygiene
• Culinary decoration
• Kitchen management

18. Financial Management

Another popular short-term course for international students in Canada is financial management. Essentially, the course equips learners with skills and aptitudes in:

• Financial analysis
• Budgeting
• Investment planning

This is a perfect course for international students seeking to enhance their entrepreneurship, finance, and accounting career prospects.

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17. Culinary Arts

The course is primarily offered at the Culinary Institute of Canada, but on a degree and diploma level. The school also enrols students in a short-term certificate course in pastry arts, which is ideal for international students. Culinary arts offers hands-on training on aspects like:

• Culinary techniques
• Food safety
• Menu planning

16. English Language Studies

A short-term course in the English language can be extremely beneficial for international students looking to enhance their English language skills. They are popular among students seeking short-term courses in Canada without IELTS through pathway schools and conditional admission routes. The course aims to improve learners' overall language abilities and covers aspects like:

• Verbal proficiency
• Writing
• Comprehension

15. Renewable Energy

Like most other countries, Canada is conscious of climate change and its potential catastrophes. The country's focus on sustainability is growing, which explains why a short-term course in renewable energy is popular.

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Some institutions also highlight Free 6-month short-term courses in Canada for international students through scholarships or limited pilot programs, and cover aspects like:

• Solar energy
• Wind energy logistics
• Hydroelectric energy systems

This course equips learners with skills to enable society to transition towards clean energy solutions. The course is an on-campus program offered at the University of Alberta.

14. Film and Television Production

Canada has a booming film and television industry, and its massive international recognition continues to lure filmmakers. As such, the Canadian government has shown immense support for the film industry by investing in matching institutions. A short-term course in film and television production covers practical skills in the following areas:

• Film production
• Scriptwriting
• Editing
• Cinematography

This course is offered at the Toronto Metropolitan University, Concordia University, University of Windsor, and Vancouver Film School (VFS).

13. Hospitality and Tourism Management

Canada has a booming tourism industry, which explains why the country has some of the most prestigious universities that offer short courses in hospitality and tourism management. This course is centred around:

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• Customer service
• Event management
• Sustainable tourism

12. Graphic Design

Graphic design is one of the popular short courses for international students in Canada that equips learners with skills and techniques in:

• Visual communication
• Typography
• Digital illustration

Full-time graphic designers in Canada make over CAN$86,000 annually, which is no surprise that this course is so popular. A short-term course can last for ten months. Because designers are in demand, this is often listed among short-term courses with high salaries in Canada for creative professionals.

11. Project Management

Project management skills enable students to become effective managers of resources, which helps them meet deadlines and achieve organisational goals.

Certificate holders can be project management professionals because they possess the necessary tools and techniques to lead projects across different industries.

The course is highly valued by employers and is offered at Humber College, Northeastern University, and Durham College, among others. Some institutes offer this as 3-month short courses in Canada for international students in accelerated formats.

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10. Web Development

Most facets of today's world are technologically driven, which explains why web development is perhaps one of Canada's most sought-after short-term courses for international students. Bootcamps often appear on lists of the best 3-month short courses in Canada due to their fast pace and strong employment results.

This course enjoys high completion rates at the University of Winnipeg, Douglas College, Toronto Metropolitan University, and York University, among others. The course provides learners with a solid foundation in aspects like:

• Coding languages
• Website design
• User experience (UI)

9. Data Science

Canada has emerged as a popular destination for aspiring Data scientists. Data science is a rapidly evolving field that extracts meaningful insights from large quantities of data. This course can last anywhere from 7 months to a year and is offered by Trebas Institute, Montreal. It generally equips learners with skills in:

• Data analytics
• Machine learning
• Visualization

8. Digital Marketing and Social Media

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If you want a short-term course to enhance your career prospects in this digital age, then digital marketing and social media studies are your best bet. This is a 6-month course offered by Trebas Institute and aims to equip students with skills and strategies, such as: Often delivered as 6-month short-term courses in Canada for international students, it’s ideal for quick digital skill building.

• Online advertising
• Content creation
• SEO
• Analytics
• Social media marketing

7. Software Engineering

This is one of the best courses to study in Canada, provided by EdX. The Software Engineering course will help you study the basics of software engineering. Some platforms also offer the best free short courses in Canada for international students through audit or scholarship options. The programme of this course includes:

• Building a non-trivial software system
• Functions and technical specifications of the software system
• Designing and testing the software system
• Refactoring and building a quality system

6. French Language

This is a one-year course provided by the MacEwan School of Continuing Studies. This option is perfect if you need to learn French to secure a job.

Athabasca University allows you to study French online with native speakers and learn the language fast. The French language course covers the following:

• French language composition
• French language - first university year
• French language - second university year
• French pronunciation

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5. Software Construction

Suppose you do not have much money to study this course abroad. In that case, you still have the opportunity to get the necessary knowledge and certificate by studying it online. Some providers promote free or low-cost entry-level modules, fitting the category of free 3-month short courses in Canada when offered through open-learning formats. The software construction course covers the following:

• Java programming
• JUnit
• How to build a software logical system
• How to test data abstraction

4. Global Logistics Management

This is a one-year course provided by the MacEwan School of Continuing Studies. It is one of the best professional courses in Canada related to logistics. You will learn the very basics of logistics procedures all over the world. The logistics management course covers the following:

• Supply chain management
• Infrastructure of logistics
• International trade
• International logistics
• Product control
• Inventory control

3. Business Administration

This is an eight-month course provided by the York University School of Continuing Studies. The Business Administration course will help you become a leader in today's business world. You will get essential knowledge about how business works from the inside. It’s one of the best short courses in Canada for international students with certificates due to its versatility. It covers the following:

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• Business introduction
• Functions of business
• Business communication
• Accounting and analysis
• Marketing
• Basics of project management

2. Communication

This is a one-year course provided by MacEwan University's Continuing Studies. The communication course is one of the best professional courses in Canada; it will provide you with key knowledge about interpersonal communications and interrelations. It is widely recognised among 1-year certificate courses in Canada for international students. This course covers the following:

• Strategy analysis
• Evaluation of solutions
• Life cycle management
• Business analysis
• Business planning
• Basics of project management

1. Human Resources Management

This seven-month course is provided at the York University School of Continuing Studies. Human resources management is an essential knowledge that could get you hired in any part of the world. This course focuses on the following:

• Recruitment
• Labor relations
• Health and safety
• Finance
• Organizational behavior
• Human resource management

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re planning to pursue any of these short courses in Canada, you may still have questions about eligibility, costs, visas, and program options. To help you make confident decisions, here are some of the most frequently asked questions international students often ask before applying.

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What is a short course?

A short course typically refers to a brief and focused educational program that covers a specific subject or skill.

What are some short nursing courses in Canada for international students?

Canada offers several short nursing courses for international students. These courses are the Healthcare Assistant Certificate, the Emergency Nursing Certificate and the Practical Nursing Diploma.

What are the best short courses in Canada for international students without IELTS?

Canadian institutions offer short courses for international students without requiring an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score. Students can do an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, pathway programs and English proficiency waivers.

Which short courses are most in demand in Canada?

Some of the most popular short-term courses in Canada include human resources management, business administration, software engineering, marketing, computer networking, and field analytics.

and

Six-month certificate courses available in Canada include French language, digital marketing and social media, project management and culinary arts.

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How long should a short course last?

The appropriate duration for a short course can vary significantly based on. The majority of the courses last from three months to one year.

The best short courses in Canada for international students provide valuable skills and hands-on experience. They prepare students for better job opportunities and career growth. With many options available, these courses are a great way to upgrade your knowledge and credentials in a short time.

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