Universities in Canada That Accept Second Class Lower

A graduate in Canada

Do you want to know the universities in Canada that accept second-class lower for national and international students that want do undergo their Master’s program?

Well, if you have a grade lower than a second class upper, then that implies that it is not all international universities that may directly accept you for a master’s degree program.

While GPA is not a compulsory requirement for some countries, it is one of the most important admission requirements in most universities in Canada.

To assist you with useful information, I have provided the names of the Canadian universities that accept second-class lower for master’s programs.

The Canadian Universities’ Grading System

The first thing to know is that the grading system for Canadian universities differs from that of many international countries like the U.S and so on.

A graduate in Canada

So before thinking of whether or not your degree will be accepted, it is better to weigh it with the Canadian grading system.

According to the Canadian grading system, a second class lower degree is equivalent to a 2.0 GPA on the GPA scale of 4.0 and 2.5 on the GPA scale of 5.0.

Check also: UK Universities that accept Nigerian Students

This means that a second class lower degree in Canada is equivalent to a 50% out of 100% which is actually a half or average grade.

But the truth here is that a 2.0 GPA on the GPA scale of 4.0 and 2.5 on the GPA scale of 5.0 is too low for a master’s degree admission into many public universities in Canada.

But some private universities in Canada may still accept it while some public universities will accept it for a pre-masters diploma program to qualify you for a master’s program.

Do Canadian Universities accept Second Class Lower?

Are there Canadian universities that accept a second class lower for masters? The answer to this question depends on some factors as explained below:

If you want to use your second class lower degree to apply for a pre-masters degree (postgraduate diploma) in a Canadian university, then you will be accepted.

In the other way round, if you want to use your second class lower degree to apply for a direct master’s degree program in a Canadian university, then you may likely get unaccepted.

Read further to see more explanation on how and what to do to upgrade your second class upper degree to a tangible grade that will be acceptable in Canada for masters.

Can I do Masters with Second Class lower in Canada?

Yes! But before you achieve this, you have to pass through a pre-masters degree (postgraduate diploma) in a Canadian university and obtained your Postgraduate Diploma qualification.

With this, you can then use the pre-masters degree (postgraduate diploma qualification) to apply for a master’s or any other Postgraduate degree program.

Canada Universities that accept Second Class Lower

The following are some of the Canadian universities that accept second class lower for master’s and pre-masters postgraduate degree programs.

  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University
  2. Simon Fraser University
  3. Memorial University of Newfoundland
  4. University of Victoria
  5. Carleton University
  6. University of Manitoba

1. Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University may accepts as low as second class lower degree for international students applying for Pre-master’s program (Postgraduate diploma) and some Postgraduate degree courses.

FDU started accepting foreign (international) students from all over the world in 1942. The Fairleigh Dickinson University host over 1100 students from more than 70 countries.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Available Graduate Programs:

  1. Administrative Science and Public Administration
  2. Animation
  3. Arts
  4. Biology
  5. Business and Accounting
  6. Chemistry
  7. Communication
  8. Computer Science
  9. Creative Writing
  10. Criminology and Criminal Justice
  11. Cybersecurity and Homeland Security
  12. Education
  13. Engineering and Technology
  14. Film
  15. Global Affairs
  16. Health Sciences
  17. Hospitality and Tourism
  18. Humanities
  19. Languages
  20. Mathematics
  21. Nursing
  22. Pharmacy
  23. Political Science
  24. Psychology and Counseling
  25. Social Work
  26. Sport Management

Fairleigh Dickinson University Application Deadlines:

  • Fall (August) Semester: July 1
  • Spring (January) Semester: December 1
  • Summer semester (limited programs): May 1

Note: these deadlines may change anytime. So it is advisable to check the website for the program you are applying to, to find out the exact date.

Admission Link: Visit FDU admission website here

2. Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University accepts a minimum of second class lower for international students applying for a Pre-master’s program (Postgraduate diploma) and some Postgraduate degree courses.

Meanwhile, most of the Simon Fraser University postgraduate programs have additional admission requirements which can be found on the website of each of the programs.

Simon Fraser University Admission Requirements:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution
  • CGPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.33 scale, or 3.33 on a 4.33 scale (B+) for Graduate Programs
  • All CGPA must be based on the last 60 credits of undergraduate courses.
  • Graduate work
  • References
  • Transcripts
  • Supervisors and Supervision
  • Proof of English Language proficiency

Admission link: Visit SFU admission website here

3. Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Memorial University of Newfoundland accepts a second class lower for provisional acceptance graduate admissions as long as the applicant meets the necessary entry requirements.

This university is one of the best universities in the world. Memorial University accepts international students from over 90 countries.

Memorial University Admission Requirements:

  • Application fee (Non-refundable)
  • Transcript(s)
  •  Two (2) letters of appraisal
  •  Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  •  Proof of English proficiency
  •  Test score reports
  •  Prerequisites

Admission Link: Visit MUN admission website here

4. University of Victoria

The University of Victoria welcomes international students from all apart of the world. The University of Victoria may consider applicants with accepts a second class lower degree as long as they meet the necessary entry requirements.

At the University of Victoria, International students make up about a fifth of the graduate student community. Interesting students are to send their applications before the deadline set for their course.

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution
  • An Equivalent of a minimum “B” average over the last two years of your degree
  • References/Recommendations
  • Transcripts
  • Proof of English Language proficiency
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or MET (only for students that are required to submit their proof of language proficiency Test)
  • Other requirements will be specific to your program of study

Admission link: Visit UVIC admission website here

5. Carleton University

Carleton is one of the best Universities in Canada for international graduate students who chose to further their studies in Canada.

At Carleton University, students with as low as a second class lower for international students applying for Pre-master’s program (Postgraduate diploma) are accepted.

Carleton Admission requirements:

  • Minimum of Four-year bachelor‘s degree equivalent
  • 60-69% or 2nd Class (upper division)
  • Transcript(s)
  • Proof of English Language proficiency
  • Referees
  • Statement of Intent (if required)
  • CV/Resume (if required)
  • Writing Sample (if required)
  • Preference Form (if required)
  • Portfolio (if required)
  • GMAT, GRE, or Other test score(s) (if required)
  • Language Proficiency (ESL Test Scores) (if required)
  • Funding Sponsorship (if applicable)
  • Documents for Permanent Residents of Canada (if applicable)
  • Third-Party Authorization Form (optional)

Carleton Application Deadlines:

  • Fall term (September) for the majority of programs
  • Winter term (January) for some programs
  • Summer term (May) for some programs

Admission link: Visit Carleton admission website here

6. University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba provides graduate programs to international students that want to enroll in any postgraduate program at the University.

Interestingly, the university has provided a service known as the University of Manitoba International Centre (IC) to help international students before and after their arrival, to ease their transition to Canada, and to ensure that their experience upon arrival is enjoyable, safe, and successful.

The University of Manitoba has graduate programs that may accept a second class lower degree for international students that have met other admission entry requirements.

University of Manitoba Admission Requirements:

  • English language proficiency
  • Minimum of four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university
  • A minimum B average (3.0) in the last 60 credit hours or equivalent.
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (if stated)
  • Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) (if stated)

Note: some departments or postgraduate programs may have higher standards and may need additional entry requirements and criteria.

Admission link: Visit UMANITOBA admission website here

Those are the universities in Canada that accept second-class lower for national and international students.

Note: each of this universities have specific admission requirements (GPA requirements) for different courses.

To be certain about your chances, I advise you to check the specific admission requirements for your course via their programs’ pages.

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