PG diploma or masters in Data science

[chaitraanand]

Hi

I have completed Bachelor of Engineering in Computer science(2013) and have 5.1yrs of corporate experience. I want to pursue my masters in Data Science in Canada. I visited one consultancy in Bangalore , they asked me to go for PG diploma courses instead of Masters as Job placement would be easy in page than Masters. They also mentioned that most of the Canada colleges doesnt accept students who have education gap of 5+years. Can anyone please help me understand if this criteria is true and suggestions on PG or Masters and also best colleges so that i get enough job opportunities.

Thanks for help!!!

 

[russ6970]

Hi

I have completed Bachelor of Engineering in Computer science(2013) and have 5.1yrs of corporate experience. I want to pursue my masters in Data Science in Canada. I visited one consultancy in Bangalore , they asked me to go for PG diploma courses instead of Masters as Job placement would be easy in page than Masters. They also mentioned that most of the Canada colleges doesnt accept students who have education gap of 5+years. Can anyone please help me understand if this criteria is true and suggestions on PG or Masters and also best colleges so that i get enough job opportunities.

Thanks for help!!!

They also mentioned that most of the Canada colleges doesnt accept students who have education gap of 5+years.
I don't really know about the first part between masters and PG diploma, but the part in bold is not at all true. I got a study permit with a gap of nearly 20 years. For that reason I would be wary about this agent and whether they are just in it to get money off you and not caring about whether you get the permit or not....just my opinion. There are many unscrupulous agents out there. If you satisfy all the criteria of a study permit, for example finances, ties to home country etc and write a good SOP, you should have no issue getting a permit. You also have to figure out where you want to live before choosing a college/university. Canada is a huge country, so do a bit of research on all the provinces. Also choose a public institution if you want to get a PGWP after graduation.

 

[Immstu]

Whatever Russ pointed out above stands ground. Good advice.

Adding to it go for Master's as job prospects are higher in comparison to pg diploma.

Good luck

 

[chaitraanand]

Whatever Russ pointed out above stands ground. Good advice.

Adding to it go for Master's as job prospects are higher in comparison to pg diploma.

Good luck

Thanks Russ and Immstu. Can you please help me to find good PG colleges with good placement opportunity . I don't have anyone in Canada. Am really not sure if i should be choosy about provinces. Can you please suggest me good places to stay

 

[russ6970]

I don't think anyone can suggest where you stay in Canada as it is a personal choice. You really have to do research yourself on this matter...google is great! You are thinking about moving to another country so personal research is a must.

 

[jasz_blr]

Aspiring for Data Science and knocking doors of consultancies ! Something somewhere is terribly wrong.

With 5+ yrs of experience in Bangalore, if you are going to them then you have lot of homework to do my friend. Stand on your feet before its too late.

Just ask yourself one simple question, given a choice between Masters and Diploma candidate whom IBM/Microsoft/etc... will hire ?

Find time and start reading past threads or posts on this forum. It has more than enough information to open your own consultancy.

 

[chaitraanand]

Thanks Jasz. Ya agree with you. But had lot of confusions so had to visit consultancy . I did some research on Masters, but I feel tution fee is more and I don't think I can afford it. Please provide me your suggestions

 

[jasz_blr]

Thanks Jasz. Ya agree with you. But had lot of confusions so had to visit consultancy . I did some research on Masters, but I feel tution fee is more and I don't think I can afford it. Please provide me your suggestions

I think you need to get your priorities correct. If you wish to make a career in Data Science and do not wish to spend lot of money, then you should head to Germany. The curriculum of Data Science programs in Germany is far far better than any program in Canada and it will cost you far far less.

I have a personal opinion that Canadian academia need to streamline their program curriculums as per the need of present time. I mean Microsoft themselves have moved to open source OS and are shutting down shutters on Windows support, and Canadian academia is still teaching .Net and VB. Similarly, their Data Science program content is not at par with USA or Germany. I am not saying that it will not happen but we don't know when.

With all that being said, if you were planning to get PGWP after studies, then I don't think there is any Data Sci. program in Canada which is more than 1 year. May be it is of max 16 months and not beyond that. So in that manner too, there is no use of it.

For an international student, any 2 year program in Canada related to engineering, whether it is PG-Diploma or a Masters it would cost almost same, with 2-3 lakhs here and there.

To sum up, if you wish to pursue Data Sci. then go to Germany and if you wish to pursue Canadian Dream then go for 2 years Masters in Comp Sci Engg. (CSE) because you have Bachelors in CSE. So that is a logical progression.

Good luck !