Families comparing a 2-year Canadian master's program against a shorter, often cheaper 1-year UK/Ireland master's usually weigh cost and duration against longer-term immigration options.
What group members advised:- A 2-year Canadian program generally qualifies for a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and Canada has established Permanent Residence (PR) pathways (like Express Entry and PNP) that build on Canadian work experience — the UK and Ireland don't offer an equivalent direct PR route tied to study.
- Don't decide based on which country is 'better' in the abstract. One member cautioned that the right choice depends on the son's specific career goals and the job market in his field — noting that some sectors (e.g., MBA/management) can be competitive in Canada too.
The practical takeaway: Canada's edge here is the PGWP-to-PR pipeline, but that only matters if the son's career plans actually benefit from settling in Canada long-term — cost and program length shouldn't be the only factors weighed against that.