PhD in Canada Online (2025–2026): Best Online Doctorate Canada, Funding & Shortest Programs
Are you in search of best PhD in Canada Online Programs, then here at Top PhD Online we present you the accredited hybrid and doctoral programs offered by top Canadian Universities. We offer you the chance to explore and compare online PhD Canada options including funding, completion timeline, fastest and shortest PhD programs in Canada as well No Dissertation Doctorate option available.
Most of the online doctoral programs offered by Canadian universities are professional doctorate programs like EdD, DBA, DNP etc., this does not mean that Online PhD Canada are not available there are plenty of Online PhD programs in Canada is also available but most of these traditional PhD program are available on campus or hybrid though some departments offer flexible online options. On the other Online Doctorate programs in Canada are available in fully online or with short residencies.
Why Study for a PhD Online in Canada?
- Globally Respected Degrees – Online PhD and doctorate programs offered by Canadian universities are highly recognized globally.
- Ideal for International Students – Fully Online options offer you the opportunity to earn your degree without relocating to Canada as well it also offers visa policies and funding options
- Online & Distance Learning –100% online PhD programs- offering you the flexibility to study from anywhere in world as per your own schedule.
- Funding & Scholarships – Many universities offer fully funded PhD programs in Canada
- No GRE Required – Most programs do not require GRE or GMAT
- Capstone/Project Options – Some allow alternatives to traditional dissertations
Top Online PhD Canada Options
Athabasca University
- Program: Doctorate in Distance Education (EdD)
- Format: Fully Online
- Length: 3–5 years
- Dissertation: Required (research-based)
- Funding: Limited internal scholarships
Royal Roads University
- Program: Doctor of Social Sciences (DSocSci)
- Format: Blended (Online + short residencies)
- Length: ~4 years
- Funding: Some external scholarships available
University of Toronto (School of Continuing Studies)
- Program: Executive Doctorate Options (Professional Streams)
- Format: Hybrid / Online Modules
- Highlights: World-ranked university with strong research credentials
- Note: Typically research-based & highly selective
University of British Columbia (UBC)
- Program: PhD in Education (with online/hybrid options)
- Length: ~4–6 years
- Format: Distance with some on-campus events
- Funding: Strong support for international students
Top Online Doctorate Programs in Canada (2025-2026)
For you quick review, we present some of the top Candian Universities offering online doctoral programs in Canada in different in demand disciplines.
University | Program (example) | Format | Typical Duration | Notes |
Athabasca University | EdD in Distance Education | Online + 1-week on-site orientation | 3–5 years | Cohort model; dissertation required |
Athabasca University | DBA | Online | 4+ years | Applied research doctorate for professionals |
Ontario Tech University | EdD | Fully online | ~3 years | Profession-focused, online delivery |
University of Calgary (Werklund) | EdD | Blended (online + short residency) | 3–6 years | Online + two-week summer residency |
Royal Roads University | DBA / DSocSci | Hybrid (online + short residencies) | 4–5 years | Interdisciplinary, applied research formats |
Best Online PhD & Doctorate Programs in Canada (2025–2026)
Athabasca University — Online Doctorates
- EdD in Distance Education: Online with a mandatory 1-week on-site orientation. Dissertation required.
- DBA: Fully online applied research doctorate for senior professionals.
Ontario Tech University — Fully Online EdD
- Doctor of Education delivered entirely online in a structured 3-year format, designed for working educators and leaders.
University of Calgary (Werklund School of Education) — Blended EdD
- Blended model with online coursework and a two-week summer residency. Cohort structure with flexible timelines (3–6 years).
Royal Roads University — Hybrid Doctorates
- DBA and Doctor of Social Sciences delivered via online coursework + short on-campus residencies. Focused on applied, interdisciplinary research.
Online Doctorate Programs Canada — Subject (PhD, EdD, PsyD, DBA, Criminal Justice, IT, DNP)
It is far easy for you to choose the right Doctoral Program online, if you know your career goals, and the first step in the process is to choose the right subject for your doctorate or PhD Online. Here for your quickreview, we mentioned some of the best online PhD and Doctorate Programs in Canada offered by the top accredited universities.
For more options and details you can check our online PhD and Doctorate by Subject page, where you find the comprehensive list of best online Doctoral Programs offered in Canada and other countries.
Doctorate Type | Typical Audience | Delivery in Canada | Example Universities / Programs |
PhD | Academic researchers in various fields | Limited fully online; often hybrid or low-residency | Departmental online/hybrid PhDs at select universities (varies by faculty) |
EdD (Doctor of Education) | Experienced educators seeking applied research | Fully online / Blended | Ontario Tech (fully online EdD), University of Calgary (blended EdD), Athabasca (online EdD) |
PsyD / Psychology Doctorates | Psychology professionals; clinical or applied research | Mostly on-campus for clinical; some research PhDs offer hybrid elements | No fully online PsyD in Canada; hybrid PhD study sometimes possible via departmental approval |
DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) | Senior managers / executives | Online / Blended | Athabasca DBA (online), Royal Roads DBA (blended) |
Criminal Justice / Related Fields | Law enforcement, criminology researchers | Hybrid / research-focused | Typically PhDs in Criminology or Justice Studies (e.g., SFU, Ottawa); delivery varies |
IT / Technology | Technical professionals, academic researchers | Mostly hybrid / online coursework + research | Some computing/IT PhDs allow distance modes; no dedicated online professional doctorates in tech yet |
DNP / Nursing | Nursing leaders, clinical practitioners | Blended / low-residency | Online DNP is not common in Canada; nursing doctorates are typically campus-based PhDs or EdDs with clinical or leadership focus |
Fully Funded Online PhD Programs” in Canada — What’s Realistic
Most of the online doctoral Programs including Online PhD and Doctorate Online Programs in Canada come via three agencies- (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) and university assistantship. These funding awards mostly support in recognized research programs- These funding options are strictly depending on merit, eligibility and structure
Online PhD and Doctorate Scholarship and Funding in Canada overview:
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D): Consolidated Tri-Agency funding program for doctoral students.
- University scholarships / assistantships: Offered by major research universities; modality (online vs on-campus) must align with department policy.
- Employer sponsorship: Common for EdD/DBA candidates.
- Employer Sponsorships – Often available in EdD, DProf, or DBA programs
- Graduate Assistantships – Teaching or research roles with tuition waivers and stipends
There is no blanket “fully funded online PhD Canada” scheme — funding is tied to program + student eligibility.
Tip: Many programs do not require the GRE, and some allow capstone projects instead of dissertations.
Cheapest Online PhD Programs Canada — How to Compare
Many accredited universities in Canada offers low tuition fee and cheapest Online PhD and Doctorate Programs in Canada.
To identify the cheapest online PhD Canada, compare:
- Domestic vs International tuition
- Program fees vs per-credit pricing
- Residency travel costs for hybrid programs
- Scholarships or funding offsets
Where to check current numbers:
- Athabasca University Tuition — updated annually
- Ontario Tech Graduate Fees
- Royal Roads Tuition Tables
Canadian graduate fees are usually lower than US equivalents, especially for domestic students, but international tuition can vary widely by program.
Shortest PhD Programs Online in Canada — What’s Possible Online
Online PhD programs in Canada are typically longer and require atleast 4-6+ years to complete, if you want to fast and shortest option than you have the option to enroll in fastest online Doctorate Programs with fixed timeline.
Traditional Canadian PhDs typically last 4–6+ years. If you want the shortest doctoral pathway online, look at professional doctorates with fixed timelines
- Ontario Tech EdD — fully online, ~3 years
- Western University EdD — fully online, 3 years (Dissertation-in-Practice model)
- Calgary EdD — blended, structured cohort
- Athabasca EdD – Self-paced, fully online
- Royal Roads DProf / DSocSci – No GRE and flexible project-based assessment
These Shortest Online Doctorate Programs in Canada has equally accredited and have same rigorous coursework but designed in a manner to meet the requirements of working professionals.
* For more details and option for Fastest Online Doctorate Programs, please check Fast Online Doctorate Programs Section.
No-Dissertation Online Doctorate Canada — What to Expect
To make online doctoral programs easy most of the universities in Canada start offering No-Dissertation Online Doctorate Programs replacing traditional dissertation with applied research projects, portfolios or dissertation in practice formats. This shift in the format makes online doctorate programs short and fast as well affordable.
Program | Delivery | Dissertation Alternative | Notes |
Western University EdD | Fully online | Dissertation-in-Practice | 3-year doctorate designed for practitioner impact |
Royal Roads DBA | Blended | Applied doctoral research | Practice-focused |
Ontario Tech EdD | Fully online | Applied doctoral project | Professionally oriented program |
Research PhDs in Canada still require a traditional thesis and oral defense.
- For more No Dissertation Online Doctorate Options Please check our Online Doctorate without Dissertation Section
International Alternatives — Online PhD & Doctorate Programs Outside Canada
For your comparison and review, below are some top online International Universities other than Canada offering accredited, affordable and fast online PhD and Doctorate Programs. These universities form USA, UK, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands offer accredited online doctoral programs, often with different funding or residency structures. You can compare these international options alongside with Online PhD Canada to choose the best program meeting your career goals, budget and other requirements.
Country | Example Universities | Program / Format | Notes |
USA | Capitol Technology University, University of Central Florida, Fielding Graduate University | Online / HybridPhD, EdD, DBA, DNP | Large variety of programs; some public universities offer competitive tuition and employer funding options |
UK | University of Leicester, Reading, Portsmouth, Warwick | Distance PhD and Hybrid DBA / EdD | Formal PhD by Distance frameworks; transparent fee structures; strong triple-accredited DBA schools |
Australia | University of Southern Queensland, Charles Sturt University | PhD (Distance) / Hybrid | Flexible for international students; research-based doctorates with lower tuition than many US peers |
Germany | FernUniversität Hagen | Fully distanceresearch doctorates (select fields) | Public tuition is low; requires German or English depending on program |
Netherlands | Maastricht University | Hybrid executive DBA | Triple-accredited EU business school; structured professional doctorates for senior leaders |
- For more Best Online PhD and Doctorate Programs around the world please visit our Online PhD By Country Section
Yes, Online PhD programs in Canada are open for international students, though most of the programs are offered fully online so you don’t need visa requirements but in case you need to than it offer visa support for hybrid/residency visits if needed.
Yes — Athabasca, Royal Roads, and UBC offer fully or mostly online options.
Yes — through Canadian government programs or university assistantships.
Yes — several professional doctorates are project-based and GRE-free.
Yes — it offers a long-standing online EdD and an online DBA with national recognition.
Ontario Tech EdD and Western EdD (both ~3 years, online) are among the shortest structured professional doctorates.
Yes, through Tri-Agency and university awards — but eligibility depends on your program and supervisor, not just your delivery mode.