Why not think about taking short Courses in Canada it can lead you to Permanent Residency visa in Canada Short Courses: Types and Difference Short courses in Canada are offered in the form of Diploma and Certificate courses that focus on a particular specialization and aim to make the students industry-ready. The main difference between these two lies in terms of duration and depth of study. A certificate course lasts only for a year while a diploma may take two-three years to complete. 6-month certificate courses are also available at some colleges of Canada. Colleges in Canada offer diploma and certificate courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level: Post-secondary diploma/Certificate: Students can apply for post-secondary diploma/certificate course after completing their secondary education. Some certificate courses are offered at high school level too. Duration of the diploma courses is usually two years. It may extend up to three or ...