1.
Humber College 4.7/5 (28 reviews)
2.
BrainStation 4.7/5 (226 reviews)
3.
General Assembly 4.75/5 (22 reviews)
4.
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies 4.15/5 (15 reviews)
5.
University of Alberta 4.5/5 (4 reviews)
6.
CareerFoundry 4.8/5 (80 reviews)
7.
Digital Marketing Institute 5/5 (12 reviews)
8.
Bow Valley College 5/5 (3 reviews)
9.
George Brown 3.55/5 (11 reviews)
10.
York University School of Continuing Studies 3.9/5 (12 reviews)
11.
University of Calgary 5/5 (5 reviews)
12.
Toronto School of Management (TSoM) 4.8/5 (241 reviews)
13.
Sheridan College 4.5/5 (2 reviews)
14.
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) 3.4/5 (8 reviews)
15.
Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) 5/5 (13 reviews)
16.
Centennial College 4.35/5 (6 reviews)
17.
Growclass 5/5 (16 reviews)
Humber College
With over 33,000 full-time students on three campuses on the Greater Toronto Area, Humber College is the biggest college in Canada.
Humber’s Faculty of Media and Creative Arts delivers a range of certificate, diploma and degree programs in the digital space. Students take part in a unique work-integrated learning opportunity at its media training hub called BuildingF, where they gain real-world experience and direct exposure to industry agencies and creatives through a competitive pitch process guided by faculty mentors. Humber has a strong track record of helping students find work placements and hands-on work experience in digital marketing fields such as social media, public relations, content marketing and more.
Most Humber certificate programs require a BA or diploma for admission.
What Students Are Saying
“Great program. Andrea Tavchar was my prof and she was amazing - a practitioner who also had a PhD in the field. That's the great thing about Humber, you get a strong academic background (theory) with loads of practice, practice, practice. Employers around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) also know Humber very well. ”
Timothy Welland, Social Media
What You’ll Learn
Humber’s social media certificate is a hugely popular program choice among CourseCompare users. Over four courses, you’ll learn SEO tools, creating “link bait,” planning and promoting site content, advertising techniques for most major platforms, social media analytics and designing winning strategies for a business.
Students wishing to expand beyond the social media certificate will find a number of options, including degree, diploma and certificate programs in advertising and marketing, creative advertising, web development and digital communications.
Locations
Toronto, Online
BrainStation
Ten years after its founding, BrainStation has firmly established itself as a recognized leader in digital education. This private training institution is best known for its award-winning coding and web design bootcamps, but also offers training in data analytics, cybersecurity and digital marketing leadership.
Its roster of digital marketing instructors includes proven industry experts from online marketing leaders such as Instagram, Twitter, Ticketmaster and Snap.
More than 90 per cent of its digital marketing graduates find a job within six months of graduation, and have landed roles at Shopify, Slack, PayPal, Ubisoft and Hootsuite, among others.
There are no prerequisites required to begin training with BrainStation.
What Students Are Saying
“My experience as a BrainStation student was one of the best experiences in my life. 2020 was a year that could be defined with the word change. Like so many other people around the world, I was challenged by the pandemic and lost my job due to covid. Learning about digital marketing had been in my mind for years now, but it was one of those things that I didn't pursue before because of time, routine, being comfortable at work, etc. The overall experience was very positive, starting with the learning advisors that made the time to answer every question I had and really walked me through the whole process step by step. The program was fast-paced. I can't emphasize this enough. This is a challenging program that requires your full attention and dedication. I understand every student is different, but in my case, this was the only thing I was able to work on during those 3 months. Between lectures and working on my projects I probably spent around 60 hours per week. The program was challenging but in a very positive way. At first, I was a little bit intimidated by it, especially after 13 years since I attended school, but I was able to adapt very quickly with the support of my educators, my classmates, and family. I would define my overall experience taking this program as "the perfect storm", (right timing, right educators, and right classmates). The educators (Josh Muirhead and Justin Lowe) were amazing, both of them leaders in their area of expertise and now with a commitment to share their knowledge in order to help shape a new generation of digital marketers. Learning from them was one of the most rewarding experiences during this time. The instructors' styles of teaching were very different but in my opinion, I feel we received a very well-balanced learning experience. The content was relevant, the examples they used were always current with what's happening in the industry, and we were always encouraged to seek extra sources of information to stay updated with newer digital marketing trends. The introduction of the capstone project wasn't only a perfect exercise to apply everything that we learned throughout the course but also the perfect output to start our own portfolio to use for potential job opportunities. I could continue describing what my experience or my day to day was like during this time, but all I can say is that this was the best investment I've ever made. ”
Misael Ortiz, Digital Marketing Diploma
What You’ll Learn
BrainStation’s digital marketing course is delivered live and online, but with many options to accommodate your schedule. The program is usually offered over 10 weeks, although an accelerated five-week option is available. The course consists of five units, covering audience engagement, analytics and email marketing. A dedicated social media marketing unit teaches tailored strategies for each of the major platforms, including even TikTok.
Multiple enrolments are available online, and classes are also delivered live in Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Miami and London.
BrainStation also recently introduced the new Online Marketing Leadership program to its roster, a live online, case-based, program designed to help leaders refine their marketing strategies, optimize customer acquisition with marketing roadmaps, and build high-performance marketing teams.
BrainStation believes marketing leadership will play an increasingly important role in the future of modern business. In this live class, students will “learn how to drive visionary leadership and lead marketing teams through the execution of your vision.”
Locations
Online, Toronto, Vancouver, Miami, London, New York, Boston
General Assembly
Since its humble beginning in 2011, General Assembly has quickly established itself as a worldwide pioneer in experiential digital education. What began as a co-working space in midtown Manhattan has exploded in a global learning experience, with campuses across in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia and more than 70,000 alumni worldwide.
GA leverages a robust pipeline of industry professionals to teach in-demand digital skills including data analytics and data science, Python, JavaScript development, UX design, product management and digital marketing in courses designed with employer needs in mind.
Students can learn and hone their skills in a wide range of learning styles: full-time immersive (12 weeks of study), flex immersive (24 weeks) or part-time courses, both in person and online.
GA’s digital marketing program is beginner-friendly with no prerequisites required.
What Students Are Saying
“This course covers EVERYTHING! Branding, strategy, SEO, email marketing, PPC, content marketing, analytics and so on. It's a lot to cover in 10 weeks but it is taught in a way that lets you work on passion projects or actual work (I was about to launch a startup) in the classroom. This has been a major asset for me and helped me build my first landing page and drive traffic to convert sales. What more can I say than that? ”
Sam Thompson, Digital Marketing
What You’ll Learn
Regardless of your chosen course delivery (immersive, flex or part-time and live or online), GA’s digital marketing course delivers a hands-on, project-based experience enabling students to execute marketing plans, measure and optimize digital performance and achieve fluency in essential digital marketing tools like Google AdWords and Facebook.
Course modules include objective-first marketing, customer insights, social media, paid search, SEO and content strategy, and the content and delivery is highly mixed; students complete some self-paced pre-work before a class, and learn through lectures, discussions, presentations and hands-on exercises.
For a final project, students are provided a real-world marketing scenario and challenged to develop and communicate an effective marketing plan.
Locations
Live Online, Toronto, Vancouver, and 13+ other campuses worldwide
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
The University of Toronto consistently ranks as one of the top postsecondary institutions in Canada and among the top 20 in the world. Its School of Continuing Studies (SCS) offers a deep roster of over 800 courses, 50 program areas and 110 certificates across a broad range of fields including arts, business, health, languages and marketing and communications.
If you’re seeking a more intensive training experience, the SCS also runs a part-time virtual bootcamp. Over 18 weeks, the comprehensive curriculum teaches the foundational tools and provides hands-on learning to prepare students to jump straight into the job market. Through a partnership with Facebook, students who complete the bootcamp earn a complimentary voucher for the Facebook certification exam.
Toronto’s SCS offers open enrolment to all non-degree courses to anyone 18 years of age or older.
What You’ll Learn
The SCS’ Digital Marketing Management certificate program delivers a minimum of three courses, 36 hours apiece and available both in-class and online. The program kicks off with foundations of digital strategy and marketing, which covers the strategic and creative essentials of digital marketing, such as web design, email marketing, social media marketing, web analytics and content management.
The other required course, social media strategy, covers new and emerging platforms and the fundamentals of social media campaigns and engagement. Lastly, students can pick a course in SEM or substitute two courses covering SEO and PPC tactics, respectively.
Each course spans approximately 36 hours of instruction. The three core courses are a mix of online and in-person instruction, while the optional SEO and PPC courses are entirely online. Tuition is paid by the course instead of the entire program and students must complete all required courses within three years.
Locations
Toronto, Online
University of Alberta
Located in the provincial capital of Edmonton, the University of Alberta is a top-ranked school with a reputation for leadership in education. Collectively, U of A teachers have won more prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowships for excellence in postsecondary education than any other university in Canada.
Alberta’s Faculty of Extension recently unveiled six new technology certificate programs on in-demand disciplines such as full-stack, Python and digital marketing. In 2021, digital marketing students gained unique real-world experience through a joint program with local and provincial governments where students acted as digital marketing consultants to help local businesses hurt by the ongoing pandemic.
No prerequisites are required for Alberta’s digital marketing program.
What You’ll Learn
The digital marketing certificate program consists of five 12-hour courses offered fully online and on your own schedule. Core courses include digital marketing tactics, analytics and reporting, and a capstone project, which challenges students to apply their learning by planning and executing a real-world digital marketing campaign. Courses are also available in any order, except for the capstone project, which is finished last.
Students then pick three of five elective courses, such as integrated marketing strategy, intellectual property and copyright, and eCommerce sales and marketing. One unique offering is the risk management and crisis response course, where students learn best practices to identify, plan for and mitigate potential threats impacting online business and social media.
Courses are also available individually on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Locations
Edmonton, Online
CareerFoundry
CareerFoundry is a fully online tech academy with a reputation for cutting-edge digital skills training with a strong focus on employable skills and student success.
The Berlin-based school delivers introductory-level and “change your career” programs in sought-after digital disciplines such as marketing, UX and UI design, analytics and web development, as well as advanced courses in animation, Python and front-end development, among others.
Still on the fence? CareerFoundry also offers free short courses in digital marketing — and several other specialties — allowing to you test the waters and get a sense whether it’s the right move for you.
The school’s focus on employability bears fruit; 90% of graduates find a tech job within six months of graduation. And on the off-chance you don’t find work, CareerFoundry’s guarantee promises a full tuition refund.
The only prerequisite for CareerFoundry’s program is a computer and an internet connection.
What You’ll Learn
CareerFoundry’s program is fully online and highly flexible. It’s broken into two primary modules, intro to digital marketing and digital marketing immersion. The intro covers foundational skills and techniques like competitor research, defining your brand and campaign planning. Immersion is a deep dive into myriad tools and techniques like growth strategies, SEO, analytics, website launching, ethical ad strategies and more. All in all, it takes about 650 hours of work to complete, but the flexible pace allows you to complete the program anywhere between 3-7 months, depending on your schedule. Students are also introduced to AI tools that you can leverage in your work as a digital marketer.
While the program is fully online and variably paced, CareerFoundry provides plenty of individual attention to keep you on track, with a personalized mentor, tutor, career specialist and student advisor.
Locations
Online
Digital Marketing Institute
Since its founding in Ireland in 2009, the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) has exploded into a global leader in digital marketing education, with more than 30,000 graduates worldwide. DMI’s certification courses have set an international standard for digital marketing training and are taught in over 130 countries. The institute works with digital experts at companies including Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft and IBM to define the tools and qualifications vital for digital marketing professionals.
DMI’s influential platform powers the curricula at Canadian postsecondary institutions such as the University of Lethbridge, University Canada West and the Toronto School of Management. In the U.S., it shares partnerships with major schools such as Kent State, Penn State and Auburn.
What Students Are Saying
“This is a great online course. DMI sets the curriculum for many colleges in Canada and around the world. After completing the course, I knew enough about PPC campaigns, social media marketing and SEO to launch my own small business from home where I work with about 6 different clients. I had marketing experience beforehand, about 4 years, but very little digital knowledge or skills. I haven't looked back! ”
Colin Campbell, Certified Digital Marketing Professional
What You’ll Learn
DMI offers multiple certification programs, including an “expert-level” certification and two-year Masters in digital marketing. Its most popular course is the professional diploma in digital marketing, a 44-week program covering content marketing, SEO, website optimization, analytics, email marketing, PPC and video advertising.
Given its widely recognized, industry-standard curriculum, a DMI certification provides a leg up in the job market; according to DMI statistics, 95 per cent of its graduates are currently employed, 88 per cent are working at a senior management level and 81 per cent were promoted after achieving DMI certification.
Locations
Online
Bow Valley College
Calgary-based Bow Valley College prides itself on its diverse student body; in the past three decades, more than 15,000 students from 148 different countries have studied at its eight campuses, including locations in Calgary, High River, Cochrane and scenic Banff and Canmore.
Bow Valley students tend to flourish in the job market, with an 86 per cent graduate employment rate. Applicants to its digital marketing certificate program are required to have a previous diploma or degree, although exceptions may be made based on relevant prior experience or education.
What You’ll Learn
At Bow Valley, you’ll earn your digital marketing certification through a blend of online and in-person training, with live classroom sessions delivered on the downtown Calgary campus. The program involves 10 courses over two academic terms, eight months in total, which cover essential skills such as effective communication, coding, data analysis and compelling design. The first term includes courses in digital media production, web design and user experience, then follows up with advanced versions in the second term.
The program also aims to give students a jump start in the job hunt by offering an optional employment search preparation course, which helps hone your job-hunting and self-promotion skills through resume, portfolio and interview preparation.
Locations
Calgary, Online
George Brown
With its strong emphasis on experiential learning and campus in the heart of downtown Toronto, George Brown offers students a jump start in a digital marketing career.
The college emphasizes hands-on learning through apprenticeships, co-ops and field placements in real or simulated workspaces. Fully 100 per cent of career-focused programs at George Brown include at least one experiential learning opportunity. With a campus in the heart of a robust job market, students can get their feet in the door with some of Canada’s biggest and most in-demand employers.
Admission to George Brown’s program requires a previous postsecondary degree or diploma, or proof of demonstrated and relevant work experience.
What You’ll Learn
George Brown’s digital marketing program is intensive, with 13 mandatory courses delivered over two semesters. Students can choose hybrid delivery (60 per cent in-person and 40 per cent online) or a fully online experience. Courses include applied business communication, marketing fundamentals, search marketing, omnichannel marketing, database marketing strategies as well as a capstone project where students develop and present an integrated marketing campaign
In keeping with the college’s emphasis on experiential learning, students must also complete a one-semester co-op placement to develop their skills in a real-world environment.
Locations
Toronto, Online
York University School of Continuing Studies
With more than 55,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs in campuses across the Greater Toronto Area, York is the second-largest university in Canada.
York’s School of Continuing Studies offers two digital marketing programs. The post-graduate certificate in digital marketing is aimed at international students and recent postsecondary grads entering the digital marketing field. The certificate program is geared towards those already in the industry.
Admission to the post-graduate program is competitive and requires a BA or three-year college diploma with a 70 per cent average. The certificate program offers open enrolment.
What You’ll Learn
The two programs vary greatly in length, intensity and delivery.
The certificate program consists of just three courses, but each does a deep dive into key skills such as CRM management, web reporting and consumer behaviour. Students can choose their approach to program delivery, either blended or intensive. Both combine in-person and asynchronous online training but at a different pace. In the blended program, students will typically complete a course in eight weeks. In the intensive route, courses are completed in four weeks and a student can earn their certificate in under three months.
The postgraduate program covers eight courses including content creation and marketing automation. Classes typically take place in person on York’s main campus and the entire program is completed in eight months.
Locations
Toronto, Online
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary regularly ranks among the top 10 universities in Canada. Situated in Alberta’s most populous city and near the banks of the Bow River, the University hosts more than 33,000 students studying in 250-plus programs on five campuses, including a location in Qatar.
The university boasts strong employability numbers, with 94% of students finding work, and more than 80% landing a job in their chosen field.
There are no firm prerequisites for Calgary’s digital marketing certificate program, although previous marketing experience is recommended. Failing that, potential applicants are encouraged to take a marketing principles course before getting started.
What You’ll Learn
Calgary’s digital marketing program is highly flexible; courses are delivered fully online, can be completed at your own pace and can be taken in any order after one introductory course is complete. Each course includes 20 hours of instruction on topics such as promotion and optimization, social platforms and content management. Enrolment dates for the different courses are variable, but each course is offered multiple times throughout the year.
Digital marketing students may also be eligible for a $750 scholarship, depending on their level of academic achievement and demonstrated community involvement.
Locations
Online, Calgary
Toronto School of Management (TSoM)
The Toronto School of Management (TSoM) is a private training institution located, appropriately enough, on College Street in downtown Toronto. TSoM first opened its doors in October 2017, but has quickly acquired a reputation for its strong programs and student satisfaction. The school recently won “Best Adult Education” in the Toronto Star Reader’s Choice poll for the second straight year and was also recognized as a regional winner in the Study Portal Global Student Satisfaction Awards for 2021.
The school places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and its digital marketing program includes a lengthy co-op placement for students to hone their skills and gain relevant work experience.
Admission to TSoM’s program requires an Ontario high school diploma or a passing grade on the Wonderlic cognitive ability test.
What You’ll Learn
Be prepared for an intensive program; digital marketing certification at TSoM, stretches over 36 weeks, with 480 hours of blended online learning over 24 weeks, and another 12 weeks of co-op learning.
Course modules include Google SEO, Google Ads and campaign management, all of which include preparation for industry certification exams such as Facebook Blueprint and Google Analytics Certification. Graduates also gain an additional certificate from the internationally recognized Digital Marketing Institute.
Another course module is devoted entirely to copywriting and the techniques required for effective blogs, newsletters, emails, ads, landing pages and other web content.
Locations
Toronto
Sheridan College
Sheridan is one of Ontario’s largest public colleges, with more than 22,000 students studying on three campuses in the Greater Toronto Area. It’s best-known for its world-renowned animation program but also boasts strong business and technology programs. Sheridan’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS) delivers more than 500 programs and courses to nearly 15,000 students.
CAPS is home to a strong digital marketing program which recently began sharing its expertise with small businesses. In 2021 and 2022, the college offered a free 12-week digital marketing training for independent operators hit hard by COVID-19.
All CAPS programs have open enrollment, with no prerequisites required.
What You’ll Learn
Sheridan’s program includes both asynchronous online learning and virtual classroom sessions. It consists of six courses, including digital marketing fundamentals, data acquisition and marketing analytics, SEM, and a dedicated course on mobile marketing − each with 42 hours of learning time.
The sixth course is an applied project where you’ll develop and implement a digital marketing campaign. Courses can be taken in any order, save for the applied project component, which is completed last.
For those just dipping a toe into digital marketing, Sheridan also offers a streamlined program called the digital marketing foundations recognition of achievement, which covers just the three core courses of the certificate program: fundamentals, social media marketing and SEM. Those complete courses can later be applied toward the full certificate.
Locations
Mississauga, Toronto, Online
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has provided essential career-focused training and skills development for over a century. The Calgary-based polytechnic institute first opened in 1916 to train veterans returning from the First World War.
Its continuing education centre offers over 1,000 courses and 93 part-time certificate programs, and prides itself on intimate learning experiences with a 20:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
SAIT provides students with tools to succeed in the job market, boasting a 90 per cent graduate employment rate among its continuing education students. No prerequisites are required for the digital marketing program.
What You’ll Learn
SAIT’s digital marketing and social media certificate program consists of seven compulsory courses varying between eight and 16 hours apiece. Given the fast pace, the program can be completed in under a year. Tuition is paid by the course and, with no prerequisites in place, can be taken in any order. Courses cover essential bases such as digital paid media, website and content management, SEO, direct marking, and social media and content distribution.
Classes are typically delivered live and in-person on the main campus in Calgary, although virtual learning is currently in place. Classroom learning is currently scheduled to resume in spring and summer 2022 courses.
Locations
Calgary
Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB)
The Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) is located in downtown Vancouver, B.C., one of the most diverse cities in Canada and a regular on lists of the most livable cities in the world.
CCTB is a private training academy teaching some of the most in-demand business and tech skills today. It delivers eight diploma programs in sought-after specialties such as cybersecurity, business administration, database development and two different digital marketing diploma programs.
Admission to either of CCTB’s programs requires applicants to have a high school diploma or be at least 19 years old.
What You’ll Learn
Both programs consist of eight identical courses covering essentials such as web design, copywriting, sponsored campaign management and compliance. Courses are delivered at CCTB in Vancouver.
The main differences between the two programs are the time required to complete, the delivery method and the length of the work experience placement.
The co-op version is the longer program, taking 73 weeks to complete (although a fast-track option can earn your certificate in one year). The practicum takes just 32 weeks, although is a more intensive learning experience with more classroom hours per week.
The co-op placement offers more real-world experience with a 24-week placement, while the practicum placement lasts six weeks.
Locations
Vancouver
Centennial College
Centennial was Ontario’s first public college and ranks among the larger colleges in the province, with over 44,000 full- and part-time students across its five Toronto campuses. The college’s robust business school offers nearly 20 different certificate programs, including digital engagement strategy.
Admission to Centennial’s program requires a three-year college diploma in business or marketing with a minimum 3.0 GPA, although students with a two-year diploma or partial university degree plus two years of relevant work experience will be considered. All applicants must also complete a written cognitive skills assessment.
What You’ll Learn
Certification from Centennial requires seven courses over two semesters, in a blended delivery with each class clocking in between 3-4 hours each week.
The program kicks off with an co-op/employment preparedness course, where you’ll hone career development skills like resume and portfolio-building, networking, interview strategies and workplace best practices. Subsequent courses include customer segmentation and journey mapping, innovation and change management, omni-channel retailing and finally, a capstone project in the second semester. Students can also apply for optional co-op term to apply and develop their skills in a live workplace environment.
The program’s coursework also positions students to earn industry certifications such as Facebook Blueprint, Google Ads and Google Analytics.
Locations
Toronto
Growclass
Toronto-based Growclass takes pride in delivering not just vital digital marketing skills but also a community-based educational experience. The private training hub is a highly inclusive community of students, graduates and industry experts advising, coaching and supporting one another through their education and career development. Growclass is in some ways the Canadian cousin to the U.S.-based platform Reforge, which teaches digital skills via platforms developed by industry leaders from Tinder, Facebook, Uber and other digital leaders.
Growclass is open to all, and provides different plans depending on your needs. Prices start as low as US$98 per month, which provides access to self-guided courses, membership in its private Slack community, workshops and exclusive webinars. More comprehensive plans range as a high as US$2,799 per year, which includes personalized career coaching and other benefits.
What Students Are Saying
“I'm a marketing team of one at a smaller company, which can be lonely and also means I don't have people to run ideas by, or ask questions of. Growclass has changed that. I've gained so many growth marketing skills, which I started implementing at work as early as week 1 of Growclass, but it has also given me a community of people to ask questions to, and help give me ideas. Everyone in Growclass is working on the most diverse and interesting projects, and I truly enjoy logging into the slack channel every day to see what everyone is up to. I cannot recommend Growclass enough! ”
Meredith Grubb, Growth Marketing
What You’ll Learn
Growclass delivers a highly flexible learning model, with courses available on demand. The curriculum consists of eight modules, each of which include between 6-12 video lessons to consume at your own pace, but can be completed in as little as eight weeks.
The first module covers growth mindset and experimentation where you’ll learn strategies for acquisition, engagement, retention and referral, among others. Module two covers customer psychology, followed by hands-on courses in copywriting, email marketing, SEO and separate modules for Facebook Ads and Google Ads, respectively. If you’re ever needing a refresher, course materials remain available for up to a year after graduation.
Locations
Self-paced online modules, plus live online coaching