Cost of Studying in Canada

Canada is one of the most popular destinations for international students worldwide. The country offers a wide variety of opportunities; it is known for its vast expanses, multicultural cities and scenic beauty. If you plan to study in Canada, the silver lining is that the tuition fees are comparatively less expensive than other major study abroad destinations such as the US, UK and Australia. The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) provides an online tool which allows international aspirants to virtually calculate the costs of studying at different Canadian universities, along with providing guidance on the documents required to apply. Before you depart from India, you need to ensure that your expenses like food, accommodation, health coverage and travel, apart from your tuition fees, are covered.

The following are the top things to consider while estimating the cost of studying in Canada:

Tuition Fee

Canadian universities set their own fee, and these differ depending on factors such as the program you’ve chosen, whether you are an international or a domestic student, and whether you’re going for an undergraduate course in Canada or a postgraduate level (MS/MBA) course. The latest report from Statistics Canada showed that tuition fees in Canada rose by an average of 7.6% for international undergraduates in 2019-2020.

For an international student, the expenditure on tuition fee can be approximately between CAD 13,000 and CAD 35,000 a year, depending upon the type of qualification.

Approximate Annual Tuition Fee (in CAD)*

Funding Options

Grants, scholarships and bursaries are easily accessible to international students who wish to study in Canada, at undergraduate, postgraduate, as well as doctorate levels. These include specific scholarships for academic or sporting achievement, and subject-specific scholarships.

Many Canadian universities offer their own scholarships. Therefore, you can also apply for a scholarship offered by the specific university at which you plan to study. It is crucial to apply as early as possible as scholarship funding is limited and highly competitive; your admissions consultant can timely guide you with it. International applicants can also research study abroad scholarships offered by private organisations in their home country.

Part-time Jobs in Canada

In order to support yourself while studying in Canada, you can get a part-time job on or off-campus for up to 20 hours during university semesters and full-time during winter and summer breaks, without the need for a work permit. To be eligible for this, you must:

• Be a full-time student
• Have a valid study permit
• Be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level
• Be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that gets you a degree, diploma or certificate in at least six months.
• Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.

Cost of living in Canada

As per the Canadian student visa requirements, you must have at least CAD 10,000 (or CAD 11,000 if studying in Quebec) in addition to your tuition fee. However, you will have to budget more than the quoted amount for your living expenses. Your living costs will differ considerably depending on the location you choose and your spending habits. The living cost in large cities is generally high.

The Université de Montréal estimates that students need a total of CAD 14,700 annually to cover food, housing, accommodation, books and course supplies, phone costs and miscellaneous expenses. The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, estimates annual living costs of CAD 15,500 (excluding mandatory health insurance, which is CAD 864 per year under the BC Health Plan). Toronto is considered to be the most expensive Canadian city to live in, followed by Vancouver, with rent particularly high in both cities.

Expert Canada education consultants can help you figure out how to budget your study abroad experience. Here are some examples of average living costs in Canada*, as per January 2023:

*These are estimates and vary from region to region

Student visa and application fees

To study in Canada, you need to get a Canadian study permit (which costs CAD 150), which serves as a student visa for the duration of your stay. However, if your course/program lasts six months or less, then you do not need a study permit. The fees to apply to Canadian universities vary as per the university.

A study abroad counselling service specialist, Manya – The Princeton Review, can help you navigate the same. With more than 17 years’ proven experience in placing thousands of students in Canadian universities, Manya’s expert advisors can help you bag your dream university admit in Canada. Please get in touch with us to know more.

Find Your Dream University

If you are planning to study abroad and searching to match your profile with the best suited university, Experts at Manya – The Princeton Review have gathered important information of top Universities from abroad. Surely, this information will help you narrow down your quest for universities.

You can access accurate & authentic information related to rankings, application fees, average tuition fees, cost of living, scholarships, latest updates, and much more from more than 1000+ universities. You may also search for universities by name, country, or courses in common specializations, such as Physics, Finance, Business, Language and Culture, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Computer and IT, Media and Communication Marketing.

Manya – The Princeton Review offers end-to-end study abroad services encompassing admissions consulting services, test preparation, English language training, career assessment, and international internship opportunities to study abroad aspirants.