How Much Does it Cost to Study in Canada?

Keywords: Cost to Study in Canada, Tuition Fees in Canada, Undergraduate Fees in Canada, Postgraduate Fees in Canada, Living Cost in Canada, Part time Student jobs in Canada, Financial aid to study in Canada.

Canada is one of the most popular study destinations for international students. In Canada, tuition fees are generally less expensive than in other major English-speaking destinations (the US, UK, Ireland and Australia), although they are still quite high in comparison to other countries especially Europe.

The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) offers a useful online tool which allows prospective international students to quickly calculate the costs of studying at different universities in Canada, as well as providing guidance on the documents needed to apply.

Also Read: Cost of Studying in UK

Tuition fees in Canada

Universities in Canada set their own fees, and these vary depending on several factors like  course or program, whether you are an international or home student, and the level of studies (undergraduate or postgraduate).

Canadian citizens studying in Canada, pay an average of CA$6,463 per year for an undergraduate degree, and CA$7,056 per year for a graduate degree.

Undergraduate tuition fees in Canada
The average tuition fees for international students for undergraduate level courses is about CA$29714 (~US$22,500) per year.

• Humanities courses tend to be cheaper (averaging $5,542),
• subjects such as engineering and medicine are among the more expensive [an average of CA$21,717 (~US$16,446) for dentistry and $14,162 (~US$10,724) for Medicine]
• Fees for business and management courses are lower, at CA$6,827 (~US$5,170) per year.

Postgraduate tuition fees in Canada
Average postgraduate tuition fee for international students is CA$17,744, which is approximately US$13,437.

Executive MBA programs are generally the most expensive, averaging around CA$56,328 (~US$42,657), while regular MBAs cost CA$27,397 (~US$20,747) on average.

Also Read: Cost of Studying in Singapore

Cost of living in Canada

Although Canadian student visa requirements say you must have at least CA$10,000 (~US$7,570) (or CA$11,000/~US$8,300 if studying in Quebec) on top of your tuition fees, you’ll likely to budget much more than this for your living expenses. Your living costs will vary considerably depending on your location and spending habits, with large cities generally being more expensive.

Some Canadian Universities estimate that students will need a total of CA$14,700 to CA$15,500 per year including housing, food, books and course supplies, phone costs and other miscellaneous expenses. Toronto was ranked as the most expensive Canadian city to live in, followed by Vancouver, according to the 2019 Mercer Cost of Living Survey.

The 3 major types of student housings -homestay, university accommodation and private accommodation, vary considerably in costs.

• On-campus accommodation at CA$3,000-7,500 (~US$2,271 – 5,680) per year.
• Private shared accommodation at around CA$8,400 (~US$6,361) per year plus utility bills.

Here are some examples of average living costs in Canada:

• Cinema ticket: CA$13.50 (~US$10.22)
• Eating out at a restaurant: CA$16 per person (~US$12)
• Loaf of bread: CA$2.86 (~US$2.17)
• Monthly gym fee: CA$48.25 (~US$36.54)
• One-way ticket on local public transport: CA$3 (~US$2.27)

In addition, you will have to purchase compulsory health insurance which will cost you approximately CA$600-800 (~US$455-607) per year.

Student visa and application fees

Applying for a study permit costs CA$150 (~US$114). Click here to read more about how to get a Canadian student visa.

Also Read: Process to apply for Canadian Study Visa

Financial aid to study in Canada

Scholarships, grants and bursaries are available for international students wishing to study in Canada, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Many universities in Canada offer their own scholarships, In all cases, it’s important to apply as early as possible as scholarship funding is limited and highly competitive. One important source of scholarships to study in Canada is the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to students of other Commonwealth countries.

Also Read: Study in Canada with IELTS Band 5.5

Part-time Student jobs in Canada

You can work on or off-campus for up to 20 hours during university semesters and full-time during breaks such as the winter or summer holidays, without the need for a work permit to support yourself while studying in Canada. 

To qualify, you must: 

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

We hope that this blog gave you detailed information on cost of study in Canada including Tuition Fees and living expenses. If you have any doubt or questions, please feel free to arrange a FREE Counselling session with one of our experts over phone or in office at Road to Abroad.

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