Canada is among the world’s famous Study Abroad destinations for international students, offering various experiences and opportunities. Education costs are considered affordable in Canada when compared with other leading Study Abroad countries such as the USA, UK and Australia. International students can study in Canada for free or nominal tuition fees, as many institutes in Canada grant scholarships and other funding options. There are also easy educational loan options and part-time work to pay your fees on time.

Educational fee costs differ in Canada depending on the institution, course, province, and lifestyle. Generally, international students pay much higher tuition fees than local citizens. The decision to pay higher tuition fees for a given field of Study in Canada can be influenced by potential employment opportunities and future expected returns.

International students can access the online portal of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) to quickly calculate the costs of studying at various Canadian universities and get an idea about their eligibility and the list of documents required.

Average Tuition Fees in Canada

New data from the Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs (TLAC) survey in Canada show that average tuition fees have decreased for Canadian students from 2018/2019 to 2022/2023 in constant dollars to adjust for inflation. However, tuition fees in constant dollars have continued to increase for international students, especially undergraduates.

The gap in tuition fees between Canadian and foreign students is higher for undergraduate students than for graduate students. The rising number of overseas students, combined with the higher tuition fees they pay compared with Canadian students, has contributed to the increase in the share of tuition fee revenues of Canadian universities versus provincial funding.

The survey provides an idea of how much does it cost to study in Canada for international students. Undergraduate international students are set to pay an average of $36,123 in 2022/23 session, around an 8% enhancement from the last educational period. Like Canadian students, foreigners will pay more fees for medicine ($58,790), 59,515 for dentistry, and veterinary medicine ($68,256) programs as tuition fees.

For overseas graduate students the normal educational fees will be $21,111, a 4.3% rise from previous period. Executive MBA costs $76,687 and normal MBA programs at $41,767 remain the costly study courses.

Institutions in Ontario charge the highest tuition fees with average of $27,149 for international graduates and $45,242 undergraduate programs. The lowest tuition fees on an average $16,786 for undergraduate and $5,327 graduate international students are in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Consider other cost factors

There are other costs beyond tuition fees which international students need to be aware to prepare their budget. It includes living expenses, housing, communication, and books. Enough money to meet your financial needs while studying in Canada before you start are important requirements of study visa in Canada. Build your finances early on by obtaining scholarships and lower-interest educational loans.

Housing

Many universities offer residences on-campus for students. But admission at a Canadian institute does not mean you can automatically get a residential room. Students apply separately to get on-campus residence, and accommodation costs differ across institutions. It will depend on whether you want a separate room or a food plan.

Transportation

If you live far from the educational institution to lower residential costs, transportation costs may be higher. Many students, especially in big cities, prefer public transport like buses, commuter trains, subways or ferries.

Health insurance

Medical coverage and health insurance is mandatory for international students. The costs of insurance vary according to the province. British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick generally cover foreign students under their provincial health care plans. However, overseas students choosing Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island or Quebec for study must arrange for private health insurance.

Contact our expert study abroad consultants today to help calculate your overall expenses and estimate the cost of living in Canada. Discuss with DM’s International Education Specialists in Dubai today how to get scholarships for your studies from internationally recognised universities in Canada and help in availing educational loans.