Cost of Studying in Canada

How Much does it Cost to Study in Canada?

With 96 universities in the country, prospective international students have a wide range of opportunities to choose from when it comes to studying in Canada. One of the most important aspects of making a university decision often comes down to the price of tuition. Luckily, Canada is known for its more affordable universities that still compete with those in top destinations like the US, UK, and Australia.

Even so, students should take a few factors into consideration when it comes to choosing which university to study at, keeping tuition fees in mind:

Which province of Canada will you study in?

Much likes regions and states in the US or countries in the UK, the average price of university for international students varies largely on the location of the school a student chooses. With 10 provinces to choose from, here are the three most cost-effective, on average, for international students. These exclude both Prince Edward Island and New Foundland/Labrador, which both only have one university, respectively.

1. Manitoba

Located in the middle of Canada to the west of Ontario, Manitoba is home to 6 major Canadian Universities, which have average annual tuition fees of 9,589 CAD for international students. University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba are two of the schools in the region, offering students a variety of study emphases. Winnipeg is the largest city in the region, and the province is known for its landscape full of lakes and rivers, mountains, forests and prairies that stretches from northern Arctic tundra to Hudson Bay.

2. New Brunswick

One of Canada’s easternmost provinces and located directly Northeast of the US’s Maine, New Brunswick hosts students from around the world at one of its 4 world-class universities. Popular schools like University of New Brunswick and Yorkville University attract the world’s brightest students, and offer courses at an average annual tuition fee of 14,016 CAD to international students. The province is home to a myriad of rivers, pine forests, mountains, and the Bay of Fundy, known for aggressive but beautiful tides and whale-watching. The city of St. John is home to the long-standing St. John City Market's many food vendors.

3. Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s 9 universities provide its students with high-quality education at an average annual tuition fee of 14,590 CAD for international visitors. The region is even further east than New Brunswick and borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Fundy. Saint Mary’s University and Cape Breton University offer students top-notch courses and position them in proximity to some of the best that Nova Scotia has to offer. Situated on a peninsula with many smaller offshore islands, it is home to puffins and seals, and popular for water sports like kayaking.

What Field will you study?

As is the case in many countries, the cost of tuition for international students often depends largely upon the field in which they pursue a degree. Those in the humanities tend to pay less on average than those studying science and medicine. These generalities also tend to be true in Canada. Dentistry and Veterinarian studies have the highest tuition fees, clocking in at around 53,000 CAD and 58,000 CAD. On the other end of the spectrum, those studying education will pay around 17,000 CAD, nursing students will pay 18,000 CAD, and humanities and visual arts will pay 20,000 CAD.

What housing situation do you prefer?

Like most other countries, Canada offers a variety of student housing options, ranging from on-campus housing to off-campus apartments to home stays. Of course, home stays are typically free of charge or lower cost than other options, though they do often require students to help out around the house and follow possibly strict family rules and traditions.

Students with the opportunity to live on-campus, conveniently located near their classes. Rooms can vary in size and in quality, and many dormitories have shared kitchens, toilets, showers, and laundry facilities. There is usually an option of having either a shared or private room, and dormitories are often separated by gender. In some cases, there are cafeterias and meal plans that can be included in the cost of the room. Most dormitories come furnished, and are an ideal way to become involved in campus activities and meet other students. The average cost of a dormitory in Canada ranges from 3,000 CAD to 7,500 CAD, annually.

For those that choose to live off-campus, rent for an apartment in Canada can range from about 500 CAD to 1,500 CAD per month, depending on the city or neighborhood and the type of accommodation. Of course shared apartments with roommates will save students money compared to living alone, especially considering the fact that, as a renter, you may also need to pay additional monthly costs for utilities such as electricity, home phone, Internet and cable television, as well as renters’ insurance.