Canada is one of the world’s most popular study destinations; so much so that the Canada international student population rose to more than one million in 2023. This is not without good reason — to study in Canada means access to excellent education, plentiful career prospects, a welcoming culture and breathtaking natural landscapes.
A big consideration for any international student is Canada study abroad costs. How much would it really cost to become a Canada international student? In this article, we’ll go through the different general costs to study in Canada to help students gain a broad overview of their possible expenses.
Canada study abroad costs
When discussing the topic of Canada study abroad costs, tuition fees would be a primary consideration. Statistics Canada tells us that “[a]t the national level, full-time graduate students will pay, on average, CAD7,437 for the 2022/2023 academic year, whereas undergraduate students will pay CAD6,834. This represents a 1.7% and 2.6% increase, respectively, from the previous year.”
However, tuition fee costs can vary greatly across different regions in the country. Graduate students in Nova Scotia (CAD10,591) pay the highest tuition fees (CAD10,591), followed by those in Ontario (CAD9,385) and British Columbia (CAD9,994). On the contrary, those who study in Newfoundland and Labrador (CAD3,759) and Quebec (CAD3,582) pay the lowest in Canada.
The stark nuances in fees are also present among different levels and fields of study. For example, among graduate students, those known to pay the highest tuition fees are Canada international students studying:
- executive Master of Business Administration (MBA): CAD53,227
- regular MBA: CAD30,464
- business, management and public administration: CAD14,823
- dentistry: CAD13,223
- mathematics, computer and information sciences: CAD8,902
- engineering: CAD7,454.
There’s a very useful online tool offered by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) that helps prospective Canada international students envision their future by providing guidance with their application requirements. It allows them to compute Canada study abroad costs across different universities. While this is a great resource to utilise, the data presented are only updated annually, so aspiring students must be diligent in double-checking the information’s validity.
But tuition fees aren’t the only consideration for the cost to study in Canada. The standard financial aspects a Canada international student would have to account for include:
- tuition and other fees: textbooks, class materials, clubs and extracurricular involvements, etc.
- accommodations and utilities: rent, electric and water bills, Wi-Fi, etc.
- living expenses: food, transportation, recreation, socialisation, etc.
Canada scholarships
Canada is truly a study destination with plentiful opportunities — including financial aid. Many achieve the dream of becoming a Canada international student through grants, loans and scholarships.
Canada scholarships give international students the means to afford an education in the country. They are the perfect way for students to kickstart their academic journey, one that will challenge them and align their goals clearly for the future. Check out our detailed list of the different ways students can gain Canada scholarships.
For more guides like these, browse our collection of informative insights and updates. And for more information on the cost to study in Canada, get in touch with our business development experts today.
