Canada is one of the world’s most popular destinations for international students, offering a diverse variety of experiences and opportunities in a country known for its vast expanses, multicultural cities, and natural beauty. If you want to study in Canada, the good news is that tuition fees are generally less expensive than in other major Anglophone destinations (the US, UK, and Australia), although they are still quite high in comparison to other countries.
Studying in Canada can be greatly beneficial and can further a person much more than in their home country. The downside is that the cost of studying in Canada as an international student is much more expensive than students who were born in Canada. This cost can be a lot for many and can dissuade them from coming to Canada and can prevent them from studying in Canada. In this article, we will highlight how much it costs on average for an international student to study in Canada according to Statistics Canada.
Undergraduate tuition fees in Canada
According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition fees for undergraduate international students in 2019/20 are CA$29714 (~US$22,500) per year. humanities courses tend to be cheaper (averaging $5,542), while 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 than the national average, at CA$6,827 (~US$5,170) per year.
Postgraduate tuition fees in Canada
If you want to study at postgraduate level, the tuition fees are generally lower, and again vary depending on your program. Statistics Canada puts the average postgraduate tuition fee for international students at CA$17,744 in 2019/20, which is approximately US$13,437; a four percent increase from the previous year.
As is the case worldwide, 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.
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 will likely need 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 more expensive to live in.
Accommodation in Canada
The three main types of student accommodation (homestay, university accommodation and private accommodation) vary considerably in costs, with students paying around CA$3,000-7,500 (~US$2,271 – 5,680) for on-campus accommodation each year. Private shared accommodation can cost around CA$8,400 (~US$6,361) per year plus bills. University accommodation is often cheaper, with some universities offering meal plans to allow you to purchase food from the university’s food outlets.
Here are some examples of average living costs in Canada, taken from research in October 2020:
Eating out at a restaurant: CA$16 per person (~US$12)
One-way ticket on local public transport: CA$3 (~US$2.27)
Loaf of bread: CA$2.86 (~US$2.17)
Cinema ticket: CA$13.50 (~US$10.22)
Monthly gym fee: CA$48.25 (~US$36.54)
You will need to purchase compulsory health insurance while studying in Canada. This will cost approximately CA$600-800 (~US$455-607) per year. You should also budget for extra costs, such as warm winter clothing if you do not already have any.