Canada has much to offer international students, including excellent study opportunities. It's a country at the cutting edge of research and teaching practices, and one whose education system is recognised for its top quality international courses across the globe; by international academic institutions, employers and governments alike.
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Before deciding to study in Canada, you need to be confident that you can cover the costs of your tuition fees as well as living expenses.
The Canadian immigration bodies and your chosen institution will require proof that you have sufficient funds to cover the costs of your tuition fees and living costs; you will need to prove that you have access to at least CAD$10,000 ($11,000 in Quebec) per year (twelve months) to cover living costs (on top of tuition fees). This amount will increase if you bring family members to Canada with you. However, your living costs may be more - or less - than this, depending on a number of factors. Often your chosen institution will provide an estimate of yearly living costs for students.
Tuition fees
The cost of tuition fees has risen over the last few years and varies in each province. Often tuition fees for international students are referred to as ‘differential fees’. The average cost of one year’s tuition for international undergraduate students in 2010 was CAD$16,768. International postgraduate students paid an average of CAD$12,368.
As well as varying in each province, tuition fees also vary for different subjects. You can learn more about the different tuition fees in the provinces and for different subjects by visiting the Statistics Canada website.
Financial help and scholarships
A limited number of Canadian universities offer scholarships to international students. To find out if your chosen institution offers scholarships, contact their international office or finance office - an international officer or financial officer will be able to advise you further. It is also recommended that you contact the Ministry of Education in your home country for advice and information on scholarships in Canada and any financial aid they can offer you. It is best to begin researching scholarships as early as possible.
Scholarships Canada is an excellent website which lists available scholarships and offers search facilities to find scholarships in particular regions and institutions. Study Canada offers information on scholarships for international students, and you can also find out about scholarship opportunities and see what you are eligible for here.
Living costs
Studying away from home can be expensive so it is important to budget for your living costs as well as tuition fees. Living costs can vary depending on location and the lifestyle you adopt. Certain areas and provinces are more expensive; these tend to be larger cities and urban areas such as Montreal and Vancouver. Living costs you should include in your budget are:
Struggling financially throughout your studies is not ideal and may affect your enjoyment of your time in Canada, so be realistic about how much you will spend and, more importantly, spend wisely.
Below are some average prices of common everyday goods in Canada (all prices in CAD$ and are approximate figures):
Gas and electricity should be around $50-100 per month combined
Healthcare requirements for international students vary in each province. All healthcare insurance must be arranged before you depart for Canada; this may include registering on your chosen institution’s health plan or joining a private healthcare plan.
For further details on healthcare requirements, contact your chosen institution.
Student banking
You may wish to open a bank account in Canada for your time there. Banks in Canada may charge different fees for the same service, so it is best to spend time researching and visiting different banks to compare their services and charges. It is advisable to open an account soon after your arrival in Canada to transfer funds and to avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
Key questions to ask your bank are:
As an international student you will usually need the following items to open a bank account in Canada:
Last updated: 23 March 2012
