Canada Living Costs And School Fees For 2024

Canada is a popular study destination for international students, offering prestigious universities, vivid student cities, and a well-organized lifestyle.

Tuition fees in Canada for international students in 2024 reflect the many opportunities the country has to offer: there are both expensive and cheap universities in Canada.

1. Tuition fees

Tuition fees at Canadian universities are a bit high but generally lower than those in countries like the United Kingdom, the USA, or Australia. University fees may vary yearly, and you might also notice differences depending on the city or degree program. In Newfoundland, for instance, you can find the cheapest colleges in Canada, while Ontario has the most expensive degrees.

Tuition fees for Bachelor’s degrees

Tuition range: 550 – 30,000 CAD/year. Bachelors in Medicine, Engineering, and Social Science are among the most expensive study programs.

Tuition costs for popular disciplines:

• Bachelors in Business & Management: 550 – 56,000 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Computer Science & IT: 1,535 – 55,500 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Engineering & Technology: 1,350 – 55,000 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Social Sciences: 1,025 – 56,000 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Natural Sciences: 1,780 – 53,000 CAD/year

Tuition fees for Master’s degrees

Tuition range: 1,075 – 65,000 CAD/year. Masters in Business, Engineering, Computer Science and Law are the most expensive.

Tuition costs for popular disciplines:

• Masters in Business & Management: 2,150 – 52,700 CAD/year
• Masters in Computer Science & IT: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
• Masters in Engineering & Technology: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
• Masters in Medicine & Health: 2,150 – 58,300 CAD/year
• Masters in Social Sciences: 2,150 – 37,000 CAD/year

The purpose of these tuition fee ranges for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs is to help you figure out what kind of budget you need to study in Canada.

You don’t have to choose the most expensive programs because higher costs don’t always equal better education. Focus on finding the sweet spot between your budget, tuition, and what you want to get from your study program.

There are also degrees that are very expensive, with tuition fees of 100,000 CAD/year or more. Due to their low number, we’ve decided not to include them in the tuition ranges. You can still find them on our portals: Bachelorsportal & Mastersportal.

Cheap universities in Canada

Check this list of cheap universities in Canada:

• Memorial University of Newfoundland – tuition fees: 2,150 – 11,460 CAD/year
• University of Regina – tuition fees: 1,715 – 20,050 CAD/year
• Royal Roads University – tuition fees: 3,750 – 27,600 CAD/year
• University of Saskatchewan – tuition fees: 4,110 – 24,000 CAD/year
• Athabasca University – tuition fees: 1,625 – 17,250 CAD/year

Even at the cheapest colleges in Canada you can find several study programmes that cost over 30,000 CAD/year. They are usually Master’s degrees in Business, Law, Dentistry, or MBAs (Master of Business Administration). An MBA is particularly expensive, with tuition fees that go above 50,000 CAD/year.

2. Student living costs in Canada

Opting for cheap universities in Canada might spare you some money, but keep in mind that living costs in Canada are above average. However, high quality of life is guaranteed. You would need between 800 – 1,500 CAD/month for most provinces, such as Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Vancouver and Calgary are some of the most expensive cities in Canada, where living costs can reach 2,000 CAD/month.

Accommodation costs

Thankfully, just as you can choose between expensive or cheap universities in Canada, you can also choose from a range of prices when it comes to accommodation.

The main housing options for students in Canada are:

• Student residences: 250 – 625 CAD/month
• University-arranged homestays: 400 – 800 CAD/month
• Rent & share an apartment: 300 – 700 CAD/month, prices for rent depend on location and facilities. If you choose to rent a studio/one-room apartment, you can pay over 1,000 CAD/month.

Other costs associated with accommodation

When you rent an apartment or studio, it comes with extra costs:

• basic utilities (electricity, water, heating, garbage): 150 CAD/month
• internet: 50-70 CAD/month

Food costs

You won’t spend too much on food bills, just around 300 CAD/month for shopping from the local supermarkets and groceries. Some of the cheapest supermarkets you can find all over Canada are Canadian Superstore, Walmart, No Frills. Pair this with a degree at one of the cheapest colleges in Canada, and you might get yourself a budget-friendly Canadian education!

However, if you want to eat in a restaurant, you will have to pay around 10 – 25 CAD. A three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost 50 – 65 CAD.

Transportation costs

Students enrolled in a Canadian university, aged between 18 and 25, will benefit from discounts when purchasing a monthly transport pass.

• The total price of a transport pass is 90 CAD/month, while a one-way ticket is worth 3 CAD.
• Taxis are also a common way of transport all over Canada and fares are between 2 and 6 CAD/km.

3. Funding and financial support

We know that tuition fees in Canada for international students in 2024 might be a bit too much for some people, but that shouldn’t stop you dreaming! There are plenty of financial aid programmes that support international students in Canada, and here are just some of them:

• Scholarships provided by various Canadian universities for Master’s and PhD studies
• Scholarships available to non-Canadian academic institutions to facilitate collaboration with the local academic community
• You can also check out the Studyportals Scholarship to get some help on financing your studies abroad.

4. Student permit and visa in Canada

To study in Canada, you will need a student permit. It costs 150 CAD, and you should apply for it before you travel to Canada. These are some of the documents you need to provide during the application process:

• Acceptance letter from the university
• Valid passport or travel document
• Documents that show you can financially support yourself in Canada

You can learn more about the student permit on the Canada.ca website.