International students have a great chance to study in Canada. Students choose to study in Canada for many reasons, like the best universities and colleges, high-quality education, the chance to work and study at the same time or even move there after graduation, affordable tuition fees, and a friendly environment.
This post will talk about how much it costs to go to school in Canada and how to pay for it. We’ll also talk about what you need to do to study in Canada and how to apply for admission. Last, we will talk about how to get a student visa to come to Canada.
Why go to school in Canada?
International students choose to study in Canada for many different reasons. Here are some of the most important ones:
i. The quality of education is among the best in the world, and universities and colleges do well in global rankings.
ii. The cost of tuition is lower than in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
iii. Students who want to work in Canada and study at the same time have a lot to gain from being able to do both. Eventually, this work experience will count toward the requirements to become a permanent resident.
iv. Canada is a friendly country with many different ways of life. Because of this, students feel safe and at home in Canada.
If they meet the requirements, international students can move to Canada after they graduate through the Express Entry program.
International students in Canada as a whole
Canada is home to more than 190 countries’ worth of international students. Canada had at least 650,000 international students in schools in all of its provinces and territories during the 2019-2020 school year.
India, China, Vietnam, France, South Korea, and Iran are the top five places where international students come from to study in Canada. India is the country with the most foreign students in Canada. In 2020, there will be 180,275 Indian students in Canada. Look at the chart below.
Cost of going to school in Canada
How much it costs to study in Canada depends on the school and program. There are also costs for living expenses, course materials, transportation, and (in some provinces) health insurance.
“International Students Are an Economic Engine for Canada,” a report by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, says that international students added more than $21 billion to the Canadian economy in a single year (2018). In 2021-2022, this value is expected to have grown by more than 100%.
Undergraduate tuition costs between $12,000 and $30,000 per year, while graduate tuition can cost up to $18,000 or more per year. The most expensive cities for international students are Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. This is because schools in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec have the most expensive tuition fees.
Canada’s least expensive universities
Some universities in Canada have lower tuition costs than others. Some of Canada’s least expensive universities are:
i. Brandon University, where tuition costs range from $4,000 to $8,000 per year.
ii. The tuition fees at Concordia University College of Alberta range from $2,000 to $6,000 per year.
Memorial University of Newfoundland costs between $4,000 and $8,000 per year for tuition.
iv. The University of Manitoba: tuition costs range from $5,000 to $10,000 per year.
Athabasca University charges between $3,000 and $7,000 per year for tuition. Students can also choose to learn at their own pace.
vi. The University of Northern British Columbia has tuition fees that range from $4,000 to $6,000 per year.
Thompson Rivers University charges between $4,000 and $7,000 per year for tuition (international student).
The cost of tuition at Laurentian University ranges from $5,000 to $7,500 per year.
Cape Breton University charges between $6,000 and $8,000 per year for tuition.
Canada’s least expensive colleges
i. Tuition fees at Bow Valley College range from $5,000 to $7,000. (international students).
ii. Tuition at Red River College ranges from $6,000 to $8,000 per year (international student).
iii. Tuition fees at Vancouver Community College range from $4,000 to $6,000 per year (international students).
iv. Niagara College: yearly tuition costs range from $6,000 to $8,000. (Canadian citizens and permanent residents).
The cost of going to Sheridan College ranges from $7,500 to $11,000 per year.
vi. George Brown College: yearly tuition costs are between $8,000 and $15,000. (international students).
Selkirk College: annual tuition costs range from $4,000 to $7,000. (domestic and international students).
How to pay for your schooling in Canada
International students can pay for their education in Canada in a number of ways. The five most common ways for international students to get money to study in Canada are:
Scholarships for international students are usually given by the government of the student’s home country, the government of Canada, schools, non-profit and private organizations, and sometimes even individuals.
ii. Student loans: Canadian and international students may be able to get student loans.
iii. Work-study programs, part-time jobs, or full-time work during the summer and other school breaks (if you have a valid work permit).
iv. Private sponsorships from employers or organizations in Canada that pay for all of your tuition fees and living costs while you study in Canada.
v. Family in Canada: Some students might be able to get money from family members who live in Canada.
What you need to do to study in Canada
International students must meet certain requirements in order to apply for admission, such as:
i. Meet the requirements for admission to the school you want to attend, such as minimum grades and language skills (IELTS, CELPIP, or TOEFL, depending on which test the school accepts).
ii. Proof of enough money to pay for school and to live in Canada. You will need to show that you have enough money to pay for school and to live in Canada.
iii. Passport, visa (if needed), medical exam, and police character certificate (PCC).
iv. An acceptance letter from a school or institution in Canada.
How to Study in Canada: 5 Steps
There are a few steps that international students must take in order to apply for admission to a school in Canada.
1. Find a good school.
Find and choose a university or college in Canada that you want to go to based on your academic interests, career goals, budget, and home country. Fees for each course of study are different (depending on whether it is undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral levels).
You can use the Find a Designated Learning Institution tool from the Government of Canada to find a school in Canada. The tool lets you look for schools and programs, check fees and admission requirements based on your home country, and search for schools and programs.
The Canadian government also has an online directory that lists all of the universities and colleges in Canada that offer programs in both English and French.
You can also work with an educational agent who helps international students find the best school for them based on their academic interests, career goals, budget, and home country.
2. Check admission requirements
The next step is to find out what the school you want to go to needs from you to get in. There are different requirements for each school, so make sure you meet all of them before you apply.
3. Get the necessary paperwork
Once you’ve met the requirements for getting into the school, get together and prepare all the documents you need for your application. This can include: – A copy of your passport; – Proof of funds (bank statements, scholarship letters, etc.); – Language proficiency test results (IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL); – Letter of acceptance from a Canadian school or institution; and – CV/resume.
4. Fill out an application
Once you have all the required documents, you can fill out and submit your application online. Before you send it, make sure to look it over to make sure there are no mistakes.
You may also be asked to meet with a representative from a Canadian school or institution. This is rare and, if it does happen, may be done online.
Depending on the school, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for a decision to be made about your application.
5. If you get in, apply for a student permit.
If a Canadian school or institution accepts you, you will need to apply for a student permit and a study visa.
You can stay in Canada and study full-time at an accredited post-secondary school if you have a student permit. On the other hand, a study visa is a document that Canadian visa officials stamp into your passport.
How to get a visa to go to school in Canada
International students who want to go to school in Canada must first get a student visa. Getting a student visa is not hard, but you will need to do some paperwork and plan ahead.
You will need to show proof that you are accepted into a Canadian school, that you have enough money to study and live in Canada, and that you want to study there. You will also need to write a letter explaining why you want to study there.
Your letter of acceptance from the Canadian school is an important part of getting your student visa. So, if you want to go to a university or college in Canada, you should ask for an electronic copy of your acceptance letter that you can easily download from their website. This will make it easier for you to apply for your student visa.
Here are the steps you need to take to get a Canadian student visa:
Gather all the documents you need, pay the application fee, send in your application, and wait for a decision.
If your student visa is approved, you can book a flight and make other plans for your trip to Canada. But IRCC could deny your application for a student visa or ask you for more information if they need to.
Your student visa is good for as long as you are in school, with a few exceptions, like if you want to study English or French for only six months, do an exchange program for a year, or work on a research project.
If you want to stay longer than your student visa lets you, you have to ask for an extension. To do this, you will need a letter from the school saying that you are still enrolled and in good standing, as well as proof that you can pay for yourself during this time.
A student visa for Canada (or extension) costs C$150. Usually, the process takes between four and six weeks, but it can take longer during busy times.
Can people from your country come to Canada to study?
Use the table below to find out how to apply for admission, what the benefits of going to school in Canada are, how much it costs to go to school there, and how to apply for a student visa if you are applying from your home country.
