Cost of Studying in Canada – Tuition Fees, Visa Fees, and More

According to the latest statistics, Canada has been one of the highly ranked study destinations for students across the globe. From 2015 to 2018, the number of registered students increased significantly at all levels, with college attendance increasing the most. One of the primary reasons for this is the economical education provided in the country.

• Over 2.18 million students were enrolled in postsecondary Canadian institutions.
• Canada offers affordable education in comparison to other countries.
• On average a student spends around 20,000 CAD to 30,000 CAD annually on tuition fees in Canada.

Every student aspiring to study in Canada has this fundamental question – how much money do I need to have? or what cost of studying in Canada? or What will a Canada student visa cost? We will answer all those questions in this article.

Canada – Cost of attendance

The overall cost of attendance comprises multiple aspects such as books and supplies, groceries, on-campus or off-campus residence, etc. But, the tuition fee is one the highly contributing factor. The table below gives an outline of the overall expenses of attending any Canadian university.

* The cost varies as per the program and university selected by the student.

Tuition Fees for studying in Canada

Tuition fee is one of the highest contributing factors to a candidate’s finances.

Multiple factors such as level of program, the field of study and university, etc come into play while determining the tuition fee.

Tuition fee for some of the common high-ranking fields has been tabulated below:-

Type of institutions also changes the tuition fee estimation for eg- In case, you are planning to go to an ivy league institution, then its cost is significantly more than that of 2nd or 3rd-tier colleges. The average fee of the University of Toronto for international students is approximately CA$45,000. Apart from this, there are application fees that are considerably higher for international students and differ across universities. 

Cost of living in Canada

Another very important aspect of studying in Canada is managing the accommodation cost.

Students have multiple options to choose from. Mostly, international students in Canada choose to stay in on-campus accommodation provided by the university. Students can also opt to stay off-campus in shared apartments and individual flats.

Students must consider additional costs of groceries and supplies of around  CAD 200-600 /year while choosing to stay off-campus.

Visa Fees for studying in Canada

Another vital aspect of studying in Canada is a valid student visa. The overall visa application fee is CAD 150.

Indian students are eligible for the fast-track application if they can pay GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate). It means that you have to invest an amount of CAD10,000  or, as stipulated by IRCC (Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada). So, add GIC into your tuition fees because express entry is the best pathway to a student visa but tends to be complex and riskier. 

Also, the best part of GIC is that it can be reclaimed once you reach Canada. Different banks can provide GIC certificates, and ICICI bank’s program allows you to get your investment fund in your savings account after in-person verification in Canada

Other miscellaneous expenses

Apart from tuition fees and accommodation fees, there are a plethora of expenses that should be considered. For example, like most countries, Canada also has a mandate for health insurance for international students. Health insurance is often between CAD 600-900/ year.

An additional cost of transportation i.e – CAD 2000/ year, communication i.e – CAD 20-50/ year, and books and supplies i.e CAD 200-350/ year, etc should be added to overall expenses.

As an international student, you must learn to budget the money you spend against the cost of living in your study destination.

Living expenses in big cities and towns will be high, but the experience and exposure are well worth the cost. Moreover, you will have more avenues to find a job. You can compensate for the higher cost of living by earning better wages. Your study permit allows you to work for 20 hours/per week. On weekends and holiday periods, there is no limit on the work hours. As long as you are not breaking any federal laws, you can work in any job during holiday breaks.

Therefore, planning your funds beforehand is one of the safest ways to survive in Canada with ease.

But while figuring out the estimated cost of studying in Canada, make sure to take into account costs like accommodation, food, health insurance, and travel before you leave India or any other country. This will help you plan your budget more effectively.

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