International Student Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for international students are different at every school and vary depending upon the program they want to study. The actual cost that students pay depends on their program of study, grants and assistance they may receive.
International students can save considerably by studying in Canada. In a survey compiled by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Canada offered the lowest tuition rates for foreign students compared to the UK, Australia, New Zealand & the US.
2019-20 International Tuition Fees by Field of Study *
| Field of study grouping | Undergraduate | Graduate |
| Education | $20,875 | $15,764 |
| Visual & Performing Arts, and Communication technologies | $25,127 | $14,737 |
| Humanities | $28,676 | $13,667 |
| Social and behavioural sciences | $27,647 | $15,032 |
| Law, legal professions and studies | $33,192 | $17,237 |
| Business management and public administration | $26,680 | $24,693 |
| Executive MBA | Not available | $66,665 |
| Regular MBA | Not available | $38,950 |
| Physical and life sciences and technologies | $31,536 | $15,421 |
| Mathematics, computer and information sciences | $33,012 | $16,647 |
| Engineering | $33,703 | $19,301 |
| Architecture | $26,457 | $23,992 |
| Agriculture, natural resources and conservation | $26,208 | $14,452 |
| Dentistry | $56,621 | $22,472 |
| Medicine | $32,450 | Not available |
| Nursing | $21,922 | $16,168 |
| Optometry | Not available | $14,014 |
| Pharmacy | $40,960 | $12,876 |
| Veterinary medicine | $63,323 | $10,099 |
| Other health, parks, recreation and fitness | $24,626 | $18,551 |
| Personal, protective and transportation services | $20,332 | Not available |
| *Weighted average tuition fees by field of study in Canadian dollars. Source: Statistics Canada |
Tuition fees throughout Canada vary considerably depending on the Province, the university and the degree. The overall cost of a year’s study also inevitably depends on the student’s own needs and ‘Lifestyle’. Standard expenses for an academic year would include textbooks, laboratory facilities/equipment and student activity fees, as well as accommodation costs, food, health care, etc.
Tuition fees for universities vary depending on the program and school you choose. On average in Canada, university tuition costs around: $36,100 per year for international undergraduate students and $21,100 per year for international graduate students (Source: Statistics Canada, 2022)
The Cost of Post-Secondary Education:
Cross-Country Comparison of Tuition and Living Costs for International Students
| Country | Tuition Fees* | Living Costs** | Total Costs |
| Canada | $7,100 | $8,100 | $15,200 |
| United Kingdom | $14,800 | $12,600 | $27,400 |
| United States (Public) | $12,200 | $10,400 | $22,600 |
| United States (Private) | $20,500 | $11,600 | $32,100 |
| Australia | $11,700 | $11,550 | $23,250 |
| France (Public) | Minimal | $15,550 | $15,550 |
| *For average undergraduate academic year. **For average academic year. Source: Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. |
Canadian Education is Competitively Priced
Canada’s lower tuition and living costs create exceptional value. Association of Universities & Colleges of Canada puts the average annual cost of studying in Canada at $15,200, thus making it an economically viable option.
The Cost of Post secondary education in 2014-2015 for Full time students in Canada was an average of $ 16600.
Cost of living in Canada
The cost of living in Canada is very affordable compared to many other countries and may be around Cdn $ 10,000 depending on city & lifestyle of a student.
As a rough guideline, one will need approximately Cdn $ 18840/- to cover all expenses for an academic year. This includes tuition and living expenses and is an average only. Actual expenses may vary with geographic region and will depend upon the specific tuition fees for the program and university one attends. [Source: AUCC]
LIVING EXPENSES
Canada offers a very low cost of living – especially compared to the United States or the United Kingdom.
The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000 for a single student, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. An additional $4,000 will be required for a spouse and an additional $3,000 for each dependent, to cover 12 months of living expenses.
However, the expenses are diverse for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea.
Accommodation costs vary depending on the location and type of accommodation one prefers such as Home stay, dormitory or renting.
| Accommodation Type | Average Cost (CAD) |
| Homestays | $400 – $800 per month |
| Dormitory | $3,000 – $7,500 per school year |
| Renting | $400 – $1,500 per month |
The average monthly cost of living in Canada for International students is between CAD $600 and $800 for groceries and other daily expenses, excluding accommodation.
Most people can survive with $1000-$1500 a month which is a rough estimation of Living Expenses.
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