Cost of Education in Canada
How much does it cost to study in Canada?
The good news for you is that tuition in Canada is affordable. The tuition fees in Canada are lower compared to the UK, Australia, and the USA.
Tuition: $13,000 to $20,000 a year
Books: $150 to $400 a year
Student insurance: $500 to $1,000 a year
The amounts mentioned on this page are in Canadian dollars.
What’s the overall cost of studying in Canada?
To explain tuition costs in Canada more clearly, we’ve prepared some tables for you. The information in these tables comes from Statistics Canada.
The tuition you see in these tables represents the average tuition fees for colleges and universities across Canada and in each of its provinces. We will discuss school tuition further on.
Table of average tuition across Canada for international students for the 2023-2024 academic year
| Canada | Degree Level | Annual Tuition (Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|---|
|
Average tuition across all provinces
|
Bachelor’s
|
38,081 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
22,061 |
Table of average tuition in each of Canada's provinces for international students for the 2023-2024 academic year
| Province | Degree Level | Annual Tuition (Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|---|
|
Newfoundland and Labrador
|
Bachelor’s
|
17,477 |
|
Prince Edward Island
|
4,806
|
|
|
Prince Edward Island
|
Bachelor’s
|
19,750 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
11,502 |
|
|
Nova Scotia
|
Bachelor’s
|
25,521
|
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
22,760
|
|
|
New Brunswick
|
Bachelor’s
|
17,800
|
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
13,654
|
|
|
Quebec
|
Bachelor’s
|
31,887
|
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
20,034 |
|
|
Ontario
|
Bachelor’s
|
46,433 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
28,152 |
|
|
Manitoba |
Bachelor’s
|
18,912 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
12,748 |
|
|
Saskatchewan |
Bachelor’s
|
27,781 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
8,965 |
|
|
Alberta |
Bachelor’s
|
31,549 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
18,018 |
|
|
British Columbia
|
Bachelor’s
|
23,441 |
|
Master’s and Doctorate
|
4,275 |
Cost of Education in Canadian Schools
International students in Canada have to pay tuition. But how much? The answer depends on the province you choose. In larger provinces like British Columbia and Ontario, the cost of education for children is higher.
Tuition in Canadian day schools
Public schooling is free for Canadians. However, if you are a parent with a study or work visa, you still won’t have to pay tuition for your child in schools.
Elementary school tuition in Canada: between $8,000 and $16,000
High school tuition in Canada: between $12,000 and $16,000
Average tuition for public schools in major cities of each province in Canada
| Province | Major City or Center | Average Annual Tuition Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
British Columbia |
Vancouver |
CAD 15,250 |
|
Ontario |
Toronto |
CAD 16,000 |
|
Quebec |
Montreal |
CAD 12,500 |
|
Alberta |
Edmonton |
CAD 12,500 |
|
Manitoba
|
Winnipeg
|
CAD 11,500
|
|
New Brunswick
|
Moncton
|
CAD 13,950
|
|
Newfoundland and Labrador
|
St. John’s
|
CAD 13,750
|
|
Prince Edward Island
|
Charlottetown
|
CAD 10,600
|
|
Saskatchewan
|
Regina
|
CAD 12,900
|
Tuition fees at Canadian boarding schools
The tuition for boarding schools covers both educational expenses and costs for accommodation in student dorms as well as meals. In some schools, this fee may also include uniforms and some recreational activities.
Tuition fees for boarding schools in Canada: CAD 30,000 to CAD 80,000
Tuition fees for language classes in Canada
Language institutions in Canada are specifically for students who haven’t met the language proficiency requirements to begin their academic term. To this end, they need to take language courses at these institutions for a few weeks, depending on their language level. The tuition fees for each of these institutions in Canada vary.
Here, we’ll mention the tuition fees for language institutions in some major Canadian cities:
Toronto: 12-week English language course = CAD 3,500
Quebec City: 12-week French language course = CAD 3,570
Vancouver: 12-week English language course = CAD 4,000
Calgary: 12-week French language course = CAD 3,400
Tuition fees for colleges in Canada
Quick answer: The average annual tuition cost at Canadian colleges is CAD 12,000.
Detailed answer: College tuition varies greatly. From colleges in Nova Scotia with tuition of —— CAD to colleges in Ontario that charge —— CAD. Depending on your preference, the city you choose, and your intended area of study, this amount will be determined.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programs in Canadian universities
The average tuition for international students at the undergraduate level is estimated at CAD 36,123 per year. Tuition for education programs is generally lower compared to other fields. Meanwhile, engineering and medical programs are among the most expensive areas of study in Canada.
Tuition fees for various bachelor’s degree programs for international students at Canadian universities for the 2023-2024 academic year
| Field of Study | Annual Tuition (Canadian Dollars) |
|---|---|
| Average across all fields | 36123 |
| Education | 23630 |
| Performing and Visual Arts and Communication Technology | 46980 |
| Humanities | 34186 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences and Legal Studies | 33776 |
| Law | 42224 |
| Business Management and Public Administration | 33901 |
| Life and Physical Sciences and Technology | 37411 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science and Information | 39000 |
| Engineering | 39562 |
| Architecture | 55875 |
| Agriculture and Natural Resources and Maintenance | 32462 |
| Dentistry | 59515 |
| Medicine | 58790 |
| Nursing | 26203 |
| Pharmacy | 42323 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 68256 |
| Optometry | Information not available |
| Other Health Sciences and Recreation and Fitness | 26837 |
| Personal Caregiving and Transportation Services | 27325 |
Tuition at Canadian universities for master’s programs
Did you always think the cost of a master’s degree in Canada is higher than that of a bachelor’s degree? Your assumption has turned out to be completely wrong. Tuition fees for master’s degree programs in Canada are lower than those for bachelor’s programs.
The average tuition for international students in master’s programs is 21,000 CAD per year.
Even though the MBA program in Canada is one of the most expensive fields to study, you can still find universities in Canada that offer this program with an annual tuition of less than 20,000 CAD.
Tuition fees for various master’s degree programs for international students at Canadian universities for the 2023-2024 academic year
| Field of Study | Annual Tuition Fee (Canadian Dollars) |
|---|---|
| Average for all fields | 21111 |
| Education | 18854 |
| Performing Arts and Visual Arts and Communication Technology | 16895 |
| Humanities | 15406 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences and Legal Studies | 17127 |
| Law | 19442 |
| Business Management and Public Administration | 27857 |
| Executive MBA | 76687 |
| Regular MBA | 41767 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences and Technology | 17138 |
| Mathematics and Computer Science and Information | 19865 |
| Engineering | 23708 |
| Architecture | 27550 |
| Agriculture and Natural Resources and Maintenance | 16521 |
| Dentistry | 27712 |
| Medicine | Information not available |
| Nursing | 18425 |
| Pharmacy | 15317 |
| Veterinary Medicine | 9726 |
| Optometry | 15092 |
| Other Health Sciences and Recreation and Physical Fitness | 21868 |
| Personal Care and Transport Services | 11765 |
Is the cost of studying a PhD in Canadian universities covered by scholarships?
Tuition fees for PhD programs in Canada can vary widely. You might pay as little as two thousand dollars a year at one university, while at another, you might not only pay no tuition but also receive up to $25,000 a year.
What are the cheapest universities in Canada?
| University | Annual Tuition (CAD) |
|---|---|
|
Memorial University of Newfoundland
|
2,150 to 11,160 |
|
University of Regina
|
1,715 to 20,050 |
|
Royal Roads University
|
3,750 to 27,600 |
|
University of Saskatchewan
|
4,110 to 24,000 |
|
Athabasca University
|
1,625 to 17,250
|
Who qualifies for Canadian tuition rates?
Citizens and permanent residents of Canada
Protected persons and their dependent family members under Canadian immigration law (refers to individuals who have been granted asylum in Canada)
Qualified international students
Accompanying person of a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Visitor to Canada and their dependent family members, provided that the individual has a work permit in Canada. (Exceptions: graduate teaching assistant, co-op, medical residency employment, post-graduate work, an individual with a work permit that was obtained due to their spouse’s study permit, Off-Campus Work Permit)
Visitor to Canada with permission to stay in Canada
Visitor to Canada who is present on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to perform assigned duties, such as ambassadors, etc.
Living and study costs for international students in Canada
It’s all about your choice. Smaller cities mean lower costs, and larger cities mean higher costs. That’s our main formula here. Now the decision is yours. Would you prefer to live in larger cities, which typically offer more opportunities and a more diverse demographic, or in smaller cities that generally have a more localized population and limited opportunities?
The cost of continuing education in Canada isn’t just tuition fees. Living also comes with expenses. Get familiar with the living costs for students in Canada and plan accordingly.
| Average monthly living expenses for students | Big cities | Medium/Small cities |
|---|---|---|
|
Housing (one-bedroom apartment) |
$1,130 |
$700 |
|
Food |
$320 |
$240 |
|
Transportation |
$98 |
$78 |
|
Health insurance |
$40 |
$40 |
|
Entertainment
|
$80
|
$70
|
|
Books and study materials
|
$40
|
$35
|
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Frequently asked questions
How much is the tuition at Canadian universities?
Tuition for undergraduate programs in Canadian universities ranges from $10,000 to $20,000, and for master’s programs, it ranges from $13,000 to $25,000. For doctoral studies, it’s between $5,000 and $15,000. For some universities, tuition must be paid before receiving a visa, while for others, it is paid after arriving in Canada and enrolling in the institution.
What is the tuition for top-ranking Canadian universities?
Here’s the tuition for some of Canada’s top universities:
University of Toronto: Between $15,000 and $57,000 CAD annually
University of British Columbia: Between $1,300 and $52,000 CAD annually
McGill University: Between $2,200 and $58,000 CAD annually
How much is the cost of education at colleges and vocational institutions in Canada?
Overall, the cost of studying at colleges in Canada is generally cheaper than at universities. Each college in Canada sets its own tuition fees for students, which can range from $13,000 to $16,000 CAD per year.
How much is the tuition for elementary and high schools in Canada?
Studying in public schools in Canada is free for Canadian citizens. Additionally, under many circumstances, the children of individuals with a work permit in Canada also qualify for free tuition. However, each school in Canada has its own tuition fee for international students, which averages around $16,000 CAD per year.
How much of the tuition can I cover by working?
The minimum wage in Canada is $14 an hour, and students can work up to 20 hours a week while studying. During university breaks, full-time work is permitted. Single students can earn enough to cover living expenses, but married students without children can both work to support their living and education costs. If you are married and have children, likely only one parent can work, so you should be prepared for the expenses.
What is the cost of health insurance for students in Canada?
The cost of health insurance for international students varies by province in Canada, averaging between $400 and $800 annually. For example, in British Columbia, this cost is $860 CAD per year.
Which city is the most expensive to live in Canada?
According to the Mercer report in 2020, Toronto was recognized as the most expensive city in Canada to live in. The city of Vancouver was also ranked second.