Cost of Study in Canada for Indian Students
Canada is one of the most preferred study destinations for Indian students. Every year, Canada welcomes hundreds of thousands of international students from around the globe. Some of the reasons to study in Canada include a high standard of living, flexible and quality education options, a diverse environment, and affordable education.
Before applying for courses, applicants need to know the cost of studying in Canada in order to prepare accordingly.
Here, we have discussed the cost of studying in Canada, including essential components like tuition fees, cost of living, and other expenses.
Cost of Study in Canada: An Introduction
Canada is one of the most popular countries in the world, and most Indian students seek it. It has top-class universities, modern infrastructure, a booming job market, a multicultural environment, etc., that provides extensive support to international students, including Indians.
Pursuing higher education in countries like Canada costs more than in India. Therefore, it is essential to arrange and manage the resources accordingly.
In this blog, we have discussed the cost of study in Canada, which includes the average tuition fees of various disciplines in Canadian universities based on levels and courses, individual costs such as travel costs, visa costs, application fees, standardised test costs, living expenses, etc.
Tuition Fees in Canada for International Students
While exploring the different universities and courses, tuition fees are the most critical components of the total cost of study in Canada for Indian students. Various financial aid and scholarships are available for students, which help them pursue their higher education in Canada at a much lower cost.
This requires complete knowledge of tuition fees for a particular course, level and university, as these three are significant factors in determining the cost of study in Canada.
Below, we have discussed the average tuition fees in Canada for international students based on level and courses:
1. Course Level Wise
The tuition fees in Canada for International students vary by course, specialisation, and university, even within a particular level. On average, bachelor’s degree programs in Canada cost around CAD 20,000-47,000 per annum (INR 12-28 Lakhs), whereas Master’s and PhD level courses cost around CAD 6,000-80,000 per annum (INR 3-48 Lakhs) and 7,000-22,000 per annum (INR 3-48 Lakhs), respectively.
| Level of Education | Average Tuition Fees/year |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | CAD 13,000-60,000 |
| Master’s | CAD 6,000-80,000 |
| PhD | CAD 7,000-22,000 |
2. Course Wise
Canadian universities offer a diverse range of programs in various disciplines. Arts, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Business Management, and others are a few disciplines that attract thousands of international students worldwide.
Tuition fees in Canada for international students for these programs differ from university to university and level.
The average cost of pursuing a bachelor’s in Canada across various disciplines is CAD 12,000 to CAD 94,000. Compared to other undergraduate courses, Engineering and Medicine programs in Canada are slightly more expensive.
The average tuition fee for postgraduate programs is CAD 17,000-68,000. In contrast to other master’s courses, MBA and Computer Science programs are expensive.
MBA in Canada costs around CAD 16,000-68,000, whereas the tuition fee for Computer Science at the master’s level is around CAD 20,000-68,000
| Top Courses | Tuition Fees/year (Bachelor's) | Tuition Fees/year (Master's) |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | CAD 12,000-60,000 | CAD 17,000-55,000 |
| Business & Management | CAD 22,657-70,000 | CAD 16,000-68,000 |
| Computer Science & IT | CAD 31,582-67,370 | CAD 20,000-68,670 |
| Engineering & Technology | CAD 30,000-66,000 | CAD 22,000-69,000 |
| Health & Biosciences | CAD 21,667-94,510 | CAD 11,990-41,850 |
| Law & Politics | CAD 38,552-60,020 | CAD 10,000-33,160 |
Other Cost of Study in Canada for Indian Students
While preparing to move from India to Canada for higher studies, students may puzzle about the components of the total expenses they must bear. It should be kept in mind that the cost of study in Canada does not only contain tuition fees but also other expenses such as:
- University Application Fees
- English Proficiency Test Fees
- Flight Fees
- Travel Cost
- Meal Cost
- Entertainment Cost
- Accommodation Cost
- Health and Insurance Cost
- Other Utility costs (electricity, water, phone bills, etc.)
- Student Visa Application Cost
- Work Permit Cost
Let’s discuss them one by one
1. University Application Fees
Most Canadian universities take application fees from international applicants while proceeding with their application process. This ranges from CAD 50-250 (INR 3-15 thousands). Only 5% of the universities in Canada do not require students to submit an application fee.
Some are Fanshawe College, Northern College, the University of British Columbia, the University of Winnipeg, Lambton College, and Quest University.
2. English Proficiency Test Fees
Before moving to Canada to pursue higher studies, Indian applicants are required to prove their proficiency in the English language. IELTS fees depend on the type of test format that applicants choose. However, it costs around INR 17,000 in India for computer-based and paper-based tests.
On the other hand, the TOEFL iBT test costs around INR 16,000.
3. Flight Fees
The cost of a flight between India and Canada can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the time of booking, airline, travel class, route, etc. On average, a round-trip economy class ticket between major cities in India (such as Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore) and major cities in Canada (such as Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal) can range from approximately INR 58,000 to INR 1,50,000.
4. Travel Cost
Travel expenses in Canada are costly. International students prefer to travel by bus, train, subway, etc., generally costing around CAD 90-160 (5,000-9,000) per month.
5. Meal Cost
Meal costs may depend on whether the student prefers on-campus or off-campus food. Several other factors determine meal costs, such as lifestyle choices, city type, local rate, dietary needs, etc.
The cost of meals on campus is usually around CAD 333-433 (INR 20,000-26,000) per month, whereas off campus, it is around CAD 250-550 (INR 15,000-27,000) per month.
6. Cost of Leisure
Canada is a country of multiculturalism and heritage. It has profound monuments and modern amenities for fun and thrilling activities. Indian students residing in Canada can spend quality time at such places, which brings a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.
They must spend around CAD 100-150 (INR 8,000-9,000) per month for these purposes.
7. Accommodation Cost
Meal and accommodation costs depend on several factors, such as whether one stays on-campus or off-campus, lifestyle preferences, area, local taxes, etc. The cost of on-campus accommodation depends on the university, and it is generally paid during the admission fees, which range from CAD 700-1000 (INR 42,000-60,000) per month.
On the other hand, the off-campus accommodation costs around CAD 1290-2800 (INR 78,000-1,20,000) per month, depending on accommodation quality, space, city etc.
8. Health and Insurance Cost
Indian students must be medically insured before commencing their study program in Canada. Health and insurance expenses cost around CAD 600-1000 (INR 36,000-60,000) per year, depending on the level of coverage, type of policy chosen, company, etc.
9. Other Utility costs
This includes electricity, water, phone, and internet bills, which may depend upon lifestyle preferences, usage, and local tariffs. Indian students pay around CAD 200-300 (INR 12,000-18,000) per month on average to manage their utility bills.
10. Student Visa Application Cost
Indian students need to pay CAD 150 (INR 9,000) at the Embassy of Canada for a study visa in Canada. This fee is non-refundable, so even if you withdraw visa application, you will not get it back. You will get the visa when you reach Canada.
11. Work Permit Cost
Indian graduates must pay CAD 155 (INR 9,000) for a work permit in Canada. If the applicants refuse to continue the process, they will get a refund before the work permit is issued.
In another case, an applicant will get a refund if Canadian authorities deny granting a work permit.
| Type of Other Expenses | Costs (per month) |
|---|---|
| University Application Fees | CAD 50-250 (INR 3,000-15,000) per application |
| English Proficiency Fees | IELTS: INR 17,000 |
| Flight Cost | TOEFL iBT: 16,000 |
| Travel Cost | INR 58,000 to INR 1,50,000 per flight |
| Meal Cost | CAD 90-160 (INR 5,000-9,000) per month |
| Entertainment Cost | CAD 100-150 (INR 8,000-9,000) per month |
| Accommodation Cost | On-campus: CAD 700-1000 (INR 42,000-60,000) per month Off-Campus: CAD 1290-2800 (INR 78,000-1,20,000) per month |
| Health and Insurance Cost | CAD 600-1000 (INR 36,000-60,000) per year |
| Utilities Bill (electricity, water, internet bills etc.) | CAD 200-300 (INR 12,000-18,000) per month |
| Student Visa Application Fees | CAD 150 (INR 9,000) |
| Work Permit Fees | CAD 155 (INR 9,000) |
Also read – PR in Canada
Cost of Living in Canada for International Students
The following is an overview of the average cost of living in major cities in Canada. It includes accommodation, transportation, meals, and the cost of tourist attractions.
| City | Accommodation (per month) | Transportation (per month) | Meals (per month) | Attractions (per month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | CAD 1000-2550 (INR 60,000-1 lakhs) | CAD 156 (INR 9,000) | CAD 400-600 (INR 24,000-36,000) | CAD 200-300 (INR 12,000-24,000) |
| Vancouver | CAD 1000-2700 (INR 60,000-1.5 Lakhs) | CAD 185-200 (INR 36,000-48,000) | CAD 300-800 (INR 24,000-50,000) | CAD 150-300 (INR 10,000-24,000) |
| Montreal | CAD 700-1500 (INR 46,000-90,000) | CAD 150-250 (INR 36,000-55,000) | CAD 300-500 (INR 24,000-45,000) | CAD 300-400 (INR 24,000-40,000) |
| Ottawa | CAD 800-2250 (INR 48,000-1 Lakhs) | CAD 122-150 (INR 30,000-36,000) | CAD 300-450 (INR 24,000-27,000) | CAD 100-250 (INR 6,000-15,000) |
| Winnipeg | CAD 700-2000 (INR 42,000-2 lakhs) | CAD 110-130 (INR 6,000-7,000) | CAD 250-300 (INR 15,000-21,000) | CAD 250-300 (INR 15,000-18,000) |
Also read – Latest Update: Immigration Policy of Canada
Conclusion
Choosing Canada as a study destination is one of the best choices that Indian students can make. The country’s rich beauty, heritage, modern infrastructure, and multicultural environment provide them with a blend of academic excellence and personality development beyond the imagination.
However, before proceeding, applicants must know about the study and other expenses that they need to bear while residing in Canada, which include tuition fees, travel costs, meal costs, insurance costs, accommodation rent, etc. These are the major components of the cost of study for Indian students in Canada because a lack of preparation might leave them in chaos.
FAQs
What are the tuition fees for a 4-year degree course in Canada?
The cost of a four-year degree in Canada depends on various factors such as institute, type of program, and level. On average, the tuition fee in Canada for an undergraduate course is around CAD 12,000-94,000, and for postgraduate courses, it is around CAD 11,000-68,000.
How can you earn a bachelor’s degree of 3 years equivalent to Canadian standard to get admission to a master’s course?
WES Evaluation is required to make credits for Indian bachelor’s degrees equivalent to that of the Canadian education system.
How much does WES Canada cost from India?
The WES Evaluation cost is around CAD 107-154 (INR 8,000-12,000) for Indian students.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
