Here you will find all the information you need to understand how much it costs to study in Canada – elementary, high school, college, university, graduate school, language school or elsewhere.
The price of your studies does not just include tuition and related fees. The Prepare your budget section will help you plan for other expenses, such as the cost of living.
Cost of primary education in Canada
At the elementary or “elementary” level, public schooling is free to all residents of Canada. If you want to enroll your child in a Canadian elementary school, contact that school to find out if they charge tuition fees for international students. Sometimes the school will only ask to pay small additional amounts for your child’s participation in special activities, for example, a school excursion or a sports activity. Most children bring their lunch to school. However, some schools offer a cafeteria or catering service.
Cost of high school education in Canada
Public high schools are free in Canada for residents of the country. Many schools charge international students fees ranging from CAD 8,000 to CAD 14,000 per year. Please contact the chosen school to verify if there is a tuition fee for international students.
Sometimes the school will only ask to pay small additional amounts for your child’s participation in special activities, for example, a school excursion or a sports activity. Most children bring their lunch to school. However, some have a cafeteria or catering service.
Cost of a language school in Canada
Language schools often offer study programs that last a few weeks rather than a few months. Each language school sets its tuition fees.
Below is an overview of the tuition fees charged by language schools located in large urban centers (excluding accommodation and meals costs):
- Toronto: 12 week English course = CAD 3,515
- Quebec City: French course 12 weeks = 3,570 CAD
- Vancouver: 12 week English course = CAD 4,083
- Calgary: 12 week French course = CAD 3,446
Cost of college or vocational training in Canada
College studies are often shorter than university studies, so they are cheaper. Some programs include on-the-job learning that allows you to earn an income while in Canada.
You will find high quality colleges and vocational schools all across Canada, including in smaller towns where the cost of living is cheaper. Even large Canadian cities are relatively more affordable than many large cities around the world.
In Canada, tuition fees for international students depend on the program and location chosen. To find a college program that’s right for you and calculate the fees associated with it, try our search tool:
Find a college or university
You will find that some institutions charge no fees, while others charge annual fees ranging from CAD 2,000 to CAD 18,000 depending on the educational institution and program. So you gain by doing research. Try to compare 3 colleges and 3 destinations. Our tool can do that.
The tool also assesses the cost of living. We have found that at the college level, a student must budget on average around 12,000 CA.
Costs of university studies in Canada
What more could you ask for than a university degree obtained in a beautiful country? Find a recognized and affordable program. In Canada, there are a lot of good universities in small towns where the cost of living is cheaper. Even Canada’s largest cities are often more affordable than many large cities around the world.
Try our search tool to find the right university program for you and to calculate how much it will cost you.
Find a college or university
You can also compare different educational institutions and different cities. You will find that the costs vary from city to city and province to province, both in terms of tuition and living costs. So, if your budget is tight, explore different options until you find the university and community that are right for you.
To give you an idea of the costs, we have applied our search tool to a number of undergraduate programs in Canada. According to the results obtained, tuition fees vary between CAD 1,800 and CAD 20,000 per year at the undergraduate level. The tool will also give you an estimate of expenses related to books and supplies.
Also, the costs of accommodation, food and local transportation vary from city to city. Our research tool will give you a more precise idea of the expenses according to the school of your choice. However, we have found that student living costs average CAD 12,000 per year.
Costs of higher education in Canada
It makes sense to invest in your higher education. Canadian master’s and doctoral programs are recognized around the world. For international students like you, these programs are all the more attractive given that the cost of living is very reasonable in Canada. Even large Canadian cities are often more affordable than many large cities around the world.
In Canada, tuition fees depend on the program and location chosen. Try our search tool to find the graduate program that’s right for you and to calculate how much it will cost you.
Find a college or university
To give you an idea of the costs, we have applied our search tool to a number of masters and doctoral programs in Canada. According to the results obtained, the tuition fees vary between 2,500 CAD per year and 18,000 CAD per year for a master’s degree. A doctorate can cost between CAD 2,500 and CAD 17,000 per year. If your budget is tight, compare programs from different provinces and graduate schools. The tool also estimates expenses related to books and supplies.
Also, the costs of accommodation, food and local transportation vary from city to city. Our research tool will give you a more precise idea of the expenses that will be yours according to the school of your choice. However, we found that living expenses averaged CAD 12,000 per year.
