Canada is a popular study destination for international students, offering prestigious universities, vivid student cities, and a well-organized lifestyle. Tuition fees in Canada for international students in 2023 reflect the many opportunities the country has to offer: there are both expensive and cheap universities in Canada.

Canada has over 30 universities listed among the best academic institutions worldwide according to the World University Rankings created by THE (Times Higher Education).

Tuition fees for Bachelor’s degrees

Surely you can find cheap universities in Canada. The tuition range is 550 – 30,000 CAD/year. Bachelors in Medicine, Engineering, and Social Science are among the most expensive study programmes available.

Tuition costs for popular disciplines:

• Bachelors in Business & Management: 550 – 56,000 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Computer Science & IT: 1,535 – 55,500 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Engineering & Technology: 1,350 – 55,000 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Social Sciences: 1,025 – 56,000 CAD/year
• Bachelors in Natural Sciences: 1,780 – 53,000 CAD/year

Cheap universities in Canada

Check this list of cheap universities in Canada:

• Memorial University of Newfoundland – tuition fees: 2,150 – 11,460 CAD/year
• University of Regina – tuition fees: 1,715 – 20,050 CAD/year
• Royal Roads University – tuition fees: 3,750 – 27,600 CAD/year
• University of Saskatchewan – tuition fees: 4,110 – 24,000 CAD/year
• Athabasca University – tuition fees: 1,625 – 17,250 CAD/year

Even at the cheapest university in Canada you can find several study programmes that cost over 30,000 CAD/year. They are usually Master’s degrees in Business, Law, Dentistry, or MBAs (Master of Business Administration). An MBA is particularly expensive, with tuition fees that go above 50,000 CAD/year.

 Student living costs in Canada

Opting for cheap universities in Canada might spare you some money, but keep in mind that living costs in Canada are above average. However, high quality of life is guaranteed. You would need between 800 – 1,500 CAD/month for most provinces, such as Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Vancouver and Calgary are some of the most expensive cities in Canada, where living costs can reach 2,000 CAD/month.

Student jobs in Canada 

If you’d like to get a part-time job to help support yourself while studying in Canada, you can work on or off-campus for up to 20 hours during university semesters and full-time during breaks such as the winter or summer holidays, without the need for a work permit.

To qualify, you must:

• Have a valid study permit
• Be a full-time student
• Be enrolled at a designated learning institution at post-secondary level
• Be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration

You will also need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from Service Canada to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.