Cost of studying in Canada (2026)
Total yearly cost
₹22–40L
All-in: tuition + rent + food + transport + insurance, in INR. Local currency: CAD (C$).
Cost breakdown
Monthly figures in local currency unless otherwise noted.
| Component | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | See per-course pages below for tier-by-discipline. | Varies by program and university. |
| Rent | C$800–2,200/mo | Single occupancy, off-campus. |
| Food | C$300–500 | Mix of home cooking + occasional eating out. |
| Transport | C$80–150 | Student transit pass. |
| Health insurance | C$600–900/yr | Mandatory; many universities bundle this. |
City-by-city rent comparator
Picking a tier-2 city instead of the capital can drop your yearly total by 20-40%.
| City | Rent | Food | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | C$1,500–2,200 | C$400–500 | C$130–150 |
| Vancouver | C$1,400–2,000 | C$350–450 | C$100–130 |
| Montreal | C$800–1,400 | C$300–400 | C$80–100 |
Cost of Canada masters programs by course
Each page shows tuition tier (P25-P75) for that discipline, computed from live university listings.
Cost of Computer Science & AI in Canada
Top universities offering Computer Science, Software Engineering and AI/ML masters programs
See tuition tier →
Cost of Data Science in Canada
Best universities for Data Science, Analytics and Business Intelligence masters programs
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Cost of MBA & Business in Canada
MBA programs for Indian students — tuition, IELTS/GMAT, scholarships and post-study work
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Cost of Engineering in Canada
Top universities for Mechanical, Electrical, Civil and Robotics engineering masters
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Cost of Cybersecurity in Canada
Top universities offering Cybersecurity, Information Assurance and Digital Forensics
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Cost of Medicine & Healthcare in Canada
Best universities for Medicine, Public Health, Nursing and Bio-tech masters
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Cost of Finance & Accounting in Canada
Top universities for Finance, Accounting, FinTech and Investment masters
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Cost of Law & Policy in Canada
Top universities for LLM, Public Policy and International Relations programs
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Cost of Arts & Humanities in Canada
Top universities for Arts, Literature, Media and Communication programs
See tuition tier →
Cost of Architecture & Design in Canada
Top universities for Architecture, Urban Planning and Design programs
See tuition tier →
Build a budget for Canada
Talk to a NexStudy counselor about scholarship offsets, education loans and cost-saving city choices for Canada.
Studying in Canada costs an Indian student roughly CAD 40,000 to CAD 100,000 a year (about ₹27 lakh to ₹68 lakh) all in. Tuition runs from about CAD 16,000 a year at Ontario colleges and CAD 20,700 at the University of Manitoba to CAD 66,110 at the University of Toronto, while Waterloo publishes tuition and incidental fees together at CAD 54,000–75,000 for two terms; the 2026/27 national averages are CAD 42,062 for international undergraduates and CAD 24,693 for graduates. On top, IRCC requires CAD 23,448 (about ₹15.9 lakh) a year for living costs, and health insurance adds CAD 948 in Ontario or CAD 75 a month in BC.
How much does it cost to study in Canada for Indian students?
Three numbers drive the budget. First, tuition, which international students pay in full and which varies by a factor of four between an Ontario college diploma and a University of Toronto engineering degree. Second, living costs, where IRCC sets a fixed CAD 23,448 a year for a single applicant from 1 September 2026 as the minimum you must prove, and where actual spending in Toronto or Vancouver can run higher because of rent. Third, the fixed costs: the study permit and biometrics at CAD 235, provincial health insurance, flights and the tuition deposit.
Statistics Canada's Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey gives the national picture: international undergraduate tuition averages CAD 42,062 a year (about ₹28.5 lakh) and international graduate tuition CAD 24,693 (about ₹16.7 lakh) for 2026/27. International undergraduates pay several times what Canadian students pay. Ontario is the most expensive province (CAD 50,088 undergraduate, CAD 28,900 graduate) and Newfoundland and Labrador the cheapest (CAD 18,911 and CAD 6,996).
For Indian families the practical takeaway is that the province and the type of institution matter more than the ranking. A bachelor's at the University of Manitoba costs about CAD 20,700 a year in tuition; the same degree at the University of Toronto costs CAD 66,110 in tuition, and Waterloo's published tuition and incidental fees reach CAD 75,000 for two terms. A master's has a higher annual tuition than a college diploma, but a one-year master's can cost less in total than a two-year diploma once you add the second year of living costs, and it leads to a 3-year work permit.
Tuition fees in Canada for international students in 2026-27, by level and institution
The examples are 2026-27 international fees published by the institutions on 26 September 2026. Where a university charges per credit, the annual figure assumes a standard 30-credit full-time year. Waterloo publishes tuition and incidental fees (health and dental plan, transit pass, recreation and student fees) as one figure.
| Programme and institution | Tuition / fees (CAD) | Approx. INR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| College diploma or graduate certificate, Ontario (EduCanada range) | CAD 16,000–25,000 a year | ₹10.8–16.9 lakh | EduCanada range; ancillary fees and health insurance may be charged on top |
| Conestoga College diploma, 2 terms (2026-27) | CAD 15,477 | ₹10.5 lakh | Graduate certificate CAD 16,809; degree CAD 16,933; CAD 2,500 deposit |
| University of Manitoba, Arts (30 credits at CAD 689.23) | ≈ CAD 20,700 | ≈ ₹14 lakh | Engineering CAD 683.43 a credit; Asper business CAD 895.68; mandatory health plan CAD 1,320 extra |
| Toronto Metropolitan University, Arts / Science | CAD 38,702–38,762 | ₹26.2 lakh | Engineering CAD 44,375–44,675; Ted Rogers management CAD 44,476–44,532 |
| UBC Vancouver, Arts (30 credits at CAD 1,717.68) | ≈ CAD 51,500 | ≈ ₹34.9 lakh | Science CAD 1,769.40 a credit; Applied Science CAD 1,789.18; Commerce CAD 2,222.61 |
| University of Waterloo, Arts / Science (two terms, Sep 2026 start) | CAD 58,000 / CAD 54,000 (tuition and incidental fees) | ₹39.3 / ₹36.6 lakh | Mathematics CAD 62,000; Computer Science CAD 73,000; Engineering CAD 75,000, all tuition and incidental fees |
| University of Toronto, Arts & Science, entering 2026 | CAD 66,110 | ₹44.8 lakh | Rises to CAD 68,750 in 2027-28 |
| University of Toronto, Applied Science & Engineering, entering 2026 | CAD 72,860 | ₹49.3 lakh | Rises to CAD 75,770 in 2027-28 |
| Master's, national average (StatCan 2026/27) | CAD 24,693 a year | ₹16.7 lakh | Ontario CAD 28,900; Newfoundland CAD 6,996 |
| University of Toronto MEng (full-time extended), entering 2026 | CAD 36,790 | ₹24.9 lakh | MScAC CAD 50,070; Master of Information CAD 46,080 a year |
| MBA, one-year Rotman (class starting May 2026) | CAD 108,570 | ₹73.5 lakh | Two-year Rotman MBA CAD 71,670 a year for 2026 entry |
Sources: EduCanada; Conestoga College; University of Manitoba; Toronto Metropolitan University; UBC Academic Calendar; University of Waterloo; University of Toronto 2026-27 Tuition Fee Schedules; Statistics Canada; Rotman, all read 26 Sep 2026. C$1 = ₹67.73.
Living expenses in Canada for students: what a year really costs
IRCC's CAD 23,448 is the amount you must prove, not a spending plan. The ranges below come from the University of Toronto's Rotman School and Toronto Metropolitan University budget pages and are therefore Toronto figures; Winnipeg, Halifax, Saskatoon and smaller Ontario cities are cheaper, mainly on rent.
| Expense | Annual range (CAD) | Approx. INR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRCC required living funds (single applicant) | CAD 23,448 | ₹15.9 lakh | From 1 Sep 2026; CAD 22,895 before |
| Accommodation, shared off-campus (Toronto) | CAD 12,000–25,000 | ₹8.1–16.9 lakh | Rotman estimate; TMU quotes CAD 15,000–21,000 for 12 months |
| On-campus residence (TMU, academic year) | CAD 9,000–15,100+ | ₹6.1–10.2 lakh | Plus meal plan |
| Food | CAD 4,000–7,571 | ₹2.7–5.1 lakh | Cooking at home sits at the low end; TMU meal plans CAD 5,565–7,571 |
| Public transport | CAD 1,500 | ₹1 lakh | Student passes; U-Pass included in fees at some universities |
| Books and supplies | CAD 1,500–2,000 | ₹1–1.4 lakh | Engineering and design programmes higher |
| Personal expenses and phone | CAD 2,000–5,600 | ₹1.4–3.8 lakh | CAD 400–700 a month |
| Health insurance | CAD 948 (Ontario UHIP) · CAD 900 (BC, CAD 75 a month) | ₹64,200 · ₹61,000 | Universities enrol you automatically in Ontario |
| Typical total, Toronto, single student | CAD 23,856–38,756 | ₹16.2–26.2 lakh | Rotman 12-month estimate |
Sources: IRCC proof-of-funds page; Rotman One-Year MBA living-cost estimate; Toronto Metropolitan University tuition-and-fees page; UHIP 2026-27 rates; BC Ministry of Health, all read 26 Sep 2026. C$1 = ₹67.73.
Cost of studying in Canada in Indian rupees: first-year totals by pathway
Four worked examples that combine 2026-27 tuition with the IRCC living figure, health insurance and the study permit. Flights, the visa application centre fee and the tuition deposit (already inside tuition) are extra.
| Pathway | Tuition | Living (IRCC figure) | Insurance + permit | First-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario college diploma (Conestoga, 2 terms) | CAD 15,477 | CAD 23,448 | CAD 235 (ancillary fees incl. health insurance extra, not yet published) | ≈ CAD 39,200 before ancillary fees (≈ ₹26.5 lakh) |
| Bachelor's, University of Manitoba (Arts) | ≈ CAD 20,700 | CAD 23,448 | CAD 1,320 (mandatory MISHP health plan) + CAD 235 | ≈ CAD 45,700 (≈ ₹31 lakh) |
| Master's, mid-fee university (StatCan average) | CAD 24,693 | CAD 23,448 | CAD 948 + CAD 235 | ≈ CAD 49,300 (≈ ₹33.4 lakh) |
| MEng, University of Toronto | CAD 36,790 | CAD 23,448 | CAD 948 + CAD 235 | ≈ CAD 61,400 (≈ ₹41.6 lakh) |
| Bachelor's, University of Toronto (Arts & Science) | CAD 66,110 | CAD 23,448 | CAD 948 + CAD 235 | ≈ CAD 90,700 (≈ ₹61.5 lakh) |
| Bachelor's, Waterloo Engineering | CAD 75,000 (tuition and incidental fees) | CAD 23,448 | CAD 948 + CAD 235 | ≈ CAD 99,600 (≈ ₹67.5 lakh) |
Tuition from the institutions' 2026-27 pages; living figure from IRCC; UHIP 2026-27 single rate; IRCC fee list. All read 26 Sep 2026. C$1 = ₹67.73. Totals rounded to the nearest CAD 100.
How Indian students pay for Canada: loans, part-time work, remittance rules
- Education loans: public-sector banks lend against collateral for larger amounts and offer smaller collateral-free loans; non-bank lenders such as Prodigy Finance and MPOWER lend to Indian students at selected Canadian universities without collateral or an Indian co-signer, at higher rates. IRCC accepts a bank sanction letter as proof of funds, so get the sanction before you apply for the permit.
- Part-time work: 24 hours a week off campus at Ontario's CAD 17.60 minimum wage (CAD 17.95 from 1 October 2026) is about CAD 420 a week or roughly CAD 1,800 a month (about ₹1.2 lakh) before tax. That covers food, transport and part of the rent, not tuition. BC pays CAD 18.25 an hour, Alberta CAD 15.
- Scheduled breaks: full-time work is allowed in the summer and winter breaks, which is when co-op and internship earnings make the biggest difference to the second-year budget.
- Remittance: parents send tuition and living funds under the RBI Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Tax collected at source applies above a threshold and is lower for education-loan-funded transfers; check the current rates with your bank before the first transfer, and keep every remittance advice for the visa file.
- Scholarships: many universities give automatic entrance awards for high admission averages, but amounts vary and are often modest (Waterloo's automatic award for a 95% or higher average is CAD 2,000, and its larger faculty awards are limited in number and paid over several terms), so check each university's scholarship page; a few full awards exist (Toronto's Lester B. Pearson, UBC International Scholars). Graduate students should target assistantships and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (up to CAD 15,000).
- Deposits and refunds: some colleges ask for a non-refundable deposit before issuing the PAL (Conestoga CAD 2,500), and universities set their own deposits, so check your offer letter for the amount. Read the refund policy for a visa refusal before paying.
Where is it cheapest to study in Canada, and does cheap mean worse?
By province, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba have the lowest average international undergraduate tuition in Statistics Canada's 2026/27 data, and rents outside the big cities are lower too. Memorial University, the University of Manitoba and the University of New Brunswick all sit well under the national average, and each province runs a nominee programme that favours its own graduates. Quebec's public universities are cheap for Canadians but charge international students closer to the national average; Montreal rents are the lowest of the big cities.
Within Ontario, the gap between a public college and a research university is CAD 40,000 or more a year. Colleges are the right choice for a specific applied credential and a job in that field, but since November 2024 college graduates need to be in an eligible field of study to get a post-graduation work permit, and their PGWP length matches the programme length up to 3 years. University degree holders face no field restriction and get a 3-year permit after any master's of 8 months or more, which is why the total cost of a degree often works out better once you count work-permit time.
Cheaper is not worse for outcomes if the programme is at a public, PGWP-eligible institution with co-op or internship terms and you plan to stay in that province after graduation. Cheaper is worse when it means a private career college, a curriculum-licensing arrangement (a private college delivering a public college's programme, which is not PGWP-eligible for new students since May 2024) or a field that is not on the PGWP list.
Budget for the exchange rate, not just the fee
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of studying in Canada for Indian students per year?
Roughly CAD 40,000 to CAD 100,000 a year (about ₹27 lakh to ₹68 lakh) including tuition, the IRCC living figure of CAD 23,448 and insurance. An Ontario college diploma year comes to about CAD 39,200 (₹26.5 lakh) before ancillary fees, a mid-fee master's about CAD 49,300 (₹33.4 lakh) and a University of Toronto Arts & Science year about CAD 90,700 (₹61.5 lakh).
How much are tuition fees in Canada for international students?
Statistics Canada puts the 2026/27 average at CAD 42,062 a year for international undergraduates and CAD 24,693 for graduates. Individual 2026-27 fees range from CAD 15,477 for two terms at Conestoga College and about CAD 20,700 at the University of Manitoba to CAD 66,110 at the University of Toronto and CAD 75,000 in tuition and incidental fees for Waterloo Engineering.
What are living expenses in Canada for students per month?
IRCC's required figure works out to about CAD 1,954 a month (CAD 23,448 a year, about ₹1.3 lakh a month). Toronto budgets published by the University of Toronto and TMU run CAD 2,000–3,200 a month once rent of CAD 1,000–2,000, food of CAD 350–630, transport of CAD 125 and personal costs of CAD 400–700 are added; smaller cities cost less mainly because of rent.
How much money do you need to show for a Canada study permit?
For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026 a single applicant must show CAD 23,448 (about ₹15.9 lakh) for living costs plus first-year tuition plus return airfare. With one accompanying family member the living figure is CAD 29,192, with two it is CAD 35,888. Between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026 the single figure was CAD 22,895.
Is Canada cheaper than the UK, USA or Australia for Indian students?
EduCanada states that international students pay less in Canada than in the UK, US or Australia, and the CAD 24,693 average graduate tuition is low by comparison, but Toronto and Vancouver rents and the CAD 23,448 living requirement narrow the gap. The clearest saving is a master's at a provincial university outside Ontario and BC, where tuition can be under CAD 10,000 a year.
How much does health insurance cost for international students in Canada?
In Ontario, UHIP costs CAD 948 for single coverage from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027 (about ₹64,200) and is added to your fees automatically. In British Columbia international students join the provincial plan and pay a CAD 75 monthly health fee (CAD 900 a year). Other provinces either include students in public plans or bundle private insurance into fees.
Can part-time work cover the cost of studying in Canada?
No. At 24 hours a week and Ontario's CAD 17.60 minimum wage (CAD 17.95 from 1 October 2026) you earn about CAD 1,800 a month before tax, roughly ₹1.2 lakh, which covers food, transport and part of the rent. Tuition and the CAD 23,448 proof of funds have to come from savings, family or an education loan; full-time work in scheduled breaks adds to the second-year budget.
What is the cheapest province to study in Canada?
Newfoundland and Labrador, where Statistics Canada puts average international tuition at CAD 18,911 for undergraduates and CAD 6,996 for graduates for 2026/27, followed by New Brunswick (CAD 20,029), Prince Edward Island (CAD 22,067) and Manitoba (CAD 23,160) for undergraduates. Ontario is the most expensive at CAD 50,088 and CAD 28,900, and Toronto and Vancouver also have the highest rents.
Official sources used on this page
- Statistics Canada — Tuition fees for degree programs, 2026/2027 (The Daily, 16 Sep 2026; table 37-10-0045-01) — Statistics Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- EduCanada — Study costs for international students in Canada — Global Affairs Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Study permit: Proof of financial support (cost-of-living table) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Fee list — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- University of Toronto — Tuition Fee Schedules 2026-27 (Tables D1 and D4) — University of Toronto · checked 26 September 2026
- University of Waterloo — Tuition and fees for students starting September 2026 — University of Waterloo · checked 26 September 2026
- University of Waterloo — Entrance scholarships — University of Waterloo · checked 26 September 2026
- UBC Academic Calendar — Undergraduate tuition fees (international per-credit rates 2026) — University of British Columbia · checked 26 September 2026
- Toronto Metropolitan University — Tuition and fees 2026-2027 — Toronto Metropolitan University · checked 26 September 2026
- University of Manitoba — Undergraduate tuition and fees 2026-2027 — University of Manitoba · checked 26 September 2026
- Conestoga College — International fees and payment 2026-2027 — Conestoga College · checked 26 September 2026
- UHIP — Get started: premium rates 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027 — University Health Insurance Plan (Ontario) · checked 26 September 2026
- Government of British Columbia — Health fee for international students — Government of British Columbia · checked 26 September 2026
- Ontario — Minimum wage (rates to 30 Sep 2026 and from 1 Oct 2026) — Government of Ontario · checked 26 September 2026
- IRCC — Work off campus as an international student — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 26 September 2026
- Rotman School of Management — One-Year MBA tuition and living-cost estimate — University of Toronto · checked 26 September 2026
- Wise — CAD to INR mid-market rate — Wise · checked 26 September 2026
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