Cost of Studying in Canada: Tuition Fee, Living Expenses, Financial Proof, Student Visa & More

Cost Of Studying In Canada For Indian Students

The average Canada fees for international students for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs are shown in the table below. This is the average fees for international students in Canada for the first year of the course. One part of which you will have to pay at the time of admission, and the rest must be paid while you are in Canada. The figures in the table below are in accordance with 2022-23 Statistics Canada. 

Now let us see the Canada university fees for international students for different courses:

Living Expenses Included In Total Cost Of Studying In Canada

Total cost of study in Canada for Indian students includes Canada university fees for international students and living expenses. Your Canada fees for international students is pre-decided by the Canadian university you choose to study and the course. After you receive your unconditional offer letter from the university, you must pay the tuition fees in Canada for your course to the university. Some universities require you to pay per term, whereas others might require you to pay Canada study fees for the first year.

Cost of living in Canada depends on the city you are staying in and the lifestyle you opt for. We have listed the factors contributing to the total expenses to study in Canada cost in rupees and average cost for each in the table below.

Other Essential Cost Of Studying In Canada

Apart from the tuition fee and living expenses, there are a few other essential expenses that you will incur as an international student in Canada. We have detailed them below for your reference. 

• Visa Fees

The fee for applying for a study permit in Canada is 150 CAD/9,170 INR. Fee for giving biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) is 85 CAD/ 5,200 INR.

Visa requirements in Canada

• Application Fees

Each institution has an application fee, depending on the program you apply for. For international students, it ranges between 45 CAD/2,750 INR-200 CAD/12,220 INR. You will have to submit your language proficiency test scorecard, besides academic or work experience transcripts, to each university while applying.

Colleges/Universities in Canada without application fees

Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (CAQ)

To study at universities in Québec, international students must obtain permission to study from the governments of Quebec and Canada. It can be done by applying for a certificate of acceptance based on the course duration. This requires you to pay an application fee of 114 CAD /6,970 INR and charges for sending the documents to Quebec (approximately 2,000 INR).

• Overseas Student Health Cover

International students studying in Canada are required to have health insurance. Since it is a mandatory requirement, it is included in the cost of studying in Canada for Indian students. Some Canadian states provide free health insurance coverage for international students residing in their state. You can check the official website of Canadian immigration to find out if the Canadian university you have received admission to is covered for free health insurance. In this case, you must apply for health insurance after reaching Canada.

If the government does not cover the Canadian state you will be staying in for free health insurance; you must purchase health insurance coverage. This must cover all the health ailments for the complete duration of the stay. It is mandatory to have health insurance coverage before you apply for your Canadian student visa. The insurance certificate must be produced for your university before you begin your term. 

The average yearly cost of health insurance premiums is 600 CAD/36,700 INR-900 CAD/ 54,950 INR. This must be included in the average cost of studying in Canada. 

• Proof of funds 

Along with the university fees for international students in Canada, one needs to show proof of enough funds. This is a part of obtaining your study permit. The minimum amount of funds you should have to support yourself as a student is summarized in the table below. These are other than the tuition fees. In total, tuition and other fees, as shown in the table below, are needed to procure a Canadian student visa. Please note that these only include funds if you are taking some family members with you to Canada for which there are additional charges.

These funds can be arranged by purchasing a Guaranteed Investment Certificate, taking an education loan or having a sponsor who can support you. 

Purchase of GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) 

This forms a part of the documents required to get a student permit as a part of the financial proof. The students must buy a special guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from participating banks like Nova Scotia Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI Canada Bank, and CIBC Bank for 10,200 CAD/5,50,000 INR, the adjustment of the living expenses of the first year. Approximately 200 CAD/10,800 INR will be deducted as administrative charges of the bank.

The student receives 2,000 CAD/1,08,000 INR immediately after arrival in Canada. After that, 8,000 CAD/4,40,000 INR will be paid to the students in 12 equal instalments for monthly living expenses. 

Total Cost Of Studying In Canada: Pre-arrival & Post-arrival Cost

The total cost of study in Canada for Indian students is segregated into pre-arrival and post-arrival costs. Pre-arrival costs include the expenses that an Indian student will incur in obtaining admission into a Canadian university. We have detailed them below for your reference, which will help you determine the cost of studying in Canada. 

Pre-arrival

• Entrance Exams

International students from non-English speaking countries who apply to study at a university in Canada are required to take up English Language Proficiency tests. This evaluates an individual's reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Based on the course and university you opt to study, the university might require you to appear for subject-specific tests. This is included in the total cost to study in Canada from India. We have listed the costs for each in the table below.

• Air tickets

You can choose a direct flight from India to Canada or with stop-overs. The cost of tickets depends on the flight you choose, the boarding city, the destination city, class of the ticket, the date of booking, date of boarding. It ranges between 1,00,000 INR-2,00,000 INR.

• Appear for medical test

You must pay all fees related to the medical exam when you’re in India. This includes the fee of the doctor, radiologist, and any tests, investigations or treatment if required. It is mandatory to get tested by a doctor as recommended by the Immigration authorities of the Canadian government. 

Post-arrival

• Canada University Tuition Fees

If you have paid a Canada university fee for tuition, stationery, books, etc., before reaching Canada, this is not applicable post-arrival. This applies only when you are required to make payments after you join your term.

• Cost of living

As discussed in the pre-arrival cost section, the cost of living is a significant component of the total cost of studying in Canada. Rent for accommodation forms the most significant part of the living expense. The type of accommodation you choose and the city/town you live in determines how much you will spend. Let's discuss the rental for accommodation in detail that is included in the total cost of studying in Canada in Indian rupees.

Wrapping up

With the comprehensive information on the cost of studying in Canada that this blog provides, you can gain an in-depth understanding of individual costs. The actual cost for an individual depends on the course, college, city, type of accommodation and the standard of living that the individual opts for. The first step is to get the foundation right by choosing the right course and a Canadian university. If you require guidance in making this decision, feel free to reach out to our Yocket counsellors anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cost Of Studying In Canada

Ques: What is the cost of studying in Canada?

Ans: The cost of studying in Canada includes expenses incurred in gaining admission into a Canadian university and expenses after reaching Canada. The approximate total cost of studying in Canada in Indian rupees is 32,69,800 INR. 

Ques: How to reduce the cost to study in Canada?

Ans: All the above expenses are mandatory for an international student to study in Canada. The only way to reduce the cost is by gaining a scholarship to reduce the tuition fee. Most of the universities in Canada offer scholarships for international students. You can check for the scholarship program you are eligible for and apply for it while you submit your student application on the university's official website. If your application for a scholarship is approved, the equivalent amount will be deducted by the university while calculating your tuition fee.

Ques: What is the scope after studying in Canada?

Ans: As an international student, Canada is one of the most preferred study destinations in the world. The degrees from Canadian universities are recognized across the world. You will get high-quality education through different learning mediums during your course. This will help you gain employment with top companies across the world. 

Ques: Which are the cheapest cities in Canada for Indian students?

Ans: The cost of living for international students in Canada is based mainly on the city you stay in. Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston and Calgary are some of the affordable cities in Canada. 

Ques: Which cities in Canada have a high cost of living for international students?

Ans: Vancouver and Toronto are on the slightly higher end regarding the cost of living for international students. The cost of accommodation is higher compared to most other cities in Canada.