Tuition and Fees of Canadian Universities – BS/MS (local and international students)

Canada is one of the affordable countries when it comes to studying abroad. That is why it is a popular choice among students. The cost to study in Canada depends on the program chosen and the location of the university. Technical and medical courses are more expensive than art courses. Surprisingly, business courses are in the middle range. Also, the post-graduate programs are cheaper than undergraduate programs and there is a major difference between the cost for Canadian citizens and immigrants. The cost also varies considerably for out-of-state and in-state residents for Canadian citizens. On average, the tuition and fees for an undergraduate program is C$30,000 per year and for a Post-graduation program is C$20,000 per year for an international student. Below is a chart of the tuition fees of the popular Canadian Universities but keep in mind that the cost to study in Canada should also include:

• Tuition – depends upon program and location of the city
• Accommodation cost – college accommodations are considerably cheaper than privately shared options
• Books and materials cost – can differ considerably depending upon the program
• Medical insurance cost – costs around C$900 per year
• Clothing and miscellaneous expenses – be prepared according to the weather

Domestic Students Fees

In Canada, the tuition fee paid by domestic students is marginally low than the fees paid by international students coming to Canada for higher education. It is fairly common for international students to believe that the Canadian government should revise the rates for international students as well, making it a fair deal between domestic, as well as international students. However, the tuition rates for domestic students are set low for the following reasons:

• Canadian students do not necessarily pay the actual tuition fee, the tuition fee they pay is subsidized.
• Since Canadian students pay for the taxes towards the government, it is only natural that they would pay a lesser amount of tuition fee.
• A major factor that plays a role in the reduced tuition fee for Canadian students is the fact that a majority of domestic students choose not to pursue higher education and ultimately get a secured job right after completing high school. In order to increase the amount of domestic students who would willingly join universities, the tuition fee is reduced significantly.
• An average Canadian student’s tuition fee for undergraduate course begins at CAD $6,500; and for postgraduate courses the tuition fee begins at CAD $7000. Since Canadian universities set their own tuition fees in alignment to the courses being offered, the tuition fee fluctuates.

International Students Fees

As mentioned previously, the tuition fee fir international students is quite high, in comparison to the fee that domestic students pay. As per Statistics Canada, in the year 2023-2023, the fees for international students saw a spike of 7.8 percent. Few reasons for the spike in tuition fee are such:

• Since the tuition fee for domestic students is marginally low, the universities increase the tuition fee for international students as a way to up-hold their maintenance and miscellaneous costs. Majority of universities in Canada are quite old and the costs to up-hold these universities increases as every year passes.
• International students do not pay the taxes for the Candian government, and the tuition fee they pay partially goes towards the government through the university. Additionally, a Canadian degree is well-received all around the world and students from all around the world recognize this fact.
• An average International student’s tuition fee for undergraduate course begins at CAD $30,000; and for postgraduate courses the tuition fee begins at CAD $18,000. Since Canadian universities set their own tuition fees in alignment to the courses being offered, the tuition fee fluctuates. However, it is a given that courses in humanities will have a lower tuition cost, while courses in business & management, engineering, and medicine will be the most expensive courses.