How much does it cost to study in Canada?

International students need to pay over CAD 50,000 (VND 860 million) per academic year in Canada, including tuition and living expenses – a figure considered lower than in the US, Australia, and the UK.

Tuition

Canadian universities have varying tuition fees, depending on the program of study, student nationality, and location.

At the university level, while Canadian students pay an average of CAD 6,500 (VND 112 million), international students pay around CAD 36,000 (VND 618 million) per year.

By field of study, tuition for Dentistry and Medicine is around 59,000 CAD, higher than programs in Social Sciences and Humanities. Management and Business programs have tuition fees close to the average, at around 36,000 CAD.

University tuition fees vary greatly between cities. Ontario has some of the highest rates, around 45,000 CAD per year for undergraduate studies, while students in Newfoundland only need to pay 16,000 CAD.

If pursuing a postgraduate degree, this amount is over 21,000 CAD (360 million VND) per year.

Accommodation

International students studying in Canada have many accommodation options, including homestay (in student housing or student villages), university-provided accommodation, or renting their own home.

Some homestay services charge an initial fee (or arrangement fee) of 200 CAD and a monthly rent of around 1,000 CAD (17 million VND). Student housing or university dormitories range from 250-625 CAD (4-10 million VND) per month. Many of these also offer meal services.

If students rent and share accommodation outside the campus, they will need to pay approximately 1,300-2,500 CAD (22-43 million VND), depending on the location and type of housing.

The University of Toronto campus, Canada. Photo: University of Toronto — The University of Toronto campus, Canada. Photo: *University of Toronto*

living expenses

If renting private accommodation, students spend approximately 150 CAD (2.5 million VND) per month on personal utilities such as electricity, water, heating, and council tax. Internet costs around 40 CAD per month, and a phone plan costs 30 CAD.

The average weekly food cost is around 50-65 AUD. A meal at a restaurant in Canada costs about 15 CAD per person, and a movie ticket is about 9 CAD.

Single-trip tickets for public transport cost a few CAD, while monthly passes are around 80-100 CAD. Students may be eligible for discounts on some public transport systems. Taxis are a popular mode of transport in Canada, costing approximately 2-6 CAD per kilometer.

Another important cost to consider is health insurance, with fees varying by region. Some places cover health insurance for international students, such as Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. However, this depends on the length of stay and the student's nationality. Meanwhile, if studying in Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, or Yukon, international students must arrange their own health insurance.

Students will also need to spend around 600 CAD per year on learning materials. Warm clothing should be invested in as winter temperatures in Canada can drop to -40 degrees Celsius.

One way to save on living expenses is to take advantage of student discounts offered by some businesses, shops, and restaurants. The discount you can get with a student ID is usually around 10-15%.

In addition, Canadian undergraduate and graduate programs offer scholarships and grants for international students. International students should seek these support packages early, as scholarship funds are often limited and highly competitive. Scholarships may be awarded to applicants with outstanding athletic and academic achievements, or those with exceptional abilities in a particular field.

Phuong Anh (According to Times Higher Education )

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