In this article at Start Skool, we’d be looking at the 10 cheapest universities in Canada for international students to study and get their academic degree.
Canada is known as a home to not less than 640,000 international students from all over the world. This quantity of students is not surprising, given that the country is known for its world-class universities, great quality of life, and is so safe.
As an international student you can study in Canada without spending a lot of money. We’d list some of the universities where you can achieve that but before we go into that, let’s get to know a few things starting from study in Canada requirements.
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What are the Requirements for Studying in Canada?
One of the basic requirements to graduate with a Bachelor’s Honors degree is a high school diploma. Also, Master’s degree applicants need a Bachelor’s degree to be admitted.
A transcript of records is also required by the school or country, apart from other documents such as work experience and GRE/GMAT results (this is for Master’s applicants). There’s another requirement needed which is depending on the university, and this is proficiency in English or French; This could also be needed.
Can an International Student Study in a Canadian Universities in English?
Yes! Most universities in Canada teach in English (even though some lecture classes in French). Because of this, some schools like McGill University require English proficiency through IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge exams.
The same requirements also apply at the University of British Columbia, which has an English Language Admission Standard that the international applicant must meet.
Why are Canadian Universities and Colleges so Popular among International Students?
There is a particular liking from international students to the high rankings of Canadian universities and colleges.
Also, these high rank universities offer great scholarships to international students unlike some universities in the US! You can check the University of Toronto, McGill University, and University of British Columbia for more information about these scholarships.
International students love to study in Canada because of the beautiful nature of this country, having fascinating animals and plants.
Places like Vancouver, Quebec, and Nova Scotia are famous tourist attractions because they contain this beautiful nature, thus many international students wish to study in Canada to view the beautiful nature.
Also Canadian universities and colleges offer undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD programs with affordable tuition. Professional degrees such as MBA and Medical doctors can be gotten by paying affordable tuition fees. It is worthy to note that these tuition fees change according to your major, so numbers are an average.
Do Affordable Universities in Canada Offer Scholarships?
Yes! These affordable universities offer scholarships for international students. Keep an eye at their official websites to know when there are available opportunities for you.
- You can checkout The Cheapest Universities in Italy.
Now, we can go ahead to take a careful look at some of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students to study and get their degree abroad.
Cheapest Universities in Canada for International Students
The following universities offer great education and they’re not to expensive.
1. Newfoundland and Labrador’s University
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 11,460 ($9,035) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 6,654 ($5,245) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
Newfoundland and Labrador’s University, which is also known as the Memorial University of Newfoundland or MUN, is the cheapest university in Canada for international students. It was founded in 1925 in memory of first world war veterans. Till this day, it is one of the biggest institutions in Atlantic Canada – and the only one to service Newfoundland and Labrador.
MUN as it is fondly callled has 7 faculties in the Arts, Education, Medicine, Engineering, Business, Nursing, and Science. It also has 6 schools in the fields of Pharmacy, Music, Human Kinetics, Social Work, Recreation, and Graduate Studies.
Due to it’s affordable tuition, MUN has seen a great inflow of students from all around the globe. Till date, 20% of its enrollees come from over 100 countries.
2. University of Manitoba
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 15,800 ($12,455) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 11,694 ($9,220) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
The University of Manitoba is a public research university, having campuses in Fort Garry and Bannatyne. It is founded in 1877, and is historically known as the first educational institution in Western Canada.
This university offers many programs through the schools of Agriculture, Environment, Rehabilitation Science, Architecture, Art, Education, Engineering, Kinesiology, Science, Social Work, Human Ecology, Business, Music, and Graduate Studies.
The student population of this university is almost 28,800. While most are indigenous students, 18% of the group are international students.
3. Concordia University
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 19,812 ($15,620) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 15,467 ($12,190) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
Next on this list of cheapest universities in Canada for international students is Concordia University. It is a comprehensive public educational institution in the French-speaking region of Montreal, Quebec. Although this is the case, it primarily uses English as the medium for instruction.
It came about by a merger between two schools, which are; Loyola College and George Williams University, Concordia is grouped into the faculties of Fine Arts, Arts & Science, Engineering & Computer Science, Business, and Graduate Studies.
As one of the top-ranked universities in Canada, Concordia is well-known for its prestigious John Molson School of Business.
31% of Concordia’s 31,000+ are international students.
4. McGill University
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 22,583 ($17,800) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 14,328 ($11,295) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
This establishment of learning was founded in 1821 and it is a public research institution named after its founder James McGill. It has campuses located in downtown Montreal and Montreal island.
Known to have the highest grade for admission, the university offers more than 300 programs through the faculties of Agriculture, Arts, Dentistry, Education, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Religious Studies, Science, and Continuing Education.
McGill is also known to have one of the most diverse student population, with 30% of its student population coming from 150 countries around the globe. It has become an attractive destination amongst many foreigners, as McGill is recognized as one of the top 3 universities in Canada – and one of the top 50 in the entire world.
5. Ryerson University
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 28,633 ($22,570) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 23,795 ($18,760) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
This school is located in downtown Toronto, Ryerson is one of Canada’s cheapest public research universities. It was established in 1948 as the Ryerson Institute of Technology before it was allocated the university title in 1993.
Apart from hosting the largest business school in the country – which is the Ted Rogers School of Management – it also specializes in the fields of the Arts, Communication & Design, Community Services, Engineering & Architecture, Science, and Continuing Education.
Compared to most Canadian universities, Ryerson university has the smallest community of international students. They only amount to 5% of the school’s 34,500+ students and it is one of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students.
6. University of New Brunswick
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 29,399 ($23,175) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 29,399 ($23,175) yearly.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
The University of New Brunswick or UNB is one of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students with campuses in Saint John and Fredericton.
Founded in 1785, it is the oldest English-language Canadian university. It is also one of the oldest in North America, having been established by seven loyalists who left the United States after the American revolution.
UNB as fondly called by its students offers 75 bachelor’s degrees and graduate programs spread across 30 fields. These include the Arts, Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Forestry, Kinesiology, Law, Leadership Studies, Nursing, and Science.
Of the school’s 8,570 students, 13% are international students.
7. University of Alberta
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 29,500 ($23,255) per annum.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 15,360 ($12,110) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
The University of Alberta is a public educational institution situated in Edmonton, Alberta. It first opened the year 1908 through the efforts of premier Alexander Cameron Rutherford and university president Henry Marshall Tory.
It is also called by locals U of A and it has faculties in the fields of Agriculture, Business, Arts, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Law, Medicine & Dentistry, Native Studies, Nursing, Pharmacy, Kinesiology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Public Health, and Science.
It’s 7,800 international students represent 151 nationalities and it is also one of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students.
8. University of British Columbia
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 37,460 ($29,530) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 6,516 ($5,136) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
It was founded in the year 1908, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is the province’s oldest higher education institution. Having branches in Vancouver and Kelowna.
It is the also alma mater of many popular Canadians – including current prime minister Justin Trudeau.
Also one of the cheapest university in Canada for international students,it has different faculties in every branch. It’s Vancouver campus, for one, is home to the departments of Applied Science, Arts, Dentistry, Education, Forestry, Land & Food Systems, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Science.
This is the Canadian university having the highest percentage of international students. To date, 32% of its 53,000+ are international students.
It is worthy to note that UBC is one of the top 3 universities in Canada.
9. University of Ottawa
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 37,676 ($29,700) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 18,570 ($14,640) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
Known as the U of O, the University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual educational institution in the world. This cheap university in Canada is located in Ontario, where it was founded in 1848 as the College of Bytown.
It’s undergraduate and graduate programs are organized by 10 faculties specializing in the Arts, Education, Engineering, Health Science, Law (Civil and Common), Medicine, Science, Social Science, and Management.
U of O is plays host to 7,000 international students. This diverse population represents over 150 nations across the globe.
10. University of Toronto
Tuition Fee For Undergraduate Programs: from CAD 39,560 (~$31,185) per year.
Tuition Fee for Graduate Programs: from CAD 26,210 (~$20,660) per year.
Undergraduate Tuition Fee Link
This school is founded in 1827 as King’s College, the University of Toronto (U of T) is the oldest higher education institution in Ontario. It’s also the highest-ranked Canadian university in the World Rankings at number 18, 16 notches ahead of the next-in-line “University of British Columbia”.
U of T also is divided into several faculties, including that of the Arts & Science, Applied Science & Engineering, Architecture, Music, Forestry, Information, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Kinesiology, Public Health, Law, Management, Public Policy, Education, Social Work, and Theology.
With a great student population of over 74,000, 22% of these or 16,000+ come from countries all across the globe.
It is also one of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students.
You can also checkout this article on Studying in Canada.
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