Cost of Studying in Canada for International Students (2027)

Canada is a major destination for international students, with public universities in every province setting their own admission rules and tuition. A federal study permit, not a university, controls how long and under what conditions a foreign student can stay, work and eventually apply for a post graduation work permit.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources

International undergraduate tuition averaged about CAD 41,746 a year and international graduate tuition about CAD 24,028 a year in 2025/26 across Canadian universities, according to Statistics Canada. Individual programs vary widely: arts and social science programs commonly charge CAD 30,000 to 50,000 a year, while engineering, computer science and business programs at large universities can charge CAD 55,000 to more than 70,000 a year. Each university publishes its own international fee schedule, and that schedule, not a national average, is the figure an applicant should rely on.

Beyond tuition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requires a study permit applicant to show at least CAD 23,448 a year (for applications on or after 1 September 2026) to cover living costs for one person, not including tuition or travel, plus CAD 6,318 for each accompanying family member. EduCanada, the federal government's own study guide, gives a similar minimum recommended budget of about CAD 23,000 a year, and notes that annual cost of living for a single student can run from about CAD 14,000 in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to more than CAD 26,000 in British Columbia.