Canada, over the years, has become a hub for international students, largely due to its diverse culture and prestigious educational institutions.
Choosing the right designated learning institute (DLI) comes with many considerations, especially tuition cost, says a CIC News report. According to Statistics Canada, the weighted average tuition fees for all full-time international undergraduate students in 2024 is $40,115 annually.
In addition to tuition fees, students must also consider accommodation and overall living expenses. With these factors in mind, here’s an overview of the costs associated with studying at Canada’s top universities as an international student.
All tuition costs mentioned in this article are in Canadian dollars (CAD). The cost of tuition is calculated for only one academic year. The average undergraduate program in Canada is three to five years, so the total cost of an undergraduate program will need to be calculated accordingly.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UoT) ranked 25th in the QS World University Rankings for 2024, making it the highest-ranked university in Canada.
Established in 1827, UoT is a public research university renowned for its extensive facilities. Students can select from over 700 academic programs and benefit from the largest academic library in the country. UoT comprises 11 colleges and three campuses, with the original campus situated in downtown Toronto and two additional campuses in Mississauga and Scarborough.
• Arts: $61,720
• Commerce: $61,720
• Engineering: $67,370
While daily expenses depend on the campus chosen, the university recommends setting aside $1,000 for books and other equipment (like a laptop) and $8,000-$15,000 for campus accommodation and meal costs per year.
For those choosing to live off campus, the median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in downtown Toronto costs $3,000. Split between two students, it could be $1,500 without accounting for food.
McGill University
Located in Montreal, McGill University also regularly features among top-ranked universities in the country. The university currently offers over 1,200 programs through a number of faculties, schools and institutes. International students make up nearly 30% of its student body.
• Arts: $47,281.69
• Commerce: $70,894.37
• Engineering: $66,327.91
Montreal also ranks among the QS Best Student Cities of 2025 which is based on factors such as university rankings, employer activity, affordability and student life. Living in Montreal also offers a lower cost of living as compared to Toronto and Vancouver, according to cost of living comparison website Numbeo. For those living off-campus, the cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Montreal comes up to $2,300 a month or $1,150 per student.
The University of British Columbia
Established in 1908, this is British Columbia’s oldest university, and it offers a diverse range of academic programs.
The University of British Columbia (UBC) features two campuses – in Vancouver and the Okanagan valley – that attract 65,000 students from Canada and 140+ countries around the world today. The university also has some famous and highly specialized degrees in international economics, food market analysis and journalism. It also has international student advisors who can help make the transition easier for international students.
• Arts: $47,189.40
• Commerce: $61,061.10
• Engineering: $60,622.65
Earlier this year, Vancouver ranked amongst most livable cities in the world according to the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). That being said, it does have a higher cost of living so students might need to account for that. The median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the area is $3,700 as of September 2024. That makes it about $1,850 per student.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta placed within the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings in 2024. It features three campuses in Edmonton, and has over 200 undergraduate programs to choose from.
• Arts: $33,968.40
• Commerce: $61,061.10
• Engineering: $60,622.65
Alberta is increasingly seen as a top spot for international students because of its more affordable cost of living and strong economic outlook. Edmonton, its second largest city, is fairly affordable, with the median monthly rent of a two-bedroom apartment being $1,650 (which comes up to $850 per student).
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo has been recognized as the "most innovative university in Canada for 30 of the past 32 years," according to Maclean's University Rankings 2024. It is particularly renowned for its cooperative education (co-op programs), which provide students with valuable hands-on experience through partnerships with leading employers. While its main campus is located in Waterloo, Ontario, the university also has three satellite campuses in downtown Kitchener, downtown Cambridge, and Stratford.
• Honours Arts: $57,000
• Global Business and Digital Arts: $55,000
• Engineering: $73,000
The cost of living depends on which campus a student chooses to study on. As of September 2024, the median rent for a two-bedroom rental in Waterloo, ON is $2,350 ($1,175 per student) per month.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/study/heres-how-much-it-will-cost-you-to-study-at-some-of-canadas-top-universities/articleshow/113692619.cms
