Where’s the cheapest place to study in Canada?

08 Apr 2019

international students in Canada — International students are the main source of funds for Canada's universities and colleges. Source: Shopify Partners/Burst

Do you have your heart set on studying in Canada?

The country is home to some of the world’s top universities, but depending on where you study, the cost of tuition for international students can vary greatly. This depends on several factors, including the university and programme you enrol in, as well as the location (i.e. province and territory).

As tuition is among the biggest chunk of your expenses as a student, it helps to compare the average prices of tuition in various areas as a benchmark and navigate your way from there to help you choose the right university that suits your budget, personal and professional goals.

#Canada is growing in popularity as a study abroad destination among uni students. #HigherEd https://t.co/MFMTCvOyuD pic.twitter.com/3VRLPkW7if

— Study International (@Study_INTNL) April 4, 2019

So, if you’re looking to obtain an international education without breaking the bank, which would be the cheapest or most affordable place in Canada that offers competitive tuition, according to your budget?

According to Statistics Canada, the average undergraduate tuition fees for international students in 2018/2019 is CND$27,159 (over US$20,000/£15,000) per year and CND$16,497 (over US$12,000/£9,000) per year for graduate studies.

But here’s a further breakdown, according to area and level of study:

Location	Average tuition fees (CND$) 2018/2019
Location	International undergraduate	International graduate
Newfoundland and Labrador	12,035	4,087
New Brunswick	14,290	11,593
Manitoba	15,582	10,995
Nova Scotia	17,662	18,907
Saskatchewan	20,211	6,032
Prince Edward Island	21,525	11,905
Alberta	21,548	11,804
Quebec	21,857	15,392
British Columbia	25,472	16,988
Ontario	34,961	21,686

Source: Statistics Canada

Top 3 cheapest locations for international students to pursue undergraduate studies:

Newfoundland and Labrador
New Brunswick
Manitoba

Top 3 cheapest locations for international students to pursue graduate studies:

Newfoundland and Labrador
Saskatchewan
Manitoba

Statistics Canada notes that two-thirds of international students were studying at the undergraduate level.

“Of this group, 30% were enrolled in business, management and public administration, with an average tuition fee of $26,395, which was slightly below the national average for all fields of study in 2018/2019,” it said.

“On the other hand, 14 percent of international undergraduate students were enrolled full-time in engineering, which had above-average tuition fees of $30,742.”