Canada is one of the most popular higher education destinations for international students, offering diversity, top-class living standard, possibilities of immigration and AFFORDABLE tuition fees. If you worry about the tuition fees, we have selected 10 cheapest universities in Canada for international students. Worth noting that upon completion of degree programs offered by these universitiies, all international students are eligible to apply for 3-year post-graduate work permits.
We also prepared for you an ultimate guide of studying in Canada.
Please leave comments below if you have any questions.
10 Cheap Public Universities in Canada
10. Brock University
Brock University, founded in 1963, is a public research university in Canada. During the conflict of 1812, it was responsible for defending Canada against the U.S. The public institution is located in St. Catharines, Ontario, with a satellite campus in Hamilton. Brock University is also one of top universities in Canada providing Accounting students with one of the fastest tracks to the CPA designation.
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Average tuition fees/year: $26,000 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) (Co-op)
Tuition: $26,442 CAD
Bachelor of Science – Computer Science (Honours) (Co-op)
Tuition: $26,442 CAD
Bachelor of Arts – Child Health (Honours)
Tuition: $26,558 CAD
9. Laurentian University
Laurentian University is situated in the heart of the city of Greater Sudbury. Surrounded by five lakes and nestled on over 750 acres of land, it is often referred to as an academic resort. Laurentian University has been in a continuous state of growth. Putting an emphasis on student success, Laurentian has the support and the facilities that encourage creativity and innovation. Laurentian has comfortable, flexible residences that feel like home, only better. Here, you get to design your own lifestyle. It’s the reason more than 1,450 students choose to make one of Laurentian’s eight unique residences their home.
Location: Sudbury, Ontario
Average tuition fees/year: $24,000 CAD
Cost of Living/Year: $11,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Science – Computer Science (Honours)
Tuition: $24,104.00 CAD
Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting (Honours)
Tuition: $25,960.00 CAD
8. University of Guelph
The University of Guelph is a public university in Canada with a medium-sized but comprehensive education. The school strives to create a student-centred teaching atmosphere, conducts extensive research work, actively serves the society, and maintains an excellent forward vitality in the balance of the three. The employment rate for graduates is as high as 97.2% and the school also enjoys the reputation of “the first quality of undergraduate education in Canada.”
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Average tuition fees/year: $22,836 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,500 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Applied Science – Child, Youth and Family (GYF) (Co-op)
Tuition: $22,090 CAD
Bachelor of Science – Animal Biology (GZ)
Tuition: $22,090 CAD
7. Lakehead University
Lakehead University is located in Thunder Bay City, which is near Lake Superior and has a population of 117,000. In the 46 years since its establishment, the school has made great efforts to innovate and strive to serve the community where it is located. Many of the school’s courses make Lakehead University very famous, such as forestry, outdoor recreation, biology, geography and geology. At the same time, the school has earned a reputation for its research courses on indigenous people. In addition, its engineering, business and other majors have also attracted students from all over the country and the world.
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Avg tuition fees/year: $20,370 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,500 CAD
Degree Programs
Master of Science – Forestry – Course Based
Tuition: $14,498 CAD
Master of Science – Computer Science – Course Based
Tuition: $14,498 CAD
Honours Bachelor of Science – Computer Science
Tuition: $22,601 CAD
6. University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a comprehensive university with a full range of disciplines. The university was established in 1857, and is located across the river from Detroit in the US. The city is known as the “Capital of Canada’s Automobile Industry” and is also home to the three largest Canadian car manufacturing companies and hundreds of high-tech companies. There are currently 14,000 full-time and part-time students from Canada, the United States and all over the world.
Location: Windsor, Ontario
Average tuition fees/year: $20,300 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Master of Science – Computer Science – Course Based
Tuition: $14,498.00 CAD
Honours Bachelor of Science – Computer Science
Tuition: $22,601.00 CAD
5. Trent University
Chuante University is a famous “pocket university” in Ontario. It is located in Peterborough, southern Ontario, with a population of 68,000, just an-hour drive from Toronto. The university currently has a total of 6,000 students and about 4,000 undergraduates.
Location: Oshawa, ON
Avg tuition fees/year: $21,00.00 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,000.00 CAD
Degree Programs
Master of Science – Applied Modelling and Quantitative Methods – Big Data Analytics (Course-Based) (MS.AMOD.DATA)
Tuition: $19,792 CAD
Bachelor of Science – Business & Science (RSD)
Tuition: $21,385 CAD
4. Algoma University
Founded in 1964, Algoma University is a fast-growing university that focuses on undergraduate education. Algoma University currently has more than 30 majors, all of which are taught in small classes and promote customized personal development. Undergraduate students at the university can apply for and receive a paid internship for at least one year.
Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Avg tuition fees/year: $16,285 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts – Accounting (Optional Co-op)
Tuition: $16,287 CAD
Honours Bachelor of Computer Science (Optional Co-op)
Tuition: $16,287 CAD
3. Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University is a public university established in 1953 in Canada. Its teaching methodology is unique in Canada, integrating literature, science, technology and trade. The university is located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, close to the Atlantic Ocean. It is the only university that has a 3-year Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management in Canada, which also includes 12 months of paid internship for 3 years. All international students will be arranged for unconditional internships in local hotels, travel agencies, clubs and other institutions in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Banff National Park and other places. The annual salary is about 30,000 Canadian dollars.
Avg tuition fees/year: $16,000 CAD
Cost of living/year: $10,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management (3-year bachelor’s degree)
Tuition: $16,080 CAD
Bachelor of Business Administration – Finance (Optional Co-op)
Tuition: $16,080 CAD
2. University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is the only university in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is located in the town of Charlottetown, the provincial capital of fewer than 30,000 people. The college has always been committed to cultivating students’ ability of independent, innovative, and critical thinking.
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Avg tuition fees/year: $13,955 CAD
Cost of living/year: $11,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts – Economics
Tuition: $13,590 CAD
Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting (Optional Co-op)
Tuition: $13,590 CAD
1. Mount Royal University
Mount Royal University (MRU) was founded in 1910 and is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The goal is to help students reach their full potential. The teachers there not only have academic, professional qualifications but also have a lot of practical experience in various industries. Due to the excellent reputation in teaching, it has attracted more than 15,000 students to come to the university every year.
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Avg tuition fees/year: $9,080 CAD
Cost of living/year: $10,000 CAD
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours)
Tuition fees: $9,174 CAD
Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
Tuition fees $7,034 CAD
Living Costs in Canada
Compared to other countries, the living costs in Canada for an international students are relatively afforable. Nearly all of the universities in Canada offer students with on-campus residence, which is normally cheaper than off-cumpus housing. Its cost varies across institutions, type of room and meal plan.
You can check out this blog for more information about living costs in Canada as an international student.
Here are the tuition fees plus living costs according to Mount Royal University’s stats for international students:
| Expenses | Living on Campus |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $9,080 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,500 |
| Residence/Rent | $5,992 -$8,440 |
| Food | $3,000 |
| Transportation | Calgary Transit U-Pass included in tuition/fees |
| Clothing/Personal care | $1,100 |
| Entertainment | $600 |
| TOTAL | $21,272 – $23,720 |
How to Apply to Canadian Universities
The application process to universities in Canada can vary from provinces and universities. For example, international students must submit applications to Ontario universities through a centralized application system – OUAC 105. In contrast, some other universities have their own portal to process applications.
Depending on what program you apply to, you may be asked to providing the following documents:
- Resume
- Education History
- Transcript in English or French
- Reference letters
- English proficiency test results (i.e. IELTS, TOEFL)
