Study in Canada

Who this applies to

International (foreign) students at Canadian universities. Education is provincial — admissions & tuition are set per-university/per-province; the federal layer is immigration (study permit).

Governing authority

Provincial/territorial ministries regulate universities; Universities Canada is the membership body. Immigration handled federally by IRCC.

Degree system

Bachelor 3–4 yrs · Master 1–2 yrs · PhD 4–6 yrs. (Québec: CEGEP pre-university 2 yrs before a 3-yr bachelor.)

Admission

Undergraduate

Apply directly to universities; Ontario undergrad uses the centralized OUAC portal. Requirements: HS transcript/grades, sometimes supplementary apps; competitive.

Graduate

Apply directly to the department; recognized bachelor's/master's; transcripts, SOP, references; some need GRE/GMAT.

Language Requirements

English

IELTS (commonly 6.5) / TOEFL iBT (86–100) / Duolingo — most universities.

French

French proficiency for French-medium universities (Québec: Université de Montréal, Laval; bilingual: University of Ottawa).

Tuition Intl Per Year Cad

Undergraduate

~CAD $20,000–$60,000 (varies by program/province; medicine/business higher)

Graduate

~CAD $7,000–$40,000 (research master's/PhD often lower and may include funding)

Source

Universities Canada; institutional fee pages

Study Permit

Required

For programs longer than 6 months.

Documents

Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) + a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL, required since 2024) + proof of funds + (often) biometrics and a medical exam.

Proof Of Funds

As of 1 Sept 2025, applicants must show access to ~CAD $22,895 for living costs (single applicant, outside Québec) IN ADDITION to first-year tuition.

Work Rights

On/off-campus work allowed (up to ~24 h/week off-campus during terms, per current rules); Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after graduation from eligible programs.

Scholarships

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (PhD), Banting (postdoc), provincial scholarships, and university entrance/merit scholarships for internationals.

Sources & references

• study permit/PAL/funds — https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/get-documents.html (2026-06-10)
• proof of funds 2025 — https://www.mpowerfinancing.com/blog/canada-student-visa-requirements-in-2025-whats-changed-and-what-hasnt (2026-06-10)