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What’s not to love in Canada? There are top-ranking universities, high quality of life, easy visa & PR norms, and excellent post-education job opportunities. The only thing that concerns most students while exploring Canada as a study destination is the costs involved, and in this blog, we will address exactly that! Below is a detailed insight into the actual cost of studying in Canada for an Indian student and ways to balance it through scholarships, jobs, lifestyle choices, and more! Let’s go!

IN THIS BLOG:

1. Post Arrival Cost of Studying in Canada for Indian Students

2. Pre Arrival Cost of Studying in Canada for Indian Students

3. Scholarship Options in Canada for Indian Students

Post Arrival Cost of Studying in Canada for Indian Students

‘The post-arrival cost of studying in Canada for Indian students’ outlines all the expenses you need to budget to live in Canada. This section will cover all student expenses from out-of-state tuition to a loaf of bread in Canada (which costs CA$2.86, by the way) one by one. Here we go!

Tuition Fees

Tuition fee is the most significant expense, especially for international students. The good news is, although Canada runs with the big leagues of the most preferred study destinations in the world, the tuition fees in Canadian universities are competitive as compared to the top study abroad locations like the US and the UK.

Tuition fees in Canada depend on several factors, from the choice of your program to your degree level. The average tuition fee for an undergraduate degree program in Canada for international students is CA$ 33,623, which is close to INR 20.3 lakhs.

Also, the tuition fee for a program differs from university to university. Given below is an overview of average tuition fees for popular programs in Canada:

Undergraduate Tuition fees in Canada

Given below is the overview of the cost of studying in Canada for Indian students in terms of average tuition for major undergraduate courses:

Courses

Weighted Average Tuition (for International Students)

Medicine CA$ 32,450
Arts and Humanities CA$9,134 – CA$ 60,150
Engineering CA$ $33,703
Law and legal studies CA$ $33,192
Mathematics, Computer, and Information Sciences CA$ 33,012
Business and Management CA$26,680
Social and Behavioural Sciences CA$27,647
Architecture CA$ 26,457
Dentistry CA$ 56,621
Nursing CA$ 21,922
Pharmacy CA$ 40,960
Veterinary Medicine CA$ 63,323
Agriculture, Natural Resources, and conservation CA$ 26,208

Source: Statistics Canada

Graduate Tuition fees in Canada

Given below is the overview of the cost of studying in Canada for Indian students in terms of average tuition for major postgraduate courses:

Courses

Weighted Average Tuition

Regular MBA CA$ 38,950
Executive MBA CA$ 66,665
Arts and Humanities CA$ 14,737
Engineering CA$ 19,301
Law and legal studies CA$ 17,237
Mathematics, Computer, and Information Sciences CA$ 16,647
Business and Management CA$ 24,693
Social and Behavioural Sciences CA$ 15,032
Architecture CA$ 23,992
Dentistry CA$ 22,472
Nursing CA$ 16,168
Pharmacy CA$ 12,876
Veterinary Medicine CA$ 10,099
Agriculture, Natural Resources, and conservation CA$ 14,452

Source: Statistics Canada

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Cost of Living in Canada for Indian Students

The next significant expense for students when studying abroad is – the cost of living. What exactly is the cost of living in Canada for Indian students? We hate to sound like a wet blanket, but the cost of living in Canada is also very subjective since it includes variables like the city you will live in, whether you are going for private accommodation or university dorms, your meal plans, mode of transportation, lifestyle, and spending habits etcetera.

Types of Student Accommodation

Homestay CA$ 4,800 – 9,600 p.a. (INR 1,62,000- 4,05,000/-)
On-Campus Accommodation CA$ 3,000 -7,500 per year (INR 1,81,554 – INR 4,53,886)
Private/ Shared Accommodation CA$ 8,400 per year (INR 4,54,000/-)

Source: QS Top Universities

Finding a suitable place to live is the next biggest concern after getting an admit but renting a home through online portals or references can be risky and unfruitful. If you are an Indian student looking for accommodation in Canada, Jamboree has partnered with safe, trusted, and affordable accommodation providers that can help you find living spaces accessible to your university. Visit here for more information.

Other Living Expenses

With accommodation sorted, let us look at other expenses that count towards the total cost of living in Canada for Indian Students. Living cost depends on a variety of factors. For example, in this section, we will hash out the monthly living expenses of an average University of Toronto student.

  1. An average student’s housing can range from $1,000 to $2,700 per month based on their location, amenities, appliances like dishwashers or washing machines, and services like a gym, pool, or concierge. Generally, utilities like water and gas are included in rental costs.
  2. With the house comes the bills! Students are typically required to pay the cost of electricity. Although there is no cap on how expensive the electricity can be, the baseline delivery cost is a minimum of $50 a month and can increase depending on how much electricity you consume.
  • Your internet and phone bills can be $50 – $100 per month and $40-$100 per month, respectively. It’s a bit much, but you can undoubtedly use student discounts and affordable mobile service provider options.
  1. Renter’s insurance only costs $15 – $30 per month but saves you a lot in crisis. In Toronto, it also acts as insurance to replace your belongings if they get lost, stolen, or damaged. Additionally, it may also cover the expenses incurred during temporary relocation if a repair is being done in your apartment.
  2. Food & grocery is another key expense. This amount can range from $40 – $100 per week depending on your personal needs, choice of grocery stores (since some are cheaper than others), meal plan, etc.
  3. Typically, if you live on campus, there is no such need for transportation, but if you live farther from your college, you need to budget for your traveling expenses. In Toronto, you can easily access buses, subways, and streetcars, which offer per-use prices as well as unlimited monthly plans. Your average transportation can range anywhere from $0 – $128.15 per month.
  • Finally, your books and supplies can cost you around $500 per semester.
  • Other expenses include your shopping and entertainment expenses which are highly subjective but can generally cost you between $20 to $150 per month. This expense includes restaurants and take-out, hobbies, social activities, movies, monthly subscriptions, and anything else not covered in the other categories.

Cost of living in Canada for Indian Students

Living Expenses Amount in CAD
Housing $1,000 – $2,700/month
Electricity $50/month
Internet $50 – $100/month
Phone bill $40 – $100/month
Tenant’s insurance $15 – $30/month
Food & grocery $40 – $100/week
Clothes & Shoes $25/month
Health Insurance $600 – $800 per year
Transportation $0 – $128.15/month
Books & Supplies $500/semester
Emergency Funds $500

Source: University of Toronto website

Pre-Arrival Cost of Studying in Canada for Indian Students

As the name suggests, the pre-arrival cost of studying in Canada for Indian students outlines the expenses made even before you actually set foot in Canada. Sounds rough, right? But it isn’t!

Pre-arrival cost of studying in Canada for Indian students includes all the expenses that make sure you eventually study in Canada. It includes costs of appearing for a language proficiency test, university application fees, flight tickets, Canada student visa fees, etc.

Most of these expenses are one-time expenses. Take purchasing a GIC or Guaranteed Investment Certificate as an example. GIC is a document required to get a student permit as a part of the financial proof, which is entirely a one-time expenditure for studying in Canada.

Pre-arrival cost of studying in Canada for Indian Students

Expenses Approximate Amount (in INR)*
IELTS/ TOEFL 15,500/14,700
Purchase of GIC 6.15 lakhs
University Application Fee (varies from university to university) 9,000 – 11,000 or more
Application for Study Permit 8,880
One way flight tickets 50,000 – 1,00,000
Health insurance 39,000 – 50,000 annually

*As per current exchange rates

Standardized Tests

Based on your choice of program, the university you apply to, and your degree, test scores on different standardized tests are required to study in Canada. These test scores make up for the eligibility of international students to study at a Canadian University.

Pre-arrival cost of studying in Canada for Indian Students

Standardized Tests Amount (USD)
SAT $104
ACT $ 155-$166.5
GMAT $275
GRE $150 -$213
CAEL $280

Canada Student Visa Fees

According to CIC, a study permit for Canada costs CA$ 150, which is roughly equivalent to INR 9,054 as per the current exchange rate. The Canada student visa fee doesn’t include value-added and service charges.

Visa type

Applicable fees (CAD)

Applicable fees (INR)

Study permit for Canada (including extensions) CAD$ 150 per person Rs. 9,054

Scholarship Options in Canada for Indian Students

Well, it’s not a secret that Canada is a little on the expensive side, but some ways to fix that, and one of the most popular ways is through scholarships. According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition fee in Canada for international students is CA$ 33,623 (UG), and scholarships can significantly cut down this amount.

When looking for scholarships, your first natural stop should be the official website of your chosen university itself. Next, list external scholarships you can get your hands on, including InternationalScholarships.com or FastWeb.com. Given below is a list of some of the top Canadian Scholarships that Indian students can apply to:

Scholarship

Type of Funding

Open for Indian Nationals

Programs

Education Future International Scholarship 2022 Partial Funding Bachelors and Masters
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD Fellowships 2022 Partial Funding Ph.D. (Biomedical Research)
University Of Westminster Undergraduate Distant Horizons Awards In the UK Partial Funding Bachelors
ASM Materials Education Foundation – Undergraduate Scholarships, 2022 Partial Funding Bachelors
Richard A. Freund International Scholarship Partial Funding Masters and PhD
Byron Hanke Fellowship 2022 Partial Funding Masters
Scotiabank International Partner Entrance Scholarships Partial Funding Bachelors, Diploma, Training & Short courses
JN Tata Endowment For The Higher Education Of Indians Partial Funding Masters, Ph.D., Post Doc
Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program 2022 Full Funding Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D., Post Doc
Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship Partial Funding Masters
Ontario Graduate Scholarship 2022 Partial Funding Masters, PhD

These scholarships can help you cover your tuition fee. And, once your tuition is covered, you can simply take up a part-time job at your university to manage your living expenses.

If you have more questions about studying in Canada or how to get a study permit for Canada, connect with our counselors for a free 15-minute session to get all your doubts resolved.

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