Enticed by the prospect of exploring vibrant, diverse international cities, hiking in the Rockies, whale watching in Newfoundland, or getting to know the unique Francophone culture in Quebec?
Looking for a high-quality education with an affordable price tag?
Studying in Canada could be for you. And there’s good news—Canada is the world's third-leading destination for international students and is working hard to increase its international student population even further.
This guide will outline everything you need to know about why you might want to study in Canada, how to research universities, how to apply, and how to get a study permit.
We’ll cover:
Should I go to college/university in Canada?
Differences between the Canadian and American educational systems
How to research universities
Admissions requirements
Applications
After applying
Study permit
Final thoughts
Should I go to college or university in Canada?
There are a bunch of reasons the answer might be yes (and more on “college” vs “university” in a minute):
With four universities ranked in the top 100 in the world and many others highly ranked for specific programs, Canada offers high level, English-language academics with world-class research opportunities—all at an affordable cost. Canada is known for its warm culture that embraces diversity, with universities often located in vibrant metropolitan areas. Furthermore, Canada is consistently listed as one of the safest nations in the world and, according to the Global Peace Index, is the 6th most peaceful nation in the world.
For students coming from the United States, studying in Canada means you can experience the cultural immersion of studying in another country while still not being too far from family and friends. In addition to the comparatively low tuition costs, international students can work up to 20 hours per week on or off-campus during the semester and full-time during school breaks, offsetting the cost of their education. Want to stay in Canada post-graduation? Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PWPP) allows international students to work in Canada for up to three years after graduating.
Differences between the Canadian and American Education Systems
Colleges vs Universities
In the US, the terms “college” and “university” are generally used interchangeably (although technically they are different!). In Canada, there’s an important distinction between the two: Universities grant degrees, while colleges grant diplomas and certificates. Colleges in Canada focus on career training and trades and are more similar to community colleges in the US.
Length of Degree
Generally speaking, undergraduate degrees last four years in the US. This is often the case in Canada as well, where Bachelor’s degrees with Honours (not a typo: Canadian and American English are slightly different) have a duration of four years. Depending on their results, some IB Diploma students may be able to complete their degree in three years rather than four.
Additionally, some Bachelor’s degrees (without Honours) last three years instead. Important note: some graduate programs in the US will not accept these three-year undergraduate programs as prerequisites for starting a graduate program, so be sure to do your homework.
Co-op programs—programs in which students work for a portion of the degree—are very popular at Canadian universities. Students can select this option once they matriculate and it will extend the length of the degree.
Private vs Public Universities
The US has a huge number of both public and private universities. In contrast, in Canada most universities are public, meaning they operate with government funding. In fact, Canada has nearly 100 public universities, offering over 15,000 student programs. Fifteen of these universities make up the U15, a group of the top Canadian research universities.
Size of University
Like universities in the US, universities in Canada can vary widely in size. It’s worth noting that a handful of the top universities in Canada are massive—as in, significantly larger than even the biggest public universities in the US. For example, University of Toronto has over 70,000 students and an incoming freshman class of over 17,000!
But don’t worry too much: larger universities are generally organized into faculties and schools, which operate somewhat independently of each other. Furthermore, the University of Toronto is made up of residential colleges, which can make it feel more intimate. Of course, there are smaller universities as well, such as St. Francis Xavier University, a prestigious university with around 5,000 students.
Academic Term
In Canada, most universities use a semester schedule with Fall term starting in September and Winter term starting in January. However, some universities in Quebec use a 15-week trimester system instead. There are different pros and cons with semesters vs trimesters, so we’d recommend spending some time thinking through which option might fit you better (which goes for US schools as well).
Language of Instruction
While most programs in Canada are offered in English, some universities in Quebec (and even outside of Quebec) offer French-language programs.
Housing
Given the large size of many Canadian universities, it’s probably not surprising that many universities don’t offer housing to students for all four years. Many students may live on campus in a university dorm for a year before finding housing off-campus for the following three years. Dorms usually have a shared kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facility. If you’re looking to live off-campus, many universities have a housing office or student union office that can help you find student-friendly options and navigate the process of renting a house or apartment. Housing applications for first year students often open before conditional offers are confirmed.
Tuition Costs
Tuition costs for international students are much higher than those for Canadian students. Still, you’ll find tuition costs to be much lower than they generally are in the US and UK, with the average Canadian tuition cost at $25,896. Tuition costs vary widely, with some universities charging as little as $9,000/year and others (think University of Toronto) as much as $46,000/year.
Costs also can vary based on the type of degree. At many universities, an arts degree costs less than a business or engineering degree. Note that in Quebec, some students may be eligible for an exemption from international fees if they’re from France, the French Community of Belgium, or certain other countries (even non-French speaking countries!). As you research tuition costs, make sure to note if they’re listed in CAD—with exchange rates, it might be a pleasant surprise to find out they’re cheaper than you think!
Cost of Living
In addition to comparatively affordable tuition costs, Canada boasts affordable living costs. Note, though, that living costs range from city to city, with Toronto and Vancouver, home to two of Canada’s top universities, also ranking as Canada’s most expensive cities.
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to international students, although these rarely cover the full cost of tuition. You may automatically be considered for a scholarship if you’re eligible, or you may need to complete additional essays. Take a look at scholarships for international students here. Also worth noting—nearly 100 higher education institutions in Canada accept US federal student loans!
Extracurricular Activities
Interested in meeting people who share your passions? Canadian universities offer a variety of extracurricular activities, including social, academic, and cultural clubs. If you’re curious, check out this article highlighting the top 10 Canadian universities for extracurricular activities.
Athletics
Many Canadian universities have varsity athletics, ranging from basketball to rugby to hockey. Fifty-six schools in Canada form part of U SPORTS, the national governing body of university sport in Canada. And even better news—Canadian universities do offer scholarships to student-athletes! As long as student-athletes meet minimum academic requirements, they are eligible to receive USport athletic scholarships. However, the maximum total sum of athletic scholarships is limited to tuition plus compulsory fees for a given academic year.
Classes Outside of Your Major
Similarly to American universities, most Canadian universities will require you to complete some general education requirements. These often include university-level English, as well as courses in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences. If you’re not excited about general education requirements, don’t worry! They tend to be less extensive than those required at American universities.
Double Majoring
It is possible to pursue a double degree/dual degree/double major at many Canadian universities. However, the opportunities for a double major may be restricted to two majors within your faculty (for example, two majors within the Faculty of Arts) or within closely related faculties.
Note that many universities do offer the option of pursuing a minor in a different faculty, so even if you’re restricted from completing a double major in an area of interest, you might be able to complete a minor instead. These guidelines vary significantly from university to university, so make sure to check requirements for the universities you’re interested in.
Study Abroad
While studying abroad for a semester or year is possible at Canadian universities, it’s not nearly as common as in the US. Only 11% of Canadian undergraduates participate in an international experience over the course of their degree. However, if you’re excited about going on exchange, don’t worry—there are options out there!
Start researching as early as your first year to see what opportunities are available to you. Some universities even offer the option to spend your first year abroad: At Queen’s University, for example, you can start your first year at their castle in England! Most universities will have a web page dedicated to international exchange that will outline the opportunities offered and the prerequisites for studying abroad.
How to research universities
Your one-stop shop for researching universities: EduCanada. In addition to a database of universities, EduCanada provides information on tuition costs, scholarships, study permits and visas. Study in Canada also provides a program search engine, where you can search by keyword, category, degree type or location.
While university rankings have their issues, they can still be a helpful jumping off point, particularly if you’re not familiar with many universities in Canada. Maclean’s is a great option for university rankings specific to Canada. Check out their overall rankings or their program-specific rankings. QS Top Universities and US News can also help you get a sense of how Canadian universities compare to each other and to other universities around the globe.
Admissions Requirements
English Proficiency
All international students who are non-native English students will be required to demonstrate English proficiency. Expect to take the IELTS or TOEFL to do so. Duolingo is not widely accepted in Canada. However, if you’ve studied all four years at an English-speaking high school or are an International Baccalaureate student, you may be exempt from this requirement. Check out each program’s requirements just to be sure.
Academic Qualifications
Unlike programs in the United States, for many Canadian programs, admission is based almost solely on academic performance. Applicants will need to meet course prerequisites to be accepted, which vary not only from university to university but from course to course. High school curricula in Canada and the United States are similar but not identical, so be sure to research prerequisites closely, particularly the math and science prerequisites. Generally, universities will set minimum requirements for admission. If you meet these requirements, good news—you’re very likely to get in! This also means that students in Canada don’t tend to apply to as many universities as in the US, given that it’s easier to predict whether you’ll be accepted.
Some Canadian universities also require SAT or ACT test scores or, even if they don’t require them, will consider them as a part of the application. For IB Diploma applicants, this is unlikely though, so students with anticipated IB grades can feel very comfortable choosing the test optional route.
Certain highly selective programs will require additional application components, more akin to American university applications. These may include a personal essay, where students can share about their interest in the program and what makes them a suitable candidate, as well as their leadership experience and extracurricular activities.
Important note: this personal essay is closer in purpose to the UCAS essay (for application to UK schools) than to US-style personal statements—or put another way, it’s more akin to a “Why Major?” essay denoting where your interests come from and what makes you suitable for the program than to a “here’s who I am and what I value” approach.
Interestingly, in Canada, it’s illegal to consider ethnicity, race, or legacy when universities make admissions decisions.
Some universities will ask for an educational credential assessment (ECA), which essentially evaluates how your international academic credentials compare to those offered in Canada. If this is required, you can learn more about the process on the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website or look into organizations that specialize in credential assessments here.
How to Apply
There is no centralized portal to apply to all Canadian universities. Instead, many provinces have a portal for admission to their institutions. When you look into a particular program, they’ll either have their own portal (for example, like McGill University) or will direct you to a province-wide portal. To get you started, here are the links for a handful of the province application portals:
Alberta: ApplyAlberta: Alberta Post-Secondary Application System
British Columbia: ApplyBC: BC Post-Secondary Application Service
Ontario: Ontario Universities’ Application Centre and Ontario Colleges Application Services
*Note that if you know you’re only applying to University of Toronto, you can use the direct application, which is cheaper than the centralized Ontario application. Check out their website for more information.
Nova Scotia: MyNSFuture
You can also find information on studying in Quebec here.
Applicants may either apply directly to their program of interest or the larger faculty and later declare their major. Most universities will allow students to apply, and even be accepted, to two programs or faculties. Once accepted, students will choose which of the two faculties to attend. This is especially important if a student is applying to highly competitive programs in business, computer science, or engineering.
Deadlines
Application deadlines vary depending on the program and institution, but generally you should expect to apply eight to twelve months before your intended start date. For example if you want to apply for Fall of next year, you’ll likely need to apply this Fall.
Application Fees
Application fees vary depending on the institution (you may be noting a trend here), but generally range from 100 to 250 CAD.
After applying
So you’ve applied—when can you expect to hear back from universities? Many institutions operate on a rolling admissions basis. That means that once they receive your application form and all required documents, they’ll evaluate your application.
Typically, universities will make decisions between December and May for the semester starting the following September. You may receive an offer of acceptance or an early conditional offer. A conditional offer means that your acceptance is contingent on forthcoming grades or the receipt of missing documents.
As you decide between universities, visiting is ideal, since doing so will allow you to get a sense of the campus, sit in on classes, and take a look at the dorms. However, if that’s not possible, take a look at this extensive list of online campus tours across Canada or visit Admissions websites for virtual information sessions.
Another excellent way to learn about a university is to connect with current students. Many universities offer the opportunity to connect with student ambassadors to ask any questions you may have. For example, here you can connect with students at the University of Ottawa. Unibuddy, a peer-to-peer platform for student recruitment, also features a handful of Canadian universities, including University of Alberta, McMaster University, and University of Waterloo.
Study Permit
Most international students will need a study permit to study in Canada. Note that this is not the same as a visa. If your study permit is approved, you’ll actually automatically receive either a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) or an electronic travel authorization, depending on your passport.
Prior to applying for a study permit, you’ll need a valid passport or travel document and a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), a school approved to host international students. You’ll be eligible for a study permit if you’re fully vaccinated, are enrolled at a DLI, have no criminal record, are in good health and get a medical exam if required, and prove that you have enough money for your tuition fees and living expenses. The application for a study permit has a cost of $150 CAD. Processing times vary, but you can review processing times here.
Learn more about these requirements and the application process on the Canadian government website.
Your study permit will also allow you to work up to 20 hours per week both on and off-campus.
You might be wondering, can I stay and work in Canada once I graduate? And the answer is yes! Upon graduating you can apply to a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which makes you eligible for three years of employment. You have up to 180 days after graduating to apply for a PGWP.
Final Thoughts
Ranked #1 in the world for quality of life. Four of the top 100 student cities in the world. A unique culture known for embracing diversity. Great job opportunities for graduates.
Canada just might be the perfect place for you to study!
Rachel Ozer-Bearson, Independent Educational Consultant with Mosaico Mentors in Mexico City
