Low Tuition Universities in Canada, Admission Requirements and Essential Information for International Students

Want to study in Canada? Studying in Canada is an excellent alternative for those looking for an affordable degree as an international student. Canada offers low tuition rates for international and domestic students. Today, we will be looking into the higher education system in Canada, Tuition Fees, Costs of living, Admission Requirements and also the list of low tuition universities in Canada

About Canada

Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It borders the United States to the south, and the US state of Alaska to the north-west. It is also next to the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Canada’s hugely varied geography includes mountain ranges, highland plateaus with thousands of lakes and rivers, lowlands, plains and prairies. The Arctic region of the country has hundreds of islands.

Canada has 2 official languages, French and English. The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada.

Higher Education System in Canada

The Canadian education system offers three degrees: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

Bachelor degrees- (full-time courses), lasting for 3-4 years
Post-graduation Diploma/Certificate courses- 1-2 years
Master’s degree- accessible post under graduation, typically takes up to 1-2 years
Doctorate/PHD–four to seven years

Tuition Fees

Universities in Canada set their own fees, and these vary depending on several factors: what program you’re studying, whether you are an international or home student, and whether you’re studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

If you’re a Canadian citizen studying in Canada, you can expect to pay an average of CA$6,463 per year for an undergraduate degree, and CA$7,056 per year for a graduate degree.

Undergraduate fees:

According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition fees for undergraduate international students in 2019/20 are CA$29714 (~US$22,500) per year. humanities courses tend to be cheaper(averaging $5,542), while subjects such as engineering and medicine are among the more expensive (an average of CA$21,717 (~US$16,446) for dentistry and $14,162 (~US$10,724) for Medicine . Fees for business and management courses are lower than the national average, at CA$6,827 (~US$5,170) per year.

Postgraduate fees:

If you want to study at postgraduate level, the tuition fees are generally lower, and again vary depending on your program. Statistics Canada puts the average postgraduate tuition fee for international students at CA$17,744 in 2019/20, which is approximately US$13,437; a four percent increase from the previous year.

Living Costs

The overall cost of living in Canada is the sum total of many factors:

Accommodation Cost

The monthly cost of living in Canada for international students has a lot to do with the type of accommodation you opt for.

Homestays. This type of accommodation offers a friendly and secure environment for international students coming to study in Canada. It also helps improve your English and meet new people. Homestays provide a private room, and the school arranges meals.
Dormitories. Dorms are usually located near their school campus. You can have a private or shared room, and they’re separated by gender. Usually, the bathroom, kitchen, and other facilities are shared by everyone living in the dormitory.
Renting. Renting varies in quality, price, and availability. Students share their accommodation to keep the costs down. You can rent different places such as suites, apartments, or houses.

Here’s the average accommodation cost for international students according to type:

Homestays: $400 – $800per month

Dormitory: $3000 – $7,500 per school year

Renting” $400 – $ 1,500 per month

Transportation Costs

Many international students rely on public transportation to get around. And oftentimes, transport costs are included in tuition fees – giving you unlimited access to the city’s whole transportation system.

But in some cities – like Toronto and Montreal – you can buy your own pass at a reduced fare. In Montreal, a student pass costs $53 CAD/month. In Toronto, which is a much more expensive city, a pass costs $128 CAD/month.

Outside of larger cities, it can also be useful to have a car, especially if you are used to driving at home. But, keep in mind this can cost a lot extra

Food Costs

The average cost for food in Canada is around $300, including groceries and shopping at the supermarkets. Walmart is peppered all across Canada and is the cheapest option for grocery shopping.

As far as eating at a restaurant is considered, a three-course meal costs around $65, and if you eat alone, the bill would be around $25.

A meal in an inexpensive restaurant can range between $18 and $75, depending upon the number of people.
Domestic beer costs between $6 to $8.
The price of 1.5 L of water is close to $1.6.
Things like egg, rice, bread, and milk cost between $2.5 to $4.
Vegetables and fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, and onions range between $1.5 to $5.
A mid-range bottle of wine costs $15.

Admission Requirements

In Canada, every university has their own criteria for studying in Canada for different programs. It may include various documents with personal information as well as academic ability. The general documents that need to submit are:

Bachelor’s degree certificate (for master’s course)
SOP for Canada
School leaving certificate (for bachelor’s course)
Scanned copy of passport
Proof of language proficiency
Letter of recommendation (if required)
Resume of CV (if needed)
Other applicable certificate of merits