Every year, Canada welcomes thousands of international students eager to receive one of the top educations in the world. By the end of 2025, Canadian officials expect one million student visas for foreign nationals.
If you are from another country and want to study in Canada, this article will tell you which universities are the cheapest for foreign students and how much tuition costs.
Top 7 Cheapest Schools You Can Attend in Canada 2025 for International Students
While Canada has one of the strongest education systems in the world, it is still accessible to kids. It is also a good choice for those looking for an economic education.
The University of Alberta, founded in 1908, is a top-five university in Edmonton, Alberta. It has four campuses in Edmonton and one in Camrose, serving 41,000 students in 18 faculties. It has about 200 undergraduate programs, 500 graduate programs, 250 specializations, and 300 research sites around the province.
Tuition costs for students at the university range from $29,192.40 (BEd Adult Education) to $51,156.18 (Law, Juris Doctor), depending on the program. Non-tuition expenditures range between $3,100 to $3,600, depending on the program. The Undergraduate Cost Calculator can help you estimate your tuition expenditures.
The university’s most popular programs include Nursing, Petroleum Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering, Instruments Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science and technology, and Agriculture Science.
2. University of Saskatchewan.
Founded in 1907, the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon is one of Canada’s leading research universities, with over 26,000 students from 130 countries.
The annual tuition prices for undergraduate programs range from $19,895 (Pharmacy) to $122,778 (Dentistry). Full-time students pay $1,088.72 in student fees, while textbooks and supplies cost between $1,500 and $2,500 each year.
USask has 80 programs over more than 130 topics of study. Its primary research areas are water security, health and well-being, and communities and sustainability. Agriculture, engineering, environmental studies, and veterinary care are some of the most popular degrees.
The University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, is a prestigious public research institution founded in 1966. UCalgary teaches nearly 26,000 undergraduate students and 6,000 graduate students across 250+ programs across 14 sites.
Undergraduate program costs range from $10,672.31 for Veterinary Medicine to $46,253.74 for Law. Most programs have a total cost of $30,856.74. Tuition, fees, books and supplies, and personal expenses all contribute to the total cost. Use the Undergraduate Cost Estimator tool to get estimates.
Tuition and expenses for its overseas graduate programs vary by program. The Master of Arts in Political Science costs $170.00 per term, but the Master of Pathologists’ Assistant) costs $11,539.77.
Nursing, Life Sciences and Medicine, Engineering and Technology, Accounting and Finance, and Computer Science and Information Systems are some of the most popular degrees at UCalgary.
The University of Ottawa, usually known as uOttawa or U of O, is a bilingual (English-French) public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, that welcomes foreign students from over 145 countries.
For international students, the tuition fee (full-time, flat rate) per term for an undergraduate degree is determined by the program and the number of units enrolled.
The tuition for Education is $21,262.54, while the tuition for Civil Engineering undergraduates is approximately $31,582.15 per term.
A Graduate program in the Faculty of Education (two or fewer terms) can cost $11,419.68. Use the tuition charge table to get an approximation of how much tuition will cost.
The University of Ottawa provides the following programs: Arts, Civil Law Section (Faculty of Law), Engineering, Health Sciences, Science, Social Sciences, or the Telfer School of Management, Education, Common Law, and Medicine.
The University of Winnipeg in Winnipeg, Minnesota, is a famous research university with over 145 years of history. Over 1,000 foreign students from 75 countries attend this school, which is known for its excellent academic possibilities and small class sizes.
The expected tuition and fees for undergraduate international students for the academic year 2023/24 range from $16,245 (Arts-Low) to $20,599.50 (Business) for a full course load (30 credit hours in any faculty). The overall cost includes fees, books, supplies, health insurance, and an application fee, which ranges from $20,255 to $24,810.
UWinnipeg has five faculties: arts, business and economics, education, kinesiology and applied health, and science. The university is notable for its tiny class sizes, with a student-to-professor ratio of 22:1.
Brandon University, a regional university in Brandon, Manitoba, provides undergraduate, graduate, pre-professional, and certificate programs to students from five continents and over 30 countries.
Brandon University’s first-year tuition is around $35,000. This is for a full course load and includes tuition, books, on-campus housing with meal plans, and health insurance. Download the Tuition Tables to find out the precise tuition and fees.
Brandon University provides a wide range of programs through the Arts, Education, Health Studies, and Science schools, as well as the School of Music.
The University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, is one of the country’s leading comprehensive institutions. The institution has three campuses and provides 80 undergraduate programs, over 100 graduate and post-doctoral study programs, and diploma programs, among other things.
Undergraduate international students’ expected annual expenses range from $50,214 to $72,703, depending on the program. Tuition, mandatory fees, textbooks, health insurance, a dormitory room, a comprehensive food plan, and a personal budget are all included in the cost.
Graduate tuition and fees for overseas students cost between $6,050 (MCL) and $14,829 (MCTI) per semester, depending on the program and lifestyle.
The university’s most popular courses include Arts and Humanities, Business & Management, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Natural Sciences. Cheapest university in Canada for international students
The University of Regina, founded in 1974, is a leading mid-sized public research university in Regina, Saskatchewan, with 120 undergraduate programs and 78 graduate programs.
For the Fall 2023 Undergraduate program, the total expenses for five normal classes (15 credit hours) range from $11,845.20 (Arts) to $13,888.95 (Business Administration).
The entire cost for the Spring and Summer 2023 timetable ranges between $11,090.55 (Arts) and $13,036.80 (Business Administration). Tuition and expenses are included in the cost of five regular classes (15 credit hours).
Nursing and midwifery, environmental engineering, performing arts and music, human resource management, fine arts, and psychology are among the university’s most popular courses.
9. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)
The Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), Newfoundland and Labrador’s sole university, is one of the largest in Atlantic Canada. It provides more than 300 academic and professional support programs to both domestic and international students from over 90 countries.
MUN’s five campuses provide over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to 19,400 students from over 115 countries. Business, art, education, medicine, nursing, and social work are among the programs offered.
Carleton University, founded in 1942, is a research and teaching university in Ottawa, Ontario, with approximately 31,000 full-time and part-time students, as well as international students from more than 150 countries.
The estimated tuition and living expenditures for a year at Carleton range from $48,081 to $65,950 if you live on campus and $45,296 to $68,965 if you live off campus. These figures take into account tuition and student fees, housing, books and supplies, insurance, and personal expenses.
Carleton provides undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines, including business, engineering, math and science, public affairs, architecture, industrial design, and journalism.
Simon Fraser University is a public research university in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, founded in 1965 and recognized as one of Canada’s top research-intensive schools. It has three campuses and over 37,000 students, including 8,600 international students from 132 countries.
At SFU, the expected total expenditures for international undergraduate and graduate students are $24,801 and $11,452, respectively. Tuition and fees, textbooks and materials, room and board with a meal plan, and insurance are all included in the cost.
SFU offers programs in Physical Sciences, Education, Arts & Humanities, Psychology, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Clinical, Pre-clinical & Health, Law, Computer Science, and Business & Economics.
Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, is one of Canada’s most diverse and innovative top-ranked institutions. Established in 1974, it has two campuses and educates about 51,000 students, including 9,600+ international students.
The anticipated costs (tuition and mandatory fees only) for one year of full-time studies (30 credits) for an undergraduate foreign student range from $22,899 to $32,120, depending on the degree selected.
The university is well-known for its programs in Communication Studies, Education, English Language and Literature, Accounting and Finance, Linguistics, Psychology, and Sociology.
13. University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is one of Canada’s best small, research-intensive universities. It has five sites and more than 4,200 students, including 466 international students from over 40 countries.
Tuition and expenses for an undergraduate international student (full-time based on 30 credits per year) are $25,812.42, while graduate students’ basic full-time tuition per year (3 terms) is $10,993.48. Tuition, fees, and books are all included in the costs.
Programs include Arts, Commerce, Education, Health Sciences, Science, Applied Science, Nursing, Planning, and Social Work. Popular UNBC courses include Business, Sport Science, Biomedical Engineering, and Agriculture Sciences.
14. Canadian Mennonite University
Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is a private Mennonite institution in Winnipeg, Manitoba, that was created in 2000. International students account for 12% of its student body.
Undergraduate and graduate international students enrolled in a 3-credit-hour course (including health insurance charges) at CMU pay tuition of $2,745 and $2,810.63, respectively.
CMU provides full, liberal arts university programs, including accredited 3- and 4-year bachelor’s and graduate degrees. It provides academic programs in business, science, arts, and music.
15. University of Prince Edward Island
The institution of Prince Edward Island, located in Charlottetown, PEI, is the province’s only public institution, having been established in 1969. With three campuses, it has over 5,500 students and annually welcomes 1,700+ international students from over 90 countries.
Tuition fees for a full-time Undergraduate international student can range from $14,838 to $74,804.
The costs only include tuition and foreign fees; they do not include other fees, student union dues, or program fees. Use the Tuition and Fees Selector to estimate the cost of your desired program.
UPEI provides undergraduate, professional, and graduate learning opportunities, as well as a diverse range of programs such as Medicine & HealthCare, MBA, Engineering, Science, Arts, Information Technology, and Management.
Dalhousie University, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a research-intensive university with four campuses and satellite facilities throughout the province. There are almost 20,000 students, 24% of whom are international students from more than 115 countries.
Undergraduate programs are estimated to cost between $16,503.83 (Veterinary Technology) and $49,998.43 (Nursing) a year. Graduate degrees cost between $12,382.42 (Doctorate in Computer Science) and $34,964.41 (Master of Engineering).
Tuition, foreign fees, incidental fees, and books and materials are all included in the expenses, which vary by program. Use the Fee Calculator to get estimates.
Dalhousie University offers more than 200 programs in 13 academic faculties, including Architecture, Costume Studies, Community Design, International Food Business, Landscape Architecture and Environment, Sustainability, and Society.
Cape Breton University (CBU) is a public, co-educational undergraduate institution in Sydney, Nova Scotia, founded in 1951. It is home to around 7,000 students from over 70 nations.
An overseas student at CBU who takes 10 undergraduate-level courses every academic year (30 credits) will pay between $19,474.30 and $20,137.30 in tuition. Tuition, international differential fees, an international medical plan, and other expenses are all included in the costs.
CBU provides comprehensive programs in a variety of disciplines, including Arts & Social Sciences, Education & Health, Nursing, Business, and Science and Technology.
18. Dominican University College
Dominican University College (DUC) is a private, first-class bilingual research institution in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1901 and specializing in philosophy and theology.
International students’ tuition rates for the academic year 2022-2023 are $14,440 for a full-time undergraduate and $21,660 for a full-time graduate. As of January 3, 2023, the DUC board of trustees has banned new admissions to all programs.
DUC provides civil and pontifical bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in theology and philosophy, with courses such as ancient Greek philosophy, Aristotle’s metaphysics, epistemology, ethics I, introduction to philosophy, medieval philosophy, and political philosophy.
These top 7 cheapest schools you can attend in Canada in 2025 are wonderful choices for those international applicants looking to further their studies abroad.
Canada is an excellent option for higher education because it has some of the world’s best colleges and institutions. Although Canada is rapidly catching up with the United States and the United Kingdom as a popular study-abroad destination, it does not appear to be very cost-effective at first glance.
