Canada is the world's most popular destination for international students who want a degree and a realistic path to permanent residence. The study permit is inexpensive, the PGWP gives up to 3 years of open work rights, and Express Entry turns Canadian study into CRS points. Here's exactly how it works in 2026.
🕒 Last verified August 2026 · Official sources linked throughout
Canada hosts over 800,000 international students — the second-highest total in the world — and it's easy to see why. Tuition is lower than the US and UK at every level, the country is famously safe and welcoming, and no other major destination makes permanent residence as attainable for graduates. Work while studying (24 hrs/week), then a PGWP of up to 3 years, then Express Entry or a provincial nomination — the "study-to-PR" pathway is genuinely designed to work.
Most international students need a study permit to study in Canada for longer than 6 months. In 2026, undergraduates from outside Canada also need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) — your university's international office requests it from the province on your behalf.
| Item | Details (2026) |
|---|---|
| Permit type | Study permit (issued by IRCC) |
| Application fee | CAD 150 (non-refundable) |
| Biometrics fee | CAD 85 (valid 10 years) |
| Medical exam | ~CAD 200–300 (required for most countries) |
| Total upfront | ~CAD 800–1,200 including tests and translations |
| PAL requirement | Required for most undergraduates; master's & PhD exempt since Jan 2026 |
| Processing time | 4–8 weeks off-peak; 8–14 weeks during peak (Feb–Jul) |
| Work during study | Up to 24 hrs/week off-campus (during term) |
| Post-study work | PGWP: same length as programme, up to 3 years |
Canada's "Big Five" anchor global rankings; engineering, AI, business and health sciences are the standouts. International undergraduate tuition runs roughly CAD 30,000–65,000/year depending on programme; master's varies widely.
| University | Location | Int'l UG tuition/yr (approx) | Famous for |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Toronto, ON | CAD 45K–65K | AI, Medicine, Business (Rotman) |
| UBC | Vancouver, BC | CAD 42K–58K | CS, Forestry, Engineering |
| McGill | Montreal, QC | CAD 30K–55K | Medicine, Law, Research |
| University of Alberta | Edmonton, AB | CAD 30K–40K | Engineering, Energy, Science |
| McMaster | Hamilton, ON | CAD 32K–48K | Health Sciences, Engineering |
| University of Waterloo | Waterloo, ON | CAD 42K–60K | Co-op Engineering, CS, Math |
| University of Montreal | Montreal, QC | CAD 24K–35K | French-medium programs, Health |
| Western University | London, ON | CAD 38K–52K | Business (Ivey), Science |
| Queen's University | Kingston, ON | CAD 40K–55K | Commerce, Law, Engineering |
| University of Calgary | Calgary, AB | CAD 28K–40K | Engineering, Energy, Business |
Tuition figures are indicative ranges for 2025–26/2026–27 international rates and vary by programme (engineering/business cost more). Living costs: ~CAD 12,000–18,000/year outside Toronto/Vancouver, up to CAD 25,000 in Toronto.
Toronto and Vancouver hog the headlines — but the best value for international students is the prairies, Atlantic Canada and northern Ontario: lower tuition, low living costs, and IRCC-prioritised DLIs with generous provincial PR nominations. Add colleges (IELTS 6.0, ~$15–20K tuition) and you have genuinely affordable, genuinely accessible options.
| University | Type | Int'l tuition/yr | Entry bar & why it's easy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon University Official site ↗ | University | ~CAD 16,900 | IELTS 6.5, HS 60%+, EAP pathway — among Canada's cheapest |
| University of Winnipeg Official site ↗ | University | CAD 17,860–22,650 | IELTS 6.5, Pre-University Pathway + English program, high admission |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland Official site ↗ | University | CAD 20,800–22,500 | IELTS 6.5, min 60% HS avg, lowest tuition among major research unis |
| Mount Allison University Official site ↗ | University | ~CAD 17,890 effective | IELTS 6.5, 65% per course, $2,500/term rebate cuts cost |
| Thompson Rivers University Official site ↗ | University | CAD 20,990–26,000 | ~82% acceptance, open-admission degrees, EAP/U-Prep built in |
| University of Manitoba Official site ↗ | University | CAD 20,400–24,000 | IELTS 6.5, University 1 flexible entry + English Language Centre |
| Algoma University Official site ↗ | University | CAD 15,000 with award | Automatic $15K International Scholars Award, Access program for low grades |
| University of Regina Official site ↗ | University | ~CAD 32,500 (net lower) | ~91% acceptance (highest in Canada), conditional offers + EAP |
| Conestoga College Official site ↗ | College | ~CAD 15,026 diploma | IELTS 6.0 (5.5 min), first-qualified-first-admitted, ELS pathway |
| Seneca Polytechnic Official site ↗ | College | ~CAD 15,800 diploma | IELTS 6.0, capacity-based (open-style) admission, EAP bridge |
| Douglas College Official site ↗ | College | CAD 20,472 | ESL/ELLA pathway entry without IELTS, cheap per-credit rate |
| NorQuest College Official site ↗ | College | CAD 14,000–20,000 | Open Admissions Pathway for missing grades/English, IELTS 6.0–6.5 |
Tuition is verified 2025-26/2026-27 official rates or marked "~" where estimated. Colleges offer diploma-to-degree routes and easier PGWP-eligible entry; confirm current fees on each official site.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit is the world's most generous standard post-study offer: an open work permit (any employer, any province) lasting the same length as your programme, up to 3 years for degrees of 2+ years. New 2025–26 requirements: you must graduate from a PGWP-eligible programme, meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score (CLB 7 for university graduates, CLB 5 for college), and your field of study must align with labour-market needs (for college programmes).
Fall (Sept — main intake), Winter (Jan) and Summer (May). Fall applications generally open 12 months ahead; competitive programmes (medicine, business, engineering) close 8–10 months ahead. Applying to a master's also exempts you from the PAL/quota system.
High school or university transcripts (WES evaluation for foreign degrees often required), English test (IELTS 6.5–7.0 / TOEFL 90–100 typical), letters of recommendation for grad school, SOP, proof of funds, passport, and the PAL (undergrads).
Browse the full list in our scholarship database and the dedicated scholarships-to-study-in-Canada guide.
Almost — but master's and doctoral students are exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter since January 2026, as are some exchange students and in-Canada extensions. If your category needs a PAL and you apply without one, your application will be returned and you could miss your intake. Confirm your status on canada.ca before applying.
First-year tuition + CAD 20,635 in living costs (outside Quebec; ~CAD 24,617 in Quebec) + return travel. Realistic total for an undergraduate: CAD 40,000–55,000. Show the funds clearly — bank statements, GIC or scholarship letter — and have them in the account well before applying.
Yes — during scheduled academic breaks you can work full-time. During term you're limited to 24 hrs/week off-campus. On-campus work has no hourly limit.
The study permit lets you study and stay in Canada. Many nationalities also need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or eTA to enter the country. You'll often receive both together — the permit allows you to stay; the TRV/eTA allows you to enter.
More reliably than anywhere else in the world. Study → PGWP (up to 3 yrs work) → Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program → PR in typically 2–4 years after arrival. Canadian study and work experience are the two biggest CRS advantages. Full details in the immigration guide.
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