Canada: Young, modern metropolises in the midst of fascinating wilderness and untouched nature. The cities are shaped by the coexistence of cultures, the people are friendly and helpful. And it is not without reason that the Canadian study system and the university landscape enjoy an excellent reputation around the world. In hardly any other country is the quality of life as high as in Canada. However, anyone who wants to study here and discover the country and its culture needs appropriate financial resources.
Tuition expenses in Canada
Unfortunately, the cost of studying in Canada is quite high. It is well known that the tuition fees there and the cost of living are not exactly the cheapest. But don’t worry: There are different ways to finance your studies and life in Canada and many ways to save money.
The cost of studying in Canada depends primarily on the amount of the tuition fees. For various reasons, these are sometimes very different:
- University type: Studying at a university is more expensive than studying at a college. The amount of the fees also depends on whether it is a large research university or a small to medium-sized university focused on teaching: the smaller universities are usually cheaper.
- Domestic / International Student: International students pay much more fees than local students. Canadians from other provinces also sometimes pay higher fees (Out of Province).
- Province: Studies are generally cheaper in some provinces / territories than in others.
- Study program:
- Linguistic and cultural studies programs and courses generally cost less than science or economics programs. As everywhere in the world, the MBA is particularly expensive.
- For international students, programs in the graduate area (Master, Ph.D.) are cheaper than Bachelor programs.
- Semester programs, such as semester abroad / Study Abroad or Summer Sessions, are a good way to study in Canada for a short time without spending too much money due to special offers from the universities.
As a rule, you have to pay the fees for each semester / academic year in advance.
Living expenses in Canada
One of the costs of studying in Canada is of course living expenses. Basically, the cost of living in Canada is not fundamentally different from that in Germany. Above all, the individual lifestyle and your place of study and residence are decisive: If you want to live in your own apartment in the city center, you naturally have to pay more rent than those who are content with a small room in a shared apartment on the outskirts of the city. Living in Toronto is much more expensive than in Winnipeg, for example. And cooking yourself is of course much cheaper than the meal plan at university or eating out in a restaurant.
You should consider the following cost points in your calculation:
- Rental fee
- Additional costs (electricity, gas, water, internet, etc.)
- Catering (meal plan, food prices, etc.)
- Transport costs (there and back to the university, travel, etc.)
- Telecommunications (prepaid cards, roaming charges, etc.)
- Leisure time (cinema, museum, sport etc.)
- Health (health insurance plan, international health insurance, medication)
You can find many valuable tips on the cost of living in the field reports on Canada as a study country on our website.
Costs to Study in Canada: Funding Options
Depending on whether it is a complete course (Bachelor, Master or PhD) or a semester program, there are different ways of financing your studies in Canada, a major country in North America listed on plus-size-tips.
Foreign BAföG
If you intend to study in Canada for only one or two semesters, i.e. as part of a semester program, you can apply for BAföG abroad. The application could also be worthwhile for those who do not receive BAföG in Germany, as the assessment limits for Canada are higher. The BAföG abroad is subsidized
- the tuition fees
- the travel expenses
- the Cost Of Living
The BAföG office in Jena is responsible for foreign BAföG for Canada.
Scholarships for Canada
Whether for a Study Abroad program or for a complete course: There are a number of scholarships for studying in Canada:
- Full and partial scholarships
- Scholarships for students in certain fields
- Scholarships especially for undergraduates or especially for postgraduates
- Sports scholarships
The grant providers are just as numerous:
- DAAD
- Promoting talented students and foundations
- The universities themselves
- Other organizations
Student loans and education funds for studying in Canada
You can also cover the costs of studying in Canada with a student loan or an education fund. The requirements for a loan as well as the repayment modalities are very different depending on the lender. You should inform yourself well beforehand so as not to fall into a debt trap.
Part-time job while studying in Canada
If you have a study permit, you can work in Canada for up to 20 hours a week parallel to your studies, even full-time during the lecture-free period. You don’t have to apply for a work permit, not even if you work off-campus. A part-time job is not only a good way to partially cover the costs of studying in Canada, but also to get to know the mentality of Canadians even better.
