Cheapest Universities in Canada for International Students

Canada has emerged as a popular destination for international students seeking high-quality education at affordable prices. The country’s diverse cultural landscape, welcoming environment, and renowned universities make it an attractive choice for students worldwide.

However, tuition fees can be a significant concern for international students.

In this article, we will explore some of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students, providing an overview of their tuition fees and discussing the benefits they offer.

Why Study in Canada

1. It’s affordable

Compared to top universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries, Canada offers degrees that are much easier on your wallet.

2. The reputation

Canada has a reputation for one of the best education systems in the world, and its universities are no exception.

3. Ease of living

Studying in another country can sound daunting, but making that happen in an English-speaking, first-world country makes it easier for international students to get along.

Factors Influencing Tuition Fees for International Students in Canada

Before delving into the cheapest universities, it is important to understand the factors influencing tuition fees for international students in Canada. These factors may vary from institution to institution and include:

Province/Location: Tuition fees may vary based on the province or location of the university. Some provinces have higher living costs, resulting in higher tuition fees.

Program of Study: Different programs of study have varying tuition fees. Professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, or engineering tend to have higher tuition fees compared to arts or humanities programs.

Institution Reputation: Prestigious institutions may have higher tuition fees due to their reputation and the resources they offer.

Cheapest Universities in Canada for International Students

Simon Fraser University

Established in 1965, the Simon Fraser University or SFU is famous for its affordable and low tuition fees. It is also known to offer the cheapest programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Located in British Columbia, Canada, it is a public research university.

It is the only Canadian research University with US accreditation and is accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Application fee – $125
English language requirements:
IELTS – 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each band
TOEFL – 93 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
PTE – 65 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
Tuition fee – $5,300 / year.

University of Saskatchewan

It is a public research university located in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is considered one of the cheap universities in Canada with affordable tuition fees and more number of scholarships for international students.
Application fee – $90
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
TOEFL – 86 with a minimum score of 19 in each band
Tuition fee – $6,536.46 / year.

University of Prince Edward Island

Located in Prince Edward Island, one of the Atlantic provinces in Canada, this university provides affordable tuition fees in Canada for international students. It is one of the cheap universities in Canada for international students. It was established in 1969.

Undergraduate Application Fee: Not found

Graduate Application Fee: $156

Undergraduate English Language Proficiency:

Arts, Science, Business and Baccalaureate en éducation, Français Langue Seconde programs:

IELTS: An overall score of 6.5 (at least 6.5 in Writing and no other band below 6 in other bands)

TOEFL (iBT): A score of 80 (a minimum of 20 in each category)

Nursing, Radiography, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine & Education programs:

IELTS: An overall score of 7 (at least 7 in Writing and speaking and 6.5 in reading and listening)

TOEFL (iBT): A score of 100 (a minimum of 25 in Speaking and Writing, 22 in reading and listening)

Graduate English Language Proficiency:

All programs except Nursing and Education:

• IELTS: An overall score of 7 (at least 7 in Writing and no band lower than 6.5
• TOEFL (iBT): A score of 100 (a minimum of 25 in Speaking and Writing, 22 in reading and listening)

Nursing and Education Programs:

IELTS: An overall score of 7 (at least 7 in Writing and speaking and 6.5 in reading and listening)

Carleton University

Located alongside the famous Rideau Canal in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, Carleton University is one of the cheapest universities in Canada. This university is famous for its social sciences, physical sciences and computer science programs. It was founded in 1942.

Graduate Application Fee – $100

Undergraduate and Graduate English language requirements:

IELTS: An overall score of 6.5 (at least a minimum score of 6 in each band)

TOEFL (iBT): A score of 86 (L, R: 20, W, S: 22)

Brandon University:

Located in Brandon, Manitoba, Brandon University offers affordable tuition fees for international students. The institution is known for its strong academic programs in arts, sciences, education, and music. The annual tuition fees for international students range from approximately $7,203 to $10,465, depending on the program.

Memorial University of Newfoundland:

Situated in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University is renowned for its research opportunities and vibrant campus life. The institution offers competitive tuition fees, with international students paying around $11,460 to $11,800 per year, depending on the program of study.

Canadian Mennonite University

It is a Christian university popular in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is labeled as a leading university for undergraduate programs with affordable tuition fee though it also provides graduate programs.
Application Fee – $150
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5
TOEFL – 80
PTE – 59
Tuition Fee – $15,000 / year.

University of Ottawa

It is the bilingual public research university located in Ottawa, Ontario. It offers a wide range of academic programs controlled by ten faculties. U of Ottawa is member of U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada.
Application Fee – $100
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.5 in writing
TOEFL – 60 with a minimum score of 60 in writing
PTE – 86 with 22 in writing section
Tuition Fee – $15,500 / year.

Brandon University

If you are looking for the cheap universities in Canada for UG programs, then Brandon University which is located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba is preferable.

The institution is known for its strong academic programs in arts, sciences, education, and music. The annual tuition fees for international students range from approximately $7,203 to $10,465, depending on the program.
Application Fee – $100
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5
TOEFL – 86
PTE – 60
Tuition Fee – $16,103 / year.

Macmaster University

It is a public research university which is located in the parts of Hamilton, Ontario. It is a member of U15. This university provides graduate and undergraduate programs in the fields of business, engineering, health sciences, humanities, social science, and science.
Application fee – $110
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each section
TOEFL – 92 with a minimum score of 20
PTE – 63 and a score of 70 for the engineering field
Tuition fee – $17,096 / year.

Cape Breton University:

Situated in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton University offers a wide range of programs, including arts, business, engineering technology, and health sciences.

Cape Breton University formerly known as the University of Cape Breton is also a part of cheap universities in Canada which is located in Nova Scotia, Canada. This university provides a number of UG, certificate, diploma and graduate programs.
Application Fee – $88
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
TOEFL – 80
Tuition Fee – $17,200 / year.

Acadia University

This university is predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. It also offers master level programs with affordable tuition fee.
Application Fee – $50
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
TOEFL – 90
PTE – 61 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
The annual tuition fees for international students at Cape Breton University range from approximately $13,440 to $15,740.

Dominican University College

It is a bilingual and one of the cheap universities in Canada offering programs on philosophy and theology in masters and doctoral levels. It provides programs for bachelor also in the field of civil.
Application Fee – $120
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5
TOEFL – 80
PTE – 53
Tuition Fee – $17,850 / year.

Concordia University

Concordia University is a public comprehensive university located in Montreal, Quebec. Concordia was ranked 7th among Canadian and 229th among world universities in the International Professional Classification of Higher Education Institutions.
Application Fee – $100
English language requirements:
IELTS – 7.0
TOEFL – 90
PTE – 61 with a minimum score of 59 in each band
Tuition Fee – $ 18,917.55 / year.

Saint Paul University

Saint Paul is trusted by many international and domestic students over a century and a half. It is a bilingual university federated with the University of Ottawa since 1965 located in Ottawa, Ontario. It is also one of the cheap universities in Canada which offers graduate programs in Counseling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality, Conflict studies, Transformative Leadership and Spirituality, theology.
Application Fee – $100
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in writing
TOEFL – 92 to 93
PTE – 62 to 63
Tuition Fee – $19,000 / year.

Athabsca University

This University is one of the cheap universities in Canada famous for providing online education throughout the world. It also provides UG, masters and certificate programs for international students within the campus in the fields of nursing, counseling.
Application Fee – $150
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6
TOEFL – 80
Tuition Fee – $19,630 / year.

University of Guelph

University of Guelph is a public research Canadian university located in Guelph, Ontario. Intensive research programs on life science, veterinary medicine, and hospitality and tourism management stand out this university on one of the top positions.
Application Fee – $110 or $150 for MBA and MA.
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
TOEFL – 89 with a minimum score of 21 in each band
PTE – 60 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
Tuition Fee – $ 20,110 / year.

University of Toronto

It is a rare combination to find a best university in the list of cheap universities in Canada. But University of Toronto is an exception in those cases as it is the one university which has affordable tuition fee and ranked as 28th in world rankings. It is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario.
Application Fee – $180
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
TOEFL– 100 with a minimum score of 22 in writing section
Tuition Fee – $24,900 / year.

Mcgill University

It is also one of the best and cheap universities in Canada. It holds the rank of 33 in the world rankings. Many students enroll in the faculties of Arts, science, medicine, management, and engineering.
Application fee – $113.27
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5
TOEFL – 86 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
Tuition fee – $25,224 / year.

University  of Calgary

University  of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta. It is also a member of U15, a group of intensive research universities in Canada. It is one of the top 50 ranked universities in Canada.
Application fee – $145
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
TOEFL – 83
PTE – 59
Tuition fee – $25,293.24 / year.

University of British Columbia

It is a public research university located in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. UBC is globally famous in STEM field which holds 34th rank in Computer science, 27th in Mathematics, and 29th in Medicine.
Application Fee – $168.25
English language requirements:
IELTS – 6.5
TOEFL– 90 (R, L: 22 and W, S: 21)
PTE – 59
Tuition Fee – $27,159 / year.