Cheap Universities in Canada for International Students 2022: Eligibility, Fees

Over the past few years, Canada has emerged as a top study destination globally. In 2021 alone, the country witnessed a 44% increase in new study permits, according to data by the government of Canada. This humungous growth is attributed to top-notch education coupled with affordable tuition fees. 

For those students who want to pursue quality education without spending much, Canada is an ideal choice. Here is a comprehensive list of cheap universities in Canada for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The following sections also contain the cost of living in this country.

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Average Fees in Canadian Universities

Canadian universities set their fees by considering several factors, including:

• The course
• If you are an international or domestic student
• Whether you are enrolling in an undergraduate or postgraduate course

As per Statistics Canada 2019-20, international undergraduate students can expect to pay an average tuition fee of around CAD 29,714 per year. Humanities degree courses tend to be cheaper than medicine and engineering courses. Further, for postgraduate studies, the tuition fee is generally on the lower side. However, this again depends upon the course that one chooses. The average postgraduate tuition fee in Canada is around CAD 17,744 for international students. Regarding PG courses, MBA is the most costly, as is the case worldwide. Here is an overview of the average tuition fee for international students according to the field of study:

List of Cheapest Colleges in Canada for Undergraduate Studies

Here are the most affordable and cheap universities in Canada offering undergraduate courses:

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Brandon University

Eligibility: 

• English language proficiency proof – IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Cambridge English Tests
• Higher secondary certificate or intermediate examination certificate (class 12 exam certificate)

Fee: CAD 7,203

Location: Brandon, Manitoba

Courses: BBA, BA, Bed, BM, BFA, BSC, etc.

Université de Saint-Boniface

Eligibility:

• French language standardised test results (not more than 2 years old)
• English language proficiency test (for a few courses, like bachelor of nursing, social work, etc.)
• Higher secondary/class 12 examination certificate

Fee: CAD 7,482

Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Courses: BA, social work, nursing, science, business and education.

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University of Guelph

Eligibility:

• English language proficiency test results (IELTS/TOEFL/CAEL/PTE)
• Completion of class 12 exam with a First Division standing

Fee: CAD 9,730

Location: Guelph, Ontario

Courses: University of Guelph is one of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students. The university offers bachelor’s in arts, engineering and physical sciences, biological sciences, social and applied human sciences, business and economics.

Canadian Mennonite University

Eligibility:

• Demonstration of English proficiency through IELTS/TOEFL/CanTest/MELAB/PTE, etc. The result must not be older than 2 years.
• Higher secondary certificate (class 12 exam certificate) with a minimum grade of 7/10 or 53/100 or Second Class standing.

Fee: CAD 10,003

Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Courses: Three-year or four-year BBA, BSc, BA, etc.

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Eligibility:

• Higher secondary school certificate (class 12 examination certificate) with at least a score of 50%. 
• Submission of English proficiency scores, such as TOEFL/IELTS/PTE, etc.

Fee: CAD 11,460

Location: St. Johns, Newfoundland

Courses: BBA, engineering, commerce, nursing, science, and more

List of Cheapest Postgraduate Colleges in Canada

Below is a list of the cheap universities in Canada offering postgraduate courses:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Eligibility:

• Minimum 1 year of completion of undergraduate academic study
• Average grade point of 2.5 (on a scale of 4)
• Measure of English proficiency through tests like TOEFL/IELTS/PTE, etc.

Fee: CAD 3,222

Location: St. Johns, Newfoundland

Courses: Offline and online master’s and doctorate courses in humanities, interdisciplinary studies, professional studies, and more.

University of Northern British Columbia

Eligibility:

• Class 12 CBSE or CICSE certificate

For GCE system, the eligibility criteria are:

• 3 ordinary level (O) subjects must be finished with an overall grade point of ‘C’ or more.
• Should have a minimum of two advanced or (A) level subjects.
• (A) level subjects must have a minimum grade of ‘C’.

English proficiency requirements:

• Scores of IELTS/TOEFL/PTE, etc. Scores must not be older than 2 years.

Fee: CAD 3,297

Location: Prince George, British Columbia

Courses: MSc, MEd, MBA, doctorate and graduate certificate courses.

University of Calgary

Eligibility:

• English language proficiency tests (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE) 
• Students who have completed a bachelor’s degree where the MOI was English may be exempted to provide TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores. (This is applicable only if they fall under the eligible institutions’ list)
• Four years bachelor’s degree with First Class Division. Students with a three-year degree must hold a master’s degree as well. 

Fee: CAD 3,693

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Courses: Master’s and doctoral courses in various subjects. 

Simon Fraser University

Eligibility:

• English language proficiency test scores, which should not be older than 2 years.
• Minimum GPA of 3.33 in the final year of Bachelor’s degree

Fee: CAD 3,743

Location: Burnaby, British Columbia

Courses: Graduate courses in applied sciences, communication, business, and more.

University of Saskatchewan

Eligibility:

• A four-year bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
• Average score of 70% in the last two years of the full-time course
• English language test scores

Fee: CAD 4,358

Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Courses: It is one of the cheapest colleges in Canada for international students, offering more than 80 master’s and doctoral courses.

Cost of Living in Canada

Evidently, there are many cheap universities in Canada. In addition, the country also boasts a cheaper living cost, as compared to other famous study destinations.One’s cost of living may depend upon several necessities, including:

• Food and groceries
• Housing
• Transportation, etc.

On average, a student could live economically by spending CAD 1,260 a month on living expenses. Here’s a breakdown of the cost of living in different Canadian cities:

Overall, the cost of living in Canada is feasible. While drawing out a comparison, it is 10% less than that of the UK and 15% lower than Australia’s.

Conclusion

Studying in Canada will provide you with a recognised degree while saving you money. Consider the above-mentioned cheap universities in Canada for quality education at affordable fees. For added financial support, international students can also take up part-time jobs while studying.