Canada offers excellent opportunities and amenities for post-graduate international students. Some of the biggest colleges and universities allure students from all around the globe with more than 200,000 international students visiting the country every year for higher studies.
If you are looking to study in Canada after graduation, then the first and, probably, the most essential to plan out are the expenses. While lower than the cost of studying in the UK or the USA, fees and expenses can vary widely and strain one’s finances if one goes in without a proper budget.
Craft an effective and well-rounded budget for your post-graduate studies with this article as it offers a detailed look at all major expenses involved.
Let’s begin.
Cost of Pursuing Post Graduation In Canada: The Complete Breakdown
All overseas education consultant services classify the costs of studying abroad can be broadly into two categories: pre-arrival and post-arrival.
Pre-arrival costs are those incurred before you set travel while post-arrival expenses are the primary costs involved, such as tuition fees and living expenses & which come into the picture once you arrive at your study destination.
Let’s first have a look at the different pre-arrival costs involved.
Pre-Arrival Costs
- Taking Language Proficiency Tests & Domain-Specific Tests
Qualifying for a language proficiency or university-specified entrance test is essential. The most popular ones among them are:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): The registration fees for IELTS examinations generally differ from one country to another. However, the average fees range lies between CA$ 250 and CA$ 350.
IELTS scores are valid for 2 years.
- TOEFL (Test of English As A Foreign Language): This is yet another popular English language proficiency test and its fees also vary from one country to another. The fees lie between CA$ 247 and CA$ 398.
- GRE: Some universities in Canada may ask for scores of Graduate Records Examinations. Like IELTS and TOEFL, GRE fees also vary across different countries. The average fees lie between CA$ 281 and CA$ 350.
- Average Application Fees For Post-Graduate Programs In Canada
The application fees depend upon the university and the PG program chosen. On average, application fees of colleges and universities across Canada lie within CAD 50 to CAD 200.
- Study Permit
Once you have acquired a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institute (that is, the university of your choice), you will have to apply for a study permit. Application fees for the permit are CAD 150.
- Flight Tickets
Flight tickets to Canada vary from one country to another. Furthermore, ticket prices are subject to change as per demand and several other factors. If you want to cut down on costs, choose a budget airline, but know that average prices range between CAD 2800 to CAD 3280. It’s best to book your ticket in advance to avoid bloated ticket prices.
Those were the primary pre-arrival expenses. Now, let’s have a look at the biggest expenses of them all.
Post-Arrival Expenses
Once you have arrived in Canada, the major portion of your expenses comes into the picture. Two of the biggest ones of them are tuition fees and living expenses. Both vary as per university norms and from one city to another.
The following are the average post-graduate tuition fees across major Canadian universities
- The University of Toronto – CAD 35000 to CAD 65000
- McGill University – CAD 25000 to CAD 35000
- The University of British Columbia – CAD 40000 to CAD 80000
- The University of Alberta– CAD 8500 to CAD 10000
- McMaster University – CAD 20000 to CAD 40000
- University of Waterloo – CAD 20000 to CAD 55000
- University of Ottawa – CAD 15000 to CAD 35000
- University of Calgary – CAD 15000 to CAD 45000
- Queens’ University – CAD 15000 to CAD 80000
- Dalhousie University – CAD 15000 to CAD 30000
If you are looking to study in Canada after graduation, it is best to shortlist multiple universities for your studies. Plan things pre-emptively with reputed overseas education consultants for the best results.
The cost of living in Canada is comparatively cheaper, and much more affordable & manageable for international students. The average cost of living in Canada generally lies between CAD 15000 and CAD 20000 but also depends on one’s expenses and preferences. Quite naturally, the cost of living in the major cities of Canada is more than that of smaller cities.
The different aspects or factors of living expenses for international students are as follows:
- Average Monthly Accommodation Expenses à CAD 400 to CAD 600
- Average Monthly Fooding Expenses à CAD 200 to CAD 300
- Average Monthly Transportation Costs à CAD 100 to CAD 250
- Monthly Internet Expenses à CAD 50 to CAD 150
- Miscellaneous Monthly Expenses à CAD 600 to CAD 700
Another crucial post-arrival expense for studying in Canada or the USA is health insurance. International students in North America must possess health coverage that provides 24*7 medical assistance. This is because despite being some of the world’s largest economies, USA and Canada do not provide free healthcare to international students. The average yearly cost of health insurance in Canada lies between CAD 600 to CAD 900.
Read More- Can I Pay Someone to Take my Online Classes for Me
As may be evident, post-graduate study expenses for international students are quite substantial. A scholarship can bring down costs while a loan can ease the strain on one’s pocket. Proper budget planning is essential and it is advisable to start planning early on to tackle any unforeseen circumstances and consider all possible factors.
And, that’s it for this write-up! At Abroadvice, we are leading overseas education consultants who offer a variety of services including SOP and LOR writing services in India, Duolingo English test coaching, budgeting expenses, & the like.
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