Canada is home to hundreds & thousands of students, with the nation housing one of the world’s biggest in-flows of student migration. Here is the distinction between domestic & international student fees in Canada.
International students in Canada can obtain an internationally recognized standard of education in an immigrant-friendly nation. However, they can simultaneously face more barriers to entry because of the higher premiums they have to pay in tuition or post-secondary education versus their domestic peers.
This article will compare domestic & international student fees in Canada. The distinction will be between study programs at both graduate & undergraduate levels. We will further try to understand how post-secondary education for international students in Canada compares to other nations.
Well, it is vital to note that the information presented below is based on the annual tuition fees from 2023-2024 & is the average of programs from both colleges as well as universities. In addition, the fees will vary depending on both DLIs & the program. Finally, numerous programs in related fields of study have been grouped together. So, without further ado, let us begin!
Overall Fees
Comparing the domestic & international student fees in Canada, the average tuition fee for undergraduate Canadian/ domestic students was CAD 7,076 among all programs. On the other hand, international students paid an average of CAD 38,081, which is the difference of 5.3X in tuition fees.
In addition, at the graduate level, the average fee paid by domestic students was CAD 7,573, while international students paid CAD 22,061. The figures yielded a difference of 2.9X between both averages.
Architecture
These programs prepare students to apply mathematical & scientific principles to developing, designing, & evaluating materials to equip buildings for human habitation & other purposes.
At the undergraduate level, these programs cost domestic students CAD 6,927 & international students CAD 35,360, which is 4.4X the domestic amount. In addition, at the graduate level, programs in this faculty cost around CAD 6,886 for domestic students & CAD 27,575 for international students, which is a 4X difference.
Business Management & Public Administration
Business management contains numerous programs geared towards equipping individuals with industry-relevant skills to manage & control the operations & processes of an institution.
On the other hand, public administration includes any program that prepares individuals to function as managers in the executive branch of the government. It focuses on a systematic investigation of executive structure & administration.
At the undergraduate level, these degrees cost CAD 7,571 for domestic students & CAD 36,631 for international students. At the graduate level, the difference lessens, costing CAD 14,293 for domestic students & CAD 27,239 for international students.
Education
Education programs focus on theory & practice of learning & teaching, along with related research, support, & administrative services.
At the undergraduate level, degrees in education cost around CAD 5,358 for Canadian students & CAD 26,166 for international students, implying that international students pay 4.8X the domestic student fees for these programs. At the graduate level, degrees in education cost CAD 6,957 for domestic students & CAD 19,533 for international students, with a fee difference of 2.8X.
Engineering
Degrees in engineering encompass programs that prepare students to apply mathematics as well as scientific principles to solve practical issues. These include programs in aerospace, manufacturing, architecture, & much more.
At the undergraduate level, domestic students paid CAD 8,879, while international students paid over CAD 43,606. At the postgraduate level, domestic students paid CAD 7,696, while international students paid CAD 25,137.
However, it is essential to note that it is one of the biggest education categories with a broad range of programs & tuition fees.
Executive & Regular MBAs
As we compare domestic & international student fees in Canada, the next field is executive & regular MBAs.
An MBA is a common postgraduate degree for individuals seeking to work in a business-related field. These degrees are often prerequisites to higher positions in a company’s management chain.
Moreover, MBAs can be executive or regular, which conforms more closely to a full-time student program.
Humanities
This area of instructional program involves an emphasis on literature, languages, philosophy, art, music, & religion, which is distinct from social & physical sciences.
At the undergraduate level, degrees in humanities cost CAD 6,080 for domestic students, & CAD 37,730 for international students, resulting in a difference of 6.3X. At the graduate level, these degrees cost around CAD 4,678 for domestic students & CAD 14,217 for international students.
Law
Distinct from legal studies, degrees in law are concerned with training applicants for professional practice in civil/ common law. It includes qualifying as a notary in Quebec, taking bar exams, conducting in-depth research, etc.
At the undergraduate level, these degrees cost CAD 13,621 for domestic students & over $45,938 for international students. At the graduate level, the degrees cost around CAD 6,227 for domestic students & over CAD 20,046 for international students.
Executive MBAs cost around CAD 45,596 for domestic students & CAD 68,224 for international students, which is a 1.5X difference. Moreover, regular MBAs cost around CAD 31,028 for domestic students & over CAD 43,755 for international students.
Mathematics, Information Sciences, & Computer
Mathematics encompasses programs including algebra, geometry, statistics, applied math, etc. Computer Science includes programs on computer theory, designing computer systems, & user interfaces. Moreover, information sciences include programs like information classification, processing, storage, etc.
At the undergraduate level, degrees in these programs cost around CAD 7,278 for domestic students & over CAD 41,163 for international students. At the postgraduate level, domestic students paid over CAD 9,169, while international students paid CAD 21,163.
Medicine
This program is designed to educate individuals to become independent medical practitioners, thus equipping them with skills for preventing, diagnosing, & treating a variety of human diseases & other health conditions.
At the undergraduate level, the degrees cost domestic students around CAD 15,558 & international students over CAD 69,426, resulting in a difference of 4.4X. Data was not available for programs in medicine at the graduate level.
Nursing
These programs cover a variety of educational programs related to the theory as well as the practice of nursing. This encompasses multiple specialties, like nursing science, critical care, forensic nursing, & nursing administration.
At the undergraduate level, these programs cost domestic students over CAD 6,182 & international students around CAD 27,747. Moreover, at the graduate level, these programs cost domestic students around CAD 6,973 & international students over CAD 18,910.
Physical Sciences, Technologies, & Life Sciences
Physical sciences involve the study of physical phenomena, from large structures to the smallest atoms, & the ways that these things interact. Moreover, life science focuses specifically on biological & organic phenomena, thus covering everything from ecology & research to biomedical sciences.
Technologies studies include the instruction & research of physical tools used within the scientific study.
At the undergraduate level, the degrees cost around CAD 6,167 for domestic students & over CAD 39,501 for international students. In addition, at the graduate level, tuition costs around CAD 7,052 for domestic students & CAD 18,025 for international students.
Social & Behavioural Sciences And Legal Studies
Social & behavioral sciences is a class of educational programs that center on the methodological examination & analysis of social structures, societal establishments, & social behavior patterns.
On the other hand, legal studies are focused on educational programs designed to train individuals for the legal field, support occupations, & professional legal research. In addition, it also emphasizes studying legal matters in non-professional programs. It is vital to note that for the purpose of this study, legal studies are separated from the study & practice of law.
Well, at the undergraduate level, the degrees cost around CAD 6,040 for domestic students & over CAD 36,480 for international students. At the graduate level, the gap lessens, with tuition costing around CAD 6,277 for domestic students & CAD 18,026 for international students.
Communication Technologies & Visual/ Performing Arts
Degrees in visual & performing art focus on the creation as well as interpretation of works & performances that use auditory, visual, & kinetic phenomena to express ideas & emotions in numerous ways.
Meanwhile, programs in Communication Technologies study how messages in different media are used & interpreted within & across numerous contexts, cultures, & channels.
At the undergraduate level, these degrees cost CAD 6,312 for domestic students & over CAD 31,475 for international students. In addition, at the graduate level, these costs are slightly reduced to CAD 5,783 for domestic students & around CAD 17,837 for international students.
Is it Worth Studying In Canada As An International Student?
While higher tuition fees can be discouraging for international students arriving in Canada, it is crucial to keep them in context. For instance, while tuition fees are higher for international students, they are still lower than those in other nations like Australia, the US, & the UK.
Moreover, Canada’s favorable exchange rate compared to the currencies of other popular immigration destinations is another cost-saving advantage, specifically when converting foreign currency.
Lastly, Canada is among the most immigrant-friendly destinations regarding post-graduation work & immigration opportunities. While many other nations might impose barriers to immigration, the nation has instituted a specific PGWP for international graduates while continuously increasing the number of immigrants it welcomes annually, thus providing international students a way to become Canadian permanent residents.