Studying in Canada is the dream of many students around the world. The growing country is a hub for international students. Canada is home to more than ninety universities that offer various programs and specialised courses. Canada is preferred by both international and domestic students because of the top-quality education provided by the universities. The country also allows international students to work while studying, making it even more popular with students. Canadian Universities are among the top-ranked universities in the world, despite this the list of cheap universities in canada holds a lot potential

The quality education of Canada often makes students think that they wouldn’t be able to afford it, but that is simply not true. Canada has some great universities offering programs that do not cost an arm and a leg. With the right research, students can find a cheap university in Canada that suits them the best. 

Cost of living in Canada

The cost of living in Canada includes the pre-arrival costs and the post-arrival costs. The pre-arrival costs consist of the Visa application costs, languages test costs, etc. The post-arrival costs, on the other hand, consist of accommodation, transport costs, etc. The overall cost of living depends on the lifestyle of the student but we have mentioned the approximate figures.

Pre-arrival costs

• Visa cost – 150 CAD 
• Supporting document costs – varies
• Insurance cost – varies
• Language Test costs – varies 
  

Post arrival costs

• Accommodation costs – Upwards of 400 CAD
• Public Transport costs – Upwards of 90 CAD
• Food – Upwards of 90 CAD

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What can international students do to save costs?

There are a few steps that international students can take to save overall costs while studying in Canada. Applying for scholarships, student aid, bursaries, and awards is the obvious first step, but there are many other steps too.

Work

International students in Canada are allowed to work up to 20 hours per work at a part-time job and 40 hours in a fortnight. They can work full time during holiday breaks in their academic calendar. Working and studying at the same time can not only help students save costs but also earn valuable experience.

Controlled lifestyle

International students can lead a healthy and controlled lifestyle to save costs. The cost of eating out, partying, etc, adds up to a huge amount over time. Students should avoid doing so to save costs.

Accommodation

International students can stay in shared rentals and shared apartments to save costs. Boarding schools, houses, and apartments cost extra, thus shared accommodation is better and cost-effective.

Cheap Universities in Canada 

A student who wants to save costs on tuition and other expenses does not need to worry about burning a hole in his pocket while studying in Canada. Like we have mentioned, Canada has some cheap but premiere universities that do not compromise the quality of education. The tuition fees of various programs of these universities vary but students need to do some research to find the perfect university for them.

Let us take a look at some of the cheapest universities in Canada.

• Brandon University
• University De Saint-Boniface
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• University of Guelph
• University of Regina
• Canadian Mennonite University

Cheapest Universities in Canada for MBA 

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is one of the best degrees to pursue right now. Individuals who hold an MBA degree are among the top earners of the world. The program prepares students to become the best innovators and managers. Canada has some cheap and affordable universities for all programs, including the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program. Students looking to kickstart their careers after pursuing their Bachelor’s degree can study in these cheap universities in Canada while saving on tuition and living costs. Most MBA programs in Canada cost quite a lot, but there are cheaper options available. Many kinds of MBA programs are offered by these cheap universities in Canada like an executive MBA, fast track MBA, and specialty MBA.

If you are looking for cheap universities for MBA in Canada, then the list below might help you:

• University of Alberta – varies
• University of Guelph – 50,867 CAD
• Simon Fraser University – 58,058 CAD
• University of Saskatchewan – varies
• Athabasca University – 48,180 CAD
• Quest International University – 52,099 CAD 
• Royal Roads University – 52,133 CAD 
• Canadian Mennonite University – 27,324 USD

Cheapest Universities in Canada for Masters in Computer Science 

A Masters in Computer Science program is a program that provides students with a deep insight into Computer and Information Technology. It may consist of a variety of subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, programming languages, software development, and so much more. Individuals with a Masters in Computer Science degree are equipped to take on job roles like Software Architects, Computer and Systems Manager, Software Developer, etc. A master in Computer Science degree is sure to boost your career.

Students looking to do their Masters in Computer Science in Canada need not worry about the costs. Several cheap universities provide quality Masters programs in science that are affordable.

• Simon Fraser University – 21,000 CAD
• University of Alberta – varies
• Concordia University – varies
• University of Guelph – 14,000 CAD
• Quest International University – around 35,000 CAD 
• University of Regina – varies
• Athabasca University – around 22,000 CAD 

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Cheapest Universities in Canada for PG Diploma 

Canada has several cheap universities that offer not just Masters but also PG Diploma programs. Students are offered a wealth of PG Diploma courses in these cheap universities in Canada that do not increase the financial burden of the students. International students can apply to these universities to save costs. Talking about PG Diploma Courses, these courses may be one to two years long depending on the discipline. Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree can choose to pursue a PG Diploma course to gain employment and acquire various skills. PG Diploma courses in Nursing, Hospitality Management, Data Analytics, Biotechnology, and Sports Management are becoming exceedingly popular. 

Here is the list of the cheapest universities and colleges in Canada that offer PG Diploma courses and their approximate fees for the complete program.

• University Saint Anne – 22,000 CAD
• Athabasca University – 18,000 CAD
• Centennial College – 14,000 CAD and above
• University of Regina – 16,000 CAD and above
• Simon Fraser University – 30,000 CAD and above
• Royal Roads University – 15,000 CAD and above
• University De Saint-Boniface – 13,000 CAD and above

Universities in Canada: Table of QS rankings

The QS World University Rankings is a highly coveted list of university rankings published every year. It is published by Quacquarelli Symmonds (QS) hence the name. It ranks universities from all across the world in different categories. Many universities in Canada make it to the QS World University rankings each year. It analyses multiple factors like academic peer review, faculty and student ratio, employer reputation, international student ratio, etc. Let us take a look at some of the best universities in Canada that made it to the list for the year 2021.

University	Ranking for 2021
University of Alberta	119
University of British Columbia	45
Simon Fraser University	323
University of Saskatchewan	465
Concordia University	477
University of Guelph	571-580
Carleton University	601-650

Cheap Universities in Canada for International students (Without IELTS)

There are some universities in Canada that are not only cheap but also easy to get into. Easy in the sense that a student does not have to go through a lot of hassles to apply to them. Almost all International students are required to take Language Proficiency Tests like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, etc to prove their fluency in English. The Universities also set minimum English requirements that must be fulfilled by students. However, some universities in Canada have scrapped taking Language Proficiency tests. They rely on other factors to evaluate a student. 

Here is a list of some of the cheapest universities and colleges in Canada that do not require IELTS:

• University of Winnipeg
• Concordia University
• University of Saskatchewan
• Brock University
• Carleton University
• Cambrian College
• Seneca College
• University of Regina

Cheapest Universities in Canada under 2000 dollars (CAD)

Not all students can bear the high cost of living and tuition in Canada. These students can choose cheap universities. Students looking to limit their budget to 2000 dollars (CAD) per year have quite a few options. Please keep in mind that not all programs from the universities mentioned have the same tuition fees. Some universities that offer programs with fees under 2000 CAD are Carleton University, Regina University, Simon Fraser University, and Brandon University.

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Universities in Canada without application fee

Students can save application costs by applying to Universities with no application fees. Typically, the cost of applying to any university is upwards of 90 CAD. This might not seem like a big amount but when applying to multiple universities, the costs add up. While almost all top universities in Canada have application fees, there are some cheap universities in the country with zero application fees. 

Below is a list of some of the universities that do not have any application fees:

• Royal Roads University
• University of Alberta
• Booth University College
• Quest University 
• Tyndale University 

Universities in Canada that offer scholarships

Students can take the help of scholarships, bursaries, and awards to reduce the overall costs of studying in Canada. The country has a ton of scholarships offered to domestic and international students. All of them have different eligibility requirements, but they greatly help with the overall costs of studying in Canada.

Let us take a look at the best scholarships of universities in Canada

• Bank of Montreal Scholarship (1500 CAD)
• Brandon Chamber of Business Scholarship (870.88 CAD)
• The Memorial University of Newfoundland International Entrance Scholarships (4,400 CAD)
• Barrett Family Graduate Scholarship (varies)
• Concordia Presidential Scholarship (varies)
• Academic Merit Award (Canadian Mennonite University) (varies)
• Business Merit Award (Canadian Mennonite University) (varies)

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