Cheapest universities in Canada for international students

Canadian universities are one of the go-to institutions for scholars who wish to study abroad on a low budget. The North American country has made life easier for international students by providing several opportunities in its institutions to help scholars seeking a quality education abroad.

With so many opportunities to study on a shoestring budget, some may mistake Canadian universities for low-quality institutions. However, most Canadian universities are ranked among the world's best universities owing to their solid educational system.

These universities can be compared with top universities in the United States of America and European countries, such as the UK, Germany, and other nations.

If you have a limited budget and want to study abroad, there are many universities in Canada where you can apply for lower-cost admission. To assist you in making an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the cheapest universities in Canada for an international student on this page.

This list of the cheapest universities in Canada comprises brief information about the schools, their programs, and tuition fees. Below is our list of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students.

1. College of the North Atlantic

The College of the North Atlantic is the largest standard institution of higher education and skill training in Newfoundland and Labrador, with over 17 campuses. The university, which has over 700 faculties, offers full-time and part-time programmes to international students.

The College of the North Atlantic is ranked first among the cheapest universities in Canada for international students, with a low-budget tuition fee of $10,997 and safe accommodations.

Though all international students from different parts of the world are welcome to study at the College of the North Atlantic, all scholars must first meet the school's admission requirements, including an online or physical language test for English proficiency.

Scholars who take this language test must meet certain scores, such as 60 points on an online CAEL test, 550 points on a TOEFL paper-based test, 79 points on an online TOEFL, 219 points on a computer-based TOEFL, a score of 6.0 on the IELTS Academic Test, or a minimum score of 78 on the MELAB test.

The College of the North Atlantic only accepts students in the age bracket of 17 and above. To apply for admission, you must submit your certificates and transcripts to the school either online or through email.

The College of the North Atlantic offers over 100 full-time and part-time programs in nine different areas of study, such as academics, applied arts, business, engineering technology, health sciences, industrial trade, information technology, natural resources, and tourism.

2. Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Memorial University of Newfoundland is the second educational institution in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on our list of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students.

It is a public university with several campuses in Corner Brook, Saint Pierre, and Harlow in the United Kingdom. The Memorial University of Newfoundland's tuition fee is as low as $20,000 for a programme at the school, which places it as the second-cheapest university in Canada for international students.

The Memorial University of Newfoundland offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate education to international students in different programs such as business, education, engineering, human kinetics and recreation, human and social sciences, medicine, music, nursing, pharmacy, science, and social work.

To study at the Memorial University of Newfoundland as an international student, you must first obtain a study permit that will allow you to stay in Canada throughout the duration of your program.

Memorial University of Newfoundland also provides scholarships to international students in their first year of study, with the goal of helping them fund their early education.

3. University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, that offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

It is one of western Canada's oldest universities and one of the country's top research institutions. The institution houses many international students from over 140 different countries.

The University of Manitoba is ranked as the third-cheapest university in Canada for international students, with an estimated tuition fee of $22,020 for a one-year undergraduate program. However, the tuition fee could be less depending on the programme of your choice.

The University of Manitoba, like other Canadian universities, requires a certificate of English language proficiency from any applicant who wishes to take a programme at the institution.

To study at the University of Manitoba, you must obtain a study permit from the Canadian government, which will cover your stay in the country throughout the period of your program.

4. St. Thomas More College

Thomas More College is a private university in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, that offers full-time and part-time degrees, master's, and Ph.D. programmes.

The institution is ranked as the fourth-cheapest university in Canada for international students, with a tuition fee of $25,000 and good accommodations.

St. Thomas More College offers admission to international students in over 55 programs, such as accountancy, art, art history, biochemistry, biology, Bioinformatics and computational biology, business administration, chemistry, communication, criminal justice, economics, etc.

The tuition fee for international students at St. Thomas More College covers textbooks, workbooks, yearbooks, class field trips, grade-level retreats, and many other important areas that need finances.

To obtain admission at St. Thomas More College, you must meet their requirement for English language proficiency, for which you must take an English proficiency standardized TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test.

When applying for admission at St. Thomas More College, you must submit a transcript from your previous institution along with your application form.

5. University of Northern British Columbia

The University of Northern British Columbia is a small public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is ranked fifth on our list of the cheapest universities for international students in Canada, with a tuition fee of $25,812.

Its main campus is at 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, Canada, with other campuses in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John.

The University of Northern British Columbia offers admission to scholars in any part of the world with a low tuition fee of $793.94 per credit hour to help the less privileged gain a quality education.

The tuition fees of the University of Northern British Columbia differ according to the program of your choice, such as a degree in arts, commerce, education, health sciences, science, applied science, nursing, planning, social work, or independent minors.

To make things easier for international students, the University of Northern British Columbia offers scholarships to scholars while on a programme at the school.

Applicants who indicate their first language as non-English must provide evidence of English proficiency from TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, MELAB, CAEL, or PTE.

To obtain admission at the University of Northern British Columbia with the GCE system, you must score at least a C in two advanced grade-level subjects and three ordinary-level subjects.

6. Simon Fraser University

Canadian public research university Simon Fraser University is sixth on our list of the cheapest universities for international students in Canada, with a tuition fee of $32,724 for an academic year.

The tuition fee for international students excludes textbooks and supplies, a single residence room with meal plans, and medical insurance, which could amount to $47,386 if included.

Simon Fraser University offers admission into undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate programs such as applied sciences, business, health sciences, arts, and social sciences, communication arts and technology, science, education, and environment.

Before admission into Simon Fraser University, all applicants must show competence in the English language, which comprises speaking fluently, writing, listening, and reading.

To show your competence, you must have completed at least three years of full-time secondary school education in English in an English-speaking country.

7. University of Guelph

The University of Guelph is a public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, with over 2,000 international students from over 130 different countries.

The Canadian news magazine Macleans ranked the University of Guelph as the "best comprehensive university" in Canada in 2022. The university offers full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate programmes to international students.

The undergraduate programs offered by the University of Guelph are applied sciences, arts, arts and sciences, bio-resource management, commerce, computing, engineering, indigenous environmental science and practice, landscape architecture, health, science, science in agriculture, science in environmental sciences, and veterinary medicine.

The University of Guelph is the last on our list of the cheapest universities in Canada for international students, with a tuition fee that ranges from $33,046 to $36,581, depending on the course of your choice.

The tuition fee of the research university does not cover students' meal plans, residence, travel, or other programmes at the school. The University of Guelph also offers scholarships to international students to help them fund their education.