On This Page, You Will Find:
- What a Canadian education actually costs in 2026
- How tuition varies by province
- Working during your studies
- The route from graduation to permanent residence
- Bilingual study and research strengths
- The honest picture: studying under the cap
- Who Canada suits, and who it does not
- Frequently asked questions
Canada remains one of the largest destinations for international students. About 725,000 people held a Canadian study permit in September 2025, down from more than a million in January 2024 after the federal government capped study permit applications.
That contraction is the context for any honest answer to the question in the title. Canada still offers a strong combination of quality, cost and post-study opportunity, but it is now a more selective and more expensive destination than it was three years ago. This page sets out the case with current figures. For the procedural detail, see our study in Canada FAQ for international students.
What it costs in 2026
Statistics Canada publishes average tuition each September. For the 2025/2026 academic year, international undergraduates pay an average of $41,746 a year, up 2.5 per cent on the previous year. International graduate students pay an average of $24,028, up 1.5 per cent.
Those averages are the highest in a decade, and the gap with domestic students has widened. International undergraduates now pay more than five times what Canadian undergraduates pay, compared with 3.6 times a decade ago. Canadian undergraduates paid an average of $7,734 in 2025/2026.
On top of tuition, IRCC requires a single applicant outside Quebec to show $22,895 in available funds for living costs for the first year, a figure adjusted every 1 September in line with Statistics Canada’s low income cut-off. Budget realistically: this is a floor for a visa application, not a comfortable annual budget in Toronto or Vancouver.
Tuition varies enormously by province
The national average hides a wide spread. In 2025/2026, Statistics Canada reports the following for international students:
- Newfoundland and Labrador is the most affordable province: $18,867 at undergraduate level and $6,964 at graduate level
- New Brunswick also remains relatively affordable
- Ontario is the most expensive, and has been for a decade: $49,802 at undergraduate level and $28,624 at graduate level
The difference between Newfoundland and Ontario at undergraduate level is roughly $31,000 a year. For a four-year degree that is a six-figure decision, and it is worth weighing against labour market access, community size and the provincial immigration streams available where you study.
You can work, within limits
Eligible full-time students at a designated learning institution can work off campus for up to 24 hours per week during academic terms, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays. The previous 20-hour limit no longer applies.
Part-time earnings help, but they will not cover international tuition. IRCC requires you to prove you can fund your studies without working, and treats work as a supplement rather than a plan. Exceeding the 24-hour cap during term is a breach of your permit conditions.
Co-op placements and internships that form a required part of your programme are handled separately from off-campus work. Since 1 April 2026, eligible post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a required placement; secondary-level students still do.
The path from graduation to permanent residence
This is the strongest remaining argument for Canada over other English-speaking destinations: a structured, published route from student to permanent resident that you can plan around before you enrol.
Eligible graduates can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) within 180 days of completing a programme of at least eight months at a PGWP-eligible institution. Permit length tracks programme length, up to three years for programmes of two years or more, with master’s graduates eligible for three years even from shorter degrees.
Since November 2024, most applicants must also meet a language requirement – Canadian Language Benchmarks 7 for university graduates, CLB 5 for college and polytechnic graduates – and non-degree graduates must have studied in an eligible field linked to occupations in long-term shortage. Check the field of study list before you accept an offer, not after. Our PGWP guide covers the detail.
Skilled work experience gained on a PGWP then feeds into permanent residence, most commonly through the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry or through a Provincial Nominee Program graduate stream. Many students complete the transition without leaving Canada.
Bilingual study and research strength
Canada is officially bilingual, and francophone study is a genuine strategic advantage rather than a lifestyle choice. French-language ability earns additional points under Express Entry, and IRCC runs dedicated francophone pathways, including a student pilot aimed at francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
Canadian universities are active in research areas including artificial intelligence, health sciences, environmental science and biotechnology, with federal and provincial research funding attached to graduate programmes. Graduate students also benefit from the 2026 rule change exempting master’s and doctoral students at public institutions from the attestation letter requirement, which makes those applications simpler than undergraduate ones.
The honest picture: studying under the cap
Canada is deliberately reducing international student numbers. IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, including 155,000 to new arrivals – 7 per cent below the 2025 target and 16 per cent below 2024. A total of 309,670 application spaces are available for students who need a provincial or territorial attestation letter.
Practical consequences for applicants:
- Your school must have an attestation letter allocation available before you can apply, unless you are exempt
- Places at popular institutions can be exhausted before a provincial allocation year ends, so apply early
- The Student Direct Stream closed on 8 November 2024, so there is no expedited processing route
- You cannot switch schools on the same permit; a transfer means a new study permit application
- Spousal open work permits are now limited to partners of doctoral students, master’s students in programmes of 16 months or more, and certain professional programmes
None of this makes Canada a poor choice. It does mean that the casual applicant, the marginal programme and the private-college shortcut no longer work. Plan for a documented, well-funded application to a mainstream institution in an eligible field.
Who Canada suits
Canada is a strong fit if you want a recognised credential with a defined immigration pathway attached, you can fund your studies without relying on part-time work, and you are willing to choose your programme partly on PGWP eligibility.
It is a weaker fit if you need the cheapest possible degree, if you are relying on a spouse’s income from an open work permit, or if you have chosen a short non-degree programme that falls outside the eligible fields of study. In those cases, the numbers should change your plan rather than your destination.
Start with the Canada study portal for programme and permit basics, and check the financial requirements for international students before you commit to an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is studying in Canada still affordable for international students?
It is more expensive than it was. Statistics Canada puts average international undergraduate tuition at $41,746 for 2025/2026, more than five times the Canadian student average. Affordability now depends heavily on province: Newfoundland and Labrador averages $18,867 while Ontario averages $49,802.
Does the study permit cap make it harder to get in?
Yes. IRCC will accept a maximum of 309,670 study permit applications in 2026 from students who require a provincial or territorial attestation letter, and expects to issue up to 408,000 permits in total. Your institution must have an attestation letter available before you can apply, so timing matters.
How many hours can I work while studying?
Eligible full-time students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic terms and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. You must still prove you can fund your first year without working when you apply for your study permit.
Will my Canadian degree lead to permanent residence?
It can, but not automatically. The usual route is a Post-Graduation Work Permit, then skilled Canadian work experience, then permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class or a Provincial Nominee Program stream. Meeting the PGWP language and field of study requirements is the critical first step.
Can my spouse work while I study in Canada?
Only in limited cases since 21 January 2025. Open work permits for spouses of students are restricted to partners of doctoral students, students in master’s programmes of 16 months or longer, and students in certain professional and select programmes. Other partners must qualify for a work permit independently.