It is a well-known fact that Canadian universities and colleges are offering the most well versed and advanced education in the whole world for foreign students the resultant of which is there are huge number of students floating to Canada in order to gain advantage of the education system there. As the days go by more and more universities in Canada are being listed among the best academic institutions in the world thereby leading to more and more students opting for Canadian universities for their higher studies which has been increasing at a rapid pace.
Now when it comes to having the best education system in the world, naturally the question of studying and living there becomes the major question floating in one’s mind. Yes the standard of living in this country is definitely high since it lets students enjoy a higher quality of life as compared to most countries in the world. Thus while planning to study in Canada it becomes mandatory to understand the studying and living expenses of Canada so as to be well protected against immediate shocks or accidental surprises.
- Tuition fees and related expenses
Based on the course and province one chooses, the tuition fees and other related expenses differ. But still the studying expenses are lower in comparison to countries like USA, UK or for that matter even Australia. Now if we take places like Ontario or Toronto, the fees are bit higher as compared to areas like Newfoundland which has the lowest fees. Similar is the case with courses whereby courses like dentistry and law are expensive in comparison to other courses. Like we can say if one wants to attend a bachelor degree dentistry course, one need to spend around CAD 21,000 per year whereas a bachelor law program comes at fees of around CAD 11,000 per year.
The most affordable bachelor programs in Canada are education and social sciences which comes at annual fees of CAD 2000 and CAD 850 respectively. Even if one talks of Post-graduation courses, an MBA cost around CAD 27,000 per year and that for engineering comes to around CAD 37,000 per year. The most cost effective courses are that of humanities and design courses whose tuition fees range around CAD 1800 to CAD 2000 respectively. Thus there is variation in fees depending on the course one chooses. Also fees keep varying depending on the university one chooses like the fee for the University of Toronto is CAD 38,000 per year whereas the average tuition fees of the University of Montreal comes around CAD 10,000 per year. Thus it is absolutely necessary that one chooses the most ideal university and course as per one’s budget and preferences.
- Accommodation expenses
Accommodation for foreign students is offered by Canada in the form of a wide range of options like one can choose from student residences, university provided home-stays to shared apartments. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Like if one wants to stay in student residences then one has to shell out between CAD 250 to CAD 625 per month. But if prefers staying at university provided home-stays then one the cost of shelling out becomes less and normally comes to around CAD 400 monthly but this can also go up to CAD 800 per month depending on the location, university and amenities being provided. When it comes to shared apartments, one need to pay somewhere between CAD 250 to CAD 700 per month. Also one has to bear the additional expenses such as basic utilities and internet charges which are around CAD 150 for basic utilities and CAD 60 for internet.
- Food expenses
As far as food prices are concerned, it is nothing much of a concern as food price always stands in between CAD 200 to CAD 250 when one purchases from the local groceries and supermarkets. But if one keeps on visiting restaurants on a daily basis, then this price does not remain the same. It is bound to go up since restaurants usually charge 10 to 25 CAD and the price for a three course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant usually comes around CAD 60.
- Transportation costs
All the students enrolled in a Canadian University/college aged between 18 to 25 are eligible for discounts for which they must purchase the monthly transport pass which can be bought by paying approximately CAD 90 per month.
Thus one can have a clear overview of the total living expenses for students including accommodation, food and transportation.
Living costs can be best described as little bit higher in Canada as compared to other countries but gets to enjoy a superior quality of life. If one lives in provinces like Ottawa, Quebec and Montreal, one has to spend approximately 1000 to 1200 CAD per month. Now when it comes to the most expensive cities in Canada one can surely point it out to Calgary and Vancouver where the average cost for a student to live there ranges from 1200 to 1500 CAD per month.
Further in order to make students study more affordable many leading Canadian universities are offering different types of scholarships for students which they have to choose depending on one’s eligibility and course. Thus with the help of reliable educational consultants students get a clear picture about the total expenses including studying and living costs which is very taken care of by top notch educational agents so that students ultimately get admission into prestigious universities/colleges in Canada.
Thus if one has to put the whole thing in a nut shell it is as simple as this. If you want the best in life then it is mandatory that you invest in the best possible way.
