Degree or diploma?
The qualification changes the route
Compare the exact award, curriculum and progression.
EduCanada · Study optionsSTUDY ABROAD / CA
True north.Your next chapter.In Canada.
True north / A fresh direction. A wider world of possibilities.
Research universities. Hands-on college programmes. Co-op woven into selected degrees. Discover the Canadian route that fits your ambitions, then get clear on the qualification, the city and the full cost.
Guide checked · Official sources
TORONTO / IN FOCUSCANADA
Ken Eckert · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Display cropped
Co-op, considered
Learning that can include a workplace
Check selection, fees and how placements are secured.
IRCC · Student work optionsCity by city
Make the budget personal
Price housing near the campus you will actually attend.
EduCanada · Education costs01 / YOUR STARTING POINT
Where are you starting from?
Choose the closest match. Use it to plan your next checks, not as an admission decision.
Build a degree around what draws you in.
Explore the subject in depth, then look at electives, projects and any co-op stream. A campus name is only the start of the comparison.
EduCanada · Study options- 01Match your school subjects and results to the programme’s prerequisites.
- 02Compare the degree structure, campus, teaching language and full duration.
- 03Ask whether co-op requires a separate application and whether it adds time or fees.
Keep in mind
Apply to the specific campus and programme you want. A co-op option does not promise a placement or employment.
02 / THE REAL COST
A Canadian plan starts with the whole price.
Compare the same qualification, the same duration and the same living assumptions before choosing.
Use the international fee for your actual intake.
Fees vary by institution, programme and location. Ask what is included, whether later years can cost more, and how co-op or other study terms are charged. Keep a full-programme total alongside the first-year figure.
EduCanada · Education costsYour neighbourhood is part of the decision.
Compare residence with realistic rental listings, contract lengths, utilities and the commute. Include health coverage, winter essentials and arrival costs. A cheaper course can still sit in an expensive housing market.
EduCanada · Education costsSeparate admission, permission and future options.
An offer is an academic decision. A study permit is a separate application. PGWP eligibility is another check, and studying in Canada does not guarantee permanent residence.
IRCC · DLI list03 / MAKE THE NUMBERS YOURS
What would your first year look like?
Change the example figures to match your shortlist. See the expenses and the cash you may need to set aside.
UNIVERSITY STUDY / 12 MONTHS / CAD
Illustrative first-year example in Canadian dollars, not a university quote or a Canada-wide average. Replace every figure with your programme and city research. Include health coverage within living costs and avoid counting a fee twice. Plan later years separately.
YOUR FIRST-YEAR PICTURE
Total cash to plan forCA$60,700.00
- Estimated expenses
- CA$59,200.00
- Refundable deposit
- CA$1,500.00
Living costs × 12 + tuition + other fees + arrival costs. The deposit is added separately as money to set aside.
Build from funds you can rely on.
No sign-up. Your figures stay in this page.This example deducts no unawarded scholarship or income from a job you have not secured.
04 / FUNDING THE MOVE
Find the right kind of support.
Start with an affordable study plan. Then explore funding that matches your background.
University entrance awards
Start with the institution’s own international scholarship pages. Check the eligible intake, nationality, selection criteria and whether you need a separate application. A renewable award may have grades or enrolment conditions.
Explore official scholarship informationResearch and department support
For research degrees, ask the department about the complete funding package. Separate a stipend from tuition support and confirm duration, duties and renewal. UBC’s graduate funding pages show the different kinds of support to look for.
See a university funding exampleCheck what an external award actually funds
Some Canadian government opportunities support short exchanges or research stays rather than a full overseas degree. Read the country eligibility, duration and application route before including an award in your plan.
Check EduCanada opportunitiesSTUDY. WORK. UPSKILL.
Work during and after your studies.
Understand the study-related options, then prepare for the next stage.
During study
Eligible students can work off campus for up to 24 hours a week during regular academic sessions, with different rules for scheduled breaks. Check your permit and all eligibility conditions before starting. Treat earnings as additional support, not the basis of your study budget.
IRCC · Off-campus workCo-op and internships
From 1 April 2026, post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for student work placements. Placement eligibility conditions still apply. Ask your institution how the placement fits the programme and what you must arrange.
IRCC · Student work optionsAfter graduation
A PGWP depends on the programme and your eligibility. An eligible master’s degree of at least eight months can support a three-year PGWP, subject to the other rules and passport validity. Certificates and diplomas do not get that master’s-specific treatment.
IRCC · About the PGWP05 / FROM INTEREST TO ACTION
A route you can work through.
Start at the step that matches where you are. Course dates and your circumstances set the pace.
- 01
Choose the qualification
Decide between a degree, a research route and a focused applied programme. Write down the outcome you want.
- 02
Check the programme before the deposit
Verify the DLI, campus, award and any PGWP requirements. Read the refund terms.
IRCC · DLI list - 03
Price the complete plan
Get tuition and housing figures for your intake. Record confirmed funding and how you will support later years.
- 04
Prepare the permit documents
Confirm whether a PAL/TAL is required. For Quebec, check the CAQ requirements as well as the federal study permit.
IRCC · PAL and TAL - 05
Plan your arrival
Arrange housing, health coverage and orientation with the institution. Keep copies of your key documents and verify work conditions before accepting work.
06 / KEEP YOUR PLAN CURRENT
Worth knowing before you apply.
Reviewed guidance and official publishers to follow as your plan develops.
FUNDING EVIDENCE / SEPTEMBER 2026
Use the current financial requirement.
IRCC revised the living-expense amounts for applications from 1 September 2026. Use the table for your application date, family size and province; older saved budgets may use a different threshold.
IRCC · Financial supportReviewed 10 September 2026PROGRAMME CHECK / BEFORE YOU PAY
PGWP rules follow the qualification.
Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates do not have a field-of-study requirement. Other credentials may have one depending on the permit application date. Language evidence and other eligibility conditions can still apply.
IRCC · PGWP eligibilityReviewed 10 September 2026From the official newsroom
Study-related immigration updates from IRCC · Government of Canada. This is a selected feed, not a complete list of opportunities.
Feeds are refreshed on request, with up to 30 minutes of caching. Publisher dates are shown above, with updated dates labelled; a headline may refer to a closed call. Always read the full notice.
THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER
A little more clarity.
Useful answers to bring into your next conversation.
International study normally involves tuition and living costs. Scholarships can reduce the cost but are not automatic. Compare your actual course fee and a realistic city budget, then deduct only funding you have been awarded.
EduCanada · Education costsYOUR NEXT MOVE, WITH STAAR
Turn “what if” into a first step.
Tell us where you are today. We’ll help you explore what comes next.
SOURCE NOTES
Check the detail at its source.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. Course, funding and immigration rules can change. Use the current rules for your nationality, residence and intake.
EduCanada · Study options
Explore institutions, qualifications and study planning.
EduCanada · Education costsTuition and living-cost planning in Canadian dollars.
IRCC · Financial supportCurrent evidence amounts and accepted funding documents.
IRCC · DLI listInstitution and programme-level post-study eligibility checks.
IRCC · Graduate studentsMaster’s and doctoral study-permit requirements.
IRCC · PAL and TALAttestation requirements, exemptions and Quebec notes.
IRCC · Apply for a study permitApplication process and instructions for your situation.
EduCanada · ScholarshipsAward eligibility, duration and application routes.
UBC · Graduate fundingAn institutional example of awards and research support.
IRCC · Off-campus workEligibility, term-time hours and scheduled-break conditions.
IRCC · Student work optionsCurrent student work placement and co-op guidance.
IRCC · About the PGWPPermit duration by qualification and programme length.
IRCC · PGWP eligibilityLanguage, field-of-study and other eligibility requirements.