Affordable Universities for Masters Degree in Canada
International students who wish to study masters in Canada can find a number of cheap universities in the country. Find details about affordable universities for masters degree in Canada through this article.
Canada is one of the popular destinations among students for studying abroad. There are many affordable universities for masters degree in Canada. Apart from the low tuition fee, factors like the cost of living, availability of scholarships, and part-time work opportunities make Canada a popular country for international students to pursue their master's degree programs.
Table of Contents
- Cheap Universities in Canada for Masters
- Admission Requirements for Masters in Canada
- Cost of Living in Canada
- City-Wise Expenditure in Canada
- Location-Wise Cheap Universities in Canada
- Scholarships in Canada
Cheap Universities in Canada for Masters
There are various cheap universities in Canada for overseas students who intend to enroll in master's programs. Here we have curated a list of affordable universities for masters degree in Canada:
- Memorial University of Newfoundland - 4,000 CAD/ year
- Brandon University - 8,591 CAD/ year
- University of Saskatchewan - 6,536 CAD/ year
- University of British Columbia - 7,641 CAD/ year
- University of Alberta - 10,260 CAD/ year
- University of Manitoba - 4,000 CAD/ year
- University of Guelph - 10,544 CAD/ year
- McGill University - 12,600 CAD/ year
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University offers more than 110 graduate diplomas, master’s, and doctoral programs, attracting some of the world’s most intellectually ambitious and talented graduate students in almost all fields of studies. It is one of the cheapest colleges in Canada for international students. Here are the tuition fee and scholarship details of the university:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 4,000
- Average residence fee: CAD 5,000 - CAD 8,000 per year
- Scholarships: A.G. Hatcher Memorial Scholarship, AAC Student Scholarship, ACUNS Awards Program, Affinity NL (Ottawa) Scholarship
Read More: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Brandon University
Students pursuing a masters degree at Brandon University have two options. They can either opt for the ‘course work only route’ or the ‘thesis route’. The first one consists of 36 credit hours of coursework, while the latter requires students to complete 27 credit hours of course work and a 9 credit hour thesis. Brandon University's fee and scholarship information can be found here:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 8,591
- Average residence fee: CAD 7,426 - CAD 9,644
- Scholarships: Board of Governors (BoG) Entrance Scholarships, IB (International Baccalaureate) Scholarships, AP (Advanced Placement) Scholarships
Read More: Brandon University
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan offers master's degree programs in a diverse range of fields. Some of the major programs are offered in disciplines such as accounting, chemistry, music, business, pharmacy, sociology, and many more. Take a look at the fee and scholarship information of the University of Saskatchewan:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 6,536
- Average residence fee: CAD 470 – CAD 7,976
- Scholarships: Canadian Home Economics Association (CHEA) Fellowship, CFUW Memorial Fellowship, Elizabeth Helen McLeod Scholarship, Garry H. Beatty Scholarship
Read More: University of Saskatchewan
University of British Columbia
Next on the list of affordable universities for masters degree in Canada is the University of British Columbia. The university provides a wide variety of masters programs in Canada for international students. These programs are offered in subject areas like medicine, commerce, arts, sciences, education, forestry, etc. Check out UBC’s tuition and scholarship information below:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 7,641
- Average residence fee: CAD 5,318 – CAD 11,254
- Scholarships: International Tuition Award – up to CAD 3,200
Read More: University of British Columbia
University of Alberta
Students interested in pursuing a cheap masters degree in Canada can apply to the University of Alberta. It is one of the top Canadian universities offering 500+ graduate programs in over 250 specializations. In addition, students have the option of choosing from more than 300 research areas. The fee and scholarship information of the University of Alberta is as follows:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 10,260
- Average residence fee: CAD 7,056 – CAD 8,771
- Scholarships: Mackenzie King Open Scholarship, Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship, Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship
Read More: University of Alberta
University of Manitoba
With over 99 master's programs, the University of Manitoba is among the finest masters universities in Canada. It also ranks among the top 50 research-intensive universities in Canada. Below you will find details about the University of Manitoba’s fee structure and scholarships:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 4,000
- Average residence fee: CAD 5,000 - CAD 8,000 per year
- Scholarships: J.W. Dafoe Graduate Fellowship, University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship, Manitoba Graduate Scholarship, International Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship
Read More: University of Manitoba
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph is a good option for international students willing to pursue cheap masters in Canada. It ranks consistently among Canada’s top comprehensive universities and offers 100 graduate programs at master's and doctoral levels. University of Guelph’s fee structure and scholarship details are listed below:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 10,544
- Average residence fee: CAD 5,574 – CAD 7,630
- Scholarships: Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's (CGSM) Program, Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program, Ontario Graduate Fellowships (OGF) Program
Read More: University of Guelph
McGill University
Based in Montreal, McGill University is one of the affordable universities in Canada for pursuing master's degree programs. Students interested in graduate studies at McGill get access to courses ranging from medicine and health sciences to engineering, law, education, business, art, music, and agriculture. Find out the tuition and residence rates of McGill University, along with the scholarship details:
- Average tuition fee: CAD 12,600
- Average residence fee: CAD 6,215 – CAD 12,496
- Scholarships: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, The Mackenzie King Travelling Scholarship
Read More: McGill University
Admission Requirements for Masters in Canada
Canadian universities require overseas students to meet certain eligibility requirements in order to apply for their master's degree programs. These requirements may vary based on the university, stream, and other specifications. However, we have listed some of the common admission requirements of the best universities in Canada for masters :
- Written application
- At least 16 years of educational experience with a minimum 3.0 GPA in bachelor's degree
- English language proficiency score: an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or more
- A minimum score of 260 on the GRE (if applicable)
- A minimum GMAT score of 650 (for management courses)
- SOP for Canada
- Reference Letters
Cost of Living in Canada
The cost of living in Canada is a little higher than the average, but a high standard of living is guaranteed. Monthly living expenses in Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa are typically between CAD 1,200 and CAD 1,800. Shown below are the most expensive cities in Canada:
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Toronto, Ontario
- Hamilton-Burlington, Ontario
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Calgary, Alberta
The most affordable Canadian cities are listed as follows:
- Sherbrooke, Quebec
- Windsor, Ontario
- Edmonton, Alberta
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
City-Wise Expenditure in Canada
The cost of living differs from one place to another and might be cheap or expensive when compared to any reference place. However, a standard amenity's price can be used to compare the cost of living in different cities. Here, we have compared the cost of a 3-bedroom apartment across various cities in Canada. The table below shows the average apartment costs in six different cities:
|
City |
Cost of Apartment (in CAD) |
|
Toronto |
1,900 |
|
Vancouver |
1,950 |
|
Ottawa |
1,300 |
|
Montreal |
1,050 |
|
Edmonton |
1,500 |
|
Calgary |
1,600 |
Due to fixed charges and facilities, on-campus accommodation is generally more affordable at universities than off-campus accommodation. The expenditure related to off-campus accommodation will be variable and might affect a student’s budget.
Expenses of a Canadian City in Comparison to International Cities
In the following table, a few selective cities have been compared to each other based on their monthly living expenses:
|
Comparing basic living costs |
Monthly rent of 1 bedroom flat in the city centre |
3-course meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant) |
Transportation expenses (monthly pass) |
|
Toronto, Canada |
CAD 1,632 |
CAD 70 |
CAD 143 |
|
London, UK |
CAD 2,781 |
CAD 91 |
CAD 218 |
|
New York City, USA |
CAD 3,809 |
CAD 94 |
CAD 151 |
|
Berlin, Germany |
CAD 1,094 |
CAD 58 |
CAD 118 |
|
Sydney, Australia |
CAD 2,622 |
CAD 79 |
CAD 159 |
By comparing different student cities on various parameters, we got an idea of the average monthly expenses (except meals) in these cities. Here, we can see that Toronto stands second after Germany in terms of affordability. However, it is one of the most expensive Canadian cities. Therefore, the table clearly indicates that Canadian cities are cheaper for students when compared to other international student cities. As a less expensive country with affordable universities for master's degrees, Canada is an ideal study destination for students seeking high-quality education on a limited budget.
Location-Wise Cheap Universities in Canada
There are many cheap colleges in Canada for international students planning to pursue master's degree programs. Here we will be looking at some of the low-cost Canadian universities (location-wise), along with their tuition fees:
| Location | University | Average Annual Tuition Fee (CAD) |
| Toronto | OCAD University | 16,000 CAD |
| Ryerson University | 30,000 CAD | |
| York University | 32,000 CAD | |
| Vancouver | University Canada West | 21,000 CAD |
| University of British Columbia | 12,000 CAD to 15,000 CAD | |
| Simon Fraser University | 25,000 CAD to 45,000 CAD | |
| Montreal | Concordia University | 37,500 CAD |
| University of Quebec at Montreal | 25,000 CAD | |
| McGill University | 21,000 CAD | |
| Ottawa | University of Ottawa | 33,000 CAD |
| Carleton University | 29,000 CAD | |
| British Columbia | University of Northern British Columbia | 35,000 CAD to 48,000 CAD |
| University of Victoria | 39,000 CAD |
Scholarships in Canada
One can find a plethora of scholarship opportunities in Canada, including government scholarships, non-government scholarships, and institute-specific scholarships. These scholarships provide financial assistance to meritorious students by covering expenses like tuition fees, accommodation charges, flight costs, etc. Mentioned below are the top scholarships available in Canada for overseas students:
- Ontario Graduate Scholarships
- University of Alberta International Scholarships
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
- Calgary International Entrance Scholarships
- Carleton Prestige Scholarships
- University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)
- Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master’s Program
Read More: Scholarships in Canada
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