Study in Canada

Study in Canada for top-ranked universities, affordable tuition fee, post-study work right, and a multicultural environment ideal for international students seeking global careers.

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How to Study in Canada: How-to-Guide for Indian Students

Many Indian students prefer to study abroad, and Canada is one of the most preferred and fastest-growing study destinations. Apart from having the largest population of Indian students, Canada is also reputed to have an outstanding educational system, low costs of education, a secure environment, and good immigration opportunities.

The education system of Canada is internationally renowned due to its practical orientation of learning, research, industry orientation, and employment after studies. Whether you want to become an engineer, computer scientist, business professional, medical professional, data scientist, or researcher, studying in Canada allows you access to international employment prospects and permanent settlement.

Everything Indian students would need to know about studying in Canada is here: admissions, costs, best universities in Canada, scholarships, visas, work opportunities, living as students, etc.

The Indian Students’ Rationale to Select Canada as Their Study Destination

Canada is preferred by Indian students due to its internationally accepted education systems, low cost of living, and post-study work and PR opportunities.

Why Should You Study in Canada?

  • Ranked higher education institutions in the world.
  • Low tuition fees in comparison to the USA and UK.
  • Job and industry-related programs.
  • Study and work (part-time)
  • Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of 3 years.
  • Free movement into Permanent Residency (PR)
  • Multicultural, safe, and welcoming society.
  • Large Indian student population.

Indian students can find Canada to be one of the most desirable study destinations in the world because of its quality of academics, cultural familiarity, and career sustainability.

Quick Facts About Canada

Feature

Details

Capital

Ottawa

Top Cities to Study

Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary

Popular Fields

Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Healthcare

Tuition Fees

₹12–30 lakh/year

Living Cost

₹70,000–1,20,000/month

Intakes

Fall, Winter, Spring

Scholarships

Govt. & University-funded

Canadian Education System (Indian student-friendly)

The Canadian education system is practical, research-based, and student-focused, which enables students to acquire real-life skills along with academic knowledge.

Study Levels:

  • Certificate / Diploma: 1–2 years
  • Bachelor’s: 3–4 years
  • Master’s: 1–2 years
  • PhD: 4–6 years

Types of Institutions:

  • Public Universities: Research-intensive and ranked internationally.
  • State Universities: Professional and professional-oriented.
  • Private Institutions: Special programs.

The primary intake is the Fall intake (September).

Best Degree Courses in Canada as an Indian Student

Canada enjoys great STEM, business, healthcare, and applied sciences.

Popular Programs:

  1. Computer Science & IT

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Software Development.

  1. Engineering

Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Environmental

  1. Business & Management

MBA, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Business Analytics.

  1. Healthcare & Life Sciences

Nursing, Public Health, Biotechnology.

  1. Data Science & Analytics

Big Data, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing.

  1. Media, Design & Arts

Animation, Game Design, UX/UI

Admission Criteria for Indian Students

For Bachelor’s:

  • Class 12 completion
  • IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
  • SAT not mandatory
  • SOP + academic profile

For Master’s:

  • Accepted undergraduate degree.
  • IELTS 6.5–7.0 / TOEFL
  • GRE not compulsory in most universities.
  • SOP + Resume + LORs

Common Documents:

Apply 6–8 months before intake.

Indian Student Study Permit (Student Visa) in Canada

Indian students are required to obtain a Canadian Study Permit.

Documents Required:

  • Letter of Acceptance (LOA) of a DLI.
  • Valid passport
  • Evidence of finance (minimum CAD 20,635/year)
  • Tuition fee payment proof
  • SOP
  • Medical exam (if required)
  • Biometrics

Visa processing time: 48 weeks (depending on intake)

Cost of Studying in Canada

Average Tuition Fees:

Feature

Details

Capital

Ottawa

Top Cities to Study

Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary

Popular Fields

Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Healthcare

Tuition Fees

₹12–30 lakh/year

Living Cost

₹70,000–1,20,000/month

Intakes

Fall, Winter, Spring

Scholarships

Govt. & University-funded

Most PhD programs are fully funded and stipended.

Living Cost for Indian Students in Canada

Expense

Monthly Cost (CAD)

Approx INR

Rent

600–1,200

₹36,000–72,000

Food

250–400

₹15,000–24,000

Transport

80–150

₹5,000–9,000

Utilities

100–150

₹6,000–9,000

Personal

150–250

₹9,000–15,000

The cost of living is different in cities; Toronto and Vancouver are higher.

Canadian Best Universities to Study as an Indian Student

QS Rank 2026

University

Avg Fees (CAD)

Best Programs

27

McGill University

35,000–50,000

Medicine, Research

29

University of Toronto

45,000–60,000

Engineering, CS

40

University of British Columbia

40,000–55,000

Science, Business

94

University of Alberta

28,000–38,000

Engineering

119

University of Waterloo

45,000–55,000

CS, Co-op

151

Western University

30,000–40,000

Business, Arts

Degrees are International and highly marketable.

Indian Student Scholarships in Canada

Government & Outside Scholarships:

  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
  • Canada-ASEAN Scholarships
  • Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Scholarships.

University Scholarships:

  • Entrance scholarships
  • Merit-based tuition waivers
  • Research and teaching assistantships.

Benefits Include:

  • Tuition reduction
  • Monthly stipend
  • Research funding

Apply 8–12 months early.

Study Intakes in Canada

Intake

Months

Notes

Fall

Sep

Main intake

Winter

Jan

Second intake

Spring

May

Limited programs

Work and Post-Study Opportunities

  • Part-time employment: 20 hrs/week at the time of study.
  • Full-time employment on designated breaks.
  • PGWP: Within 3 years of graduation.
  • Excellent PR routes: Express Entry, PNP

There are great Canadian post-study employment and immigration chances.

Accommodation of Students in Canada

The accommodation of students in Canada is secure, modern, and well-furnished. The possibilities are on-campus housing, off-campus shared apartments, homestays, and individual student residences.

Types of accommodation are:

  • Ensuite rooms
  • Non-ensuite private rooms
  • Shared rooms
  • Studio apartments
  • Shared flats and townhouses

They are usually equipped with Wi-Fi, furnished rooms, a kitchen, laundry, study, gyms, and common areas. Numerous housing facilities are near campuses and transportation. The accommodation can be booked online in advance, and even professional services are available that can help in booking even in India.

Canadian Student Experience

Canada is a country in which many Indian students aspire to study because of the good living standards, hospitable culture, and business opportunities. Canada is a multicultural country in which Indian students can readily encounter cultural understanding, Indian settlements, temples, restaurants, and celebrations. In fact, the Punjabi language of India has become the third or fourth most spoken language in Canada.

Cities such as Brampton, Surrey, Mississauga, Scarborough, and Vancouver are well-represented by Indians, which makes students feel at home. Travel in Canada is also an excellent opportunity, with Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains, and other places that the students can visit during the course of study. Thus, study abroad in Canada is proven to be a great experience in itself.

Some More Facts About Canada

Canada is the second-largest country in the world in terms of land area and spans an area of almost 10 million square kilometers. It goes eastward along the Atlantic Ocean up to the Pacific Ocean and northwards along the Arctic Ocean. Due to its large territory, Canada is extremely diverse, with mountains, forests, prairies, deserts, and more lakes than any other country in the world. Actually, the proportion of the natural lakes in the world is estimated to be approximately 60 percent in Canada.

Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The Prime Minister is the head of government, and the King of Canada is the head of state. The capital city of the country is Ottawa, which is in the Province of Ontario. There are ten provinces and three territories in Canada with their own local government and cultural identity.

It is an officially bilingual country that accepts English and French as the official languages. French is the dominant language spoken in the Quebec province, with English being the dominant language used in other parts of the nation. Canada is also multicultural, and persons of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds coexist. Many Indian languages are also spoken here, and as already stated, Punjabi has become the third or fourth most spoken language in the nation. Festivals, food, and traditions are used to celebrate this diversity throughout the country.

Canada is a country highly known in terms of true beauty and wildlife. Moose, beavers, bears, and wolves are animals that are usually linked to the country. The beaver is a national icon and is depicted on the Canadian nickel. The other popular symbol is the maple leaf that is prominent on the national flag.

Canada is a developed nation with high living standards economically. It is rich in natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, timber, and minerals. Canada is another country with an education-focus, healthcare, and social welfare, with citizens receiving publicly funded healthcare. Generally, Canada is generally known as a stable, beautiful, and hospitable nation. It is also famous for its beauty of nature.

Final Note

Indian students will find the ideal mix of top education in the world, affordability, career, and immigration opportunities in Canada, thus making it one of the best study-abroad destinations worldwide.

Cost of Living in Canada

Manage your living costs in Canada effortlessly! Plan your budget from accommodation to daily expenses with an average of  CAD 10,000–15,000 per year. 
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Frequently Asked Questions

Canada boasts education of global recognition, affordability, safety, and PR opportunities.

Canada is less expensive than the UK and the USA, with a high ROI.

It is between 12 lakh and 45 lakh/annum. The fees depend on the program.

You need to spend around CAD 1,200–2,000 per month (₹70,000–1.2 lakh).

Study permit fee: CAD 150 + biometrics CAD 85.

Yes, they can work as many as 20 hours/week and full-time during breaks.

Graduates who are eligible are given a 3-year PGWP.

The most popular courses in Canada are Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Healthcare, and Data Science.

Yes, Canada is one of the safest nations in the world.