Canada is home to more than 640,000 international students. This volume is not surprising, given that the country is famous for its world-class universities, high quality of life, and commendable safety.
Just like the many foreign enrollees, you too can complete your studies in Canada – without spending a lot of money. As long as you go to any of these affordable universities in Canada, you can receive quality Canadian education for cheap.
What are the requirements of studying in Canada?
The basic requirement to take a Bachelor’s or Bachelor’s Honors degree is a high school diploma. Likewise, Master’s degree applicants need a Bachelor’s degree to be admitted.
A transcript of records is also required, apart from other documents such as work experience and GRE/GMAT results (for Master’s applicants)
Depending on the university, proficiency in English or French is also needed.
List of Affordable Universities and Colleges in Canada
Studying in Canada and getting a work permit and then Permanent Residence (PR) is easier compared to all other countries. However, cheap tuition and affordability are also important considerations when students select a particular university.
- Simon Fraser University It is a public research university located in British Columbia. It is the cheapest university in Canada for masters. It is the only Canadian research University with US accreditation and accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
- Application fee – $125
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each band
- TOEFL – 93 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
- PTE – 65 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
- Tuition fee – $5,300 / year.
- University of Saskatchewan It is a public research university located in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is considered as one of the cheap universities in Canada with affordable tuition fee and more number of scholarships for international students.
- Application fee – $90
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 86 with a minimum score of 19 in each band
- Tuition fee – $6,536.46 / year.
- University of Prince Edward Island It is the public and only university in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is ranked as number one research university and one of the cheap universities in Canada which offers scholarships to international and domestic students pursuing their studies in the province.
- Application Fee – $156
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in each band
- TOEFL – 100 (S, W: 25, R, L: 22)
- PTE – 66
- Tuition Fee – $7,176 / year.
- Carleton University According to US news & world report best global university ranking, this university is ranked in 19th position in Canada which is located in Ottawa. This is the best and one of the cheap universities in Canada. This is the leading universities in Canada which offer more programs in Social sciences, physical sciences, Computer sciences, mathematics, and statistics etc.
- Application Fee – $100
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 86 (L, R: 20, W, S: 22)
- PTE – 60 with 60 in each band
- Tuition Fee – $7,397 / year.
- Dalhousie University Dalhousie University commonly known as Dal is a public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada. According to QS World University Rankings, it is ranked in 279th position due to its world class teachings and infrastructure. It is considered as one of the cheap universities in Canada though it provides world-class teachings and infrastructure.
- Application fee – $115
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 7 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 92 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
- PTE – 65 with a minimum score of 54 in each band
- Tuition fee – $9,192 / year.
- Memorial University of Newfoundland Also known as Memorial University or MUN is famous for research, teaching and training, research, schooling programs. This university has campuses in some parts of Canada. It is sole university in Newfoundland and Labrador and also one of the cheap universities in Canada to be considered.
- Application fee – $120
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 (L, R: 6.0, W, S: 6.5)
- TOEFL – 90 (L, R: 20, W, S: 25)
- PTE – 65 with a minimum score of 54 in each band
- Tuition fee – $9,666 / year.
- University of Alberta It is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is ranked as one of the top 5 universities including one of the cheap universities in Canada. This university is known for the top Faculty in Arts and Humanities and the top-ranked subject for English Language and Literature.
- Application Fee – $125
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- PTE – 59
- Tuition Fee – $10,260 / year.
- University of Manitoba It is a public research university in Manitoba known for top research-intensive programs post-secondary education. It is considered as one of the cheap universities in Canada along with one of the top 25 Universities in Canada.
- Application fee – $110.
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 86 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
- PTE – 52
- Tuition fee – $10,519.76 / year.
- University of Northern British Columbia It is a small university famous for research-intensive courses located in Prince George, British Columbia. This campus is known for its innovative architecture which helps to create warm climate in the university by heating of renewable wood pellets etc.
- Application Fee – $153
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 90 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
- Tuition Fee – $12,546 / year.
- University of Regina It is a public university located in Regina, Saskatchewan. It is considered as one of the cheap universities in Canada popularly known for experiential learning and offers internships, professional placements and practicums in addition to cooperative education placements with low tuition fee.
- Application Fee – $100
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 80 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
- PTE – 59
- Tuition Fee – $13,034 / year.
- Queen’s University at Kingston Queen’s University at Kingston popularly known as Queen’s University is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. This University has secured several rankings for providing employment opportunities for many students after their education from the University.
- Application Fee – $105
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- PTE – 60
- TOEFL – 88
- Tuition Fee – $14,747.92 / year.
- University of Winnipeg It is a public university located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This university is popular for graduate and undergraduate programs in the fields of art, business, economics, education, science and kinesiology and applied health and listed as one of the cheap universities in Canada for the above-mentioned programs.
- Application Fee – $120
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 80 with a minimum score of 19 in each band
- PTE – 58
- Tuition Fee – $14,960.40 / year.
- Canadian Mennonite University It is a Christian university popular in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is labeled as a leading university for undergraduate programs with affordable tuition fee though it also provides graduate programs.
- Application Fee – $150
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 80
- PTE – 59
- Tuition Fee – $15,000 / year.
- University of Ottawa It is the bilingual public research university located in Ottawa, Ontario. It offers a wide range of academic programs controlled by ten faculties. U of Ottawa is member of U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada.
- Application Fee – $100
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.5 in writing
- TOEFL – 60 with a minimum score of 60 in writing
- PTE – 86 with 22 in writing section
- Tuition Fee – $15,500 / year.
- Brandon University If you are looking for the cheap universities in Canada for UG programs, then Brandon University which is located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba is preferable. This University also offers graduate programs also with affordable tuition fee.
- Application Fee – $100
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 86
- PTE – 60
- Tuition Fee – $16,103 / year.
- McMaster University It is a public research university which is located in the parts of Hamilton, Ontario. It is a member of U15. This university provides graduate and undergraduate programs in the fields of business, engineering, health sciences, humanities, social science, and science.
- Application fee – $110
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each section
- TOEFL – 92 with a minimum score of 20
- PTE – 63 and a score of 70 for the engineering field
- Tuition fee – $17,096 / year.
- Cape Breton University Cape Breton University formerly known as the University of Cape Breton is also a part of cheap universities in Canada which is located in Nova Scotia, Canada. This university provides a number of UG, certificate, diploma and graduate programs.
- Application Fee – $88
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 80
- Tuition Fee – $17,200 / year.
- Acadia University This university is predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. It also offers master level programs with affordable tuition fee.
- Application Fee – $50
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 90
- PTE – 61 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
- Tuition Fee – $17,532 / year.
- Dominican University College It is a bilingual and one of the cheap universities in Canada offering programs on philosophy and theology in masters and doctoral levels. It provides programs for bachelor also in the field of civil.
- Application Fee – $120
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 80
- PTE – 53
- Tuition Fee – $17,850 / year.
- Concordia University Concordia University is a public comprehensive university located in Montreal, Quebec. Concordia was ranked 7th among Canadian and 229th among world universities in the International Professional Classification of Higher Education Institutions.
- Application Fee – $100
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 7.0
- TOEFL – 90
- PTE – 61 with a minimum score of 59 in each band
- Tuition Fee – $ 18,917.55 / year.
- Saint Paul University Saint Paul is trusted by many international and domestic students over a century and a half. It is a bilingual university federated with the University of Ottawa since 1965 located in Ottawa, Ontario. It is also one of the cheap universities in Canada which offers graduate programs in Counseling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality, Conflict studies, Transformative Leadership and Spirituality, theology.
- Application Fee – $100
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in writing
- TOEFL – 92 to 93
- PTE – 62 to 63
- Tuition Fee – $19,000 / year.
- Athabasca University This University is one of the cheap universities in Canada famous for providing online education throughout the world. It also provides UG, masters and certificate programs for international students within the campus in the fields of nursing, counseling.
- Application Fee – $150
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6
- TOEFL – 80
- Tuition Fee – $19,630 / year.
- University of Guelph U of Guelph is a public research Canadian university located in Guelph, Ontario. Intensive research programs on life science, veterinary medicine, and hospitality and tourism management stand out this university on one of the top positions.
- Application Fee – $110 or $150 for MBA and MA.
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 89 with a minimum score of 21 in each band
- PTE – 60 with a minimum score of 60 in each band
- Tuition Fee – $ 20,110 / year.
- University of Toronto It is a rare combination to find a best university in the list of cheap universities in Canada. But U of Toronto is an exception in those cases as it is the one university which has affordable tuition fee and ranked as 28th in world rankings. It is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario.
- Application Fee – $180
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL– 100 with a minimum score of 22 in writing section
- Tuition Fee – $24,900 / year.
- McGill University It is also one of the best and cheap universities in Canada. It holds the rank of 33 in the world rankings. Many students enroll in the faculties of Arts, science, medicine, management, and engineering.
- Application fee – $113.27
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 86 with a minimum score of 20 in each band
- Tuition fee – $25,224 / year.
- University of Calgary U of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta. It is also a member of U15, a group of intensive research universities in Canada. It is one of the top 50 ranked universities in Canada.
- Application fee – $145
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5 with a minimum score of 6 in each band
- TOEFL – 83
- PTE – 59
- Tuition fee – $25,293.24 / year.
- University of British Columbia It is a public research university located in Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. UBC is globally famous in STEM field which holds 34th rank in Computer science, 27th in Mathematics, and 29th in Medicine.
- Application Fee – $168.25
- English language requirements:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL– 90 (R, L: 22 and W, S: 21)
- PTE – 59
- Tuition Fee – $27,159 / year.









