Study in Canada: costs, scholarships and study permits for international students
A structured guide to help you understand the real budget required, the actual chances of getting scholarships, the main steps for a study permit, and the study fields that can fit into a realistic long-term strategy.
The information on this page is general in nature, may change over time and does not replace official instructions or personalized legal advice. Wasila Conseil is a facilitation company registered in Mauritania. We are not legal representatives and do not guarantee any results. Final decisions belong to the competent authorities. For guidance tailored to your situation, we recommend having your project reviewed by a qualified professional.
Cost of studying in Canada in 2026 (tuition and living expenses)
The total cost of a study project in Canada depends on the type of program, the institution, the province and your lifestyle. It is better to think in terms of ranges and financial margins rather than a single fixed amount you see online.
Official facts (with dates + sources)
Tuition fees
Statistics Canada publishes each year the average fees for degree programs (universities) and their provincial variations. For 2025/2026, StatCan indicates that average fees for international students remain significantly higher than those for Canadians and vary strongly by province (Ontario generally among the highest; Newfoundland and Labrador among the lowest).
Proof of funds (outside Quebec) – official amount applicable to applications targeting 2026
IRCC sets an official minimum of funds to demonstrate (outside Quebec) to cover living expenses, in addition to tuition fees and travel. The current scale indicates:
- 1 person: $22,895 CAD
- 2 people: $28,502 CAD
- 3 people: $35,040 CAD
- ... (then + amounts per additional person)
Source: IRCC – Financial support
Quebec: distinct financial requirement (CAQ + Quebec rules)
To study in Quebec, you go through a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) and IRCC also specifies Quebec-side documentary constraints (e.g., required wording on the CAQ related to quota/cap).
Key changes vs 2025 (what impacts the 2026 budget)
Increase in proof of funds: IRCC has raised the minimum required (outside Quebec) as part of student program integrity measures.
Study permit cap/quota: quota management influences access (and therefore indirect costs: delays, deferrals, deposits). For 2026, IRCC has published allocations and a target for new study permits (excluding exempted) for cap year 2026.
"Budget 2026" figures (verifiable calculation method)
For a realistic annual budget, build your tables as follows:
- Tuition (according to institution + program)
- $22,895 CAD (or family scale) minimum IRCC for subsistence
- Health insurance (often mandatory via province/institution)
- Housing (if your actual cost exceeds the IRCC minimum, which often happens in large cities)
- IRCC fees (see Budget section)
Warning (2026)
Tuition is decided by institutions and changes each academic year. Use the latest StatCan 2025/2026 publication + the institution's fee schedule, and plan for a margin of increase (without stating it as a guarantee).
IRCC proof of funds may be revised; your guide must display the date of last update of the IRCC page used.
Sources: Statistics Canada, IRCC. Last updated: December 2025.
Scholarships in Canada: reality vs “100% scholarship”
Many international students hear about “100% scholarships” that would pay all tuition and living costs. In practice, such fully funded scholarships exist but they are rare, highly competitive and usually target exceptional academic profiles or very specific programs.
Official facts (sources)
Official scholarship portal (Canada / EduCanada – Global Affairs Canada)
EduCanada centralizes an official directory of scholarships and information for international students (with search engine).
Examples of official programs (exchanges / scholarships managed via partnerships)
Canada-ASEAN (SEED) and other "EduCanada/Global Affairs" scholarships exist (ELAP, Study in Canada Scholarships…), often operated through partner institutions.
Source: EduCanada – Official directory
Changes vs 2025 (what to say honestly)
Many scholarships have annual cycles (application windows) and may evolve in 2026. The "up-to-date" point mainly consists of referring to EduCanada (official source), and specifying that "100%" scholarships are rare and often linked to graduate/research level (and/or institutional/supervisor funding), rather than an automatic right.
"Success rate" statistics
In practice, there is not always a globally published acceptance rate uniformly for all scholarships. The most rigorous formulation in your guide is: "Scholarships are competitive; when official figures (number of awards) exist, they are published case by case by program/institution. Refer to the official directory and program pages."
Warning (2026)
Beware of commercial promises of "100% guaranteed scholarship". Your guide can recommend readers to verify each announcement via EduCanada and/or the institution's official page.
Sources: EduCanada, Global Affairs Canada. Last updated: December 2025.
How to obtain a study permit from abroad (2026 rules)
You apply for a study permit after receiving an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution. The rules for 2026 include important changes related to cap/quota and exemptions.
Official facts (IRCC) applicable to 2026
Cap + PAL/TAL (Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter)
IRCC details the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL): validity by "cap year" and reuse rules. For 2026, IRCC explicitly indicates validity until December 31, 2026 for "cap year 2026". IRCC has published 2026 allocations and a target for new study permits (excluding exempted) for 2026.
Important exemptions starting in 2026
IRCC indicates that as of January 1, 2026, candidates for a master's/PhD in a public DLI leading to a degree may be exempt from PAL/TAL (according to listed conditions).
Quebec (CAQ)
IRCC specifies the logic: the CAQ must contain a specific line confirming the candidate's place in the distribution/their exemption; and also details CAQ reuse rules according to issue date.
Integrity measures: verification of acceptance letters (LOA)
IRCC mentions mandatory verification of acceptance letters (LOA) and other integrity measures (cap, increased required funds).
End of Student Direct Stream (SDS)
IRCC indicates that the Student Direct Stream (SDS) is closed (official end), which changes how some countries "accelerated" applications.
Changes vs 2025 (to explain)
2026 = continuation of cap, but with published 2026 allocations.
New 2026 exemption (master's/PhD public DLI) to highlight as it can change admission strategy.
Processing times (2026)
IRCC provides an official online tool to check processing times (varies by country, period, volume). Your guide should avoid fixing a single figure, and indicate "check the official tool at the time of submission".
Source: IRCC – Check processing times
Warning (2026)
With the cap, document requirements (PAL/TAL/CAQ) and institution compliance, rules may evolve; your guide must include a mention "check the most recent IRCC page before submission".
Sources: IRCC. Last updated: December 2025.
Study visa requirements (funds, documents, language) – 2026 version
Specific requirements depend on your country of residence, your chosen program and your individual situation. That said, certain categories of requirements frequently appear.
Funds (official)
Outside Quebec: official IRCC scale (see section 1).
Quebec: CAQ + Quebec requirements (and verification of validity/specific mention on CAQ within the cap framework).
Documents (official – structure)
At minimum, IRCC anchors the following logic: you must be accepted by a DLI, provide attestations (PAL/TAL or exemptions/CAQ as applicable), and demonstrate that you are a "genuine" and admissible student (including financial capacity).
Language (what is rigorous to write)
IRCC does not impose a universal "single IELTS/TEF threshold" for the permit; it is institutions that set their admission language requirements. Your guide can therefore explain that tests (IELTS, TEF, etc.) are generally required by the school, and recommend citing requirements by institution (screenshot/official URL) in appendices.
Warning (2026)
Refusals and approval rates may vary; IRCC observes an overall decline in approval rates in 2024 linked to integrity/cap measures, which may continue to influence 2026.
Sources: IRCC. Last updated: December 2025.
Most interesting fields (employment, salary, PR) – 2026 reading
Here, the most rigorous approach is to explain the chain: Study program → PGWP eligibility (according to rules) → Canadian experience → PR options (EE/PNP/etc.).
PGWP (key official rules to include in a 2026 guide)
PGWP duration – major change already in effect and relevant for 2026
For master's degrees, IRCC indicates that as of February 15, 2024, a master's graduate can apply for a 3-year PGWP even if the program is less than 2 years, under conditions (program ≥ 8 months / 900h in Quebec + other criteria).
Where to apply
IRCC indicates that as of June 21, 2024, you can no longer apply for a PGWP "at the point of entry" (airport/border).
"Field of study requirement" (very important for 2026)
IRCC explains that depending on the program, there may be a field of study requirement to be eligible for PGWP. IRCC also publishes the CIP list and indicates update dates and that a next update is expected early 2026 (point to monitor).
"Fields" and PR: what you can state with sources
IRCC officially lists targeted selection categories (e.g.: French-language proficiency, healthcare, STEM, trades, agriculture, education, etc.). In a "2026 studies" guide, you can say: "Choosing a field aligned with these categories may improve future compatibility with certain economic pathways, but does not guarantee PR."
Early 2026 news: IRCC announces targeted measures to increase the supply of doctors, with invitations planned early 2026 via a new EE category.
Salaries: official method (without inventing)
For a serious international guide, the best approach is to teach readers how to obtain an official and localized figure: Use the Job Bank – Search wages tool (Government of Canada) to search occupation + city/province, and retrieve low/median/high salary. Explain what "median wage" is (official Job Bank methodology).
Source: Job Bank – Search wages
Warning (2026)
PGWP rules and "fields of study" lists evolve; your guide must display "last update date" and a "to verify before enrollment" box.
Sources: IRCC, Job Bank. Last updated: December 2025.
Budget to plan for (official 2026 fees + item by item)
This section details official government fees and expense items to plan for your 2026 study project in Canada.
Government fees (IRCC) – official amounts to cite
Study permit: $150 CAD
Biometrics: $85 CAD
PGWP: $255 CAD
Proof of funds item (outside Quebec)
IRCC minimum: scale to integrate into a table by family size (see Cost of studies section).
In a neutral guide: recommend a safety margin beyond the IRCC minimum (housing, deposits, unexpected expenses), without giving a single "guaranteed" figure, as actual cost depends heavily on the city.
Sources: IRCC, EduCanada. Last updated: December 2025.
Scholarship & study strategy support service
Scholarship & study strategy support service
A structured support service for international students who want to build a realistic study project in Canada, taking into account budget, potential scholarships and a possible medium-term immigration strategy.
- ✓Profile and study project analysis: background, goals, budget, personal constraints.
- ✓Identification of potential scholarships or relevant funding opportunities based on your profile, without any promise of results.
- ✓Design of a progressive strategy: program choice, realistic timeline, and possible steps for immigration if this is a medium-term objective.
- ✓Clear reminders of the limits: no promise of a visa, no guarantee of a scholarship, and strict respect for official rules.
This support does not replace official information or the decisions made by authorities. Its purpose is to help you structure your project and better understand your options, without any guarantee regarding scholarship or study permit outcomes.