Overview
GamScholars presents the Top 7 Reasons for International Students to Study in Canada. Of course, there are hundreds of reasons, but we selected the top seven based on available statistics and input from your fellow foreign students in Canada. Canada is one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world. There are several reasons for this, ranging from the excellent standard of living to the numerous professional opportunities and affordable cost of living.
In 2019, Canada was home to 638,300 international students, and this number has been steadily increasing since the mid-2000s. Despite a marginal decrease to 528,200 in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, numbers rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, with 621,600 international students opting to study in Canada.
Canada is highly regarded for its higher education programs for undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees, making it one of the most popular study locations in the world for international students. The following are the top six motivations for overseas students to study in Canada:
1. Affordable education
Cost and affordability are crucial considerations for foreign students choosing a study destination. Compared to popular alternatives like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, Canada offers more economical study programs. This makes Canada an attractive option for those seeking quality education without exorbitant expenses.
In Canada, the average tuition for an undergraduate program is $33,623 CAD and $20,120 CAD for a graduate program per year. In the United States, the average tuition is $37,200 CAD for an undergraduate program and $40,300 CAD for a graduate program per year.
Scholarship opportunities are also available for international students to help offset the cost of education abroad. International students from Canada can apply for scholarships at the University of Canada West. Check out our website for a complete list of scholarships, grants, and bursaries available.
3. Lower cost of living
In addition to tuition, overseas students must consider the cost of living, lodging, and other expenditures such as food, transportation, utilities, entertainment, and so on. In their first year, Canadian foreign students may anticipate spending between $19,000 and $28,000 on living expenses. While this may appear to be a steep price to pay, the cost of living in Canada is still lower than in other comparable nations. The cost of living plus rent indexes for Canada, the United States, and Australia in 2022 were 54.74, 58.95, and 54.86, respectively.
2. High-quality education
Canada is known across the world for its high academic standards and high-quality education. In Canada, post-secondary education frequently combines hands-on and theory-based learning to provide students with the skills they need to flourish after graduation.
As a testament to its high-quality education, nine Canadian universities are part in the top 2,000 academic institutions worldwide, according to US News & World Report’s 2022–2023 Best Global Universities Rankings, which compared institutions across more than 90 countries. And in the QS World University Rankings 2023, 30 Canadian universities ranked based on eight key ranking indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, international students, and employment outcomes.
University Canada West (UCW) received an overall 5 star rating from the QS Stars higher education rating system in 2021. UCW is the third university in Canada and the first in British Columbia to receive a 5 star rating from QS Stars. There are only a total of seven institutions in the United States and Canada that receive a 5 star rating.
4. Flexibility to work while studying
Many overseas students in Canada commonly ask, “How many hours can international students work?”. International students can work up to 20 hours per week while studying. This helps offset the costs of studying abroad while also gaining Canadian job experience. The study permit covers this, and a separate work visa is not necessary.
Until December 31, 2023, eligible international post-secondary students in Canada can now work off-campus without the usual cap on hours, thanks to a temporary measure by the government. This change provides international students with an enhanced opportunity to accumulate valuable work experience while holding their student visas.
5. Career opportunities in Canada after graduation
After graduation, overseas students will find plenty of job prospects in Canada. Students who complete a qualifying post-secondary program at an authorized Designated Learning Institution (DLI) may be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The permit allows them to work in Canada part-time or full-time in any area or even establish their own business.
6. High quality of life and safety
Canada regularly ranks highly in numerous international rankings. This include the first position in US News and World Report’s 2021 Best Countries list.
Canada is one of the world’s safest countries. Canada ranks 12th out of 163 nations in the 2022 Global Peace Index (PDF), with a score of 1.39 out of 5. The score assesses a country’s peacefulness using 23 quantitative and qualitative characteristics. The lower the score, the calmer the country.
7. Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are numerous scholarships and financial aid offered by the Canadian government and Canadian institutions. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS), named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the first francophone Governor General of Canada, help Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students.
There are numerous institutional scholarships, which you can access here.
More scholarships:
University of British Columbia Scholarships 2024-2025
University of Canada West Scholarship 2024-2025