Tuition
Set by the college and the program. Ask for the full-year fee schedule in writing, with every extra line.
Budgeting
What to budget for when you study in Canada
We do not print average costs. They hide big differences between colleges and cities. Here is what to include and what to ask, so your family can build a real number.
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Tuition, living costs and proof of funds are three different numbers.
Proof of funds is set by IRCC and can change, so we do not print a figure. Official source: IRCC study permit page, last checked October 2026. Read it before you finalise your plan.
Open the IRCC page (opens in a new tab)Keep the budgets apart
Write each one in its own column. Mixing them is the most common planning mistake.
Keep the budgets apart
Keep the budgets apart
Write each one in its own column. Mixing them is the most common planning mistake.
Living costs
Set by your city, your housing and your habits. Estimate it yourself from local listings.
Proof of funds
Set by IRCC and can change. It is a document requirement, not a spending plan. Your real budget goes beside it, not inside it.
A cushion
Spare money for exchange-rate moves, transfer fees and costs you did not expect.
What to include in your budget
Work through each tab with your family. Tick off what applies to you.
What to include in your budget
What to include in your budget
Work through each tab with your family. Tick off what applies to you.
These go to the college. The offer letter rarely lists all of them.
- Tuition for each term or year
- A deposit when you accept the offer
- Student fees, lab fees, co-op fees and program extras
- Books and course materials
Ask for the fee schedule
It shows what the offer letter leaves out.
Costs that fall on your family before you land.
- Flights, and baggage for winter clothing
- Government application and biometric fees (check the IRCC page)
- Medical exam, if one is required for you
- Health cover for the early weeks, if the college asks for it
Check official fees on the official page
Fees change, so read the IRCC page on the day you pay.
One-time costs that arrive together, just when you are tired.
- Temporary stay while you look for a room
- Rent deposit
- Winter coat and boots
- Phone plan, transit pass, bedding and kitchen basics
Plan a landing cushion
Set aside money for the first weeks, before any income starts.
The running costs. Use real prices from your city, not averages.
- Rent and utilities
- Groceries and eating out
- Transit or a bike
- Phone, internet and small personal costs
Check the lease
Ask whether utilities and internet are included in the rent.
Start from the college's fee schedule
Ask for it in writingStart from the college's fee schedule
Every college lists its international fees. Look for the full-year amount, not the per-course price, and find the extra lines: lab, co-op, student services and technology.
Then compare two or three colleges side by side. The cheaper tuition is not always the cheaper year once rent and fees are added.
Work out your own city number
Work out your own city number
Work out your own city number
Rent depends on the city and the neighbourhood more than anything else. Rather than trusting a table, look up the real cost for each place on your shortlist.
- A room in a shared house near the campus
- The student transit pass, if the college has one
- A weekly grocery basket from a local store
- A phone plan for a newcomer
- How far the campus is from cheaper areas
- How long the commute takes
Questions to ask each college
Write the answers down for every college. When you compare, use the same questions every time.
Questions to ask each college
Questions to ask each college
Write the answers down for every college. When you compare, use the same questions every time.
| Ask | Why it matters | Write down |
|---|---|---|
| What is the full-year international fee, with every extra listed? | Brochure tuition leaves out lab, co-op and student fees. | The total for the year, line by line. |
| Which fees are paid once, and which every term? | Some costs repeat. A year-one budget can hide year-two costs. | One-time fees and repeating fees, in two lists. |
| How much is the deposit, and is it refundable? | Your family needs to know what is at risk before paying. | The amount and the refund rule, in writing. |
| How do I pay, and how long does a payment take to show? | A payment that has left your account may not yet be paid. | The payment method, its fee and the posting time. |
| Does the program include a co-op term, and what does it cost? | Co-op can carry its own fee. | Whether it is required, and the fee. |
| Does the college have housing, or help with finding it? | Housing is often your biggest monthly cost. | Options, prices and application dates. |
Aid is covered in the scholarships guide. Banking and money transfers are in financial planning.
Budget mistakes to avoid
Budget mistakes to avoid
Mixing the budget with the IRCC requirement
Proof of funds is what IRCC asks you to show. Your real monthly budget is what you will actually spend. Keep them in two columns.
Using headline tuition
Brochures show one number. The college's fee schedule shows extras such as lab, co-op and student fees.
One exchange rate for the whole plan
Currencies move between planning and paying. Leave a cushion in your plan for transfer fees and rate changes.
Counting on a scholarship you have not received
Treat awards as a bonus until you have them in writing. Plan tuition and rent without them.
Build your budget in this order
Six steps. Do them with your family, one college and one city at a time.
Build your budget in this order
Build your budget in this order
Six steps. Do them with your family, one college and one city at a time.
- Step 1
Pick two or three cities
Compare cities as well as colleges.
- Step 2
Get the fee schedule from each college
Ask for the full year, with extras.
- Step 3
Estimate living costs for each city
Use real listings, not averages.
- Step 4
Add one-time costs
Flights, setup, deposits and winter clothing.
- Step 5
Add a cushion
For exchange-rate moves and costs you did not expect.
- Step 6
Check the IRCC requirement last
Make sure your plan covers what IRCC asks you to show.
Cost and money questions
For immigration rules, the IRCC page is the source.
Independent advice
Study Master Canada provides education counselling and, with your approval, prepares and submits your college applications. We do not give immigration advice or prepare immigration applications. Regulated immigration work, including study permit applications, appeals, spouse work permits and PR pathways, is handled only by a licensed RCIC partner, Visa Master Canada, when you retain them directly. We are not affiliated with any government.
Talk to a counsellor before you decide
A free first conversation about programs, costs and next steps. No obligation, and you make every application yourself.
Book free counselling
Mon–Fri, 9:30am–6:30pm ET. Walk-in office: Unit 1805, 83 Kennedy Road South, Brampton, ON L6W 3N7.