Canada does not have one tuition fee. It has ten provincial averages, and the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive province is more than CAD 30,000 a year. For a Pakistani family budgeting a four-year degree, choosing the province is almost as important as choosing the university. This guide uses Statistics Canada's published figures for 2025/26 — the latest complete year — to show what international students actually pay in each province, and what the full four-year cost looks like.
The national picture
Statistics Canada's Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey, published 10 September 2025, reports that international undergraduates paid an average of CAD 41,746 in tuition in 2025/26 — about 5.4 times the CAD 7,734 Canadian students paid. International graduate tuition averaged CAD 24,028. Undergraduate tuition rose 2.5% that year and graduate tuition 1.5%. Statistics Canada reported a further rise of about 4% for 2026/27, so the 2027 figures will be higher still — budget on the 2025/26 numbers plus 4–8% for two years of increases, and confirm the exact fee on the university's own page before you apply.
International undergraduate tuition by province, 2025/26
| Province | International UG (per year) | International PG (per year) | 4-year UG tuition (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | CAD 18,867 | CAD 6,964 | About CAD 75,000 |
| New Brunswick | CAD 19,278 | CAD 17,868 | About CAD 77,000 |
| Prince Edward Island | CAD 21,157 | — | About CAD 85,000 |
| Manitoba | CAD 21,424 | CAD 13,556 | About CAD 86,000 |
| Nova Scotia | CAD 29,893 | — | About CAD 120,000 |
| Saskatchewan | CAD 33,064 | — | About CAD 132,000 |
| Alberta | CAD 34,880 | CAD 16,990 | About CAD 140,000 |
| Quebec | CAD 36,279 | CAD 23,587 | About CAD 145,000 |
| British Columbia | CAD 39,851 | CAD 26,607 | About CAD 159,000 |
| Ontario | CAD 49,802 | CAD 28,624 | About CAD 200,000 |
| Canada (average) | CAD 41,746 | CAD 24,028 | About CAD 167,000 |
These are provincial averages for full-time students in degree programmes — tuition only. Compulsory fees, health insurance, books and living costs are not included, and individual programmes vary widely: engineering and business cost more than arts almost everywhere, and medicine costs far more.
Why Ontario costs so much more
Ontario has held the most expensive position for a decade. Its average international undergraduate tuition of CAD 49,802 is almost 25% higher than the next most expensive province, British Columbia, and more than double Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba. Ontario also hosts 48% of all study permit holders — Toronto and Ottawa are where most Pakistani students want to be — so demand keeps prices high. A four-year undergraduate degree in Ontario costs about CAD 200,000 in tuition alone at the average rate; the same degree in Newfoundland and Labrador costs about CAD 75,000.
The affordable provinces in practice
- Newfoundland and Labrador — Memorial University of Newfoundland is the cheapest major option in Canada, with international undergraduate tuition well below the national average and the lowest graduate tuition in the country (CAD 6,964). St John's is small and cold, but the savings are real: roughly CAD 125,000 less than Ontario over four years.
- New Brunswick — the University of New Brunswick and Mount Allison offer small classes and Atlantic Canada's lower living costs, with the Atlantic Immigration Program giving graduates a faster route to permanent residence.
- Manitoba — the University of Manitoba charges about CAD 21,424 a year on average, and Winnipeg's rents are among the lowest of any major Canadian city.
- Prince Edward Island — the University of Prince Edward Island is small, affordable and welcoming, though programme choice is narrower than at a large university.
What tuition does not include
Budget for the extras, which add CAD 5,000–10,000 a year:
- Study permit: CAD 150, plus biometrics CAD 85.
- Proof of funds: you must show CAD 23,448 for a single applicant (from 1 September 2026) plus your first year's tuition — this is money you must have, not money you spend on fees.
- Health insurance: compulsory in most provinces; Ontario's UHIP and British Columbia's MSP add roughly CAD 600–1,000 a year.
- Books, transport and living: rent varies from about CAD 600 a month in a small Atlantic city to CAD 1,500+ in Toronto or Vancouver.
- Work while studying: international students may work up to 24 hours a week during term time. That covers part of the living costs, never the tuition.
How to use these numbers
- Shortlist by total cost, not sticker price. A university in Ontario at CAD 50,000 a year plus Toronto rent is a different decision from the same programme in Manitoba at CAD 21,000.
- Check the programme, not the province. Engineering at Memorial can cost more than arts at Toronto. The provincial average is a starting point; the programme page is the real number.
- Ask about entrance scholarships. Many universities in the affordable provinces offer automatic entrance awards of CAD 2,000–10,000 a year based on your Intermediate grades.
- Remember the immigration angle. Graduates of designated learning institutions can work for up to three years on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and several provinces nominate their own graduates for permanent residence — the Atlantic provinces and Manitoba are the most generous.
FAQ
What is the cheapest province to study in Canada? Newfoundland and Labrador, at an average of CAD 18,867 a year for international undergraduates in 2025/26, followed by New Brunswick at CAD 19,278 and Prince Edward Island at CAD 21,157.
How much does a four-year degree cost in Canada? At the national average, about CAD 167,000 in tuition alone. In Ontario it is about CAD 200,000; in Newfoundland and Labrador about CAD 75,000. Living costs add roughly CAD 15,000–25,000 a year on top.
Are the 2025/26 figures still valid for 2027? They are the latest complete figures published by Statistics Canada. The 2026/27 release shows a further rise of about 4%, so add roughly 4–8% when budgeting for 2027 entry — and always confirm the programme's exact fee on the university's website.
Do international students pay the same in every programme? No. Engineering, business, computer science and health programmes cost substantially more than arts and humanities in the same province. Medicine and dentistry are in a different league entirely.
Figures checked 2026-11-06: Statistics Canada, The Daily, "Tuition in Canada: Modest increases and widening gaps, 2025/2026" (released 10 September 2025) — international undergraduate average CAD 41,746, graduate CAD 24,028, provincial figures as tabulated; 2026/27 rise of about 4% reported from the September 2026 release. Study permit fee CAD 150, biometrics CAD 85, proof of funds CAD 23,448 (from 1 September 2026) and 24-hour work limit per IRCC. Programme-level fees are not in this table — confirm them on each university's official fees page.
Related guides on Pakunii
Canada Study Permit Guide 2027 · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · University of Toronto Profile
Sources and verification: Statistics Canada, The Daily (10 September 2025), Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey; IRCC study permit fees and proof-of-funds requirements.