List Of Tuition Free Colleges In Canada For International Students (+Requirements)

Canada provides world-class study courses with practical implications without any doubt. If studying overseas is something you want to do, then there is no better option than Canada for you.

You can study in Canada in any program and institute. You must apply for a Canadian visa, an admission letter from college, an intent letter, an IRCC-issued letter, and a study permit to start your studies in Canada. There are several governmental and private academic institutes and universities offering affordable education.

Studying in Canada guarantees that you will receive the best quality education. The level of life and educational opportunities are the best in the world. It offers an atmosphere that provides limitless opportunities to interact with varieties of international students. In this way, it gives an ideal balance of educational and recreational lifestyle.

Seems interesting? It is! Let’s have a look at more interesting topics regarding studies of Canada.

Studying In Canada As An International Student

Within the last decade, the number of international students in Canada has grown dramatically. A few years back, about 350,000 students studying in Canada were immigrants from several countries.

Many overseas students choose Canada for better education and a better future. It would help if you got a Canadian study permit to start studying in Canada. This normally entails:

• Getting an admission letter from a Canadian institution
• Applying to IRCC_ Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to own a study permit

Once you get a study permit, you must adhere to specific criteria for the length of your studies in Canada. After getting a study permit, you must have to do the following:

• Studies in Canada require your enrollment in Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Try to complete your study course
• Follow every condition related to the study permit
• If you can fulfill the conditions, you may continue your studies
• After the expiry of your study permit, you have to leave Canada

If you break any of the rules or terms of your study permit, your permit will instantly be revoked. Once you violate the conditions of Canadian Immigration status, then there may lie a detrimental influence on your next application to move to Canada either as visiting or permanently.

It takes two steps to become an International student in Canada:

• To begin, you must be approved for a Designated Learning Institute to start your studies in Canada. Apply to IRCC while showing your approval letter
• If you own a study permit, it is because you have been accepted to a Canadian academic institute

A post-secondary student may change school, course or program, department, and grade under the same study permit issued by the IRCC. You don’t need to own a separate study permit for these changes.

Please inform IRCC after making any changes online in your education department. Following are the requirements that you must follow to study in Canada:

Designated Learning Institution (DLI)

A DLI is an institute where all international students get admission. From DLI, you have to obtain an approval letter that ensures your studies in Canada. Even elementary and secondary school is a DLI school in Canada. 

The provincial government gives permission to all post-secondary schools to admit international students. You must explore and research your desired school on the DLI institute list. Otherwise, your studies in Canada may need to get approval.

Are you planning to live here in Canada after completing your education? Then be sure to select the DLI institute, which allows you to work here based on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

IELTS Test Requirement

Canada’s best colleges need IELTS, so all international students must pass through IELTS test. This test is for the evaluation of the English-speaking ability of those people who are not English people. It is compulsory for a nation where English is an official language.

The IELTS test is split into four sections: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. So if you plan to fly to Canada, save time and start your trip immediately. You may read all the English books and IELTS preparation courses to obtain the required bands.

It is compulsory because IELTS is not required only for Canadian schools, colleges, and university admissions. But it’s mandatory during the VISA procedure, so you must concentrate on properly finishing and reviewing the IELTS course.

The following are the band requirements for IELTS:

• At least 5.5 in every 4 bands are required for a study visa
• If you are an undergraduate or want to do any other study program, then at least a 6 score total is required
• Graduate students need a 6 score in each band and a total score of 6.5
• If you want to take engineering, teaching, and higher studies, you may require a total 7.5 score in each band

Letter Of Intent

A letter of intent is a document that expresses your desire to study in Canada. Furthermore, it explores your intentions to transit to Canada as a student. It is a crucial element of the documents required to apply for a study permit.

After owning a study permit, the immigration officer examines your letter of intent and analyzes it based on your expertise and duties. In this letter, you must persuade the immigration officer that you will fulfill all the requirements and conditions of the study permit and will leave Canada after your study completion.

Canada’s International Student Program

Several international student programs may assist you in studying and ultimately getting a permanent residence permit. A sensible initial step to gain a PR permit is to enter Canada as a student.

Check Out How To Successfully Get Admission in Canada as an International Student

Application Process

To guarantee precision and to allow you to track your application as it proceeds, these programs are split into four stages:

Choosing A Program

Select the appropriate academic course that matches your skills and professional objectives. When determining a program, you must evaluate its duration, pricing, region, and course calendar. 

Apply To The School

Submit an application to the school. Before applying, you must obtain an admission letter from Designated Learning Institute (DLI).

Apply For A Study Permit

You may request a study permit by presenting the admission letter to the immigration officer. Your partner can also apply for an open work permit if you are committed. You can also apply to Quebec institutes if you have an acceptance letter.

Discover Immigration Options

You might be eligible for permanent residency if you finish your Canadian educational qualifications. Canadian immigration policies are constantly changing, so it is hard to forecast which immigration choice suits you the most.

Required Documents

The following papers are required throughout the application procedure:

Step 1: Acceptance Letter

An acceptance or admission letter from any academic institute you want to study in is required. It shows that you have official permission to start your studies in Canada.

Step 2: Proof Of Financial Support

A bank statement or proof is required to prove that you can financially support yourself and your relatives. You must demonstrate that during the first year, you can fund your schooling and living expenses like residence, food, bills, etc. 

Step 3: Identity Documents

Please provide documents that may show your identity, like a passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate, if any.

Canadian Study Permit

The study permit is paperwork that authorizes you to attend a school. You may obtain a study visa only if you have approval from DLI to start your studies in Canada. 

Application Process

You can own a study permit within four steps:

• Check Eligibility

You must check that you satisfy the conditions for a study permit in Canada. Following are the requirements that you must meet:

• A DLI admission letter
• Confirmation of financial assistance
• Supporting paperwork
• Prepare Your Permit Application

Begin preparing your study visa application after checking your eligibility. Prepare all the necessary paperwork for your nation. You must satisfy the conditions of the study permit to ensure your application is accepted. So take review of your application before submitting it.

• Submit

Consider the following two choices for the submission of your application: 

• Electronic Or Online Application: To send an application electronically, you have to create an account on the IRCC website. Scan your documents and submit your application via e-mail
• Paper Application: Collect all the paperwork and mail them to the Visa Application Centre
• Move To Canada

Finishing a survey on the Canadian Port of Entry (POE) is necessary to own a study permit. After getting your permission accepted, you may obtain an introduction letter of Port of Entry. Moe to Canada and show this letter to the visa officer to obtain a study permit. 

Processing Time

The processing timeframes vary substantially. The time required is dictated by your country of residence. The average processing period is 1-2 weeks. You may also have to wait up to 16 weeks. The number of applications received determines the processing time.

You may need more time to apply toward the start of the Canadian academic year. 

Terms & Conditions

A study permit is subject to specific rules and limitations. If you want to get the full advantages of your educational opportunities, you must meet the requirements and conditions of a study permit.

• You are part of a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Full-time or part-time enrollment is necessary for Quebec studies
• Absentees for more than 150 days are not acceptable

Deadline

Every school offers a deadline to apply. So try to submit an application before the deadline. There are several international students’ applications submitted to many schools. Schools grow increasingly discriminating as the deadline comes closer. The most renowned colleges are more demanding, so the sooner you apply, the better. 

Expenses When Studying In Canada

Fortunately, a study in Canada is reasonably priced. The academic fees are often cheaper than that of Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. 

Tuition Fees

The median tuition fee for an overseas undergraduate is about $27,160 and might have been altered in the previous years. While in America, it costs about USD 46,000. 

Housing

The cost of housing is a significant consideration when choosing a country to study. The approximate cost of housing in Canada is $29,950. St dents have several possibilities to live in Canada. 

You must choose your university accommodation or rent an apartment to find the ideal situation. And Vancouver is a bigger city and offers expensive accommodation to students.

Approximately 20,000 overseas students study at Toronto university, and the accommodation cost ranges from $1100 to $3000. The housing cost is inexpensive in Montreal at about $550 per month. 

Montreal universities ranked 6th in the world among the finest universities, and hence Montreal is a renowned study place for students. The cost of housing in Newfoundland is 10-30% cheaper than in other cities. You have to pay $350 for a single bedroom and $710 for a double bedroom.

Food

Let’s investigate the cost of food facilities in Canadian cities:

Toronto: $15-$17

Montreal: $16

Newfoundland: $18

Transportation Costs

In Montreal, you must pay $80 monthly for public transportation. In Saint John’s, $78 is spent on transportation. While in Toronto, transportation costs are expensive, about $122.50 per month.

Health Insurance

All the residents and students are required to obtain health insurance. Some provinces may provide health coverage immediately, while others delay providing Canadian health coverage.

But in each case, you must have private health coverage. The schools also provide special health coverage and policies to overseas students sometimes. The costs of these medical treatments are included in your academic fee.

Canadian University Recommendations

Canada features a variety of post-secondary institutions of various specialties and has many branches. Have a look at the most prestigious colleges or universities in Canada:

University of Toronto (UofT)

Most probably, one of the Canadian universities you are already familiar with is the University of Toronto. It is situated in the most diverse city downtown.

Most international students select the University of Toronto because it has an outstanding academic reputation and active academic support. UofT got about 20,000 international admissions in previous years.

University Of British Columbia (UBC)

University of British Columbia (UBC) is an international university in North America. 16,200 students from 160 different countries make up about 30% of the University of British Columbia student body. 

The institution is part of bustling Vancouver, situated on Canada’s stunning west coastline. UBC is the best choice for you if you want to live in a city with great education opportunities and enjoy nature.

Undoubtedly, Vancouver gives you quick access to the wonderful natural surroundings of the woods, beach, and hills. Outdoor activities are quite crucial, along with studies. So Vancouver would not be a bad option to select as a hometown.

McGill University

McGill has a distinguished place around the world. It makes sense that about 12,000 overseas students are living there. McGill is an English institute, even though it is located in the French-speaking province of Quebec.

One of the top cities for college students to reside in is Montreal. Montreal is known for having thriving, creative, and artistic scenes, and of course, the cost of living here is quite reasonable.

Université de Montreal (UdeM)

Université de Montreal (UdeM) is an excellent choice for students looking to learn French. UdeM and its affiliated institutions serve about 9500 international students each year. It is not an English university. However, only a few subjects are taught here in English.

McMaster University

McMaster lies among the best 100 universities in the world. The institution is about a one-hour ride from Toronto and is situated in Hamilton, Ontario. The IT industry is creating a lot of new jobs in Hamilton. This is especially exciting for individuals who want to work after completing their education or even during their studies!

Changing Schools/Programs On Your Study Permit

Having a study permit is quite beneficial in addition to studying in Canada. You can alter your course, department, or school any time you realize you want to! For this, you must ensure that you act legally and adhere to the restrictions of Canadian study permit. 

The precise procedure you must take to modify your course or institute is listed below:

• Register your account
• Look for the box named ‘DLI student transfer’ and click on the DLI number transfer
• You have to give your study permit number to search for your application
• It’s vital to have this available since you could be asked to provide more information from your initial study permit application
• Enter the specifics of your new course of study, such as:
• New DLI number
• New student ID number
• Starting date of a study permit
• Click on the ‘Transfer’ button
• Review your information once again
• If the data appears in order, click ‘confirm transfer’ to finish the procedure
• You’ll receive a notification of your finished request soon. Your request comes under review by the government then.

Working While Studying

Do you want to do work during your studies? Congratulations! You can; the freedom to work for overseas students is a great benefit of getting an education in Canada. You can avail of reduced costs of housing and education here.

During the academic year, international students may work on their studies for about 20 hours per week_ in a part-time job. You may also get the advantage of full-time work during summer breaks. You can work on or off campus without a work permit while enrolled in classes.

Sometimes, you need a study permit to do an off-campus job. Suppose you select a study program that ensures you provide job and work experience. Then you can easily do work for more than 20 hours/week after getting experience. 

Your admission letter states this permission. You can get work and study permits right after the government accepts your stipulation. This type of work permit allows you to work on campus.

How To Study In Canada For Free?

There are several funding alternatives in the form of scholarships for many overseas students to study. Your options might be determined based on your topic of study as well as your place of origin. Following are the scholarships you can avail of:

• Canada-CARICOM faculty leadership program
• Banting Postdoctoral fellowships
• Canada-CARICOM skills training for the green economy scholarships
• Emerging leaders in the Americas program
• Canada-China scholar’s exchange program
• Study in Canada scholarships
• Vanier Canada graduate scholarships
• Organizations of American states academic scholarship program

List Of Tuition-Free Universities In Canada For International Students

Canada is home to some of the world’s top colleges, renowned for producing remarkable individuals. International students reside in Canada, a desirable destination for those pursuing high-quality education abroad.

Canadian institutes provide top-notch instruction in a variety of academic fields. The greatest amenities you wish for are available at universities and colleges in Canada. Here we have provided a list of tuition-free universities in Canada for international students:

Saint Mary’s University

Canada’s Saint Mary’s University is a public institute. The institution is primarily renowned for having basketball programs for girls in Canada and outstanding chemistry and business departments. 

More than 25% of the students at this excellent university are foreign, representing about 100 or more nations. This means that, as long as you satisfy the requirements set out by the university, this university is enrolling more overseas students.

Several scholarships are available for overseas students, and Saint Mary’s university is among the top tuition-free institutions. Additionally, it provides approximately $7.70 million in scholarships, internships, and grants each year to honour academic success. To avail of the following scholarship, you must stay consistent with being a good and eligible student.

Concordia University

Many international students study here at Concordia University. Out of them, 40,000 are graduates and under-graduates. One of the most prestigious scholarships offered by Concordia university, the Presidential Scholarship is created to assist overseas students with strong academic records.

The presidential scholarships all cover living expenses, books, and fees.

York University

International students can get several scholarships at York University. Only undergraduate students can achieve these scholarships from here, and these scholarships are as follows:

• York university automatic entrance scholarships 
• Global leader of tomorrow award for international students
• Ontario graduate scholarships
• Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

University of Calgary

In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, there is a public institution called the University of Calgary. It is a university where overseas students do not pay tuition. Government, local, outside, and privately financed scholarships are available for graduate and undergraduate international students.

You can get fully or partially funded scholarships and enjoy internships or grants here. VCGS award is a renewable award during the whole duration of your studies until you graduate. 

Cartelon University

One of the best colleges in Canada, Cartelon University offers one of the country’s most expensive scholarships and endowment programs. This institute provides these scholarships to international students without taking any tuition fees from them.

All accepted students are eligible for these criterion-based admission grants offered by Cartelon university to overseas students. 

Other tuition-free universities in Canada are:

• The University of British Columbia
• The University of Waterloo
• The University of Toronto
• The Southern Alberta Institute of technology

FAQs

Conclusion

As you can see that Canada is still catching up in providing the best education and education-related facilities to immigrants. So you should only think a little before applying. The sky should be your only limit if you want to secure your future. 

Canada has always been an excellent option for international students to study in outclass or average universities depending on the situation. Drop your comments if you felt confused or liked any point regarding this guide. Good luck with your future!