Total cost for Canada student visa from India

by Sneha Chawla Best Immigration Consultants

Let’s face it – studying abroad is expensive. Though Canada is one of the most affordable countries for international students, costs like tuition fees, proof of funds, and daily expenses add up.

Living in Canada is getting expensive day by day, especially for students seeking higher education. To combat that, the Canadian immigration authorities revised the Canada study visa requirement 2024. They increased the living costs from CAD 10,000 to CAD 20,635 – in addition to the tuition fees and transportation costs, starting January 1, 2024.

Students from around the world, including India apply for Canada Study Visa every year to pursue high-quality education. Studying at top universities in Canada does not come cheap.

To make your student life easier, we have broken down the cost of a Canada Student Visa from India in this post. Let’s get started!

Total Cost of Studying in Canada

Many factors affect the costs of international student life in Canada. They include:

Tuition Fees

A major chunk of your money goes into tuition fees. This fee varies based on the program and institution you choose. Different universities and colleges offer different ranges of courses and have their fee structure. However, the average tuition fee in Canada ranges from CAD 35,000 (INR 21,35,900).

Undergraduate Courses: CAD 12,000 (INR 7,40,747) to CAD 30,000 (INR 18,51,818) per year
Postgraduate Courses: CAD 18,000 (INR 11,11,091) per year
Institution’s application fee: CAD 50 (INR 3,086) to CAD 200 (INR 12,346) (one-time)

Application Fees

The application fee for applying for a Canada Study Visa from India is CAD 150 (INR 9,259). You also have to pay the biometric fees as a part of the application process, which costs CAD 85 (INR 5,246).

Living Expenses

International students have the option to choose from on or off-campus accommodation. Canadian universities provide accommodation on campus for students. But if you choose to live off campus, you can get rooms with roommates around the campus. Your options will include shared apartments, single apartments, homestays, condominiums, or living with host families.

The housing costs depend on the location and time of the year. For example, if your university is in Toronto, Ontario, it will cost you more than say Calgary, Alberta. On the other hand, on-campus accommodation includes shared apartments. The monthly living costs will also differ depending on the university - Vancouver is more expensive than smaller towns.

The average cost of housing in Canada will be anywhere between CAD 10,000 (INR 6,17,393) and CAD 15,000 (INR 9,26,089).

Health Insurance

If you wish to study in Canada, health insurance is mandatory for international students. Many institutions in Canada provide health coverage options or students can go ahead with private insurance plans.

Similar to the living costs, health insurance will also depend on the location and the insurance company. You can only access these services if you have a valid study visa from India.

If you want to purchase health insurance, you have to keep CAD 600 (INR 37,039) to CAD 1,200 (INR 74,073) per year aside. This cost added to the total cost of studying in Canada. This is to ensure that students are insured before their study program starts.

One thing you must note is that the provincial healthcare system only covers basic and provincial medical services and emergency care.

Financial Proof

Showing funds to prove you have enough money to study in Canada is necessary. The Canadian immigration authorities have updated this amount starting January 1, 2024, to CAD 20,635 (75% of LICO) - in addition to your tuition fees and travel costs. Earlier, this amount was CAD 10,000.

However, with the increasing cost of living for international students, this measure has been taken by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to address the evolving financial landscape and prevent student vulnerability.

Miscellaneous Expenses

IELTS exam - CAD 254 (INR 15,676)
Flight tickets (to Canada) - INR 1,00,000 - 2,00,000
Textbooks, school supplies, and leisure activities - CAD 1,000 (INR 61,717) to CAD 2,000 (INR 1,23,435) per year.

Scholarships in Canada for Indian Students

If you are not able to fund your education in Canada, Canadian scholarships are your way. Many Canadian universities have this option but you must remember that the requirement for these scholarships depends on the city, subject, and level of education you choose.

One thing more, the amount of money granted to colleges varies and the process to get a scholarship may take a long time - depending on the number of applicants there are. Therefore, you must start sending out applications for Canadian scholarships about a year before your study program in Canada begins.

If you wish to apply for a Canada Study Visa, seek advice from the best Canada Visa Consultants in Chandigarh, Nationwide Visas. A team of highly qualified immigration experts will help you understand the cost of tuition fees, accommodation, daily expenses, and other mandatory fees in the Canada Study Visa process. So, why wait? Connect today!