A Guide to Foreigners Students Funding and Loans in Canada - Visa Sponsorship Jobs (2024)

Foreigners Students Funding and Loans in Canada: If you are a foreign student who wants to go to school in Canada, use this guide to learn about the different ways you can pay for it.

Canada is known for having better study options than other popular places to study abroad, like the US and the UK. It also has easier application processes and more chances for permanent residency after you graduate.

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But it still takes a lot of study and planning to pay for your degree in Canada. Here is a list of the prices you’ll need to think about as an international student in Canada, as well as ways to pay for them.

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When do I need to start thinking about funding?

Along with your letter of acceptance to a university in Canada, you will be given an estimate of how much it will cost. You can start thinking about ways to pay for your degree at any time.

This is especially true for Canada, where you have to show that you can support yourself by having at least C$10,000 (£6,129) per year on top of your tuition fees when you first apply for a study pass.

Andy Moonsammy, an international recruitment officer at McMaster University, says that your total cost of living is usually higher than what is needed to apply for a study pass. Make sure you estimate your own costs, taking your own situation into account.

Students are often told to apply for a study pass as soon as they get an offer from a Canadian university, so it’s best to have a plan for how you’ll pay for school well in advance.

What costs do you need to consider, and how can you keep them down?

Differences in tuition fees

International students in Canada pay a wide range of tuition fees. Depending on what you want to study and where you go to school, they can cost anywhere from C$2,000 to C$63,000 per year. International students pay an average of C$6,800 per year, which is a lot less than what it costs to go to college in the US, Australia, or the UK.

When looking into tuition fees for courses that last longer than a year, you should also check to see if your tuition fee is set or if it goes up every year because of inflation.

Differences between provinces

There are some changes between Canada’s provinces that international students should think about. Health insurance is a big difference. Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick all have healthcare plans that cover everything. Ontario, on the other hand, doesn’t have a government plan, and insurance often costs between C$600 and C$900.

Check with your school because some Canadian colleges and universities include health insurance plans in their tuition fees. Through the University Health Insurance Plan, for example, a lot of schools in Ontario will pay for your health insurance.

The cost of living is another thing to think about. The cost of living in Canada’s towns, especially the bigger ones like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, is usually much higher than in the country.

Unforeseen costs

In addition to tuition, living expenses, and health insurance, there are often other costs that foreign students don’t think about. One is going back and forth between Canada and your home country. Some places give passes for local public transportation, but the prices vary from place to place.

You should also find out if you need any specialized course books, how much they cost, and if you can save money by buying them used or with a student discount. You will also need to think about how much it will cost to go out with friends.

Read More: Get Student Loans Forgiven Due to Permanent Disability

What are the funding options?

Student loans

Federal and provincial student loans from the government of Canada are usually only available to Canadian students. International students can get a loan from a private bank or another third party. When you get a bank loan, you usually have to put up collateral or have a family member co-sign, and you have to show a lot of proof about your finances and ability to pay.

Third-party student loan companies won’t ask for a co-signer, but you’ll still need a realistic plan for paying back the loan. Before you sign anything, think carefully about how you’ll handle the loan.

University scholarships and bursaries

Many universities in Canada give scholarships to international students. If you have questions, you should visit the websites of the universities that interest you and get in touch.

Some universities give full scholarships to international students, like the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship at the University of Toronto, which pays for all of your tuition, books, housing, and other costs for the whole course. Full scholarships are usually based on merit and are very competitive, so you shouldn’t count on them as your only source of income.

Some colleges have scholarships called “hybrid awards,” which are given to students who have both good grades and a low income. These types of awards include the International Global Citizen Scholarships from Trent University and the International Scholars Program from the University of British Columbia.

Far more often, students get smaller grants and bursaries to help pay for some (but not all) of their college costs. Many of these won’t be well-publicized online or won’t let you apply until after you’ve graduated, so talk to your university and subject department personally to find out more. You might not be able to pay for your whole degree this way, but you might be able to get a few hundred dollars for tools or travel for an educational trip.

Also, Canadian colleges usually have some kind of emergency bursary program for current and returning students who run into financial problems while they are in school. Students who are eligible can apply at any time during their studies and must show that they need the money. These are for emergencies, so you can’t count on them as your main way to pay for school.

Students can look into government scholarships, private scholarships, and grants that are only available in one country.

You can apply for country-based scholarships on your own, but many are applied for by the institution itself. It’s best to contact your chosen university directly to find out if it’s part of any country-based scholarship programs. Canada is a good place to find out more about chances in the country.

Part-time work

Many Canadian students earn extra money by working part-time. Under the rules for Canadian study permits foreign students can often work while they are in school, up to 20 hours a week during the school year and full-time during breaks and holidays. In order to pay for school, many students work in restaurants, stores, or as tutors.

Angelique Saweczko, the university registrar at the University of Toronto, says that there are many ways for students to work on campus, like doing a study or helping out at events or conferences. To work on campus, students need to have things like a legal study permit and a social insurance number (SIN).

Co-op degrees

You could also lower the cost of learning in Canada by getting a co-op or blended degree, like the work-study program at McGill University. Along with your studies, these programs give you paid work experience in a relevant area, so you can make money while you’re in school.

Many students have gotten full-time job offers from the companies they worked for after they finished their course. This is a great chance to network, especially if you plan to stay in Canada after your course.

Research funding

At the master’s and Ph.D. levels, you might be able to ask a university’s subject department or one of its partners to pay for your study. Visit the website of the subject department at your chosen university to find out what grants and bursaries are offered in your field.

Damilola Adeleke, an immigration consultant, and administrator at ApplyBoard, says that if you want research funding, you should talk to teachers in the department you’re applying to. By talking to experts directly, you could learn a lot about the kinds of projects the department wants to fund, which could help you write your application.

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