How to Study in Canada for Free (3 Steps)
Canada has been a popular destination for a college education due to many reasons. Its universities are world-class, with five of those getting listed as one of the top 100 schools worldwide. Numerous job opportunities also provide a promising future for international students looking to stay in Canada.

Canadians also boast of their excellent quality of life, with a relatively lower cost of living, guaranteed safety to its citizens, and high regard for individual rights. Staying in Canada also means taking advantage of its hot tourist spots and scenic places such as Niagara Falls in Ontario, the Rockies and Lake Louise in Alberta, and the Whistler Mountain in British Columbia.

While Canada promises an exciting and lively college life for international students, it is also important to consider that this opportunity may not always come for free. Many aspiring international students find financial reasons as a deterrent to their education abroad.

But with an outstanding academic performance achieved through hard work and constant diligence, you will have a better chance of preparing and submitting your college application early. You may apply for as many Canadian universities as you can and study in Canada for free through scholarships and awards in Canada

Aside from scholarships and awards, Canada also has affordable universities you can apply to for practical reasons. While the tuition costs are cheaper compared to other universities in the country, you can still be assured that education is top-tier in these universities. With these options, studying in Canada for free is not too far from reality, regardless of your college level. Plus, you will be able to experience many great things Canada has to offer.
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Are there Free Education in Canada for International Students?

The short answer is no. Simply put, there are no tuition-free universities in Canada for international students as stated before. There are no tuition-free universities even for Canadian students.

However, you can study without paying the tuition fee by getting a full-tuition scholarship or even fully-funded scholarships. We will go deeper into this later on.

You should know that there are very, very affordable universities in Canada even for international students. Although they are not tuition-free universities, they are close. Check out Affordable Universities in Canada for International Students if you want more info!

1. Study Hard and Put Together Your Application Early


A good application shows your academic proficiencies and achievements. While it is highly recommended to prepare your application early, it is equally crucial to know that your preceding education and how much you invest your time and energy in it define a good application.

By studying hard at your current level, you are taking advanced steps towards higher education. Your grades and GPA, test scores, and academic awards, as well as your extracurricular participation, reflect your academic standing. These components will be scrutinized by your target university admission team so it is best to show these impressively.

Preparing your application early can also increase your chances of studying in Canada for free and getting accepted into your preferred university. This way, you will have more time to gather the necessary documents and data to support your admission. Figuratively, you will have more time to prove how much of an asset you can be to your target school, and convince the admission team to unanimously accept you.

Since you will be studying abroad, you should also consider that you have to apply for a Canadian student visa. Knowing how to accomplish these early can help you manage your time and resources wisely.

2. Apply for Scholarships in Canada


Canada is undoubtedly a great place to go for your college education. It also offers vast career opportunities if you wish to stay in the country for good. However, you might encounter some financial struggles while staying abroad and unlike in your home country, reaching out for help from family and relatives may be extra challenging.

Applying and getting accepted for scholarships can bring tremendous help to your finances. Take a look at some of the best scholarships in Canada for International Students. At most, it can take you to Canada, and you can study in Canada for free. Various universities and private institutions in the country attract international students through scholarship programs. Moreover, the government of Canada supports international studies by offering scholarships and excellence awards to outstanding students.

3. Apply to Affordable Universities


With the help of affordable education in Canada, you can still achieve your academic goals if in case your scholarship applications were not accepted. Undergraduate courses in Canada charge between CAD20,000 to CAD30,000 yearly to cover tuition fees. The costs of studying in Canada may also vary depending on your preferred program, with Medicine and Dentistry as the most costly, while Humanities programs as the cheapest.

You can also search and apply for affordable universities in Canada. Some of the best destinations for practical college education are the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of Regina, and Athabasca University. Studying at these universities in Canada will help you to study in Canada for free. The tuition costs for these schools range from CAD1,700 to CAD20,000 annually.
Study Undergraduate in Canada for Free

Aside from the tuition cost, it is important to note that studying in Canada requires covering other living expenses and accommodation. While some universities offer scholarships for tuition costs, it is better to apply for scholarships that can cover your entire stay in the country, which will allow you to study in Canada for free.

The University of Toronto offers the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships for outstanding international students. The prestigious scholarship awards recipients full coverage on tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence for the duration of their 4-year undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto.

York University also lists several scholarship programs for international students, one of which is the International Entrance Scholarship of Distinction which grants $35,000 yearly renewable for up to 4 years depending on the recipient’s performance.

Lastly, the University of British Columbia, another prestigious school in Canada, lists several merit-based and need-based scholarships and entrance awards for international applicants. The Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award and the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award provides help proportional to the recipient’s current financial need. These scholarships can help you study for an undergraduate degree in Canada for free.

Carleton University also offers several entrance scholarships and awards to international students including the One Riordon Scholarship and One Collins Prestige Scholarship which cover full tuition costs. Meanwhile, all admitted international students accepted in Carleton University whose admission average is at least 80% are already considered for the Entrance Awards for International Students. This scholarship provides up to $4,000 annually renewable for up to four years.

See Also: Best Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
Study Master’s in Canada for Free

Completing a Master’s degree in Canada will unquestionably look great on your curriculum vitae. It will also open more opportunities for your professional career. While it is generally costly to study a Master’s program in Canada, some universities offer scholarships to attract outstanding international students.

The University of Calgary lists several awards and scholarships from different providers on its website. Some of the awards available at the University of Calgary are the Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships program which provides recipients with $26,000 for up to two years, and the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship which values at $11,000.

Meanwhile, McGill University in Quebec also lists some scholarships including the Arbour Foundation Scholarship, granting successful applicants up to $10,000, and the Weston Fellowship which awards $19,000, renewable once, to recipients. These university and federal scholarships provide opportunities for international students to pursue a Master’s degree for free in Canada.

The University of Manitoba offers its Graduate Fellowship program where successful applicants receive $14,000 annually for up to two years depending on their academic performance.

See Also: Best Master’s Scholarships for International Students
Study Ph.D. in Canada for Free


Canada also offers various scholarship and award programs to attract international students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree. The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship or UMGF includes Ph.D. students in their program. Successful applicants receive $18,000 yearly, renewable up to four years. Also, the university offers the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships valued at $50,000 annually for up to three years of doctoral studies.

The University of Calgary also offers the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, along with its Entrance Awards, which provide successful applicants $12,000 to $35,000 scholarship value, and the Izaak Walton Killam Doctoral Scholarship, which values at $36,000 for two years.

Lastly, the University of British Columbia offers the Graduate Global Leadership Fellowship with an annual value of $18,200 plus the tuition costs for four years of study. Through these scholarships, international students can study in Canada for free. Also, international students looking to pursue research education in Canada will have a better chance of completing their degrees, financially worry-free.

See Also: Best Ph.D. Scholarships for International Students

I hope that this article on studying in Canada for free was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Canada Scholarships Page!