Study Guide to Canada for International Students 2026

Lakhs of international students choose to study in Canada every year. A large portion of these students are Indian. With a strong economy, world-class universities, and abundant job opportunities, Canada is one of the most sought-after study destinations in the world.

Canada is a prime location for higher studies. It offers a developed economy and top ranked universities. Plus, there are great job opportunities for foreign graduates. These are the main reasons students choose Canada for higher studies.

Canada is the second largest country globally. It is currently a leading study destination. Over 427,000 Indian students are enrolled there now. This is the highest number among all international students. Officially, these international students contribute about $15.3 billion annually. This huge sum boosts the Canadian economy.

The country is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. Its capital city is Ottawa. This information proves how attractive Canada is for academics. Make sure you have clear information about study in Canada requirements. Students must meet eligibility requirements to attend Canadian universities. You need to qualify for their specific courses. This comprehensive guide provides helpful information. It is designed for all Indian students planning to study in Canada.

Study Guide to Canada for Indian Students

Canada has been a favourite study destination for Indians. Due to its reputed education system, top-ranking universities, multicultural society, and a robust job market after higher studies, Canada is popular among Indian students who want to study abroad. After selecting the study program, the next step is to apply to a Canadian University for admission. Once you receive an admission letter, you can apply for a study permit for Canada. Let's start with understanding the benefits of studying in Canadian universities first.

Why Study in Canada?

Students need compelling reasons to select a particular country, especially when it comes to deciding between Canada vs India. Here are a few reasons that might convince you to choose Canada as your study-abroad destination:

• Chance to Study in Top Universities: The University of Toronto and McGill are among the top Canadian universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
• Research Focused Education: Not just remembering the lesson, but focus on research and practical learning, enhancing students’ job readiness.
• Immigrant-Friendly Work Permit Policies: The Canadian government have policies which are more favourable for students who want to work in Canada after higher studies. However, you must have required skills for the job.
• Globally Recognized Programs: Courses like MBA, MS, and MD are recognised worldwide. You can get a job easily anywhere in the world.

Education System in Canada

In this section of the article, we will cover the education system in Canada. The school systems in Canada vary depending on the province or territory. Education is available in both English and French in most places, provided there are enough students in that area speaking the second language. High school is typically for grades 9 to 12. In Québec, high school ends in grade 11 and is followed by a program that prepares the student for university or a technical field called CEGEP.

Beyond this, students can either attend vocational schools or enter a university. At a university, they will first earn a Bachelor's degree and can continue studies to receive a Master's or a Doctorate degree. Vocational students will earn certificates and diplomas that will help improve their skills in various trades.

10 Best Universities in Canada

Here, we have mentioned a list of top universities in Canada with their ranking in QS WUR 2026 and THE World University Ranking 2025:

Weather in Canada

The weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, covering five time zones. Here, we have mentioned a table where you can see month wise temperature range of Toronto city:

Language Problems in Canada

Living in a society where you have to use English or occasionally French daily can be challenging at first. Some language problems you may initially encounter when you arrive are:

• Understanding Local Accents: You may not understand the local accent right away. Regional accents vary greatly in Canada. Give yourself time to get used to the local accent.
• Learning Slangs: Canadians use a lot of slang in their speech, and it might take you some time before you understand all of it.
• Humour or Fun: Humour is an integral part of Canadian English. This should be interpreted as a sign of friendliness, not disrespect.
• Abbreviations Knowledge: Canadians use lots of abbreviations in their speech (for example, TA for Teacher's Assistant or Poli Sci for Political Science). If you don't understand something, simply ask its meaning of.

Accommodation in Canada

Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university-managed accommodation or with a private landlord. Choosing university managed accommodation can also give you a catered or self-catered option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with meal costs.

If you have an idea about what you prefer, accommodation office can help you with that. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord, university accommodation office can help you for this.

Wherever you choose to live, you should make sure that you know your contractual rights and responsibilities. Check out some tips to find student accommodation abroad.

How to Apply to Canadian Universities from India?

The conditions vary for different study programs and levels. For each course, whether UG or Master's, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. The fee amount will differ depending on the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.

• English Proficiency Test: Indian students should be proficient enough to communicate in English. Minimum English language requirements for both UG and Master's courses.
• Minimum Required Marks: For Class XII humanities, a minimum of 65% is required, and for Science/Commerce, 70–80% is preferred.
• Age Limit: Students should not be younger than 18 years old at the time of admission in a degree program in Canada.
• Fee to Apply: Application fees vary by college and course, so students should check with individual institutions.

There is a great number of international students who want to go to Canada to pursue master's courses. Students need to know Masters in Canada requirements. Those seeking admission to MS programs in Canada need to know the minimum percentage required for a master's in Canada. There is a huge demand among international students to study STEM or business-related courses in Canada at the master's level. The minimum GPA requirement for pursuing MS in Canada is 3 on a scale of 4. This is roughly coming out to be 70-75% when looking at it in percentage and 7.0-7.4 in CGPA. You can read about converting percentages to GPA here

It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purposes; the actual numbers may differ from university to university.

Documents Required for Admission in Canada

This section of the article mentions the requirements to study in Canada for international students. Documents required while applying to Canadian universities include:

• Attested copies of mark sheets of Standard X, XII, and the Bachelor's degree (if applicable)
• At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently
• If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• Resume
• Photocopied score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL
• Portfolio (in case of Students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs)
• Others (certificates/achievements at the state and national level, and extracurricular activities)
• Proof of funds (Guaranteed Investment Certificate)
• Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)
• Medical Tests

Also Read: Documents are Required for Diploma Courses in Canada

Steps to Apply for Admission 

The common steps to applying for admission are as follows:

• Search for colleges and courses
• Contact schools and visit websites for information
• Narrow down your list of schools
• Take the entrance exams like SAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS
• Write SOPs and ask for LORs
• Apply to the colleges which fit your interests
• Appear for video interviews of the colleges that shortlisted you
• If accepted, apply for a student visa

Also Read: Study in Canada Timeline

Intake in Canada

In this section of the article, we will cover the intakes in Canada. The session starts mainly in September and January, but some institutions have intakes in May, July, and October as well. The Major intake season, for the top courses in Canada, is September, while the minor intake season is January, which is meant for a fairly small number of courses. Students usually ask which intake is best for Canada. Generally speaking, the Fall intake or the September intake provides the maximum number of courses and scholarships.

If you are looking to get admission into vocational courses, then some courses may have admissions open in January and perhaps even May or July. The points given below provide details of the upcoming intakes in Canada:

Also Read: Which Intake Season to Choose: Fall or Spring?

How is the Life of Indian Students in Canada?

Most Indians choose to live in larger urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver, where more than 70% of Indians live. Smaller communities are also growing in Calgary, Edmonton, and Montreal. Indians in Vancouver are from different parts of India. A place called Little India exists in Vancouver and a section of Gerrard Street (Toronto) in Toronto as well. Indians in Vancouver mainly live in the suburb of Surrey, or nearby Abbotsford, and also in other parts of Vancouver.

Indian students are among the largest group of international students who received study permits in 2024. Approximately, more than 4,26,000 Indian students were issued study permits during this period, even more than in China.

Language Exams

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all standardized language tests, which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission into colleges. These follow different formats, structures, and result bands. These tests are all different in various ways, but many colleges ask for any one of the results. So it's up to the student to decide which exam to appear for.

• Repetition of Exams: IELTS can be taken an unlimited number of times. TOEFL can be retaken as many times as desired, but cannot be taken more than once in a 3-day period. The same holds for PTE; it can be taken as many times as one wishes. You must wait to receive your scores before you can book your next test.
• Fee: The standard fee for these exams is INR 18,000 for IELTS, INR 16,900 for TOEFL, and INR 18,000 for PTE.

Time to apply: Ideally, if you are aiming for the September intake, you should appear for these exams by November (of the previous year) so that you can apply before the 1st deadline. The universities you will be applying to, will mention which exam results they will accept. However, if they give you a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you. The time required to prepare for IELTS/TOEFL/PTE would depend on the existing English language proficiency. You may require 2 to 4 months of preparation before the exam date.

General Exams

• GMAT - The Graduate Management Aptitude Test is used to measure the abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business or management. It measures the mathematical, English, and reasoning skills of the student.
• GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is another test required to be taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Increasingly, many business schools are also accepting GRE scores for the purpose of granting admission for an MBA.
• LSAT - The Law School Admission Test is a standardised test and is an integral part of the law school admission process. It provides a measure of reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use in assessing applicants.
• SAT - The Scholastic Assessment Test measures literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college. This test assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems-skills they learned in school that they will need in college. SAT is typically taken by high school students to get into undergraduate courses.

The university you will be applying to will mention which exam results will be applicable to the course of your choice. But if they give you a choice to go for either of these, then the choice depends on you.

Repetition and Fee: You can give GMAT an unlimited number of times, subject to five times a year, and a gap of 16 calendar days between two tests. You can take these tests with a gap of 30 days from the first time. The cost of the GMAT is INR 22,750 (US $275), GRE is INR 22,000 and SAT is INR 8,600 ($104) approximately. Ideally, if you are aiming at the September intake, you should appear for these exams by November (of the previous year) so that you can apply before the 1st deadline. The preparatory duration generally ranges from 4 to 6 months.

Average Scores: The average GMAT score accepted across universities is 540. The average GRE score is 151 for Verbal, 146 for Quantitative, and 3.5 for Writing. The average LSAT score accepted across universities is 162.

It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purposes; the actual scores may differ from university to university.

Also Read: Exams required to pursue vocational courses in Canada

Cost of Living in Canada for International Students

The cost of living in Canada depends heavily on what part of Canada will you be living in along with how much you will socialize. Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in Canada are:

• Accommodation rent ( on campus or off campus )
• Groceries and food
• Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
• Phone bills
• Text and reference books
• Airfare for travelling back to India

Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:

• Dining out
• Travel and Vacation
• Car rental and Car insurance
• Cable TV connection

Living Expenses

On average, a student spends approximately Rs 7.1 Lakh per year. But the expenses also depend on the place where a student stays. If a student stays in a metropolitan city like Toronto or Vancouver the expenses could go up to CAD 15,000 in comparison to a student studying in the suburbs where the expenses would be around CAD 8,000 - 10,000 each year.

Note: The average living expense is based on 51 colleges in Canada (Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Health Insurance

Insurance Policy for international students is mandatory, as students have to stay abroad for a long period of time. Before getting an insurance policy make sure that it covers medical expenses, personal accidents, dental treatment, study interruption, passport loss, etc. Insurance is basically cashless so a student does not need to pay money at the time of hospitalization. All international students are required to have basic health insurance and/ or extended health insurance. Your university will provide you with all the details of the health insurance.

Related Read: Cost of Living Toronto

Cost of Studying in Canada

The tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses, and the city. The average tuition expense in Canada might be Rs 21.91 Lakh per year for an undergraduate course. And if you are thinking of applying to a postgraduate course, the average cost (tuition fees) would be Rs 11.28 lakh per year approximately.

Note: The average 1st-year tuition fees are based on 522 BE/Btech courses in Canada (Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Note: The average 1st-year tuition fees are based on 587 MS courses in Canada (Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Scholarships in Canada

Canada Scholarships for Indian Students: Merit and need-based fee waivers are awarded to international students. Candidates with strong academics, good performance in standardized exams, and extracurricular achievements would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities, one has to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the application is also important because one is judged by the image one projects.

Documents required: The documents usually needed for a scholarship application are as follows:

• Academic records and photocopies
• A recent CV
• A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
• Certificate of language proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores)
• Letters of Reference (LOR)

Education Loans to Study in Canada

Student Loan eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware of whether you are eligible to apply for a loan in Canada or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are:

• You should be an Indian national
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be seeking admission to a professional, technical, or another course of study. Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job-oriented.
• You must have secured admission to foreign University Institutions.
• You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail the loan on your behalf.

Eligibility of course: You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the education loan:

• For Graduation: Job-oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities
• For Post Graduation: MCA in Canada, MBA in Canada, MS in Canada, or even diplomas in Canada
• These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government.

Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offer to give a student loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance of 20%. This is called the margin amount. Generally, a maximum of INR 20 Lakhs can be availed at a nominal interest rate. Students can avail loans for a higher amount as well, however, they need to pay an additional processing fee for availing a loan amount higher than INR 20 Lakhs. Also, if the loan amount is more than INR 7.5 Lakhs, then borrowers need to furnish collateral as security.

If your tuition fee amount is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a processing fee, while others don’t. it may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total education loan amount. So if the bank charges you 1% as a processing fee, that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover.

Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the University reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualifying examination to show your academic record.

All banks have different requirements for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.

Repayment: Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student got employed within one year after completion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.

If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after the commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, an extension of time for completion, of course, may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.

Related Articles

What are the Visa Types in Canada?

• Temporary Visas
• Student Visas
• Super Visas for Parents and Grandparents
• Visitor Visa
• Work Permits
• Business Class Immigration
• Federal Skilled Worker Visa
• Canadian Experience Class Visa
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Provincial Nomination Programs
• Quebec -Selected Skilled Workers Program
• Family-Sponsorship Program
• Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

What are the Requirements for Getting a Student Visa for Canada?

In this section of the article, we will look at the visa for students in Canada. You should apply for a Canada student visa after you get the college acceptance letter. You should begin with the visa process around June if aiming at the September intake. Following are the documents needed to apply for visa for students in Canada:

1. Proof of acceptance: If you plan to attend any school (primary or secondary), college, university, or other educational institution in Canada, the school must complete and send you a letter of acceptance. You must include the original letter with your study permit application.
2. Proof of identity: This includes documents such as a valid passport, etc.
3. Proof of financial support: In order to apply for a visa for students in Canada, you must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who accompany you while you are in Canada.

Note: Additional documentation may be required.

In the case of Quebec, the following table provides the minimum funds required at the time of study in Canada:

During the personal interview, additional documents may be requested by the interviewer. These may be documents to prove evidence of academic or financial status. These may include:

• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended
• Scores from tests, such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, or GMAT
• Your intent to depart from Canada upon completion of the course of study
• How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs

How to Get a Canada Student Visa

There are several steps to applying for a Canada student visa.

Check the processing times: Canada student visa processing time is 7 weeks. Moreover, Canada student visa processing depends on multiple factors such as the type of visa application, completion of the application, time taken by the immigration authorities, ease of verifying your details, time taken by a student to respond to the queries of the immigration authorities, and various other factors.

Determine how you will apply: There are two ways to apply for a visa for students in Canada:

• Apply online: To apply online you must have access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents for uploading and have a valid credit card for payment. From 31st December 2021, students from Asia, Asia Pacific and the Americas will be required to provide a finger scan at the regional Visa Application Centre (VAC).
• Apply in person: Download the application kit and read the instruction guide. The instruction guide contains important information about study permits and instructions to help you complete your application. Read the guide carefully and use the document checklist.

Pay the processing fee: Refer to the fee schedule for the cost to apply for a study permit and how to pay. The processing fee is non-refundable in all cases. For biometrics, there will be more than 130 VACs in over 90 countries and all VACs will be equipped to collect biometric information (fingerprints and photographs). Indian students need to contact the local VFS office to apply for a visa. The cost of a study permit (including extensions) is CAD 150, and if you wish to restore your student status, you need to pay CAD 350 (CAD 200 for the restoration of your status and CAD 150 for a new study permit).

If your spouse/common-law partner and/or children are accompanying you and you are applying for temporary resident visas, work permits or study permits for them, then you will need to pay the appropriate processing fees for them.

Submit your application and supporting documents - Since you need to give your biometrics, you can’t mail in your application. You will either have to apply online or submit your application in person at a VFS office. In either case, you will need to go to a VAC to give your biometrics.

Medical Exam

The visa application process to Canada requires a compulsory medical test for Indian applicants. Your own doctor cannot perform the medical exam. You must see a doctor on the list of panel physicians, which is provided on the official Canada immigration website http://www.cic.gc.ca/. Once your medical examination has been completed, the physician will send the results to CIC. You can choose to get the test done either before or after submitting the visa application.

Visa for Spouse

Spouses can accompany full-time students on a Dependent visa. You only need to show that adequate funds are available for their support. Spouses can also work full-time if his/her stay is for a year or more.

Pre-departure List

Get your documents in order and make photocopies to store in your baggage and at home. Below we have given the list of airport essentials for students going to Canada.

• Passport
• Airline tickets
• Travel insurance and health insurance certificates
• Letter of Acceptance by the educational institution
• Key addresses and phone numbers
• A bank statement showing proof of funds
• Accommodation proof in Canada
• Prescriptions for any medication you are carrying
• Traveller’s cheques – if applicable
• Medical and immunization records
• Academic history and university transcripts - make sure to clear all the paper-work with your previous institution

Homesickness

Homesickness is a predictable problem faced by most students at one point or another. It may occur at the beginning or even well into your first year. Homesickness will pass; be patient. If you are feeling sad, talk about it and share your feelings with your friends. Do not hide in your room; if you do, the homesickness will only worsen. Find your counsellor on staff with whom you can talk about homesickness or other problems.

Homesickness might get worse by frequent and long telephone calls home. Most homesick students feel more homesick after a call from home than they did before they picked up the phone. Try to limit yourself to one call home every week. The sooner you integrate into the university experience, the sooner your homesickness will pass.

Your first few weeks in Canada

The first weeks of the first semester are a busy time for every new international (and Canadian) student during which everyone is learning about the campus and classes while making new friends. You should take the time to get to know your University:

• Explore campus to familiarize yourself with where you need to go when registering for your program, attending classes, getting your meals, and visiting new friends.
• Join the International Student Club.
• Find out what learning resources and workshops are available for international students.
• Get your student identification card: it will be your passport around the campus. (if applicable)
• Take advantage of the student services on offer: use the fitness facilities at the recreation centre, find the student bookstore, and browse in the library.

Learn Basic Cooking

Cooking for yourself will save you money. Indian food is expensive in Canada. Making it on your own will satisfy your urge to eat ‘your food’ during moments of 'homesickness'.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP Canada)

You must note that your study permit is valid for the length of your study, plus an extra 90 days. In these 90 days, you have to prepare to leave Canada or apply for an extension of your stay. If you decide to stay back in Canada, you must apply at least 30 days before your current student status expires.

The PGWPP allows post-graduate students who have studied at a participating Canadian university/college to gain Canadian work experience. Work experience gained through the PGWPP will ultimately help students qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Duration - A post-graduation work permit cannot be valid for longer than the student’s course of study. For example, if your post-graduate course was of two years duration, then the work permit granted to you will also be for two years.

The study program must be a minimum of eight months in length for you to be eligible for a work permit.

Placements

Indian students are used to the concept of campus placements and on-campus recruitment for getting jobs. There is no concept of placements in Canada. Most Canadian universities have a cell called a Career Services Center, which helps you get jobs and helps you prepare for interviews. The on-campus recruitment is always driven by student interest. Companies that recruit through the University do not offer a job directly. What they offer is an internship or co-op. Companies like to see your work for a few months before they hire you full-time.