Canada

• You can choose between universities and career-focused colleges and polytechnics.
• You can work off campus up to 24 hours a week in term and unlimited hours in scheduled breaks.
• Eligible graduates can get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to 3 years.
• Canadian work experience after graduation may help you qualify for permanent residence.

Teaching language

English and French

Intakes

Most programmes start in September. Many schools also admit students in January (winter), and some in spring or summer, so check each programme.

Bachelor's

Usually 3–4 years

Master's

Usually 1–2 years

PhD

Usually 3–5 years

Tuition

Statistics Canada estimated average international tuition for 2025/2026 at CAD 41,746 a year for undergraduate and CAD 24,028 for graduate programmes, with big differences by province and programme.

You usually apply directly to each school, although some provinces have central portals such as OUAC (Ontario universities), ontariocolleges.ca and EducationPlannerBC. You need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI) and, in most cases, a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), which schools usually issue after you accept your offer and pay some or all of your fees. Each school sets its own deadlines and document list, so start early.

Your designated learning institution (DLI) issues the letter of acceptance, and the province or territory where you will study issues the provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), which you usually request through your school after accepting your offer.

1. 1

   Step 1: Choose a designated learning institution

   Check that each post-secondary school is on IRCC's designated learning institutions list, because you need a letter of acceptance from a DLI, and its DLI number, to apply for a study permit.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Step 2: Get your letter of acceptance

   Apply to the school and, once accepted, get your letter of acceptance. After you apply for your study permit, a post-secondary school must confirm to IRCC that your letter is valid, and the application is returned if it does not respond in time.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
3. 3

   Step 3: Get your PAL/TAL or CAQ

   Most students need a PAL/TAL; ask your school how to get one, which usually means accepting your offer and paying some or all of your tuition first. You do not need one for a master's or doctoral programme at a public DLI (from 1 January 2026) or in some other exempt cases, and students going to Quebec need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) instead.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
4. 4

   Step 4: Gather your supporting documents

   Prepare a copy of your passport, proof that you can pay for yourself and any family coming with you, and a letter of explanation, which IRCC recommends; you may also need a medical exam or police certificate. Your PAL/TAL must be valid on the day you apply and has to be included with the application, not sent later.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
5. 5

   Step 5: Apply online before you travel

   Create an IRCC account and apply online before you come to Canada, uploading your letter of acceptance only in its own space and paying the application and biometrics fees when you submit.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
6. 6

   Step 6: Give biometrics within 30 days

   Give your fingerprints and photo within 30 days of the date on your biometric instruction letter, because IRCC starts processing only once it has them. IRCC may ask for more documents, an interview or a medical exam.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)
7. 7

   Step 7: Enter with your introduction letter

   If approved you get a port of entry letter of introduction, which is not your study permit, plus a visitor visa or eTA if you need one. At the border, show your passport, the letter of introduction, a copy of your valid letter of acceptance and any documents the visa office asked for, and have enough money for your stay; the officer then issues your study permit.

   Official page (opens in a new tab)

Visa

Study permit

Apply online before you travel with a letter of acceptance from a DLI, a PAL/TAL if needed (or a Quebec Acceptance Certificate, CAQ, for Quebec), and proof that you can pay tuition, living costs and travel. Master's and doctoral students at public DLIs do not need a PAL/TAL from 1 January 2026. For 2026, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 for new students, with 309,670 application spaces under the cap.

Proof of funds

CAD 23,448 a year for a single student outside Quebec (applications on or after 1 September 2026; CAD 22,895 before that), plus first-year tuition and travel costs. Quebec sets its own amounts.

Visa fee

CAD 150 study permit fee (canada.ca, October 2026); a separate biometrics fee may also apply.

While you study

If you are a full-time student at a DLI in a post-secondary programme of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate, you can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during term and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as summer. Your study permit must show work conditions, you must have started your programme, and you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

After you graduate

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): up to the length of your programme for programmes of 8 months to under 2 years, and up to 3 years for programmes of 2 years or more and for eligible master's degrees. You must apply within 180 days of confirmation that you finished, show language results (CLB 7 for university degrees, CLB 5 for college programmes) and, if your programme is not a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, have studied in an eligible field. IRCC froze the field-of-study list for 2026 (no fields added or removed), and the fee is CAD 255.