Let’s look at how to study in Canada for free with free tuition universities and colleges in Canada for international students. Find out cost of living in Canada, scholarships available and how to apply for admission to study free in Canada.
As a foreign student, do you want to know how to study for free in Canada? Yeah, only one way is there. You would need to obtain full-funded scholarships in Canada to cover tuition, bed, and board, because there are no universities or colleges that are tuition-free in Canada. So how do you do that in order to research for free in Canada?
Students who would like to study in Canada for free should consider studying on a scholarship. For students who choose to study in Canada, there are a number of 100 per cent tuition scholarships.
We’ll go through the often asked questions in this post, and then dive further into how international students can study for free in Canada. We will also talk about living expenses, how to enroll for studies in Canada and other relevant stuff.
Are there Free Tuition colleges in Canada for International Students?
The short reply is no. Simply put, as mentioned before, there are no tuition-free universities in Canada for foreign students. Even for Canadian students, there are no tuition-free universities.
However by having a full-tuition scholarship or even a fully-funded scholarship, you can study without paying the tuition fee. Later on, we’ll go deeper into this.
You should know that even for foreign students, there are very, very affordable universities in Canada. They are similar, but they are not tuition-free universities. If you want more details, check out Affordable Universities in Canada for international students!
Basic Steps in Studying in Canada for Free
As stated before, receiving a scholarship in Canada is the best way to study in Canada for free. In Canada, there are universities which provide international students with very generous scholarships. Visit the Canada Scholarships Page to see the full list.
You would first need to have a fantastic application to secure a scholarship in Canada. Here we’re going to go through parts of a great application that will allow you in Canada to get fully funded scholarships. Second, using a number of outlets, you will need to find certain scholarships. Third, it would be important for you to apply.
Another option is to attend universities in Canada that are accessible. Although this alone will not encourage you to research for free in Canada, this will certainly help you to do so with other methods in this post.
Next, you can finance your studies and find jobs in Canada. International students are entitled to work in Canada during the academic semester for 20 hours a week and during the school holidays for 40 hours a week.
Finally, either as a freelancer or running a company online, the next way is to find jobs online.
Potentials that can help you to Study for Free in Canada
To meet the criteria for scholarships in Canada, you will need to prepare.
You need to train to meet the scholarship standards to receive a scholarship in Canada. This is the hardest move and takes a long period of planning. Please notice that these are not obligatory, but it is good to comply with these sections of a good application.
Research Experience
For graduate applicants, research experience is essential, especially in STEM fields. Getting research experience will significantly boost your application for the scholarship, which will increase your chances of studying in Canada for free. You are of great benefit if you are applying for an undergraduate program and have research experience.
Though research is not required in Canada to get a scholarship, it is highly recommended.
Good GPA
For those applying for undergraduate or graduate programs, a high GPA is essential. It is a primary indicator used by colleges and universities to measure the progress in a college setting of prospective students. So in your previous curriculum, it is important that you research to improve your chances.
Internships
If you have internship experiences, this will greatly enhance your application. Also, previous employers can be good people to ask for letters of recommendations, especially if they are related to your field of study.
Community Service
Another element of your application that will make it shine is community service. Community service students are seen as caring for their community and will give back to their community in the future.
IELTS/TOEFL
The English Proficiency Tests are mainly IELTS and TOEFL. You would need to take one of these to apply if you are an international student and are not from an English-speaking country. Both undergraduate and graduate programs need it and it is beneficial to have a high score on IELTS/TOEFL.
SAT/ACT and/or A-Level and/or College Entrance Exams in your Country (Undergraduate)
For those applying for undergraduate programs, this prerequisite is. The SAT and ACT, which are the college entrance tests for undergraduate programs in America, are approved by many universities in Canada. Universities in many countries recognize the SAT and Behave in place of the conditions for the admission exam, and Canada is no exception.
The SAT or ACT will be approved by many universities in Canada, but you will have to search individual university websites for more detailed details.
On one of these admissions exams, it is strongly recommended that you have a high score.
The A-Level, which is from the British curriculum, is another alternative to admission examinations. These are also approved by many Canadian universities, and having a high score would be of great benefit to your application for the scholarship.
Some universities consider other types of admissions examination. The specifications vary, so you need to search university websites for precise details.
GRE (Graduate)
GRE is a standardized examination that Canadian universities embrace for graduate programs. A high GRE score is a must if you’re applying for a graduate program.
Published Journal (Graduate)
Students who have previously published applications in an academic journal would be regarded positively. If students applying for undergraduate programs are published in a journal, it would be of great benefit.
This list is just the beginning of a lot of items that can be put into your application. Having a few or many of these components will allow you to study for free in Canada.
So start planning these important parts of the application months or even years before your application. So begin to prepare your application early!
Advice on Ways to Study for Free in Canada
Search for Fully Funded Scholarships
This is a significant step when studying for free in Canada. In order to find fully funded scholarships, there are several tools that you can use.
First to find fully funded scholarships there, I suggest you go to the Canada Scholarship Page on this website. There are links to the official scholarship website for all the scholarship articles on that list. So you can be sure that the information is right on these scholarship sites.
Apply for those Scholarships to Study for Free in Canada
You would need to apply for all of them after looking for these scholarships. Having such scholarships is very hard, so by applying for many, you will need to improve your chances. So, read the application directions carefully, complete the application and the documents needed, and submit!
If you are unsure of the application process, we have covered the How to Apply to Universities in Canada guide in detail. So, carefully read the guide, follow the directions, and submit!
Attend Affordable Universities to Cut the Cost of Tuition
Although it would be difficult for you to cover the entire price of studying in Canada by doing this one step alone it will certainly help. There are colleges which provide excellent education at an affordable price. For Foreign Students, search the Affordable Universities in Canada.
In order to be able to fully fund your education in Canada, you will need to combine this approach with other forms in this post.
Work in Canada while Studying
During an academic semester, international students can work 20 hours a week and 40 hours a week during breaks. To finance their studies, many foreign students either work on-campus or off-campus. It’s a good way of funding your studies.
There is a major misunderstanding about this approach among international students. Many foreign students think that only by working can they pay the entire expense of studying. This is a GROSS misconception!
Just by operating, you can cover just a fraction of the cost. In order to fully cover the finances, you will have to take other steps mentioned in this article, such as having scholarships (which is the best option) and attending affordable universities.
Work Online
You may either work or run a company as a freelancer. Platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr are available where you can earn cash through different activities, such as virtual assistants or writing. You certainly should consider this as an option!
Canada’s Tuition Fees
You should expect to pay an average of CA$6,571 per year for an undergraduate degree if you are a Canadian citizen studying in Canada, and CA$6,907 per year for a graduate degree.
CA$25,180 (~US$20,540) a year is projected to be that of foreign students.
Since Canada’s provinces are largely independent, there is no one-size-fits-all school and curriculum structure in Canada.
Public primary education and high schools, but not universities, are free of charge. The education system in Canada is ranked among the best in the world.
Cost of Living in Canada
Living costs are the cumulative amount of money a student would need to live for one month, taking into account all expenditures other than tuition fees. This can include lodging, bus fare, food, internet access fees, leisure costs, clothes, books, etc.
In Canada, similar to what can be obtained in Australia, the USA or the UK, it is relatively inexpensive.
It is possible to measure the overall cost of living at $600 to $1000 a month.
Breakdown of living costs for foreign students in Canada;
- About $400 a month for accommodation (one bedroom apartment).
- Books and materials, $1000 annually
- Movies from $8.50 to $13
- Average meal in a restaurant, $10-$25 per person
- Groceries-$150-$200 weekly
More or less may be invested by a student. This list is just an approximation and relies heavily on one’s expenditure habits.
Requirements for Admission and How to apply
Please check the school website for detailed entrance criteria and application process and strictly follow the information there, as this differs from school to school.
How to apply for a postgraduate degree
- Complete an application form online
- Upload the credentials and transcript of your
- Upload evidence of the language of study proficiency for your curriculum
- Upload your recommendation letters
- Write a statement of purpose; follow the instructions of the scholarship or school on how to do this, where appropriate.
- If you have not studied in Canada, you may need to pay a foreign examination fee to receive a valid certificate.
When you have secured admission, you then apply for a Canada Student visa and scholarship.
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