Work and Study in Canada; Job Types, Tuition Fees and Living Costs Discussed

How to Work and Study in Canada; Rewarding Part-time and Full-time Jobs for International Students

Canada has increasingly become a popular study destination that attracts international students, especially in the last years. Having prestigious universities, vivid student cities and a well-organized lifestyle, Canada turned into a country with high demands and a high reputation. Canada has over 30 universities listed among the best academic institutions worldwide according to the World University Rankings created by THE (Times Higher Education).

Types of Student Jobs Available

It is possible to work either on-campus or off-campus after you must have been admitted. You will be permitted to work under the following conditions;

Part-time – up to 20 hours per week during semesters
Full-time – up to 40 hours per week during holidays

You can do volunteer job or internship, this will boost your CV. You can do it through the help of support programs like “Youth Employment Strategy” – which focuses on skills link, career focus, and Canada summer jobs.

Who is Eligible for a Summer or Part-time Job during their Studies in Canada?

In order to be eligible to work while studying in Canada, you must fulfill the following criteria;

you must be a full-time student with a valid study permit
hold a social Insurance Number (SIN)
you must study a vocational or professional program that finishes in a degree, a diploma, or a certificate
if you work on campus, you won’t need a study permit or SIN; you can also exceed the 20 hours per week limit during semesters

Efficient Job Hunt Steps in Canada

get a Social Insurance Number
find out age limits in jobs
besides writing your CV and cover letter, you can also check out websites for career opportunities. There is a hidden job market that is based on recommendations, so link up with the people that might help
join professional student association or committee
do volunteer work
participate in information sessions

Some of the Most Prominent Part-time Jobs for Students in Canada

You might not find a job in your field of study but you can learn something new while on the job that might boost your CV.

Book keeper; 25 CAD dollar per hour
Educational Interpreter; 13 CAD dollar per hour
Customer service assistant; 11 CAD dollar per hour
Sales assistant; 12 CAD dollar per hour
Cook; 13 CAD dollar per hour
Office assistant; 13-15 CAD dollar per hour
Lifeguard; 12 CAD dollar per hour
Human resource assistant; 13 CAD dollar per hour

Summer Jobs for Students in Canada

Painter; 13 CAD dollar per hour
Festival coordinator; 10 CAD dollar per hour
Camp counselor; 12 CAD dollar per hour
Program facilitator; 13 CAD dollar per hour
Entertainment activities coordinator; 14 CAD dollar per hour
Baker; 11-22 CAD dollar per hour
Recreation facilitator; 15 CAD dollar per hour

Major Cities You Can Easily Find Student Jobs in Canada

Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
Barnaby
Quebec
Ottawa

Tips for Students who wish to work in Canada

Be specific about your experience, skills, knowledge; add references to your Resume when applying
Choose it very carefully as it may become a career path for you after school
You need to be serious if employed, impress your employer and if possible, indicate interest to continues working after school
After school you will be qualified to apply for a post-graduation work permit that allows you to work in Canada for up to 3 years; you must have a valid study permit and apply within 90 days after graduation.

Keep reading to find useful information about tuition fees, living costs and scholarship opportunities for studying in Canada.

University Tuition Fees in Canada

The study amounts in Canadian universities are very high but usually smaller than those in nations such as the UK, the USA, or Australia. School classes can vary annually, depending on city or program of degree you will find differences. The University of Newfoundland has the lowest tuition fee for comparison while Ontario is the most costly place to stay.

Tuition Fees for Bachelor’s degrees

Tuition cost can range between 550 – 30,000 CAD/year. Bachelors in Medicine, Engineering, and Social Science are among the most expensive study programs.

Tuition costs for popular programs;

Bachelors in Business & Management: 550 – 56,000 CAD/year
Bachelors in Computer Science & IT: 1,535 – 55,500 CAD/year
Bachelors in Engineering & Technology: 1,350 – 55,000 CAD/year
Bachelors in Social Sciences: 1,025 – 56,000 CAD/year
Bachelors in Natural Sciences: 1,780 – 53,000 CAD/year

Tuition Fees for Master’s degrees

The range of tuition: 1,075-65,000 CAD/year. The most costly are the Masters of Business, Engineering, Computer Science and Law.

How much tuition cost for top programs;

Masters in Business & Management: 2,150 – 52,700 CAD/year
Masters in Computer Science & IT: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
Masters in Engineering & Technology: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
Masters in Medicine & Health: 2,150 – 58,300 CAD/year
Masters in Social Sciences: 2,150 – 37,000 CAD/year

The purpose of these tuition fee ranges for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs is to help you figure out what kind of budget you need to study in Canada. You don’t have to choose the most expensive programs because higher costs don’t always equal better education. Focus on finding the sweet spot between your budget, tuition, and what you want to get from your study program.

Cheapest Universities in Canada with Tuition Fees

Check the list of Canadian universities with the most affordable tuition fees:

Memorial University of Newfoundland – tuition fees: 2,150 – 11,460 CAD/year
University of Regina – tuition fees: 1,715 – 20,050 CAD/year
Royal Roads University – tuition fees: 3,750 – 27,600 CAD/year
University of Saskatchewan – tuition fees: 4,110 – 24,000 CAD/year
Athabasca University – tuition fees: 1,625 – 17,250 CAD/year

You will also find many study programs at these accessible universities that cost more than CAD 30,000 per year. Typically, they are Master’s degrees in finance, law, dentistry or MBAs (Master of Business Administration). With tuition fees that go above 50,000 CAD/year, an MBA is particularly costly.

Tuition Fees at Top-ranked Universities

Here is a list of tuition fees at some of the highest rated universities in Canada;

University of Toronto – tuition fees: 15,750 – 57,050 CAD/year
University of British Columbia – tuition fees: 1,300 – 52,300 CAD/year
McGill University – tuition fees: 2,230 – 58,300 CAD/year

Some Master’s programs in Architecture, Computer Science, and Business Administration will cost over 63,000 CAD per year at these top universities.

Cost of Living for International Students in Canada

The cost of living in Canada is a little above average, but it ensures a high quality of life. For most provinces, such as Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa, you will need about 800-1,500 CAD/moth.

Calgary and Vancouver are some of Canada’s most costly cities, where the cost of living can exceed CAD 2,000 per month.

Accommodation Costs

In Canada, you’ll have many housing choices to choose from and a price range that is equally diverse.

For students in Canada, the main housing choices are;

Residences for students; 250-625 CAD/month
Home-stays arranged by university; 400-800 CAD/month
Rent & share an apartment; CAD 300-700/month, rental rates depend on location and equipment. You can spend over 1,000 CAD a month if you want to rent a studio/one-room apartment

Other costs associated with accommodation

It comes with additional costs when you rent an apartment or studio;

Basic services (power, water, heating, trash); CAD 150/month
Web; 50-70 CAD/month

Feeding Costs

You’re not going to spend too much on food costs, just about CAD 300/month for local supermarkets and grocery shopping.

Make a budget of about 10 – 25 CAD anytime you eat in a restaurant in Canada. It may take from 50 – 65 CAD for a 3-square meal for two in a mid-range restaurant.

Transportation Costs

When buying a monthly transport pass, students studying at a Canadian university aged between 18 and 25 can benefit from discounts.

The overall cost of a transport pass is CAD 90/month, while a one-way fare is CAD 3
Taxis are also a popular mode of transportation across Canada and fares range from 2 to 6 CAD/km

Funding & Student Support

Here are several programs for financial assistance helping foreign students in Canada;

Scholarships offered for Bachelors, Master’s and PhD studies by different Canadian universities
Scholarships to promote cooperation with the local academic community by non-Canadian academic institutions

Study Permit and Visa in Canada

You may need a research permit in order to study in Canada. It costs 150 EUR and before you fly to Canada, you should apply for it. During the application process, here are some of the documents you need to provide:

University letter of acceptance
Passport or Travel ID Document, valid
Documents that prove you can support yourself financially in Canada

On the Canada.ca website, you can read more about the student permit. Bear in mind that the student permit is not a visa, and you can not enter Canada with it. Also, check what sort of visa you need and how you can get it when you apply for the student permit.

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