Living in Canada

Once student has been accepted by a Canadian education provider and accepted for a study permit, it’s time to prepare for travel to Canada and living there while studying. They need to planning well in hand with essential information to make their travel and adjustment to living in Canada as smooth as likely.

Essential Points for Students

There are important documents international students must have with them when they fly to Canada, but students should avoid traveling with a lot of money or baggage.
Students will need temporary accommodation if they have not arranged before they reach to Canada. Normally students prefer hostels and hotels. Sometimes education does provide a couple of days free accommodation once they reach Canada. It will either be on-campus or off-campus (private) if they decide to choose long-term housing.
Students should decide how much of their banking and communications they want to keep going from home, and how much they will be required in Canada.
Once students arrive in Canada they likely to encounter with culture shock. This is to be expected, but there are also ways to minimize any distress from this normal emotional transition.

Tuition fees for International students

Universities in Canada set their own fees, and these vary depending on several factors: what program you’re studying, whether you are an international or home student, and whether you’re studying at undergraduate or postgraduate level. According to Statistics Canada, Across Canada, the average tuition fees for international undergraduate students rose 6.3% to $25,180 in 2017/2018. Average tuition fees for international students in graduate programs rose 5.4% to $16,252.

Two-thirds of international students were studying at the undergraduate level in 2017/2018. Of these students, almost one-third were enrolled in business, management and public administration ($24,683), which had tuition fees below the national average. Meanwhile, 14% of international undergraduate students were enrolled full time in engineering, which had above-average tuition fees of $28,625. As is the case worldwide, executive MBA programs are generally the most expensive, averaging around CA$51,891 (~US$42,440), while regular MBAs cost CA$29,293 (~US$23,900) on average.

Cost of living in Canada

Although Canadian student visa requirements say you must have at least CA$10,000 (~US$8,100) (or CA$11,000/~US$8,900 if studying in Quebec). Your living costs will vary considerably depending on your location and spending habits, with large cities generally more expensive to live in.

Accommodation

There will generally be one of two circumstances for international students arriving in Canada:

Already arranged for accommodation: Under this circumstances, student should do which may include:
- Arrange for pick-up and/or to let the homestay know you have arrived and to expect them shortly.
- Education provider liaison at the airport will take the student to where they are staying.
- Taking a taxi or bus to the homestay, dormitory, of off-campus housing.

Yet to arrange for permanent accommodation: Student will be either staying with a friend/family or need to go to a hostel/hotel for temporary accommodation. The student need to be in touch with a hostel, hotel, or other temporary lodging (in some cases the education institution will have a list of options for students needing temporary accommodation).
- A hostel—which must show proof of having been inspected by the Canadian Hosteling Association—is basic but economical accommodation. Primary facilities (toilets, baths, and kitchens) are shared. Rates are calculated daily, and cost less than other accommodation choices: the average cost of a room in a hostel is $10 to $20 per night.
- A hotel in Canada is defined as having inside access, private rooms, and daily cleaning service. At the low end, a Canadian hotel room will cost between $50 and $80; a moderate rate will be $55 to $135; fairly expensive will be $135 to $250, and five-star will generally be more than $250.

Another common way of finding off-campus accommodation is through online classified websites such as craigslist.org or kijiji.com.

Insurance

All Canadian post-secondary institutions have medical insurance plans available to international students. Sometimes institutions will require that international students purchase medical insurance; in any case, it is a very good idea to have it. The cost of a medical insurance plan will be far less than a circumstance in which a student gets injured or sick and has no coverage. Most institutions will help international students decide on health insurance during orientation week (the week devoted to helping new students get ready for studies at the school).