Study in Canada

Why study in Canada?

Universities and colleges to suit different goals

Canada has two main routes for Indian graduates. Universities offer research-based Master’s degrees, while public colleges and polytechnics offer practical, career-focused programmes, including graduate certificates – often called PG diplomas in India. You can choose the route that fits your academic record, budget and career plan.

Practical learning and work experience

Many programmes include co-op terms or internships, where you work with a Canadian employer as part of your course. You can also work part time off campus during your studies, and eligible graduates can apply for a post-graduation work permit (see “Working while you study and after graduation” below).

A large, multicultural country

Canada stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north into the Arctic, and is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories. Education is the responsibility of each province or territory – there is no national (central) education system, much as education is largely a state matter in India – so rules and fees can differ from one province to another.

• Provinces: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador
• Territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

The Canadian education system

Universities, colleges and polytechnics

• Universities award Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral (PhD) degrees, and focus on academic study and research. Many also offer certificates and professional degrees.
• Colleges, institutes and polytechnics focus on applied, career-ready training. They offer certificates, diplomas, post-graduate diplomas and graduate certificates, and some offer applied Bachelor’s degrees.

Every institution that enrols international students on a study permit must be a designated learning institution (DLI). Before you apply, check that your institution is on IRCC’s DLI list and whether your programme can lead to a PGWP.

Qualifications you can study for

Lengths vary by province, institution and programme.

Co-op and work placements

Co-op programmes combine study terms with work terms. Since 1 April 2026, eligible post-secondary international students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for work placements that are required by their programme and approved by their institution.

As of October 2026 — sources: EduCanada – the Canadian education system, EduCanada – colleges, IRCC – simplifying the co-op work permit requirement, IRCC – student work placements.

Popular universities and colleges

Universities

• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Alberta
• McMaster University
• Université de Montréal
• University of Waterloo
• Western University (University of Western Ontario)
• University of Calgary
• Queen’s University
• Simon Fraser University
• Dalhousie University
• University of Ottawa

McGill University and the Université de Montréal are in Quebec, so students need a CAQ; the Université de Montréal teaches mainly in French.

Colleges and polytechnics

• Humber Polytechnic
• Seneca Polytechnic
• Sheridan College
• Conestoga College
• George Brown College
• Centennial College
• British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

All of the institutions listed above are public. Popularity alone is not a reason to choose: compare the programme, its co-op options, fees and PGWP eligibility.

Entry requirements

Every institution sets its own academic and English requirements, and they vary by programme, so always read the international admissions page for your programme.

Master’s degrees and graduate certificates (PG diplomas)

• Master’s degrees (universities): usually a four-year Bachelor’s degree, or a three-year Bachelor’s plus a Master’s, with good marks – often first class. For example, York University asks Indian applicants for a four-year Bachelor’s or a three-year Bachelor’s plus a Master’s, with at least mid-B (first class) standing. Carleton University asks for a four-year equivalent (such as a B.Tech, B.E. or B.Pharm, or a three-year degree plus a Master’s) with first class (65–74%), but may consider a three-year degree from an institution with a NAAC “A” grade (or CGPA 3.01–4.00), subject to programme requirements.
• Graduate certificates (colleges): a degree or diploma, often in a related field, with the average the programme sets. Ask the college how it assesses a three-year Indian degree for your chosen programme.
• Documents: transcripts and degree certificate, English test scores, a statement of purpose, a CV and, for many Master’s programmes, letters of recommendation. Some programmes also ask for GRE or GMAT scores or work experience.

Bachelor’s studies

Colleges and universities look at your Class 12 marks; minimum percentages and required subjects vary by institution and programme.

As of October 2026 — sources: York University – India, Carleton University – India.

English requirements

You must prove your English (or French) with a test such as IELTS Academic; many institutions also accept TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and others, and some accept Duolingo. Typical IELTS Academic requirements are about 6.0–6.5 overall for undergraduate and college diploma programmes and about 6.5–7.0 for postgraduate programmes, often with a minimum score in each band. For example:

• Conestoga College asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 (or PTE Academic 58) for graduate certificates, and 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for diplomas and certificates; some IT and engineering programmes ask for more.
• University of British Columbia: the undergraduate standard is IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
• University of Toronto: many graduate programmes ask for 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each band.

Always check the exact score on your programme’s admissions page. The PGWP has its own, separate language test rules (see “Working while you study and after graduation” below).

Requirements as of October 2026 — sources: Conestoga – international admission requirements, UBC Academic Calendar, University of Toronto (Dalla Lana School of Public Health).

Scholarships

Scholarships for international students in Canada are limited and competitive. Eligibility is usually based on academic grades, and some awards also consider financial need. Many universities award entrance scholarships automatically to students who meet their criteria, while others need a separate application, and some awards are renewable only if you keep up your grades.

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) – for full-time Master’s and doctoral students in Ontario; international students with a study permit can apply for a limited number of awards (about CAN$15,000 for a year), through their university.
• P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship – a need-based award for women from outside the US and Canada pursuing graduate study in the US or Canada (up to US$12,500).
• University entrance scholarships – most Canadian universities offer merit-based awards for international students; check each university’s awards page.

As of October 2026 — sources: University of Waterloo – OGS, P.E.O. International, EduCanada – study costs.

Education and living costs

Actual fees depend on the institution, programme and city, so check the fee page of each programme on your shortlist.

Proof of funds

For the study permit you must show that you can pay for your first year of tuition, your living costs and travel without working in Canada. For applications received on or after 1 September 2026, the living cost amount for a single student studying outside Quebec is CAN$23,448 a year (CAN$29,192 if one family member comes with you). IRCC updates these amounts each year. Students going to Quebec must meet the amounts set by the Government of Quebec for the CAQ.

Accepted proof includes a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution, a student or education loan from a bank, receipts for tuition and housing paid to your institution, bank statements for the past six months showing the source of funds, and a letter from the person supporting you, with their documents.

Figures as of October 2026 — sources: EduCanada – study costs (Statistics Canada data), IRCC – proof of financial support.

Working while you study and after graduation

While you study

• You can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during regular academic sessions, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks such as the winter and summer holidays. You must be a full-time student in a post-secondary programme of at least six months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate, with work conditions on your study permit.
• You can start working only after your programme has started, and you need a social insurance number (SIN).
• Students only in English (ESL) or preparatory courses cannot work off campus.
• Required co-op placements no longer need a separate work permit for eligible post-secondary students (see “The Canadian education system” above).

After you graduate: the PGWP

The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is an open work permit for eligible graduates.

• Programme length: at least eight months. You must apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your programme.
• Length of the PGWP: a Master’s degree of at least eight months can lead to a PGWP of up to three years. For other programmes, a programme of under two years gives a PGWP of up to the length of the programme, and a programme of two years or more can give up to three years. You can get only one PGWP.
• Language: CLB 7 in all four skills for Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctoral and other university programmes, and CLB 5 for college, polytechnic and other non-university programmes. IRCC asks for CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core (or TEF Canada or TCF Canada), with results less than two years old – these are different from the IELTS Academic test most institutions use for admission.
• Field of study: Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral graduates have no field-of-study requirement. Graduates of most other programmes, including college diplomas and graduate certificates, must have studied an eligible field if they applied for their study permit on or after 1 November 2024. IRCC has said it will not add or remove eligible fields in 2026.

Your spouse

Your spouse or common-law partner may get an open work permit only if you are studying a Master’s programme of at least 16 months, a doctoral programme, or certain professional degree or pilot programmes.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: IRCC – work off campus, PGWP eligibility, about the PGWP, PGWP field of study, PGWP language results, spouse work permits.

Study permit, caps and PAL/TAL

You need a study permit for a programme longer than six months. Programmes of six months or less usually do not need one, but if you might continue into another programme, apply for a study permit before you travel. The Student Direct Stream (SDS) closed on 8 November 2024, so all Indian students now apply through the regular study permit process.

Study permit caps

Since 2024, Canada has capped the number of study permits it issues each year. For 2026, IRCC plans to issue up to 408,000 study permits – 155,000 for newly arriving students and 253,000 extensions for students already in Canada. Of these, 180,000 are for students who need a PAL/TAL, shared among the provinces and territories, and 49,000 are for Master’s and doctoral students at public institutions.

PAL/TAL

• Most students need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL), issued through their institution, with their study permit application.
• From 1 January 2026, students in a Master’s or doctoral degree programme at a public DLI are exempt. Students on college graduate certificates, diplomas and Bachelor’s programmes still need one.
• A PAL/TAL must be valid when you apply. Letters issued in 2026 are valid until 31 December 2026 at the latest, and you cannot use one from a previous year. You need a new one if your previous application was approved or refused, or if you change schools.
• Students going to Quebec generally need a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) from the Government of Quebec instead.

How to apply

1. Apply online in your IRCC secure account with your letter of acceptance, PAL/TAL (or proof of your exemption), proof of funds, passport and the other documents on your personal checklist. The fees are CAN$150 for the study permit and CAN$85 for biometrics.
2. Medical exam: if your stay is longer than six months and you have lived for six months or more in a designated country, such as India, in the year before you travel, you usually need an immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician – your own doctor cannot do it. You can have it upfront or wait for IRCC’s instructions, after which you have 30 days.
3. Biometrics: if you are 14 to 79, give your fingerprints and photo within 30 days of the biometrics instruction letter. In India this is done, by appointment, at a Canada visa application centre run by VFS Global.
4. Decision: if you are approved, you receive a port of entry letter of introduction, and your visa is issued automatically at no extra fee.
5. Port of entry: carry your passport, the letter of introduction, your letter of acceptance, proof of funds and your medical results, if any. A border services officer checks your documents when you arrive, and the reference number on your letter is used to issue your study permit.

Rules as of October 2026 — sources: IRCC – PAL/TAL, 2026 allocations under the international student cap, apply for a study permit, fees, medical exams – country requirements, prepare for arrival, end of SDS, study without a permit; VFS Global – Canada in India.