Cheapest Universities In Canada For International Students

What Makes a University Cheap in Canada?

A university is cheap in Canada when its yearly fee for international students sits well below the national average of CAD 42,062.

That average comes from Statistics Canada’s tuition table for 2026/27. Canada has no official list of the cheapest universities, so we don’t rank them. On this page you can compare what each university says on its own fee page.

Fees are one part of your plan to study in Canada from Nepal. All amounts here are in Canadian dollars, and the rupee figures are rounded. To see today’s value, use our CAD to Rs forex converter.

Which Are the Cheap Universities in Canada for International Students?

Eleven affordable universities in Canada for international students are listed below, in A to Z order, and most charge about CAD 18,000 to 25,000 a year.

The figures don’t all cover the same things, so read the last column before you compare two names. Each fee is for a bachelor’s student. Your own bill depends on your program and your course load.

Fees change every year, so open the fee page again before you pay anything. Universities can also raise fees during your degree, so plan for more than the first-year figure.

What Should Nepali Students Know About Each University?

Nepali students should look past the main fee and check what each one adds, such as health cover and deposits.

Here is the main point for each name, taken from its own pages.

Atlantic Canada

Memorial University: Health insurance adds CAD 548 a year for international students at St. John’s. Housing is charged separately.

Mount Saint Vincent University: This one is in Halifax, and room and board is CAD 12,575 a year. Its figure includes required fees, so it is close to a real bill.

Cape Breton University: The cost table shows each semester for each program, so it is easy to check. The first semester costs more because the medical plan is paid then.

University of New Brunswick: You can pick Fredericton or Saint John. Arts tuition is the same, and the Saint John fee sheet totals CAD 22,490 with fees.

University of Prince Edward Island: The calendar asks international students for a CAD 3,000 deposit. It can’t be refunded, but it goes toward your later charges.

Manitoba and Alberta

Brandon University: Plan for a CAD 5,000 deposit that can’t be refunded. Its international admissions guide says about CAD 35,000 covers your first year, with residence, meals, books and health insurance.

University of Manitoba: Fees vary by faculty, and CAD 28,000 is an average. Residence with meals adds CAD 10,500 to 17,000.

University of Winnipeg: Fees are charged by the credit, and CAD 676.65 to 762.75 is the Arts and Science range. Business costs CAD 804 a credit, so your subject changes the total.

Concordia University of Edmonton: Base tuition looks small until you add the CAD 382 per credit international fee and the CAD 2,658 supplementary fee. Ask the university to confirm the total by email.

Ontario and British Columbia

Saint Paul University: This Ottawa university has a narrower list of programs, such as conflict studies, counselling and canon law. You can study in English or French. Check that your subject is offered before you shortlist it, and add CAD 948 for health insurance.

Vancouver Island University: It charges by the credit, so a heavier course load costs more. Fees change on 1 April each year, so check again close to your start date.

Is the University of Saskatchewan Still a Cheap Option?

No, the University of Saskatchewan is not a low-fee choice for international students, with a Bachelor of Arts at about CAD 39,007 a year.

Older lists often call it cheap. The USask 2026-27 tuition estimates show otherwise, and Engineering reaches CAD 59,383. Arts is about Rs 42 lakh, close to the national average.

The University of Regina is in the same position. Its international fee page gives about CAD 32,500 a year in tuition and fees. Both can still suit a Nepali student for the right course, and our University of Saskatchewan profile explains more. Just don’t pick them to save money.

Are There Cheap Universities in Canada for a Master’s?

Yes, and Memorial University is a strong example, with a basic master’s plan fee of CAD 1,611 a semester for international students.

Master’s fees are often lower than bachelor’s fees. Statistics Canada puts the graduate average at CAD 24,693 for 2026/27. That is about Rs 26 lakh a year, so compare each program with that number.

• Memorial University: The 2026-27 graduate fee form lists Plan A at CAD 1,611 for six semesters. Check for a special fee, because the MBA adds CAD 24,000.
• Mount Saint Vincent University: Six graduate courses come to CAD 15,789 in tuition and fees.
• Saint Paul University: Master’s tuition is CAD 10,481.48 a term.
• Vancouver Island University: The MBA is CAD 771.12 a credit.

For course choices, see our guides to a master’s in Canada and a PG diploma in Canada.

How Much Money Must You Show for a Cheap University?

You must show first-year tuition plus CAD 23,448 for living costs outside Quebec, so a low fee cuts your total but not the living cost part.

The figure is on IRCC’s proof of financial support page, and it doesn’t include tuition or travel. Take Memorial as an example. CAD 22,500 in tuition plus CAD 23,448 comes to CAD 45,948, or about Rs 49 lakh.

Your family’s papers must show that money clearly. Our Canada proof of funds guide explains how to do that from Nepal. For a full first-year budget, read our guide to the cost to study in Canada from Nepal.

Real monthly costs are usually CAD 1,300 to 2,500. Our cost of living in Canada guide breaks that down, and our top cities guide helps you compare places.

Is There a Tuition Free University in Canada for International Students?

No university on this list is free for international students, so only a big scholarship can cover most of your tuition.

Big awards are hard to win, so don’t plan your visa money around one until you hold the letter. Small awards are easier to get, and some need no form.

• University of Manitoba: It gives about CAD 3.5 million in awards to new students each year, and most need no form.
• University of Regina: Its entrance scholarship takes CAD 5,000 off your fees if your marks average 83% or higher.

You can see more options in our guide to scholarships to study in Canada. If you need to borrow, read our education loan guide for Nepal.

How Do You Choose the Right Low-Fee University?

Choose a low-fee university only after you check that it has your program, accepts your results and keeps your work options open.

A cheap degree you can’t use costs more in the end. Go through these checks for each name on your list:

• Approved school: Confirm it on our DLI list for Canada.
• Your results: Work out your marks with our NEB GPA calculator, then read the university’s rules for Nepal.
• English score: Check our guide to the minimum IELTS and PTE for Canada.
• Study permit: Most bachelor’s students need a letter from the province, so read about the PAL for a Canada student visa.
• Work after study: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees have no field-of-study rule for the post-graduation work permit.
• Place: Our guide on province or program helps when a cheap place doesn’t have your first-choice subject.

Our best universities in Canada for Nepali students page has more names to compare.

How Can Nepali Students Cut Their Total Cost in Canada?

Nepali students can cut their total cost by comparing full bills, choosing a smaller city, looking at colleges and working within the 24-hour limit.

• Compare full bills: Add tuition, fees, health cover and housing for each university, because a low tuition figure can hide large extras.
• Look at colleges: Our best colleges in Canada page is a good next read. A college credential needs an eligible field for the work permit, so check that first.
• Check health cover: Read about health insurance in Canada, since rules differ by province.
• Work part time: You can work up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are on. Our part-time jobs in Canada guide shows common jobs, but don’t count this money in your visa funds.

If you are choosing someone to help, see our page on the best consultancy for Canada. You can also talk to a Goreto counselor at our Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari or Pokhara branch through our contact page.