Most Affordable Schools in Canada for International Students in 2026

You are staring at a map of Canada with a dozen browser tabs open. You are trying to figure out where your study abroad journey will actually begin. The dream of securing a world-class education is strong, but you’re an international student, so the reality of application fees and tuition costs are staring right back at you. 

To make this dream come true, you need to find affordable yet reputable universities in Canada. This means you can’t just apply to random universities; you need a solid financial and educational plan.

This guide will walk you through what makes a school budget-friendly. It also highlights the most affordable Canadian universities available to international students this year, along with exact steps to navigate the 2026 application process with confidence.

What Makes a Canadian University Affordable? (Plus Tips to Spot Them).

When searching for cheap universities in Canada, most students only look at the tuition page. However, true affordability relies on a combination of tuition, location, and hidden provincial benefits.

To identify a truly affordable school, you need to look outside major metropolitan hubs like Toronto or Vancouver. For instance, while a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto might cost upward of $2,400 CAD per month in 2026, similar housing in Atlantic Canada or the Prairies often sits around $1,150 to $1,300 CAD.

Pro tip: Some top-tier Canadian universities actually charge international students the exact same tuition as domestic students for specific research-based graduate programmes. Additionally, provinces like Manitoba or Saskatchewan offer incredible provincial nominee programmes alongside healthcare benefits that drastically reduce your overall cost of living while you study.

By targeting schools in these regions, you instantly cut your living costs in half. This leaves more money for your education.

Top 5 Affordable Universities in Canada for International Students.

Now that you know what to look for, here are the top budget-friendly universities offering high-quality education for global students without breaking the bank.

1. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)

Located on the stunning East Coast, MUN has a long history of being incredibly friendly to international students. While their undergraduate fees have recently been adjusted, their graduate programmes remain among the absolute cheapest in North America. In fact, Master's programmes can often be completed for under $9,600 CAD per year. Because the province also boasts a much lower cost of living compared to major city centres, your daily expenses remain highly manageable.

2. Brandon University

Moving towards the Prairies, Brandon University is known for its welcoming community. The school also offers a highly transparent fee structure. Located in Manitoba, students here benefit from a localised economy where rent alongside groceries are surprisingly cheap. Undergraduate tuition for international students usually ranges between $16,000 to $18,000 CAD annually. Additionally, they keep class sizes intentionally small, so you receive personalised attention from your professors.

3. Simon Fraser University (SFU)

While located in the generally more expensive province of British Columbia, SFU makes this list because of a massive hidden advantage for graduate students. SFU stands out for its research-based Master’s alongside PhD programmes, where international students pay the exact same tuition as domestic students. This can be as little as $2,150 CAD per term. Ranked among the top 1.9% of universities worldwide, SFU also boasts one of Canada’s largest co-operative education programmes. This gives you a chance to earn money at companies like Amazon or Google while you study.

4. University of Regina

Similarly focused on student earning potential, the University of Regina in Saskatchewan offers excellent co-op programmes to help you gain paid Canadian work experience during your degree. They also provide some of the lowest tuition rates for comprehensive bachelor's degrees. Costs are roughly between $12,000 to $18,000 CAD per year.

🔗Also see our blog on: Finding Work Opportunities as an International Student.

5. University of Manitoba

Finally, the University of Manitoba is a fantastic budget-friendly option located in the heart of Winnipeg. International undergraduate tuition typically falls between $18,000 and $22,000 CAD. Because Winnipeg has some of the lowest municipal property taxes among major Canadian cities, the city offers highly affordable student housing options for newcomers.

How to Apply for Schools in Canada: The 2026 Application Journey

Once you have chosen your desired school, applying to study in Canada takes careful planning. Every single school has its own specific deadlines. As of 2026, the Canadian government has updated several key immigration rules. Here is how the process flows:

• Verify the DLI Status: First, you must ensure your chosen school is an approved Designated Learning Institution. If you apply to a school that is not a DLI, your study permit application will be refused immediately.
• Submit Your Application: Create an account on the university portal, upload your official transcripts, and then demonstrate your language proficiency, which is usually done through IELTS or TOEFL. Depending on what school you apply to and where you’re from, you may not need to take these tests. You will also need to pay a non-refundable application fee at this stage.
• Accept Your Offer: Once accepted, universities require an admission deposit to hold your seat. After paying this deposit, the school will request a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) on your behalf. A PAL is a mandatory document required by IRCC to prove you fall under the national student cap. However, if you are applying for a Master's or PhD programme at a public institution, you are officially exempt from the PAL requirement as of 1 January 2026!
• Apply for Your Study Permit: With your acceptance letter alongside your payment receipt or PAL in hand, you can formally apply for your Canadian student visa on the IRCC portal.

How To Pay Your Canadian Application Fees and Tuition as an International Student.

Now that you’ve successfully found the right school or secured admission, the next thing is payment. Since application fees alongside tuition deposits are strictly non-refundable, traditional bank payment failures can cost you both time and money. This is where Raenest bridges the gap.

By using Raenest, you can send payments directly from your home country to your Canadian school seamlessly. Because we offer competitive real-time exchange rates, you will see exactly what your transfer will cost before you send it. This ensures full transparency.

Raenest also provides a highly reliable virtual dollar card. With this card, you can instantly pay your university application fees. You can also pay your Canadian visa/study permit fees, along with biometrics fees, directly on the IRCC portal. These currently cost $150 CAD for the permit and $85 CAD for biometrics. Since the card supports high limits of up to $20,000 daily for Canadian tuition payments, you can even use it to pay your housing deposits without worrying about transaction blocks.

As an international student, you can easily create a free multicurrency account on Raenest. This allows you to send and receive USD, GBP, and EUR from over 160 countries all in one place.

Final Thoughts

Studying in Canada does not have to drain you or your family's life savings. By looking beyond the expensive major cities to choose highly respected, budget-friendly universities, a world-class international education is completely achievable. You have already worked hard to save for your tuition. Do not let traditional banks overcharge you at the finish line. Ready to pay your Canadian application fees without the hidden costs? Create your free Raenest account today and start saving on every transfer.