Tuition Free Colleges in Canada for International Students

Tuition free colleges in Canada for international students has become a topic of interest for many students as Canada has become a popular destination for international students all over the world. This is due to reasons such as; its universities are world-class (five of them are listed as one of the top 100 universities worldwide). There are also numerous job opportunities with promising futures for international students looking to stay in Canada.

While Canada holds lots of exciting and lively college life for international students, it is very important to know that this opportunity may not always come for free. Tuition fees are always a strong hurdle for many international students aspiring to get an education in Canada.

Truth About Tuition Free Colleges in Canada

The main question this article seeks to answer is the question: Is college free in Canada for International Students?

There is no straightforward answer to the question of tuition free colleges in Canada for international students. The answer is YES and also NO. This is because there are no tuition free colleges in Canada for international students. However, you can study in a College in Canada without paying fees by getting a free-tuition scholarship, a fully funded scholarship, partly-funded scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial aid for the Canadian college of your choice. These scholarships are sponsored by the Canadian government, charity organizations, wealthy individuals, and institutions in Canada.

Note: There are very affordable universities in Canada even for international students. Although they are not tuition-free universities, they are very affordable and yet top quality.

The purpose of this article is to help guide you in discovering ways you can study for free in Canada as an international student. Fortunately, for international students lots of scholarship opportunities are designed for this specific purpose. While some fully funded scholarships are offered directly by the school, others are provided by organizations, individuals or foundations that then make it available through the school you are applying to.

Below is a list of tuition free universities in Canada for international students.

Note: They are not tuition-free in the total sense of it, but universities that offer full scholarships to international students. Students who are selected for these fully funded scholarships won’t have to pay for tuition if they keep to the requirements of the scholarship and can go on to complete their degree without paying tuition fees.

List of Tuition Free Universities in Canada for International Students

The following are the list of tuition free universities in Canada for international students.

St. Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s University provides a series of fully-funded scholarships to international students who aim to pursue an undergraduate degree at the institution.

This university annually provides up to 8 different scholarships to international students seeking to pursue an undergraduate degree program at St. Mary’s University.

All of these scholarships are renewable; therefore, you can be on them till the end of your study. On the condition you keep up to the requirements for renewal. The scholarships are available only to first-year students who show excellent academic performance and to those who show verifiable financial need.

2.Concordia University

Concordia University provides a newly established full flight award known as the Presidential Scholarship.

The award is fully-funded and renewable for up to four years. So far as the winner maintains the renewal requirements. The Concordia Presidential Scholarship is only for international students seeking to pursue a degree in any of the undergraduate programs.

Students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and motivation to make the global community better are highly suitable for winning this scholarship.

The award is granted annually and is highly competitive, and aside from tuition it also covers books and living expenses.

3. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology sets aside $5 million annually for scholarships and awards to international students across all programs of study.

The awards are for incoming students who demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, involvement in their various communities, and other areas of success and support. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years. As long as the winner maintains the renewal requirements. This will enable you to study a program of your choice tuition-free at a top institution like the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

4. University of Calgary

The University of Calgary has a lot of government and individually funded scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students offered through the school. Some are fully funded, while some are partial and renewable for up to three years.

The most popular and best option for you would be Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)

5. University of Toronto

The University of Toronto has a series of funding opportunities available for students. Some of which are partially funded, fully funded, and also available to all student types on all degree programs and levels of study.

It is highly advised to apply for the Lester B. Pearson international scholarship Program. This fully funded scholarship is offered by top Canadian Universities, and University of Toronto happens to be one of them.

The scholarship program is fully funded going on to cover tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years which makes winners of this award tuition-free students of the University of Toronto.

6. University of Waterloo

University of Waterloo offers the top two fully-funded scholarships for international students in Canada. These two fully funded scholarships are the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholarships and the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, which are available to both masters and graduate students till the end of their study at Waterloo.

7. Carleton University

Carleton University offers fully funded scholarships to undergraduate students. You can pursue an undergraduate degree program at Carleton University at zero cost. This is made possible through the Carleton University entrance awards for international students and it is only for students entering the institution for the first time. This can be renewed for 3 years if the requirements are maintained.

Top Cheap Colleges in Canada

For students who are not able to get scholarships to universities in Canada. There is no cause for alarm, as there are cheap colleges in Canada.

Colleges in Canada aren’t automatically free for locals and foreign students alike. However, they are subsidized, so students can pay less for their education. Education subsidies vary between provinces, and institutions may charge differential fees for Canadians that live in different provinces and international students. Despite colleges not being free in Canada, the subsidy makes it affordable.

Below is a list of Top 15 Cheap Colleges in Canada and range of tuition fee.

ALGONQUIN COLLEGE $4000 – $9000
BOW VALLEY COLLEGE $6,000 – $11,234
CAMOSUN COLLEGE $7,000
FANSHAWE COLLEGE $13,623 – $14,223
GEORGIAN COLLEGE $13,845 to $32,431
LAMBTON COLLEGE $7,000
NIAGARA COLLEGE $420 paid per credit hour
LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE $6,000 – $22,000
LOYALIST COLLEGE $13,000
SENECA COLLEGE $13,000
SELKIRK COLLEGE $4,900(Undergraduate) $5,260 (post-graduate)
NORTHERN LIGHTS COLLEGE $295.05 per credit hour$7,000 to $23,000
HUMBER COLLEGE $15,300 to $15,700
ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE $7,200
SHERIDAN COLLEGE $7,200

Free Online Universities in Canada

International students who are not able to make it to Canada for study, can still get an education from Canadian universities online. There are Canadian universities offering free online courses. These courses are available in different fields such as engineering, management, humanities coding and also business.

The universities listed below offer online degrees for remote learners. They use a Learning Management System (LMS). The institutions listed below should be your first visit if you are looking for schools in Canada that provide free online courses with certificates: