Canada and the US are among the top five choices for international students. Both are home to top-ranked unis, glorious scenery and commanding cities.

But is one cheaper to study at to another? If so, what makes it cheaper? We’ll take a look below.

Known as the Land of Lakes and composed of 10 provinces, Canada is home to beautiful landscapes such as Niagara Falls and historical gems like Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. International students love Canada for how welcoming it is and the relative ease of finding work after graduation.

The US offers just as much. From LA to New York, Chicago to New Orleans, American cities are packed with character. Over at its great parks like Yosemite and trails like the Appalachian, you’ll find calm, beauty and more. Whether urban or rural, good US colleges and unis are found everywhere.

While both Canada and the US provide plenty, they’re far from the same — especially how much a degree in either will cost. What you choose to study and which city you live in will make a huge difference on how much you end up paying too.

Which country is cheaper for international students?

Application fees

Application fees can add up to be a large sum if students have multiple applications to universities in the US and Canada. Source: Joe Raedle /Getty Images North America/Getty Images Via AFP

In both the US and Canada, international students are expected to pay an application fee when applying to study at a university. Though these fees may seem small on its won, they can end up costing a fair bit together.

In the US, the average application fee is US$45 but some unis charge as much as US$100. In Canada, it varies from as low as CA$30 to as high as over CA$200.

Thankfully, some universities and colleges don’t charge at all, offering application fee waivers under special conditions. Do note that most of these waivers are not automatic and you would have to check whether you can apply for them. For those interested in studying in the US, check out the College Board or Common App website to see if you qualify.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees will be the biggest item on your budget. Source: Daniel Slim/AFP

How much tuition you’ll pay depends on which part of the country you’re in. If you compare New York to New Jersey, or Ontario to Nova Scotia, there will be an obvious difference in how much tuition fees cost.

On average, the annual tuition fees for the year 2019-20 showed that Canada’s university tuition fees cost 58% less than tuition fees at US unis. This amounts to a difference of US$4,000.

Canada is also generous with financial aid and scholarships. While scholarships are standard and widely available in the US too, securing financial aid is a lot harder for an international student.

Healthcare

Both the US and Canada expect their international students to arrange for health insurance throughout their study duration. Source: Scott Olson/Getty Images North America/Getty Images Via AFP

International students in both the US and Canada have to arrange for health insurance throughout their study duration. In Canada, international students may be covered under provincial health insurance plans or are required to pay for private health insurance plans. Though the cost varies from provider to provider, the estimated average yearly premium ranges from 600 to 900 Canadian dollars (around US$441 to US$661 at the time of writing).

In the US, international students under the J1 and F1 visa holders have separate health insurance requirements to fulfil. Unlike J1 visa holders who have to fulfil a number of requirements, F1 visa holders will have to follow through with the medical insurance offered by their respective institutions. An annual insurance plan may cost between US$500 and US$1,000 on average.

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Their long standing reputation and prestige also mean that graduates from both universities are often highly sought-after by employers and academics alike — making an education at such institutions attractive to most international students.

Now, it’s no secret that getting an offer from an Oxbridge university is hard. The University of Oxford typically has a 17% acceptance rate, with Cambridge a little higher at 21%.

These rates are higher than some Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Columbia — which typically only accept around 5% of their applicants. Still, the Oxbridge universities practise a thorough screening process for its applicants, meaning you’d have to pass multiple rounds of tasks and interviews before you’re granted an offer.

UK scholarships for international students: I’ve gotten an offer from an Oxbridge uni. Now what?

Got an offer? Congratulations! That’s an incredible achievement in itself. Now comes the next step: figuring how to finance your education.

Both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge are notorious for being some of the most expensive institutions in the UK. At Oxford, international students typically pay between 28,950 and 44,240 British pounds annually. Cambridge has a higher bracket: course fees start at £23,340 and can go up to £60,942 for medical students.

Unless you’re able to fully fund yourself, this means that you’ll likely have to seek out alternative ways of paying for your degree. Most of the time, this could take the form of loans or bursaries from your local government. However, the Oxbridge institutions sometimes offer their own scholarships to a lucky few students, as well.

Here’s a look into the range of UK scholarships for international students applying to Oxbridge unis:

The University of Oxford

Hill Foundation Scholarships

The Hill Foundation offers scholarships to fund high-achieving Russian students. There is no restriction to the field of study, meaning that Russian students will be able to pursue programmes in a wide range of subjects. However, applicants must prove that they have previously completed a degree at a Russian university to qualify.

On top of this, they will be required to return to Russia for at least one year following the completion of their studies at Oxford.

The Bright Oceans Corporation Scholarship

Created for students from China, the Bright Oceans Corporation Scholarship was formed to fund promising undergraduate students with exceptional academic merit. Specifically, this scholarship is reserved to fund students pursuing a course in the mathematical, physical, and life sciences division.

These UK scholarships for international students will cover three to four years of course fees on top of living expenses. Scholarships are awarded based on a student’s financial need and academic merit, so students should be able to prove this in their application.

The Palgrave Brown Scholarship

Established by the Palgrave Brown Bursary Fund, the Palgrave Brown Scholarship is geared towards funding undergraduates from a select few Eastern European countries. Offer holders from all subjects in the course listing can qualify for the scholarship.

This is a partial award with an annual grant of at least £13,365 towards living costs. Scholarships will be awarded according to financial need and academic merit. For the full list of eligibility criteria, have a look at this page.

The University of Cambridge

The Cambridge Trust Scholarships

The Cambridge Trust Scholarships refer to a range of funds and grants to offer holders from the University of Cambridge. Most of these are geared towards local students, but there are a range of UK scholarships for international students, too.

It’s essential to note that the Cambridge International Scholarships are reserved for PhD students. In this, students receive full financial support, and the scholarship will cover the University Composition Fee and a maintenance allowance for a single person.

The application window for the Cambridge International Scholarships are between 1 Dec., 2022 to 5 Jan., 2023. For more information on application and funding deadlines, click here.

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Studying in the UK is expensive, though. It can be a struggle to find cheap universities in the UK. Figures from the Reddin Survey of University Tuition Fees 2021/22 showed that the annual tuition fees for international students in the UK range from 10,000 pounds to 32,081 pounds. This does not include the money students would likely have to spend on housing, food and travel.

Fortunately, there are cheap universities in the UK for those looking for a more affordable option. While they might not be well-known like King’s College London or the University of Manchester, students are guaranteed to enjoy a quality international education without breaking the bank.

Cheap universities in the UK for international students

University of Bolton

The University of Bolton prides itself in having a diverse student body — with over 120 nationalities represented on campus. On top of that, the university has some of the lowest staff-to-student teaching ratios in the country.

You can explore unique career options through their various programmes. They cater to those interested in Automotive Performance Engineering, Fashion Photography, Visual Effects, Sport Rehabilitation, and many more.

For the 2022-23 academic term, the tuition fee for their undergraduate programme starts at 12,950 pounds.

Queen Margaret University

Eager to pursue a career in business, nursing, or performing arts on a campus near the centre of Scotland’s capital? Queen Margaret University (QMU) might just be the place for you. Less than six minutes from Edinburgh city centre, QMU is within walking distance of Musselburgh town centre with easy access to East Lothian’s beautiful coast and countryside.

As for their programmes, QMU has various undergraduate courses in the industries mentioned above and many others, like health sciences, education, and social sciences. Faculty members are also actively involved in research activities.

Tuition fees at QMU cost around 7,000 pounds to 15,500 pounds for bachelor’s programmes. Those pursuing the BSc (Hons) Nursing or one of the courses marked “#” from Sept. 2018 will have to pay extra for pre-placement costs, including name badges, uniforms and health clearance checks.

Southampton Solent University

Dating as far as 1856, Southampton Solent University kept itself relevant by offering experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students to gain valuable real-world experience. Take, for example, Solent Creatives. The student-powered creative agency supports students eager to kickstart their careers in marketing, media production, and many more.

The university is located in Southampton, allowing international students to explore some of the city’s best entertainment and nightlife. Those who fancy a change in scenery can take a day trip to London, Bournemouth, or Portsmouth.

Like most UK universities, the fee structure will vary according to courses. If you are interested in pursuing a BA (Hons) Animation, you can expect to pay 14,250 pounds for the 2022-23 academic year.

Leeds Becket University 

Leeds Becket University offers the best of both worlds. Its City Campus is nestled in the heart of Leeds. Meanwhile, the Headingley campus is set on 100 acres of parkland — offering easy access to Leeds city centre and is adjacent to the vibrant student towns like Headingley and Hyde Park.

The university’s teaching team bring a wealth of experience to ensure students are ready for the workplace. Picture Matty Bovan – described as one of “London’s pre-eminent young designers” – as a teacher in class. Work placement opportunities also help international students to become more employable.

Generally, you can expect to pay around 14,000 pounds for an education at Leeds Becket University.

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