Destination guide · checked Oct 2026

Study in Canada

Co-op degrees, college and university routes, and a post-graduation work permit of up to three years. How the study permit works as of October 2026, including the cap, provincial attestation letters and PGWP rules.

Explore programs in Canada →

Study permitCAD 150Plus CAD 85 biometrics
Bachelor’s3–4 yearsColleges: diplomas and certificates
Master’s1–2 yearsAfter a bachelor’s
Main intakeSeptemberSome programs start in January or May
Work after studyPGWP up to 3 yearsDepends on program length

What changed in 2026

Checked 31 October 2026. Rules are changing quickly: confirm with your university’s international office before you act.

  • 2026 study permit cap. IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, including 155,000 to newly arriving students. The 2027 cap had not been announced when we checked; the current levels plan targets 150,000 new student arrivals in 2027.
  • No PAL for graduate students at public institutions. Since 1 January 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions don’t need a provincial attestation letter.
  • Proof of funds went up on 1 September 2026 to CAD 23,448 for a single student outside Quebec (it was CAD 22,895).
  • No separate co-op work permit for most post-secondary students since 1 April 2026, when the placement is required by the program and is 50% or less of it.
  • PGWP fields frozen for 2026. IRCC isn’t adding or removing eligible fields of study this year.
  • Changing schools means applying to extend your study permit before you start at the new institution.
Why study here

Co-op, two kinds of institution, and a route to work

Co-op programs

Co-op lets you spend 3 or 4 months or more each year working in your field, so you graduate with Canadian experience.

Colleges and universities

Universities award degrees; public colleges offer career-focused diplomas and certificates. Some institutions have agreements that let you move from one to the other.

Post-graduation work permit

A PGWP of up to 3 years after an eligible program, with university degree graduates exempt from the field-of-study rule.

Work while you study

Up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular sessions, with no limit during scheduled breaks or for on-campus work.

Live from official data

Programs in Canada

Programs at designated learning institutions, from EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada) and the IRCC list of DLIs. Counts update as the data does.

Explore all programs →Browse universities
Bachelor’s programsBrowse →Master’s programsBrowse →Doctorate programsBrowse →Certificate & diploma programsBrowse →

Programs by subject

A few universities to start with

A sample from our directory, not a ranking. See every university in Canada.

Live numbers couldn’t load just now. You can still explore programs in Canada or browse universities.

Student visa

The study permit, step by step

For programs longer than 6 months at a designated learning institution (DLI). Amounts and fees as of October 2026.

  1. Get a letter of acceptance

    Only a designated learning institution (DLI) can accept international students for a study permit.

  2. Get a provincial attestation letter (PAL), if you need one

    Most post-secondary students need a PAL or TAL from the province or territory. Exempt since 1 January 2026: master’s and doctoral programs at public DLIs. To study in Quebec you need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) attestation instead. A PAL is tied to a cap year: you can’t apply with one issued in a previous year.

  3. Show proof of funds

    Your first year’s tuition, plus CAD 23,448 for living costs for a single student outside Quebec (applications from 1 September 2026), plus travel. Accepted evidence includes a GIC from a Canadian financial institution, an education loan, bank statements for the past 6 months, or proof you have paid first-year tuition and housing. Quebec sets its own amounts.

  4. Apply online

    The fee is CAD 150 plus CAD 85 for biometrics. The Student Direct Stream closed on 8 November 2024, so Indian applicants use the regular process.

Family amounts outside Quebec

Living-cost funds per year, not including tuition and travel, for applications from 1 September 2026:

  • 1 person: CAD 23,448
  • 2 people: CAD 29,192
  • 3 people: CAD 35,888
  • 4 people: CAD 43,572

IRCC updates these amounts each year.

Bringing your spouse

Since 21 January 2025, spouses can get an open work permit only if the student is in a master’s program of 16 months or longer, a doctoral program, or certain professional degrees (such as MD, PharmD, BScN, BEd or BEng). Doctoral study permit applications are being processed in 2 weeks, IRCC says.

Work

Working during and after your studies

Your study permit sets your work conditions. These are the general rules as of October 2026.

Off campus

24 hours a week

During regular academic sessions, with no limit during scheduled breaks such as summer and winter holidays. You must be full time in a program of at least 6 months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate. English or French as a second language programs don’t qualify.

On campus and co-op

There is no limit on on-campus work hours. You can only start working when your program starts. Since 1 April 2026 most post-secondary students don’t need a co-op work permit if the placement is required and is 50% or less of the program.

PGWP length

Up to 3 years

Your program must be at least 8 months. Programs of 8 months to under 2 years can get a permit up to the program length; 2 years or more can get 3 years. Master’s graduates can get 3 years even if the program was shorter than 2 years.

PGWP rules to check before you choose

  • Field of study: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt. College and other non-degree programs must be in an eligible field when you apply for your study permit or PGWP.
  • Language: CLB/NCLC 7 for university degree graduates, CLB/NCLC 5 for college graduates.
  • Not eligible: programs at public-private partnership colleges in most cases, and English or French as a second language programs.
Money

Proof of funds, tuition and living costs

In Canadian dollars. Tuition averages are for degree programs in 2026/27 (preliminary, Statistics Canada) and exclude MBAs; your program’s fee may differ a lot.

Average international tuition, 2026/27

CAD 42,062 undergraduateCAD 24,693 graduate

National averages for degree programs (preliminary). Ontario: CAD 50,088 undergraduate and CAD 28,900 graduate; British Columbia: CAD 40,314 and CAD 27,612.

Living costs to show for the permit

CAD 23,448 a year, one person

The minimum outside Quebec, on top of tuition and travel, for applications from 1 September 2026. Real living costs depend heavily on the city.

Permit fees

CAD 235

The CAD 150 study permit fee plus CAD 85 for biometrics.

Intakes and timing

When to start, and how to plan for September 2027

Most programs start in September; some colleges and universities also offer January and May starts. Deadlines are set by each institution.

Now to early 2027

Shortlist programs, check PGWP eligibility for college programs, and take your English test.

Applications

Apply by each institution’s deadline. Popular programs can close early.

After your offer

Get your letter of acceptance and, if you need one, a PAL issued for the 2027 cap year.

Study permit

Apply with proof of funds as early as you can. The 2027 cap and levels plan are still to be announced.

Read our Canada study permit 2027 guide for what changed and what didn’t.

Where to study

Major university cities

Living costs vary a lot between cities. If you choose Quebec, note the CAQ requirement and Quebec’s own proof-of-funds amounts.

TorontoVancouverMontréalOttawaCalgaryEdmontonWaterlooHalifaxWinnipegHamilton

Provinces with the most programs in our data

Find Canadian programs that fit you

The finder ranks Canadian programs by fit, and flags the things that matter here: PAL, co-op and PGWP eligibility. A counsellor can help with your study permit file.

Sources

Every rule, fee, amount and date on this page was checked against these official sources on 31 October 2026. Live program counts come from our database of official data; see credits and data sources. Rules change: confirm with official sources and your university before you apply.

  1. IRCC, 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap (checked Oct 2026)
  2. IRCC, Supplementary information for the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan (checked Oct 2026)
  3. IRCC, Study permit: provincial or territorial attestation letter (checked Oct 2026)
  4. IRCC, Study permit: proof of financial support (checked Oct 2026)
  5. Gouvernement du Québec, Costs of studies (financial capacity for Quebec) (checked Oct 2026)
  6. IRCC, Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list (checked Oct 2026)
  7. IRCC, End of the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express (8 November 2024) (checked Oct 2026)
  8. IRCC, Work off campus as an international student (checked Oct 2026)
  9. IRCC, Work on campus as an international student (checked Oct 2026)
  10. IRCC, Work in a student work placement (co-op) (checked Oct 2026)
  11. IRCC, Simplifying the co-op work permit requirement for post-secondary international students (9 April 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
  12. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: eligibility (checked Oct 2026)
  13. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: about (length of the permit) (checked Oct 2026)
  14. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: field of study requirement (checked Oct 2026)
  15. IRCC, Work permits for spouses and common-law partners of international students (checked Oct 2026)
  16. IRCC, Who doesn’t need a study permit (checked Oct 2026)
  17. IRCC, Change schools as an international student (checked Oct 2026)
  18. IRCC, Graduate students: how to apply (doctoral processing time) (checked Oct 2026)
  19. Statistics Canada, Table 37-10-0045-01 Canadian and international tuition fees by level of study (2026/2027 preliminary, released 16 September 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
  20. Statistics Canada, The Daily: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2026/2027 (16 September 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
  21. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Common pathways to college and university (checked Oct 2026)
  22. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Graduate studies (checked Oct 2026)
  23. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Work while studying (co-op) (checked Oct 2026)