The tuition-free universities are one of the important features that attract students from all over the world. International students tend to have a high expectation of quality education.
In order to meet this expectation, there are many tuition-free universities in Canada that offer quality education at no cost. Some of the best educational institutions in Canada are publicly funded and do not charge any tuition fees for international students.
There are also some private institutions that offer free education. However, there are some restrictions on the number of international students admitted.
For example, the University of Toronto has a quota for international students, and each year it accepts less than 10% of all applicants from other countries.
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Why Study in Canada?
The country is safe, peaceful, and multicultural. It has a very good standard of living, with a low unemployment rate and a good economy.
The education system in Canada is excellent as well as the healthcare system which makes it one of the best countries to study abroad in terms of quality education.
The country also has a good social security system which ensures that you will be able to get all your needs met once you graduate from university or college if you have any problems later on in life due to illness.
The crime rate is low and the country has very strict gun laws which make it a peaceful place to live in. It’s also one of the most beautiful countries on Earth with lots of natural wonders and one can easily fall in love with its scenery.
Regarding Canadian Universities with Free-Tuition
Tuition-free universities are a great way to save money, especially for international students. There are tuition-free universities in Canada, and the list keeps growing.
These universities provide free education for all students, including international students. The reason why these universities offer free tuition is that they receive funding from other sources, such as government grants or donations.
Let’s look at what these tuition-free institutions in Canada for international students actually mean before moving on to the complete list of universities in Canada that do not charge tuition for international students.
There are actually no universities in Canada with free tuition, both local and international students must pay for their education. However, if you apply for fully funded scholarships that will pay for your education for the whole term of your studies, you can still attend Canadian universities tuition-free.
List of Tuition-Free Universities in Canada for International Students
Below is a list of 9 tuition-free universities in Canada for International Students:
- The University of Calgary
- Concordia University
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- The University of Toronto
- Saint Mary’s University
- Carleton University
- The University of British Columbia
- The University of Waterloo
- York University.
Tuition-Free Universities in Canada for International Students
1. The University of Calgary
- Total Enrollment: Over 35,000
- Address: 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta. Scholarships for international students at the University of Calgary are offered by the University’s International Office and its Faculty of Arts & Science.
The University of Calgary is a member of the U15, an association of research-intensive universities in Canada established by Prime Minister Trudeau on January 1st, 2015 with the goal to promote excellence and innovation among its members through collaborative activities such as joint research projects and other forms of collaboration between member institutions across Canada.
In addition to offering outstanding educational programs for undergraduate students at all levels, including certificates courses offered online via MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
It also offers graduate programs leading towards master’s degrees which include specialized fields like Medical Sciences or Nursing Sciences but also other specialties like Architecture if you prefer this field over others mentioned earlier.
2. Concordia University
- Total Enrollment: Over 51,000
- Address: 1455 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Concordia University is a public comprehensive university located in Montreal, Quebec. There are many scholarships for international students who want to study at Concordia University.
These include the International Student Awards for Excellence (ISAE) scholarship program which is given out by the university’s Students’ Union as well as other awards such as bursaries and prizes administered by external organizations such as Canada’s Immigration Minister’s Office or Canadian Parents for French Language Schools (CPFLS).
Concordia University offers scholarships based on merit rather than geography or nationality so that you can apply even if you’re not from Canada.
3. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Total Enrollment: Over 13,000
- Address: 1301 16 Ave NW, Calgary, AB T2M 0L4, Canada
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SIT) is a public polytechnic university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1947 as the Technical Training Institute (TTI).
It has three campuses: the main campus is at East Campus; West Campus offers programs for construction management, and Airdrie Campus offers programs for automotive maintenance and repair.
SIT has more than 80 programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The school offers scholarships for international students who are studying at SIT full-time or part-time during their studies at no cost to them.
4. The University of Toronto
- Total Enrollment: Over 70,000
- Address: 27 King’s College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada
The University of Toronto is one of the top universities in Canada. It is also one of the largest research-intensive universities in North America with over 43,000 students from across the globe.
The university offers scholarships to international students who want to study at their school and pursue a degree at their undergraduate or graduate level.
The University of Toronto offers scholarships to international students who want to study at their school and pursue a degree at their undergraduate or graduate level.
The university has a number of scholarship programs for international students. These scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, financial need, and/or other factors such as community involvement or language proficiency.
5. Saint Mary’s University
- Total Enrollment: Over 8,000
- Address: 923 Robie St, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada
Saint Mary’s University (SMU) is a Roman Catholic university in the Vancouver suburb of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto in 1853 and named after Saint Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Most international students come from Asian countries such as China and Thailand, and pay an average tuition fee at SMU ranging from $1700 to $3700 per semester depending on their field of study.
Several scholarships are available for international students coming from other countries such as India who may be eligible for up to $5000 worth of financial aid each semester based on their academic performance alone.
SMU is a co-educational university and offers over 40 undergraduate degrees, as well as four graduate programs.
The university has more than 200 full-time faculty and staff members, 35% of whom have PhDs or other terminal degrees.
It also has 700 part-time faculty members and approximately 13,000 students at the main campus in Halifax and 2,500 students at its branch campuses in Sydney and Antigonish.
6. Carleton University
- Total Enrollment: Over 30,000
- Address: 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Carleton University is a public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1867 as Canada’s first university to offer an arts degree and later became one of the country’s top-ranked universities.
The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines including arts & humanities; business administration; computer science; engineering sciences etc.,
Carleton University offers scholarships for international students who wish to study at their institution.
The school offers a variety of scholarships for international students including the Carleton International Scholarship, which is awarded to those who will be pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees for up to four years (including the summer terms) and is renewable for up to two additional years provided students maintain their academic standing.
7. The University of British Columbia
- Total Enrollment: Over 70,000
- Address: Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
The University of British Columbia is a public research university located in British Columbia, Canada.
The main campus is situated on Point Grey Road just north of downtown Vancouver and is bordered by Sea Island (near the Kitsilano neighborhood) to the west and Point Grey to the east.
The university has two campuses: UBC Vancouver Campus (Vancouver) and UBC Okanagan Campus (Kelowna).
The University of British Columbia offers several scholarships for international students including, international Student Aid Program: This program provides financial assistance for international students who meet certain criteria such as having tuition fees covered by other sources/grants or being from low-income families or communities.
You can apply through your home country’s embassy or consulate if you live outside Canada at least half-time while studying at UBC Vancouver Campus otherwise, you must apply through your home country’s embassy/consulate once you have arrived in Canada.
8. The University of Waterloo
- Total Enrollment: Over 40,000
- Address: 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
The University of Waterloo is a public research university with an international reputation for science and engineering programs.
The school was founded in 1957 on the banks of the Grand River, about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. It’s located near Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; its campus is home to more than 18,000 students studying at undergraduate or postgraduate levels.
The university offers scholarships for international students who want to study there but cannot afford tuition fees or living expenses during their studies.
The university has a reputation for its strengths in engineering, mathematics, and science. It’s one of the top research universities in Canada and offers more than 100 degree programs across 13 faculties. The university also has an active alumni network with more than 170,000 graduates worldwide.
9. York University
- Total Enrollment: Over 55,000
- Address: 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
York University is located in Toronto, Ontario, and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students. Their most popular programs are in the arts, business, and science fields.
As a tuition-free university, you can get a scholarship at York University if you’re studying there full-time during your entire course of study.
They offer scholarships based on financial needs or academic merit (grades). The school also offers scholarships for some students who want to pursue their studies abroad or take courses online with no additional costs involved at all.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need a high school diploma to be accepted?
Yes, a high school diploma is required to be eligible to study at any of the tuition-free universities.
What’s the difference between open and closed programs?
Open programs are accessible to anyone who meets the admission requirements, while closed programs have specific criteria that must be met in order to be admitted.
How do I know which program is right for me?
One of the best ways to find out what programs might interest you is to speak with an advisor from the institution you're interested in attending. They can answer any questions you might have about courses, transfer credits, registration procedures, class times, and more.
How can I apply for admission as an international student?
You must apply directly through each university's website for admission; follow their instructions carefully.
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Conclusion:
The tuition-free universities in Canada are designed to provide an excellent learning environment for international students.
With a good number of Canadian universities offering free tuition, studying abroad became even more attractive.
The tuition-free universities in Canada offer a wide variety of programs and courses in different disciplines.
The universities are located all over the country, making it easy for students to choose from a wide range of locations.
