Canada vs USA
For Indian students — costs, work rights, visas and what we actually list, side by side.
| Canada | USA | |
|---|---|---|
| Postgrad tuition / year | CAD $16,000–$40,000/yr (master's; the national average for international graduate students is about CAD $24,000, with MBAs higher) | $20,000–$60,000/yr (STEM/business at private universities higher) |
| Undergrad tuition / year | CAD $15,000–$45,000/yr (national average for international undergraduates is about CAD $42,000; varies widely by province and program) | $25,000–$55,000/yr |
| Living cost / month | CAD $1,500–$2,500/month (roughly CAD $18,000–$30,000/yr; higher in Toronto/Vancouver) | $1,000–$2,500/month (higher in New York, Boston, California) |
| Work while studying | Up to 24 hrs/week off-campus during academic terms; full-time (unlimited) during scheduled breaks like summer and winter holidays | On-campus up to 20 hrs/week during term, full-time in holidays; off-campus work only via CPT/OPT authorisation (not in first year) |
| Post-study work | Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): 8 months up to 3 years, based on program length (2+ year programs and master's degrees can qualify for the full 3 years). Requires an English/French test... | Optional Practical Training (OPT): 12 months after graduation, plus a 24-month STEM OPT extension for eligible STEM degrees (up to 36 months total) |
| Main intakes | September (Fall, main intake), January (Winter), May (Summer/limited) | Fall (August/September) – main; Spring (January); limited Summer (May) |
| English (typical) | IELTS Academic 6.0–7.0 overall (commonly 6.5, with no band below 6.0 for many programs) | IELTS 6.5–7.5 (TOEFL iBT ~80–100); top universities often expect 7.0–7.5 |
| Student visa | Study permit (issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). The study permit is not a visa — if approved, IRCC also issues a temporary resident visa (visitor visa) or eTA in the s... | F-1 student visa (academic student). The M-1 visa covers vocational / non-academic study. Almost all Indian students going for a degree at a US college or university apply for the F-1. |
| Visa fee | Two IRCC fees, both in Canadian dollars: study permit processing fee CAN$150 per person, and biometrics CAN$85 per person (maximum CAN$170 for a family of 2 or more applying together). Total... | Two mandatory government fees, both non-refundable: (1) Nonimmigrant visa application fee, also called the MRV fee — US$185 for F and M student visas (official India fee list; payable in Ind... |
| Visa processing | IRCC's published processing time for a study permit applied for from OUTSIDE Canada by an applicant in India is 5 weeks (IRCC processing-times tool, "Study permit outside Canada — India", la... | As published by the official U.S. Visa Information Service for India: "Nonimmigrant visa applicants are encouraged to apply at least three months in advance of the intended date of travel,"... |
| Funds to show | For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2025, for study OUTSIDE Quebec, you must show living-expense funds for the first year of CAN$22,895 for a single applicant. With accompanyi... | There is no single government-fixed rupee or dollar amount (unlike Canada's GIC). The benchmark is the estimated cost of attendance printed on your Form I-20 — tuition plus living expenses f... |
| Universities we list | 15 | 108 |
| Programmes we list | 42 | 36 |
| Scholarships we list | 51 | 50 |
Costs and visa figures are the published ranges from official sources — your exact fee depends on the university and programme, and we confirm it free. Universities, programmes and scholarships are live counts of what we currently list, not the size of the country's whole sector.
Where Canada comes out ahead
- More programmes with a fee we have checked against the university (39 vs 28).
- More scholarships we can point you at (51 vs 50).
- Post-study work: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): 8 months up to 3 years, based on program length (2+ year programs and mast...
Canada vs USA — FAQs
5 questions
Compare the tuition and living rows above: Canada postgrad tuition is CAD $16,000–$40,000/yr (master's; the national average for international graduate students is about CAD $24,000, with MBAs higher). USA is $20,000–$60,000/yr (STEM/business at private universities higher). Living costs and the funds you must show for the visa matter as much as tuition — we work out the all-in number for your city and course, free.
Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): 8 months up to 3 years, based on program length (2+ year programs and master's degrees can qualify for the full 3 years). Requires an English/French test result and, for some applicants, a program tied to an in-demand field. USA: Optional Practical Training (OPT): 12 months after graduation, plus a 24-month STEM OPT extension for eligible STEM degrees (up to 36 months total)
Canada: Up to 24 hrs/week off-campus during academic terms; full-time (unlimited) during scheduled breaks like summer and winter holidays USA: On-campus up to 20 hrs/week during term, full-time in holidays; off-campus work only via CPT/OPT authorisation (not in first year)
Neither is automatic. What actually decides it is documentation: funds held for the required period, a genuine study plan and a clean application. See our Canada and USA visa guides for each official process, fee and document list.
No. Shortlisting, applications, SOP/LOR/Resume and visa guidance are free — we are paid by partner universities, not by you.
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