Oh Canada!
Canada remains one of the world’s most popular destinations for international students, but the cost of a Canadian master’s degree can vary dramatically from one university and program to another.
For international students trying to keep costs under control, the good news is that some Canadian universities offer graduate programs at considerably lower tuition rates than the country’s most expensive institutions in urban locations like Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.
The key is to look beyond the biggest names and compare actual graduate tuition, scholarships and funding opportunities.
Here are 10 Canadian universities worth investigating if affordability is a priority.
-
Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Approximate master’s tuition: About C$6,600–C$15,600 total for selected programs, depending on the degree and program structure.
Memorial University is particularly attractive to international students because Newfoundland and Labrador provides significant public support for the university, helping it maintain relatively low tuition.
Some master’s programs have total tuition below C$10,000, although professional and specialized programs can cost considerably more.
Memorial also offers graduate funding, scholarships and assistantships. The availability and value depend on the program, academic record and research area.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — graduate scholarships, fellowships, assistantships and other funding opportunities are available.
Memorial University – Graduate Studies
-
University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
- Location: Prince George, British Columbia
- Approximate master’s tuition: About C$8,100 minimum for a standard master’s, before additional fees.
UNBC is one of the more interesting options for students looking for a relatively inexpensive Canadian graduate education.
For 2026–27, the basic international graduate tuition unit is C$2,704.15 per semester, and the minimum master’s degree requires three full-time tuition units. That puts the basic minimum at approximately C$8,112. Some programs have higher rates.
For example, international students pay a higher tuition unit for programs such as Education, Social Work and Health Sciences.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — UNBC offers graduate scholarships, awards and research funding opportunities.
- University of Saskatchewan
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Approximate master’s tuition: About C$12,000–C$14,000+ per year for many thesis/project-based programs, depending on the program.
The University of Saskatchewan is a major Canadian research university while still offering relatively competitive graduate tuition.
Its graduate tuition system varies according to whether the master’s is thesis/project-based or course-based. Thesis-based programs generally use a per-term tuition structure.
International applicants can also be considered for scholarships and awards upon admission, although eligibility and competition vary by program.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — graduate scholarships, awards, research funding and assistantships are available.
-
University of Manitoba
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Approximate master’s tuition: About C$14,000–C$27,000+ per year, depending heavily on the program.
The University of Manitoba deserves attention because its graduate tuition varies substantially by program.
For 2026–27, many standard full-time master’s programs charge international students C$7,186.36 per term for the first two terms, or approximately C$14,373 for the first year, before continuing fees and other costs. Some specialized programs have considerably higher fees.
The university also has an unusually broad graduate funding system.
For example, the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship provides master’s awards worth C$20,000 per year, for 12 or 24 months, subject to eligibility and departmental selection.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — extensive graduate scholarships, fellowships and research funding are available.
-
University of Regina
- Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
- Approximate master’s tuition: Program-dependent; roughly C$10,000–C$20,000+ per year for many master’s programs.
The University of Regina. offers a wide selection of graduate programs, including business, journalism, education, computer science and engineering.
International tuition is calculated according to credit hours and program. Its 2026 graduate tuition schedule shows different rates for standard master’s programs and specialized programs such as Engineering, Nursing, Journalism and Computer Science.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — the university offers graduate awards and scholarships, although students should check the individual graduate department for international eligibility.
-
Brandon University
Location: Brandon, Manitoba
Approximate master’s tuition: Generally among the more affordable Canadian options; check the individual program’s 2026–27 graduate fee schedule.
Brandon University is a smaller institution that can be worth considering for international students who are looking beyond Canada’s largest universities.
Its 2026–27 registration information includes a separate international graduate tuition schedule, reflecting the fact that graduate costs differ from undergraduate international tuition.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes, although some Brandon graduate scholarship-bursaries are restricted to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. International students should therefore check individual awards carefully.
It also participates in international scholarship initiatives such as the Study in Canada Scholarships, although these are generally connected to eligible exchange/research arrangements rather than being a general scholarship for every international master’s applicant.
-
University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
- Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- Approximate master’s tuition: Program-dependent; international graduate tuition includes a C$9,718 full-time international graduate fee for 2026–27, in addition to applicable graduate tuition.
UPEI can be an attractive option for students who want a smaller Canadian university and a potentially lower-cost alternative to universities in Canada’s largest cities.
The university’s official 2026–27 fee calculator allows students to calculate the cost according to their specific graduate program.
UPEI also reports more than C$14.5 million in scholarships and awards across its student population, although students should check individual eligibility because not every award is available to international graduate students.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — scholarships and awards are available, with eligibility varying by program.
-
Cape Breton University
- Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia
- Approximate master’s tuition: About C$30,000–C$36,000 for some professional master’s programs.
Cape Breton University is often mentioned among Canada’s more affordable universities, but international students should be careful about assuming that every master’s program is inexpensive.
For example, some of CBU’s professional graduate programs can cost more than C$30,000.
This illustrates an important point: a university can have relatively affordable tuition overall while still having expensive international master’s programs.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — CBU offers scholarships and awards, but availability and international eligibility vary by program.
-
University of Winnipeg
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Approximate master’s tuition: Program-dependent; check individual graduate programs for current international rates.
The University of Winnipeg is another smaller Manitoba university worth investigating, particularly for students interested in arts, development, public policy, environment and related fields.
Because graduate tuition can differ considerably between programs, prospective international students should calculate the cost of the specific master’s rather than relying on a university-wide average.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — graduate awards and scholarships are available, with eligibility varying by program.
-
Concordia University
- Location: Montreal, Quebec
- Approximate master’s tuition: Highly program-dependent.
Concordia University can be worth investigating because Quebec’s university system and Concordia’s program structures can produce different tuition costs from those found at many universities elsewhere in Canada.
Research-based master’s programs can also have funding opportunities through supervisors, departments and research grants.
- Scholarships/funding: Yes — Concordia offers graduate scholarships, awards and funding opportunities.
The cheapest option isn’t always the cheapest overall
International students should calculate four different costs before accepting an offer:
- Tuition
- Mandatory university fees
- Housing and living expenses
- Health insurance and other international-student costs
This is particularly important in Canada because living costs can vary dramatically between cities.
A university in a smaller city may therefore provide a lower overall cost of education even when its tuition is not the absolute lowest.
Quick cost comparison of Master’s degree program in Canada for international students
Important: These figures are tuition estimates, not the full cost of attendance. Some universities charge mandatory international/student fees separately, and professional master’s programs can be much more expensive than research-based degrees.
