Canada is one of the most preferred international student destinations.
Many factors contribute to this, including some of the top universities in the world, high safety, affordable tuition fees, part-time job opportunities, post-study work permits, Permanent residency (PR) prospects, affordable cost of living, high quality of life and many more.
Considering all these factors, this article has enlisted and explained the most popular student cities in Canada for international students.
5 Most Popular Student Cities in Canada
According to QS World University Rankings, these are the best cities in Canada in 2022.
|
Cities in Canada |
Ranking in Canada |
Global Ranking |
|
Montreal |
1 |
9 |
|
Toronto |
2 |
13 |
|
Vancouver |
3 |
18 |
|
Ottawa |
4 |
53 |
|
Quebec |
5 |
113 |
Most Popular Student Cities in Canada: Montreal
With pioneering educational institutions, Montreal is Canada's best city for international students. Montreal is further alluring to international students with its affordable tuition fees, safe environment and well-connected public transportation.
Some facts make Canada one of the most suitable cities for international students.
- Affordable cost of living: Living expense ranges from CAD 700 to CAD 1200 per month.
- The tuition fees for international students in Montreal range from CAD 12,000- CAD 40,000 per year.
- Given some of the best universities in Canada (and the world), like McGill University and the University of Montreal, are in Montreal, the popularity of Montreal is very prominent amongst international students.
- The average skilled worker's salary per hour in Canada is above CAD 20 per hour
Check out these famous educational institutes in Canada:
Quick Facts about Montreal
|
Number of universities ranked by QS |
3 |
|
Highest-ranked institution |
McGill University (35th in the world) |
|
Population |
4,221,000 |
|
Average international fees (at ranked unis) |
US$14,400 |
|
Desirability rank |
13th |
|
Employer Activity rank |
33rd |
|
Affordability rank |
52nd |
|
Student View rank |
10th |
Best Universities in Montreal (Canada)
- McGill University
- Concordia University
- HEC Montreal
- University of Montreal
Best Colleges in Montreal (Canada)
- Dawson College
- Vanier College
- Polytechnique Montreal
|
Talk to an ExpertMost Popular Student Cities in Canada: Toronto
Toronto is one of Canada's busiest, most developed and most popular cities. It has plenty of career opportunities, good climatic conditions (weather ranges from -8 degrees to 25 degrees), and a high standard of living.
Some of the reasons behind the international craze in Toronto are:
- Ranked at 22 for employer activity indicator globally, Toronto has countless job opportunities, be it the tourism industry, data industry, financial sector or whatever.
- The tuition fees range from CAD 15,000 to CAD 60,000 annually for almost every program.
- It’s possible to get around with locals and get job opportunities conveniently without proficiency in French.
Quick facts about Toronto
|
Number of universities ranked by QS |
3 |
|
Highest-ranked institution |
University of Toronto (26th in the world) |
|
Population |
6,197,000 |
|
Average international fees (at ranked unis) |
US$27,100 |
|
Desirability rank |
2nd |
|
Employer Activity rank |
=22nd |
|
Affordability rank |
=88th |
|
Student View rank |
15th |
Top Universities in Toronto
- University of Toronto
- York University
- Ryerson University
- Trent University
Top Public Colleges in Toronto
- George Brown College
- Centennial College
- Humber College
- Seneca College of Applied Arts and Tec
Most Popular Student Cities in Canada: Vancouver
Vancouver is the third-best city for international students in Canada. It is home to some of the best universities in the country, like the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.
Some of the reasons making Vancouver an excellent pick for overseas students are:
- Excellent Climatic conditions with warm summers and comparatively mild winters.
- Vancouver is affordable in both tuition fees and living expenses wise.
- It has a lot of places and hubs to explore.
- There are excellent career opportunities in international trade, construction, tourism, computer science etc.
- With an average tuition fee of CAD 27,000, Vancouver is one of the most affordable cities in Canada to study in some of the best institutes.
Quick facts about Vancouver
|
Number of universities ranked by QS |
2 |
|
Highest-ranked institution |
University of British Columbia (46th) |
|
Population |
2,581,000 |
|
Average international fees (at ranked unis) |
US$25,300 |
|
Desirability rank |
8th |
|
Employer Activity rank |
31st |
|
Affordability rank |
118th |
|
Student View rank |
31st |
Top Universities in Vancouver
- University of British Columbia
- Simon Fraser University
- Thompson Rivers University
- University of Victoria
- Vancouver Island University
- The University of Canada West
Top Colleges in Vancouver
- Langara College
- Vancouver Community College
- Regent College
- St. John’s College
Most Popular Student Cities in Canada: Ottawa
With meagre crime rates, Ottawa is one of the safest cities in Canada. The climatic condition of Ottawa is also quite commendable with warm summers and cold winters.
You will likely experience a lot of cultural diversity in Ottawa since it has immigrants from Asia, Africa and Europe.
The living expenses are in the range of CAD 1100 to CAD 1400.
Quick Facts about Ottawa
|
Number of universities ranked by QS |
2 |
|
Highest-ranked institution |
University of Ottawa (230th) |
|
Population |
1,393,000 |
|
Average international fees (at ranked unis) |
US$22,600 |
|
Desirability rank |
19th |
|
Employer Activity rank |
=86th |
|
Affordability rank |
71st |
|
Student View rank |
47th |
Top Universities in Ottawa
- University of Ottawa
- Carleton University
Top Colleges in Ottawa
- Algonquin College
- Willis College
|
Most Popular Student Cities in Canada: Quebec
Quebec City is one of the most happening cities in Canada, located in the province of the same name. Since most people in this region speak French, you need to have proper knowledge of French if you wish to study and work in Quebec.
Some of the factors that contribute to making Quebec one of the best international student cities in the country are:
- It’s a very safe city with liberal people. Public violence barely takes place here.
- The unemployment rate in Quebec is among the lowest in Canada.
- With the availability of different and easy means of transportation like cars, buses, taxis, bicycles and other who wheelers, this city offers ease of transportation to students.
Quick Facts about Quebec
|
Number of universities ranked by QS |
2 |
|
Highest-ranked institution |
Université Laval (=414th) |
|
Population |
826,000 |
|
Average international fees (at ranked unis) |
US$15,300 |
|
Desirability rank |
62nd |
|
Employer Activity rank |
93rd |
|
Affordability rank |
=55th |
|
Student View rank |
115th |
Top Universities in Quebec
- Laval University
- University of Quebec
- TELUQ
Top Colleges in Quebec
- École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP)
- National School of Administration
- Morrin College
- Champlain College, St Lawrence
Other popular cities in Canada for international students
Calgary
Renown educational institutions in Calgary:
- University of Calgary
- Bow Valley College
- The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Mount Royal University
- Huron University College
- Bay River College
- St Mary’s University
- Brescia University College
- King’s University College
Halifax
Some famous educational institutions in Halifax:
- Dalhousie University
- Saint Mary’s University
- Mount Saint Vincent University
Winnipeg
Famous educational institutes in Winnipeg:
- University of Manitoba
- University of Winnipeg
- Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology
- Red River College of Applied Arts, Science & Technology
- Canadian Mennonite University
- Assiniboine Community College
- International College of Manitoba
