CanadaBuilt for International Students Heading to Canada

Your Complete Guide
to Studying in Canada.

Search 150+ Canadian universities, find scholarships, prepare for CELPIP or IELTS, track your Study Permit, and map your PGWP path to Canadian PR — all in one free tool.

Browse Schools

Free · No credit card · Works for all visa types

900K+
International students in Canada
100+
DLI schools with PGWP eligibility
3 yrs
Max PGWP duration
CA$50K+
Top Canadian scholarships

Search Canadian Universities

Tuition · acceptance rates · QS rankings · IELTS requirements · grad salary

Search for a Canadian university above, or click a popular school to explore

Everything You Need to Study in Canada

Not just information — an interactive planning tool that tracks every step from application to PGWP.

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Search 150+ Canadian Universities

Compare tuition, acceptance rates, QS rankings, IELTS requirements, and grad salary data for every major Canadian DLI in one place.

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Study Permit Checklist

Interactive step-by-step tracker: LOA, PAL/TAL, CAQ (Quebec), IRCC application, biometrics, proof of funds, and port-of-entry activation.

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PGWP Eligibility & Path to PR

Track your Post-Graduation Work Permit window, understand CLB language requirements, and map your Express Entry pathway to Canadian PR.

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CELPIP & IELTS Practice Tests

Full-length and mini CELPIP-General diagnostic tests (Listening 47q · Reading 38q · Writing). AI-scored on the CLB 1–12 scale.

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Canadian Scholarship Finder

Browse 200+ Canadian scholarships including Vanier ($50K/yr), OGS ($15K/yr), and no-cosigner loans like MPOWER and Prodigy Finance.

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Pre-Departure Checklist

11 must-do tasks before your flight: housing, health insurance gap coverage, Canadian bank setup, SIM card, and SIN registration guide.

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Cost of Living Calculator

Annual cost breakdowns by school type — from polytechnics (CA$27K/yr total) to U of T and UBC (CA$70K+/yr). Proof-of-funds calculator.

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CLB Language Score Tracker

Map your CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF Canada score to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) — required for PGWP, Express Entry, and most school admissions.

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Your 18-Month Canada Application Timeline

Study permit, PAL/TAL, and school applications all have different windows. We keep you on track.

18 Months Out
Research schools & programs (DLI check)
Register for IELTS / CELPIP / TOEFL
Save proof-of-funds (CAD $22,895+ living)
12 Months Out
Apply to universities via OUAC / direct
Apply for PAL/TAL from your province
Quebec applicants: apply for CAQ (~$126)
6 Months Out
Receive Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
Submit IRCC study permit application ($150)
Pay biometrics fee ($85) · book VAC appointment
1 Month Out
Confirm housing & health insurance gap
Set up Wise/Remitly for CAD transfers
Prepare all documents for port-of-entry

Language Tests for Canada

CELPIP maps directly to CLB — making it the best choice for PGWP and Express Entry. IELTS is preferred for university admission.

CELPIP-General

🇨🇦 Canadian

Developed by UBC. Fully computer-based, results in 4–8 days. Accepted by IRCC for Express Entry, PGWP language proof, and citizenship. Maps directly to CLB.

Score: CLB 1–12~3 hrs
💡 Best for PGWP & Express Entry — directly maps to CLB.

IELTS Academic / GT

🌍 Global

Most widely accepted for Canadian university admission (IELTS Academic). IELTS General Training accepted by IRCC for Express Entry and study permits.

Score: Band 0–92h 45min
💡 IELTS Academic for school admission; IELTS GT for immigration.

TOEFL iBT

🎓 Academic

Accepted by most Canadian universities for undergraduate and graduate admission. Not accepted by IRCC for immigration. Valid 2 years.

Score: 0–120~3 hrs
💡 University admission only — not accepted by IRCC.

TEF Canada / TCF Canada

🇫🇷 French

French proficiency for Quebec school admissions and French-language Express Entry streams. NCLC 7 required for degree PGWP; NCLC 5 for non-degree.

Score: NCLC 1–12~3 hrs
💡 Required for Quebec CAQ and French PGWP pathway.
📊 Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Quick Reference

CLB is the national standard for English in Canada. NCLC is the equivalent for French. All language tests (CELPIP, IELTS, TEF) are scored to CLB for immigration purposes.

CLB 4–5
Basic
CLB 6
Intermediate
CLB 7
PGWP min. (degree)
CLB 8
Most university admissions
CLB 9–10
Advanced proficiency
CLB 11–12
Near-native fluency

Cost of Studying in Canada (CAD)

International student annual costs — tuition plus estimated living expenses.

Institution TypeTuition/yrLiving/yrTotal/yr
Polytechnic / CollegeCA$15K–$25KCA$12K–$20KCA$27K–$45K
Regional UniversityCA$25K–$35KCA$14K–$22KCA$39K–$57K
Major UniversityCA$35K–$50KCA$15K–$25KCA$50K–$75K
U of T / UBC / McGillCA$40K–$65KCA$18K–$28KCA$58K–$93K
Graduate (Master's)CA$20K–$40KCA$15K–$22KCA$35K–$62K
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Proof of Funds Required
CA$22,895/yr living
Must demonstrate this before your study permit is approved (Sept 2025 rate). This is living costs only — separate from tuition.
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No FAFSA in Canada
Government loans = citizens / PRs only
International students are not eligible for provincial student loans. Plan for private scholarships, MPOWER, or Prodigy Finance.
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Tuition Tax Credit
Claim on T1 return by April 30
International students with Canadian income can claim federal + provincial tuition credits. Download your T2202 from your school portal.

Canadian Scholarships & Funding

Browse Canadian scholarships — merit awards, government grants, and no-cosigner loans.

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Track Your Study Permit & PGWP Step by Step

Interactive checklists for your IRCC study permit application, PAL/TAL/CAQ, biometrics, and PGWP eligibility — with wallet uploads and calendar reminders.

Common Questions About Studying in Canada

Canada

Your Canadian Future
Starts Here.

Free to start. No credit card. Set up your school list, track your study permit, and prep for CELPIP in under 3 minutes.

✓ Free to start✓ No credit card✓ CELPIP practice included✓ Works on mobile