In Student Center’s flagship report “A World of Learning”, students were asked to state the top three financial supports that are currently helping them pay for their education. According to this report, almost 75% of students surveyed listed their parents, relatives or guardians as one of the three financial supports helping them. Almost 28% listed personal savings and more than 25% of students identified a university or college scholarship. On-campus and off-campus work were also listed by 16% and 15% of the respondents, respectively. Scholarships from a student’s home country government or agency were listed by approximately 14% of students.
Funding
There are a number of funding options available to assist you with the costs of your education in Canada, but you will need to seek them out. Searching and applying for funding can be time intensive, but do not be discouraged; your persistence will be worth it! It is a good idea to seek more than one source of funding for your international education.
Information for study abroad funding opportunities may be available from your government or from a Canadian embassy, consulate, or high commission in your home country. For a complete listing of Canadian offices abroad, click here.
Your Canadian education institution may also have funding options. To find out what types of funding opportunities are available to you from your Canadian education institution you should visit the school’s website and inquire at its international education centre.
Visit the Government of Canada website to find awards for international students, researchers, and faculty. You should also look for awards from organizations where their mandate and work are in line with your particular area of study.
International students who study in Canada may be eligible for these prestigious awards:
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- Banting Post-doctoral Fellowships
- Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program
Will you need to pay taxes in Canada?
Under certain circumstances international students studying in Canada may need to complete a Canadian income tax return. To better understand if, or how, you will be taxed as an international student in Canada, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website by clicking here.
An important document that you are required to retain is your T2202A form (Tuition, Education, and Textbook Amounts Certificate). Your T2202A form is a tuition tax receipt issued to all students who paid tuition for courses in the previous calendar year. It is available from your education institution early in the calendar year and may be available to print online through your school’s learning management system.
Sales Tax
You will pay sales tax on most things that you buy in Canada; however, some items are exempt including basic groceries such as milk, bread, and vegetables. How much you will pay depends on the province in which you live. Types of Canadian sales taxes include: provincial sales tax (PST), goods and services tax (GST), and harmonized sales tax (HST). Normally, prices are displayed in Canadian stores without the sales tax included, so you will need to remember that your total purchase will be more when the sales tax is added at the cash register. Click here for a handy sales tax calculator that can be tailored to the province in which you reside.