Study in Canada: Application, Study Permit, Tuition and Costs for 2027 Entry

Short Answer: How Do You Get Into a Canadian University?

A Turkish high-school student who wants to study in Canada can apply directly with the high-school diploma, with no Studienkolleg or foundation year: universities look at the grade 11 and 12 average, specific subjects depending on the programme, and an English score around IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band). Applications go through OUAC in Ontario, ApplyAlberta in Alberta and the university's own portal elsewhere; for September 2027 entry, deadlines mostly fall between mid-January and March. After admission, the study permit requires proof of funds of CAD 23,448 per year from September 2026, a provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) and a CAD 150 application fee.

Updated: October 2026. Figures are for September 2027 entry; every item links to IRCC or the university's official page.

In this guide we have gathered every topic we work through with families during Canada study abroad consultancy: admission requirements, application portals and dates, tuition ranges by field, the study permit file, the cap rules that changed in 2026, the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), scholarships, co-op programmes and a 12-month timeline.

Key Takeaways
- Direct application with a Turkish high-school diploma is possible; what counts is the grade 11-12 average, programme-specific subjects and English at around IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL ~90.
- The OUAC 105 application for Ontario costs CAD 156 (3 programmes included, CAD 50 per extra); at most universities the September-entry deadline is 15 January-1 March.
- International undergraduate tuition averaged CAD 41,746 in 2025-26; by province and field it ranges from CAD 19,000 to 65,000.
- The study permit requires, from 1 September 2026, proof of CAD 23,448 per year (excluding tuition and travel) + PAL/TAL + CAD 150 fee + CAD 85 biometrics.
- The 2026 cap is 408,000 permits; undergraduate applications depend on a provincial attestation letter, while master's and doctoral students are exempt from 2026.

Admission Requirements: Turkish Diploma, GPA and English

Canadian universities recognise the Turkish high-school system and do not ask for a YKS score. Assessment rests on three pillars:

Criterion	Typical expectation	Note
High-school average (grades 11-12)	80-85+ out of 100 for selective programmes; 70-75 for broad-admission programmes	Some universities look only at the average, with no distinction between public and private schools
Programme-specific subjects	Engineering: grade 12 mathematics, physics, chemistry; business: mathematics; health sciences: biology, chemistry	Grade 12 subject choice directly affects a Canadian application
English	IELTS Academic 6.5 (at least 6.0 in each band); TOEFL iBT usually 86-100; some universities accept Duolingo 115-125	Varies by university and programme

The English threshold at the three largest universities is identical: Toronto, UBC and McGill require IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band for undergraduate entry (IDP's Canada IELTS summary). The Duolingo English Test became permanent at many universities after the pandemic, but some programmes (nursing, education, certain engineering streams) still accept only IELTS/TOEFL; check the programme's "English language requirements" page before applying. For an IELTS plan, our IELTS preparation page explains the weekly workload for each target band.

IB and AP students have an extra advantage: the IB Diploma is recognised directly at most Canadian universities, and grades of 5+ in HL subjects or 4+ in AP exams can earn transfer credit for first-year courses, cutting both time and tuition. See our IB courses and AP courses pages for details. The SAT is not required in Canada; students also applying to the US run their SAT prep plan in parallel.

Application Portals and Deadlines

Canada has no single national application system; there are three models by province:

• Ontario (Toronto, Waterloo, McMaster, Queen's, Western, York, Ottawa): through OUAC. Applicants from outside Ontario and from abroad use the OUAC 105 form. The base fee is CAD 156 (first 3 programmes included), with CAD 50 for each additional programme (OUAC fee page). Some universities also charge a CAD 50-90 "international assessment fee".
• Alberta (Alberta, Calgary): the shared ApplyAlberta portal; one account for several institutions.
• Other provinces (UBC, SFU, McGill, Dalhousie, Manitoba, etc.): the university's own portal; application fees at UBC and McGill are usually CAD 120-150.

Deadlines differ by programme, but the practical rule for September 2027 entry is this: mid-January for selective programmes and scholarship consideration (UBC 15 January, McGill 15 January, most Toronto programmes January-February), and around 1 March for broad-admission programmes. Some departments, such as Waterloo Engineering, require an additional "Admission Information Form" and a video interview; Toronto's Rotman Commerce and Engineering use a "supplementary application". These extras usually close in early February; registering on OUAC is not enough, you also need to open each university's own portal.

International Tuition: Ranges by Field and Province

International students in Canada pay roughly five times what Canadian students pay, and fees rise every year. Statistics Canada's 2025-26 data puts the national average for international undergraduate tuition at CAD 41,746; provincial averages run from CAD 18,867 in Newfoundland to CAD 49,802 in Ontario.

Field	Annual tuition range (international, undergraduate)	Example
Humanities and social sciences	~CAD 25,000-50,000	UBC Arts 2025-26: CAD 49,548 (UBC tuition table)
Business / commerce	~CAD 30,000-60,000	Upper band at the large Ontario universities
Engineering and computer science	~CAD 40,000-73,000	UBC Applied Science 2025-26: CAD 63,654 (UBC)
Sciences	~CAD 30,000-55,000	Lab-intensive programmes at the top
Universities in smaller provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Atlantic)	~CAD 19,000-30,000	Same degree, much lower tuition

Medicine and dentistry in Canada are generally post-bachelor's programmes rather than direct-entry from high school, and international places are very limited; students aiming to "study medicine in Canada" plan a science bachelor's first. Mandatory items come on top of tuition: student union and health insurance (UHIP or the provincial plan) around CAD 1,000-2,000 a year, and a residence-and-meal package of CAD 12,000-20,000 depending on the city. Rent in Toronto and Vancouver can be double that of Winnipeg or Halifax.

The Study Permit: Proof of Funds, PAL/TAL and the 2026 Cap

Once the Letter of Acceptance arrives, the process moves to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). The study permit file has four pillars:

Requirement	2026-27 amount / rule	Source
Proof of funds (single applicant, outside Quebec)	CAD 23,448 / year (from 1 September 2026; previously CAD 22,895), excluding tuition and travel	IRCC
Application fee	CAD 150	IRCC fee list
Biometrics	CAD 85 (maximum CAD 170 per family)	IRCC
Provincial attestation letter (PAL/TAL)	Mandatory for undergraduate applications; obtained through the university (DLI)	IRCC
Quebec	CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) instead of a PAL	IRCC

The strongest evidence of funds is 4-6 months of bank statements in the applicant's or a parent's name; sudden large deposits raise "source of funds" questions, so keeping the money in the account for months before applying matters. If the first year of tuition has been paid, the receipt goes into the file and strengthens the proof of funds.

PAL/TAL and the cap: Canada has limited international student numbers through a cap since 2024. For 2026, IRCC announced a ceiling of 408,000 study permits (155,000 for new arrivals) with PAL/TAL allocations distributed to the provinces (IRCC 2026 provincial allocations). In practice, the university issues your PAL/TAL along with your admission; because universities assign their allocation to early acceptances, applying early and confirming early (paying the deposit) is what secures the PAL. From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral students at public universities are exempt from the PAL; for undergraduates the requirement continues. The 2027 cap will be set with the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan expected in November 2026; check the IRCC page before applying.

The application is made online; biometrics are given at VFS offices in Turkey. Processing can take 8-16 weeks depending on country and season; applying without delay after confirming admission is the only guarantee of making September.

After Graduation: PGWP, Work and Co-op

Canada's strongest argument for Turkish families is the post-graduation work permit, the PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit). Bachelor's graduates can obtain an open work permit of up to 3 years depending on programme length. Two new rules have applied since late 2024 (IRCC PGWP eligibility page):

• Language requirement: CLB 7 for university graduates (bachelor's and above; roughly IELTS General 6.0 in each band), CLB 5 for college diploma and certificate graduates.
• Field-of-study requirement: a list of "eligible fields of study" applies only to programmes below bachelor's level (diplomas and certificates); bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates are exempt. IRCC froze the list for 2026; the next revision is expected in 2027.

Working while studying is also possible: up to 24 hours a week off campus during term, full-time during breaks. Co-op programmes (Waterloo, SFU, Toronto, McMaster, UBC, Concordia) build 4-6 paid work terms into the degree; according to Waterloo, students accumulate up to two years of paid work experience before graduating, and from April 2026 students whose study permit carries the "may work on campus" condition no longer need a separate co-op work permit (Waterloo international co-op page). Co-op income does not cover tuition, but in years 2-4 it can cover a large share of living costs.

Scholarships: Entrance Awards and Full Scholarships

Most undergraduate scholarships in Canada are automatic entrance awards: if the admission average is above a certain threshold (typically the equivalent of 90+), a one-time or renewable award of CAD 2,000-10,000 is granted without a separate application. A few major programmes run on a separate nomination process:

• Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (Toronto): a full scholarship covering tuition, books, residence and some expenses for 4 years; the school must nominate, and nominations for 2027 entry closed in October 2026 (U of T page). For 2028 entry, start talking to the school counsellor at the end of grade 11.
• UBC International Scholars (Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow, Donald A. Wehrung): need- and merit-based, by school nomination; closes in early December (UBC International Scholars).
• Schulich Leader Scholarships: STEM, for Canadian citizens and permanent residents; Turkish citizens are not eligible.

A realistic expectation: full scholarships go to very few students, and families do better to build the budget on "full tuition, with a discount if a scholarship comes through". Universities in smaller provinces combine lower tuition with more generous entrance awards, so there are scenarios where the total cost halves.

12-Month Timeline: September 2027 Entry

Period	What to do
October-November 2026	Programme and province list (6-8 programmes), grade 12 subject check, IELTS date (December-January), talk to the school about full-scholarship nominations
December 2026	OUAC 105 / ApplyAlberta / university accounts; transcript and reference requests; Pearson and UBC scholarship applications
January 2027	Selective programme and scholarship deadlines around 15 January; send IELTS results
February-March 2027	Supplementary applications and video interviews; other deadlines around 1 March; upload grade 11 and first-semester grades
March-May 2027	Admission letters; residence application (as soon as the offer arrives); accept the offer and pay the deposit by 1 June
June 2027	Obtain the PAL/TAL from the university; study permit online application; biometrics appointment; medical exam if required
July 2027	High-school diploma and final transcript; first-year tuition payment; refresh bank statements
August 2027	Study permit approval; flight; provincial health insurance registration; orientation
September 2027	Classes begin; watch the validity period of your language certificate for the PGWP plan

The two most critical dates are the mid-January selective-programme deadline and the June study permit application. Miss either and entry slips a year.

Applying to Canada with Studrise

Success in Canada comes from seeing every step in advance, from the January application to the June study permit file: which province's tuition fits the budget, which programme has an extra form, when to pay the deposit for the PAL, and from which date the bank statements need to be ready. In a free initial consultation, our Canada study abroad consultancy team reviews the student's grade profile, target programme and family budget with you, and produces a balanced list of 6-8 programmes and a 12-month timeline. On the IELTS and IB/AP side, our academic team strengthens the application file. The first step to take today is to check whether the grade 12 subject choice matches the target programme.