It is a long held desire for many high school students in Pakistan to study in Canada, and rightfully so! Canada has become an increasingly popular choice for higher international studies of many students in Pakistan for various reasons. 

It does not just provide high end education of supreme quality but also has a relatively affordable tuition fee program. With the incredible co-op programs, internships and other work incentives they offer to students with a study permit, helps students excel professionally and in a personal capacity. 

While many students in Pakistan apply to different universities all across Canada, here is the list of the best ten universities and the top choice of many Pakistani students. 

*all costs are mentioned in CAD (Canadian Dollars)

1. University of Toronto

It is no secret that Toronto is a world class destination for higher education. Situated in the heart of the vibrant city of Toronto, the University of Toronto also known as Uoft, is one of the oldest, most premier universities in Canada. It has two other satellite campuses located in different cities. 

The University of Toronto offers a diverse range of academic programs and courses including about 700 undergraduate and 200 graduate courses to choose from. It hosts the third largest academic library in the world after Harvard and Yale, in terms of volume. 

In the Academic Ranking of World Universities list of 2022, it was ranked number 22nd in the world and the first in Canada. In the QS World University Ranking of 2023, it was ranked as the 21rst best in the world. The University of Toronto has also been featured in the Times Higher Education World Rankings with an astounding ranking. Offering one of the best employability rates in the world, the University of Toronto is easily the top higher studies institute in Canada. 

Living Cost Structure: The average cost of living for a single person in Toronto is estimated to be around an upwards of $2000 without rent. The monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment is averaged at $1000 too, which brings the monthly cost of living in or near downtown Toronto to around $3000.

Tuition Fee Structure: You can learn about the tuition expenses at the University of Toronto according to your choice of program here: tuition fees

2. McGill University 

Founded in 1813 as the University of McGill College, the McGill University today has a student body of more than 39,000 students with about 10,000 foreign students. It is one of the only member institutes of the Association of American Universities along with the University of Toronto, making it a very premium public university. Out of the 13 different schools at McGill, the main programs of McGill include Arts, Engineering, Science, Medicine and Management. 

McGill is also very popular for its inclusive exchange program with a partnership tie up with around more than 160 universities. The McGill undergraduates are deemed to have the fifth highest entering grades amongst the top universities in Canada. Due to its diverse student intake, McGill stands as the top choice for many Pakistani students. 

Living Cost Structure: The average cost of living at McGill is relatively lower than other metropolitan cities of Canada, with student housing and other miscellaneous expenses adding up to $1700 – $1800 on a budget per month. 

Tuition Fee Structure: To learn more about the tuition fee at McGill according to the program of your choice, check the fee calculator here fee calculator

3. University of British Columbia 

The University of British Columbia is the oldest university in British Columbia with two main campuses located in Vancouver and Kelowna. It is recognised as the world leading research and learning public university. With an international student intake of an average of 25%, the UBC guarantees a strong employment grade with around 84% undergraduate students employed by the time they graduate. It was ranked as the 3rd best Canadian university and the 34th best world university according to QS 2024 World Best Rankings. 

With around three admission cycles, the UBC offers its prospective students a flexible approach and opportunity to apply and get started with the admission journey as per their convenience at any one of the three given times a year. 

The UBC also is home to the second largest academic library in Canada with around 7.8 million volumes of different e-books and e-journals. Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of Canada is amongst the notable alumni of the institute.

Living Cost Structure: The average cost of living for students in British Columbia clocks at around $1200 – $2000 per month, which includes rent and other basic utilities like food and transport. 

Tuition Fee Structure: To learn more about the studying cost at the University of British Columbia , according to the choice of your faculty, visit tuition fee

4. University of Alberta 

Offering about 388 undergraduate programs and 500 postgraduate programs, the University of Alberta is recognised as the top institute for excellence in teaching in Canada. Even though, their tuition fee is slightly more expensive than regular art programs in the country, it has established itself for the premium value of its degrees by having around 3 Nobel Peace Prize winners from amongst the alumnis.

The university has also appeared in many renowned world ranking indexes including the QS World Rankings and the Times Higher Education World Ranking being the 5th best in Canada. 

Living Cost Structure: The typical monthly expense for students ranges from $1200 – $2000 per month. If a student stays in budget and cost control, they can easily manage their rent, groceries and transport costs in this estimate. 

Tuition Cost Structure:  You can comprehensively look over the tuition and fee of studying at the University of Alberta at tuition fee and fee calculator and calculate your living expenses using their fee calculator. 

5. York University 

Being the third largest university in Canada, York University is another stellar university located in the metropolitan city of Toronto. Also known as the YorkU, it has over 120 undergraduate programs with 17 different degree types. They have a very strong internal alumni network with international students representing about 150 countries. Every faculty and school at YorkU has a different type of college, amounting to about 9 colleges in York’s cap. 

The York University has appeared with distinction ranking in many of the top ranking portals including the QS World Rankings, Times Higher Ranking and Academic World Ranking as well many of the country’s top employment magazine publications. 

Living Cost Structures:  The students of York University will somewhat have the same cost of living as other international students living in Toronto, however much cheaper if the student avails the student accommodation on campus. 

Tuition Cost Structure: The tuition and fee varies program and course wise. To know and learn more about the fee structure, you must visit tuition fees

6. McMaster University 

Another public research university, located in Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster University has a humongous campus spreading across 121 hectares of land. McMaster has 6 amazing educational facilities and is known for its student centered approach of learning. 

McMaster has 2 admission cycles, with almost 32000 students in an academic year. Hence, many students in Pakistan can avail an excellent opportunity to give a shot for admission twice a year. 

Besides, it has a massive on campus housing facility with over 13 smoke free residences for students which have the capacity to accommodate about more than 4000 students. Overall, the university provides an excitingly enriching blend of a great on campus and off campus student life with many facilities like personal lecture halls in accommodations, eateries, cafe, study space and much more. 

Of course, McMaster also has many world ranking positions, making it one of the top 10 desirable choices for students in Canada.

Living Cost Structure: Since, the McMaster already provided an excellent housing facility for students, the cost of living can be estimated to around $2000 per month or more if the accommodation is private. 

Tuition Fee Structure: To learn more about the total fee structure about your desired faculty or program, head over to tuition fee and fee calculator and check through the fee calculator. 

7. University of Waterloo

Another world ranked university, the renowned University of Waterloo is known for the vast engineering and education  network it has built and the employer student connection it renders through its alumnis.

The University of Waterloo too has an amazing housing faculty network for its students, with 8 student residences built on campus. The designated residences for first year and senior year students are different, so students get to stay with people of their batch. 

Moreover, the university has also designed a well planned extra curricular program for its students giving them an enticing opportunity to engage with over 100 institutions outside Canada for an exchange program. However, what makes the University of Waterloo is the co-op education network where students can decide a work term from any part of their degree where they are required to work during the course of their degree. For engineering students, this acts as a mandatory requirement. This allows students to learn and equip themselves with corporate work experience and learning. 

The reputation feather in the cap  of University of Waterloo is the 7th ranking in the world university rankings list and also has the ninth employability position in Canada. 

Living Cost Structure: The estimation averages to somewhere between $900 to $1500 in rent and about $150 in transportation. So all in all, on average the monthly living expenses amount to $1800 – $2000 including other utilities like food and groceries.

Tuition Fee Structure: An average tuition fee of an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo ranges from $26000 to $40000 on a per annum basis. However, you should check the tuition fee to know more about the fee structure for your own program the University of Waterloo. 

8. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

The last university from Toronto on our list, previously known as the Ryerson University, Toronto Metropolitan University has made a name for itself over the years in Canada. It has seven academic faculties all operational in Toronto in its main campus and other parts of Toronto too. The main divisions include the Ted Rogers School of Management and the Faculty of Community Services etc. The university also has a broad sports and athletic department with their own university team TMU Bold competing in the Canada Level sports conference. 

The campus of TMU is huge with over 40 buildings, a mixture of leased and self owned properties. Moreover, the university is split in a three-term academic system with a Fall intake, Winter intake and Spring/Summer intake. So Pakistani students have a chance to check the calendar and admission deadline cycle and strike their luck for an admission acceptance there. Besides, TMU also offers an incredible co-op program for the students. 

The university has appeared with rankings in many portals including the QS World Rankings, Maclean’s Canadian University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World Rankings. 

Living Cost Structure: The cost of living for a Pakistani student studying at TMU can be parallel to any other Toronto student. The cost can vary from $2000 and $3000 because Toronto is a metropolitan city. 

Tuition Fee Structure: To know exactly about the fee structure according to your desired program, do check out their tuition fee here.

9. Western University 

With an 8th ranking on the QS World Rankings, the Western University is another top-notch and premier institute in Canada. It also is one Canada’s oldest universities which was founded in 1863. The university is located between the residential neighborhood of London, Ontario with a huge campus of about 170 hectares, out of which 31% is designated to student residences. 

With 11 different faculties and divisions including the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Law and Ivey School of Business, it also provides credit options to students with amazing exchange programs and clinical placements.

Living Cost Structure: Estimated to be cheaper than average Canadian institutes and cities, studying in the Western University would roughly cost an international student around $1500 per month including their rents and groceries.

Tuition Fee Structure: Check out the detailed fee structure according to the program of your need at the Western University here tuition fee.

10. University of Calgary

The main university in the city of Calgary, the University of Calgary is equipped with 14 different undergraduate and graduate faculties and more than 85 research institutes. The university has a huge land area of about 200 hectares providing student housing, historic architecture and large parks in the premises.

It also has a campus in Qatar besides many other campuses across Canada. So, if a Pakistani student struggles with meeting the costs but wants a degree from a Canadian university, they can avail an opportunity to study at the Qatar Campus. 

Known for the incredible student life it offers and scholarships that it has provided in the past, the University of Calgary also remains one of the top choices for many international students. 

Living Cost Structure: It is deemed slightly expensive to live in Calgary for an international student with a monthly expense exceeding $2000 , almost the same as Toronto. However, choosing a campus accommodation may help mellow down the expense. 

Tuition Fee Structure: Learn more about the fees you will incite if you study at the University of Calgary tuition fee according to your specific programs.