Cost of Pharmacy Studies in Canada for International Students: Pre-Arrival Cost, Tuition Fees, and Cost of Living
Canada is well known for offering numerous scholarships to international students. However, for medical-related programs like pharmacy, the overall cost still can be overwhelming. If planned, students can complete their pharmacy studies with minimal student debt. This is an international student guide to manage the cost of pharmacy studies in Canada.
Overview of Cost of Pharmacy studies in Canada
| Student visa | 115 USD* |
| PCAT exam fees | 210 USD* |
| CASPer exam fees | 12 USD* |
| English proficiency test fees | TOEFL (180 to 325 USD*), IELTS (245 to 255 USD*) |
| Application fees | 54 to 104 USD* |
| Pharm D tuition fees | 11,603 to 22,320 USD*/year |
| Master’s specialization tuition fees | 7,249 to 19,960 USD*/year |
| Cost of living | 20,264 to 29,876 USD*/year |
Pre-arrival cost
When thinking of the pre-arrival cost, students generally consider fight tickets and visas. But for pharmacy education, other costs are involved, such as PCAT and CASPer exam fees. Plus, the application fees, English proficiency test fees, etc. also add up. Let us discuss these pre-arrival costs one by one for pharmacy courses in Canada.
Student visa: Students should apply for a student visa as soon as they receive their acceptance letter from the pharmacy school. To be able to get a student permit, the candidate has to show proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, cost of living, and return tickets. The processing fee for the visa is 115 USD*.
Flight ticket: The cost of a flight ticket depends on the country from which the student is traveling. For instance, if a student is traveling from India, then a one-way flight ticket from Delhi, India to Toronto, Canada starts at around 885 USD*.
PCAT exam: The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is a standardized test for admission to pharmacy schools in Canada. The registration fee for PCAT is 210 USD*.
CASPer exam: CASPer is a psychological test that students who wish to study pharmacy courses in Canada are required to take. It costs around 12 USD*.
English proficiency test: All Canadian pharmacy schools require overseas students to pass English proficiency tests. The two most common tests are TOEFL and IELTS. Depending on the country where the student is taking the test, the fees for TOEFL and IELTS range from 180 to 325 USD* and 245 to 255 USD*.
Application fees: There is no standardized application service to apply to pharmacy schools in Canada. Students can apply via the university website by filling out an online application form followed by paying the application fee. The fees can range from 54 to 104 USD* (non-refundable). Students can also avail themselves of Gyanberry services to apply to pharmacy schools in Canada. We also offer visa support services to over 20 countries worldwide.
Tuition fees for Pharmacy courses in Canada
Canadian pharmacy education starts with Pharm D courses which usually are 4-year long. These courses are accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP). The tuition fees for Pharm D in Canada vary from university, but it usually starts at 11,603 USD*/year and goes high as 22,320 USD*/year. Here is a list of all the top pharmacy universities in Canada (recognized by CCAPP). The table mentions the annual tuition fees for Pharm D as well as master’s specializations in dentistry.
| University Name | Pharm D Tuition Fees (USD*/year) | Master’s Specialization Tuition Fees (USD*/year) |
| University of Alberta | 11,603 | 8,700 |
| University of British Columbia | 18,413 | 9,313 |
| Dalhousie University | 22,320 | 13,008 |
| Université Laval | 22,304 | 12,554 |
| University of Manitoba | 15,655 | 12,646 |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland | 13,000 | 9,666 |
| Université de Montréal | 13,956 | NA |
| University of Saskatchewan | 17,687 | 7,249 |
| University of Toronto | 18,060 | 19,960 |
| University of Waterloo | 17,759 | 10,962 |
Cost of living
Canada has a high standard of living, hence the living cost can make up a significant part of a student’s budget. Canadian universities do offer scholarships to overseas students to study in Canada. Yet these can only cover a part of tuition fees or living costs. Students should try their best to budget living expenses if they do not qualify for scholarships.
Ideally, they should choose campus accommodation offered by the university. University housing is cheaper (800 USD*/month) as it includes the cost of utilities. Plus, students can avoid extra transportation costs while on campus. If not possible, students can go for rental apartments. A single-bedroom apartment costs on average costs 1,103 USD*/month.
| Expenses | Cost in USD*/year |
| Accommodation | 9,600 to 13,236 |
| Food | 3,500 to 6,000 |
| Student health insurance plan | 500 to 900 |
| Transportation | 924 to 1,000 |
| Books | 1,000 to 2,000 |
| Phone and internet | 900 |
| Utilities (electricity, water, heating, and gas) | 840 |
| Personal expenses | 3,000 to 5,000 |
The cafeteria meal plans are cheaper than eating outside. If a student wishes to cook means from scratch, then they can save up some more money. Food can cost anywhere from 300 to 500 USD*/month. Health insurance, including dental care plans, can cost 500 to 900 USD*/year. Students who live outside campus usually need a mode of transportation to travel back and forth from school. They should choose public transportation like the bus, which can cost 77 to 83 USD*/month.
Students should budget 1000 to 2000 USD*/year for books, 900 USD*/year for phones and internet, and 840 USD*/year for utilities. Lastly, for clothing, shoes, and surprise expenses, students should keep at least 3,000 to 5,000 USD*/year.
*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.