Tuition, proof of funds, the study permit process, scholarships and work rights, checked against IRCC, EduCanada and university pages.
Not sure where to start? Get a free study assessmentLast updated 29 September 2026Figures checked against official sources, listed at the end
Canada offers generous work rights during and after study, but it is currently the hardest of the major destinations for Bangladeshi applicants to get a study permit. Plan around the 2026 rules below, especially the PAL and the stronger financial evidence now expected.
Your total cost has three parts: tuition, living costs, and the upfront visa costs you pay from Bangladesh. Figures below are national averages and official fees, not a quote for your course.
2026 average international undergraduate tuition
Your school must be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). After HSC, check whether the university offers direct entry or a pathway year, and confirm subject prerequisites and English evidence.
2026 average international graduate tuition, not a master’s-specific quote
Compare subject match, grades, work experience and whether the course is thesis-based (often funded) or course-based (usually self-funded).
Many PhD offers include tuition support and a stipend; terms vary
Find a supervisor and research fit first, then confirm tuition, stipend and any teaching duties in writing. A supervisor conversation is not an offer.
What Bangladeshi applicants actually pay before travelling, from IRCC and the banks that run the GIC programme.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) | CAD 23,448 | IRCC’s living-cost figure for one person from 1 September 2026; released to you monthly after arrival |
| GIC bank fee | ~CAD 150 to 200 | Charged by the issuing bank on top of the deposit |
| Study permit fee | CAD 150 | Paid online with your application |
| Biometrics fee | CAD 85 | Paid after IRCC sends the biometrics letter |
| Immigration medical exam | ~৳8,000 | Adult fee at IOM or an approved panel physician in Dhaka |
| PAL / TAL | Free | Requested by your school; master’s and PhD students at public institutions are exempt |
| IELTS Academic | ৳31,100 | Computer-delivered price in Bangladesh |
The GIC is the legal minimum, not your real budget. Rent in Toronto and Vancouver commonly pushes monthly costs well above it; use your institution’s own cost-of-living estimate.
Researched starting points, not a complete list or a ranking. Check the exact programme and intake on the university’s own website.
Canada has few government awards open to Bangladeshi students, so most funding comes from universities. These three are open to international students.
University of Toronto
Your high school must nominate you, and you must apply to U of T by 16 October 2026 for September 2027 entry.
View on official site ↗University of British Columbia
No separate form: you are considered automatically when you apply to UBC by the admission deadline.
View on official site ↗Province of Ontario and universities
International students on a study permit can hold a set number of awards at each university. Results are usually out by mid-July.
View on official site ↗Since the Student Direct Stream closed, every Bangladeshi applicant uses the standard stream, which expects a detailed financial history. Most undergraduate and college applicants also need a PAL before they can apply.
Your Designated Learning Institution issues it after you accept your offer.
Your school requests it, usually after you pay part or all of your first-year tuition. Allow 2 to 4 weeks. Master’s and PhD students at public institutions skip this step.
Deposit CAD 23,448 with a participating bank, plus a bank fee of roughly CAD 150 to 200.
At IOM or an approved panel physician in Dhaka; appointments and results take time.
Prepare 4 to 6 months of bank statements and a clear explanation of where the money came from.
Submit through your IRCC account and pay the CAD 150 fee. The CAD 85 biometrics fee follows once IRCC sends the instruction letter.
Book the Dhaka, Sylhet or Chittagong centre as soon as the letter arrives.
Bangladeshi applications usually go to the Singapore visa office; allow roughly 6 to 14 weeks after biometrics.
Approval gives you an introduction letter, not the permit itself. A border officer issues the permit when you land, so carry your acceptance letter, proof of funds and medical results.
You must be enrolled full time and have the off-campus work condition on your permit. Dropping to part-time study removes the right immediately. Campus teaching or research assistant roles can pay CAD 20 to 40 an hour.
The PGWP matches your programme length: 8 months to under 2 years of study gives a matching permit; 2 years or more gives 3 years. College graduates must have studied an eligible field. Apply within 180 days of your completion letter.
The most programmes and scholarships. Many universities close applications between December and March, and some entrance awards need earlier applications.
Many colleges and some universities admit in January, and a few in May. Fewer programmes and awards are open, so check the exact course.
A course start date, an application deadline, a PAL request and a scholarship deadline are four different dates. U of T’s Pearson Scholarship, for example, needs a school nomination by 9 October 2026 for September 2027 entry.
Most undergraduate programmes ask for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0; graduate programmes vary. Since the SDS closed, the standard study permit stream has no fixed IRCC test score, so your school’s requirement is the one that counts.
Accepted tests and scores differ by institution. Save the exact test name, overall score and band minimums for each programme.
Quebec and some other institutions teach in French. You may need French evidence such as the TEF instead of, or as well as, an English test.
No. The SDS has closed permanently. Every Bangladeshi applicant now uses the standard stream, which expects 4 to 6 months of bank records and a clear source of funds rather than a GIC-based fast track.
Your first-year tuition plus CAD 23,448 for living costs for one person, for applications from 1 September 2026. Most applicants show the living-cost part with a GIC.
A Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter confirms your place counts within the province’s share of Canada’s study permit cap. Most undergraduate and college applicants need one; master’s and PhD students at public institutions do not. An application without a required PAL is refused.
No. Approval gives you a port-of-entry introduction letter. A border officer issues the actual permit when you arrive.
Biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Dhaka, Sylhet or Chittagong after IRCC’s instruction letter. The medical exam is separate, at IOM or an approved panel physician in Dhaka.
Up to 24 hours a week off campus during regular terms and full time during scheduled breaks, if you study full time and your permit allows off-campus work.
Canada capped study permits and tightened checks in 2024 and 2025. Around 64% of applications were refused in 2025, and Bangladesh was among the most affected countries, so a clear study plan and clean financial history matter.
Yes. Universities and colleges assess HSC results course by course; some ask for a pathway or foundation year. You will usually need a PAL for an undergraduate or college programme.
These are dated editorial checks, not a live data feed. Recheck the original page before applying or paying.
About this guide. Researched by the Student Visa From Bangladesh editorial team from the official sources above and last checked on 29 September 2026. We are not a university or a government agency, and admission and visa outcomes are never guaranteed. Read our editorial policy.