Canada or UK: Which Is Better for Study? Nepali Guide
Canada or UK for study? Compare proof of funds, tuition, city living costs and post-study rules, written plainly for Nepali students and families.
The short answer
If you want the lower upfront money test and a course that can be one year, the UK is usually the cheaper entry. If you want a longer course, a wider spread of cities and published tuition that can sit well below the headline universities, Canada has more range — but Canada asks you to evidence a larger sum of money before you go.
Neither country is "better" in the abstract. The decision comes down to three things you can actually measure: how much money your family can hold in a bank account and for how long, what the tuition on your specific offer is, and what the city you will live in costs every month.
The money test: what each country makes you prove
This is where most Nepali applications are decided, and it is where most of them fail.
Canada — proof of funds by family size
| Family members | Proof of funds (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 |
| 2 | $29,192 |
| 3 | $35,888 |
| 4 | $43,572 |
| 5 | $49,419 |
| 6 | $55,736 |
| 7 | $62,054 |
| Each additional member | $6,318 |
UK — maintenance, and the catch
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maintenance funds — London | £1,483/month, max 9 months = £13,347 |
| Maintenance funds — outside London | £1,136/month, max 9 months = £10,224 |
| Student visa application (outside the UK) | £558 |
| Student visa extend / switch (inside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 per year of stay |
| TB test | £65 |
| Graduate visa application (later, if taken) | £937 + IHS £1,035/yr |
Two catches most families miss. First, UK maintenance is capped at 9 months regardless of how long your course is, and it is in addition to the tuition shown on your CAS — not instead of it. Second, the money must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days, and the end of that 28-day period must fall within 31 days of the visa application date. Financial evidence is the most common point of refusal: the 28-day rule, the 31-day window, and the requirement that the account be in the student's or a permitted sponsor's name are all applied strictly. Prepare statements around the application date, not months in advance.
If the funds are not in your own name, you need relationship evidence plus the sponsor's consent letter and bank statements. Check whose name the account is in before you submit, not after.
Tuition: the ranges are not comparable until you name the course
UK — published fees at institutions in our dataset
| Course | Fee | London? |
|---|---|---|
| Master's — Bradford, classroom-based | £15,700 | No |
| Master's — UCB Band 1 | £17,500 | No |
| Master's — Keele Band 1 (business/MBA) | £18,200 | No |
| Master's — Ulster, standard taught masters | £18,310 | No |
| Master's — Huddersfield MA/MSc | £18,700 | No |
| Master's — Huddersfield LONDON MSc | £18,700 | Yes |
| Master's — London Met (from) | £20,000 | Yes |
| Master's — Gloucestershire Band A | £20,190 | No |
| Bachelor's — Bradford, classroom-based (per year) | £16,100 | No |
| Bachelor's — UCB Band 1 (per year) | £16,500 | No |
| Bachelor's — Ulster (per year) | £17,490 | No |
| Bachelor's — Huddersfield (per year) | £17,600 | No |
| Bachelor's — UCA (per year, 2026/27) | £18,000 | No |
| Bachelor's — Exeter science/engineering (per year) | £31,200 | No |
| International Foundation Diploma — UCB | £11,000 | No |
| Foundation Certificate — UoLIC (Business/Law/Social Sci) | £22,640 | No |
| Pre-Master's — UoLIC (Business/Economics/Finance) | £25,210 | No |
Note the unit. Bachelor's figures are per year. Master's figures are for the course. Do not mix them up when you plan the family budget.
Canada — published tuition and English requirements
| Institution | City | English | Published tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Toronto | IELTS 6.5 (6.0) · TOEFL 100 · PTE 65 | ~$60k–70k/yr (Eng $70,060) |
| University of Waterloo | Waterloo | IELTS 7.0 (6.0) · TOEFL 90 · Duolingo not accepted | ~$73k/yr (CS/Eng) |
| University of British Columbia | Vancouver | IELTS 6.5 (6.0) · TOEFL 90 · PTE 65 | ~$51k/yr (CS) |
| University of Manitoba | Winnipeg | IELTS 6.5 (6.0) · TOEFL 86 · Duo 120 | ~$22,000–30,000/yr |
| University of Saskatchewan | Saskatoon | IELTS 6.5 (6.0) · TOEFL 86 · PTE 63 · Duo 120 | ~$20,000–25,000/yr |
| Vancouver Island University | Nanaimo | IELTS 6.5 (6.0) · TOEFL 88 · Duo 115 | ~$18,000–22,000/yr |
| Conestoga College | Kitchener | IELTS 6.0 (5.5); 6.5 select · TOEFL 80 · Duo 110 | ~$15,000–17,000/yr |
| Algonquin College | Ottawa | IELTS 6.0 (5.5) · TOEFL 80 · Duo 105 | ~$16,000–18,000/yr |
| Humber Polytechnic | Toronto | IELTS 6.0 (5.5) dip / 6.5 degree · TOEFL 80 | ~$16,000–18,500/yr |
| SAIT | Calgary | English equivalency/assessment per program · Duo 115 | ~$13,400–20,000/yr |
The Canadian spread is the real story. A Toronto or Waterloo engineering programme and a Prairie college diploma are in completely different price brackets. Families who say "Canada is expensive" are usually thinking of one or two universities. Run your own shortlist through the Master Reckoner before you assume.
Living costs: the number that quietly decides everything
Canadian monthly living costs in our dataset, by city:
| City | Monthly | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $3,500 | Highest demand; 1-BR ~$2,300+ |
| Vancouver | $3,500 | Most expensive rent in Canada |
| Burnaby | $3,200 | SFU/BCIT — slightly below Vancouver |
| Ottawa | $2,900 | Capital; uOttawa/Algonquin |
| Waterloo | $2,700 | Tech town; student-heavy |
| Calgary | $2,700 | No provincial sales tax |
| Halifax | $2,500 | Atlantic; AIP region |
| Montreal | $2,400 | Cheapest big city; Quebec rules differ |
| Edmonton | $2,400 | Affordable Alberta |
| Winnipeg | $2,200 | Lowest cost; UManitoba |
| Saskatoon / Regina / Fredericton | $2,200 | Affordable |
| Other (small city) | $2,100 | Smaller centres trend cheaper |
On the UK side, the visa floor is £1,483/month in London and £1,136/month outside it. In London the visa floor and reality sit close — realistic is £1,300–£1,900/month, with a room or hall at £800–£1,300/month. Outside London the gap opens up in your favour: Belfast, Coleraine and Derry run £800–£1,150/month realistic with rent at £400–£700; Bradford and Huddersfield run £800–£1,150/month with rent at £400–£650. Bradford also carries the lowest tuition in the list above, which makes it the strongest total-cost combination in our UK data.
One trap: UCA's Epsom and Farnham campuses sit inside London's cost shadow without being in London for visa purposes. Check which campus the offer names.
After the course — and the part that has changed
The UK side has tightened in three ways since 2024, and each one changes the conversation with a Nepali family.
Dependants. For postgraduate courses starting on or after 1 January 2024, a student may bring a partner or child only if the course is a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8) or a research-based higher degree — or if they are a government-sponsored student on a course longer than 6 months. A taught MSc, MA or MBA does not qualify. If you are married and planning on your spouse coming with you on a one-year taught masters, settle this at the first counselling meeting.
Graduate Route. It drops to 18 months for anyone applying from 1 January 2027.
Salary floor. The Skilled Worker salary floor is now well above the median graduate wage.
Part-time work. Students may work during their studies, but permitted hours depend on the course level and whether it is term-time or vacation. Confirm against your specific CAS rather than assuming the familiar 20-hour figure. The National Living Wage is £12.71/hour (21 and over, from 1 April 2026). Work helps with living costs. It does not pay UK tuition, and a family that plans on it doing so has mis-budgeted.
Our dataset does not carry Canadian visa fees, work-hour rules or post-study work durations, so this guide does not state any. Check the relevant Canadian government pages directly before you build those into a plan.
Practical differences that show up in the paperwork
- Deposits (UK). In this group they range from £1,000 (UCB, within one month of offer) to £4,000 (Ulster, before CAS), and up to 50% of first-year tuition at London Met and UCB. Huddersfield London additionally charges a £260 non-refundable confirmation fee before the CAS request.
- TB test. Required for Nepalese applicants on UK courses longer than 6 months, from a UKVI-approved clinic. Book it before the visa application, not after.
- English evidence. Some UK institutions accept an approved national qualification instead of IELTS — London Met and UWL both publish approved lists for Nepal. Canadian requirements vary sharply by institution: Waterloo asks IELTS 7.0 (6.0) and does not accept Duolingo, while Sault College publishes IELTS 5.5 (no band below 5.0).
- Transfers. Moving UK institution normally requires a new CAS and often a new visa application. It is not an administrative step.
- Attendance. UK attendance and academic engagement are monitored and reported. A compliance breach risks both the place and the visa.
More Canada-specific detail sits on the Canada hub, and other country guides are on the blog.
Common questions
Is Canada or the UK cheaper for a Nepali student?
It depends on the course and the city, not the country. The lowest UK master's fee in our data is £15,700 at Bradford, with living costs there realistically £800–£1,150/month. In Canada, Conestoga publishes ~$15,000–17,000/yr and Winnipeg living costs of $2,200/month, while Waterloo publishes ~$73k/yr and Toronto costs $3,500/month. Price your actual shortlist in both currencies rather than comparing countries.
How much money do I need to show for a UK student visa?
Maintenance is £1,483/month for a London course or £1,136/month outside London, for a maximum of 9 months — £13,347 and £10,224 respectively. That is in addition to the tuition figure on your CAS. The funds must be held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of your visa application date.
Can I take my wife or husband with me on a UK master's?
Not on a taught master's starting on or after 1 January 2024. Dependants are permitted only for a PhD or other doctorate (RQF level 8), a research-based higher degree, or where the student is government-sponsored on a course longer than 6 months. A taught MSc, MA or MBA does not qualify, and finding this out late is the single most damaging surprise in the process.
Does the visa minimum in the UK cover what I will actually spend?
In London, close to it — the visa floor and realistic spending sit near each other there. Outside London the visa figure of £1,136/month is often above what students in Belfast, Bradford or Huddersfield actually spend, where realistic is £800–£1,150/month. That difference is a cushion, not savings, and it disappears fast in a high-rent southern town.
Official sources
- University of Toronto — https://future.utoronto.ca
- University of British Columbia — https://you.ubc.ca
- McGill University — https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/
- University of Waterloo — https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/
- University of Alberta — https://www.ualberta.ca/admissions/
- York University — https://www.yorku.ca/admissions/
- Toronto Metropolitan University — https://www.torontomu.ca/admissions/
- Simon Fraser University — https://www.sfu.ca/students/admission.html
- University of Calgary — https://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/
- University of Ottawa — https://www.uottawa.ca/study/
- George Brown College — https://www.georgebrown.ca/international
- Bow Valley College — https://bowvalleycollege.ca/programs-and-courses/international
Fees and requirements change. Confirm every figure on the institution's own page before you pay a deposit.