Study in Canada from Nepal: 2026 Cost, Permit and Intakes

Destination · Canada

Study in Canada from Nepal

Q: What IELTS score do I need?

There is no single national visa floor. IELTS 6.0 overall with no band under 5.5 is the common practical minimum most institutions accept. A later PGWP application needs CLB 7, about IELTS 6.0 with no band under 6.0, for degree holders, or CLB 5 for diploma or certificate holders.

World class degrees and diplomas, 24 hours of work rights a week, and a post graduation work permit of up to three years. Here is what it costs, and what IRCC now asks Nepali applicants to prove.

Tuition per year CAD 17,000 to 45,000

Major intakes September and January

Study permit CAD 235 application fee Plus CAD 22,895 living costs to evidence

Requirements

Eligibility checklist

Academic

NEB Grade 12, minimum 60% or a 2.8 GPA for most college and bachelor’s programmes
Master’s: a recognised bachelor’s degree, usually 60% or a 2.6 to 3.0 GPA
Transcripts plus an equivalence certificate where your board is not from Nepal

English

IELTS 6.0 overall, no band under 5.5, is the common practical floor
Graduate and university programmes often want 6.5 to 7.0
PGWP later needs CLB 7 (about IELTS 6.0) for degree holders, CLB 5 for diploma holders
PTE, CELPIP and TOEFL accepted at most institutions

Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)

Required for most college, undergraduate and non-degree applicants
Your institution requests it, usually after your deposit clears
Master’s and PhD students at a public DLI are exempt since 1 January 2026

Finances

Tuition, CAD 22,895 living costs and travel
Six months of bank statements, since 24 July 2026
Traceable source of funds, not just a balance

Unsure where you stand? Our study permit application assistance team assesses your profile against every line above, free, before you spend a rupee.

The case for Canada

Why study in Canada?

24 hrs

Work rights per week

Unlimited during scheduled breaks.

Up to 3 yrs

Post graduation work permit

PGWP, matched to programme length, capped at 3 years.

22,000+

Nepali students arrived in 2024

Canada is one of Nepal’s top two study destinations.

Course choice

Top courses in Canada

The fields Nepali students most often pick when they study in Canada from Nepal, chosen for graduate demand and PGWP eligibility rather than ranking alone. A degree route keeps your PGWP field of study unrestricted; a college diploma must sit on IRCC’s eligible list.

Business and management

Widest choice of colleges and universities. Pick a specialisation, not a generic diploma.

Information technology

Software, data analytics and cybersecurity, strong PGWP field of study fit.

Health and community services

Nursing, health administration and personal support, persistent demand.

Engineering

Civil, mechanical and electrical, usually at degree level.

Hospitality and culinary

Widely available at college level. Confirm the CIP code is PGWP eligible.

Skilled trades

Strong labour market demand in several provinces.

Demand is not a permit guarantee. Check your college programme’s six digit CIP code against IRCC’s eligible field of study list before you pay any deposit, or ask us to confirm it for you. If permanent residency is the real goal, read our skilled migration and Express Entry guide before you enrol.

Timing

Intakes in Canada

Intake	Course starts	Apply from Nepal by
Fall, main intake	September	Feb to May, same year
Winter	January	Jun to Sep, prior year
Summer, limited	April to May	Nov to Jan, by institution

September carries the widest programme choice. Apply early in the intake cycle: provincial PAL allocations are fixed for 2026 and can run out mid year, and study permit processing alone can take several weeks to a few months. Individual institutions shift these dates, so confirm against your own offer letter.

Process

Your journey to Canada

1
Free counselling
We shortlist institutions and programmes you can be approved for, not just admitted to, including diploma versus degree. Book a session.
2
Apply and receive your offer
Response times vary by institution and intake, typically 2 to 6 weeks. See our partner institutions.
3
No Objection Certificate
NPR 2,000 at noc.moest.gov.np, issued in 3 to 7 working days.
4
Deposit and Provincial Attestation Letter
Pay your tuition deposit, confirm the refund policy first, then your institution requests your PAL. Master’s and PhD applicants at a public DLI skip this step.
5
Study permit lodgement
Six months of bank statements, source of funds evidence, your PAL and your Letter of Acceptance, then biometrics. We handle the file.
6
Pre departure briefing
Accommodation, banking, SIM and your 24 hour work rights limit, sorted before you fly.

Before you apply

Required documents for offer letter

Academic and identity

Transcripts and certificates, SEE through to your most recent qualification
Character certificate from your last institution
Migration certificate, where your board issues one
Passport bio page and passport photographs

Supporting

IELTS, PTE, CELPIP or TOEFL score report
Statement of Purpose, matched to your programme and career plan
CV plus work experience or training letters, if any
Marriage certificate, if a partner is applying with you

Every institution sets its own list, and DLI status matters more in Canada than almost anywhere else. Confirm your school is on the current Designated Learning Institution list before paying any application fee, or ask us to confirm it for you.

How much money is required to study in Canada?

Budget CAD 40,000 to 70,000 for your first year. The CAD 22,895 living cost figure is what you must evidence to IRCC, not money you hand over, and since 24 July 2026 you must also show where it came from.

First year cost	CAD
Tuition, college diploma	12,000 to 20,000
Tuition, bachelor’s to master’s	20,000 to 45,000
Living costs you must evidence	22,895
Each accompanying family member	plus up to 12,145
Study permit application and biometrics	235
Airfare	about 1,800
Indicative total, single student	40,000 to 70,000

Add NPR 2,000 for your NOC, plus test, translation and medical fees. Scholarships can cut this significantly, so start with our scholarship guidance.

2026 rules

The 2026 study permit cap and financial requirement

IRCC has set 309,670 study permit application spaces for 2026 for students who need a Provincial Attestation Letter, and since 24 July 2026 every application is checked for a genuine source of funds. Anyone applying to study in Canada from Nepal below master’s level is affected.

Bank statements must now cover six months, up from four, with a traceable source of funds
Living costs to evidence are fixed at CAD 22,895 for a single applicant outside Quebec
Provincial PAL allocations are fixed for the year. Once used up, no more issue until the next cycle
Master’s and PhD applicants at a public institution are exempt from the PAL requirement since 1 January 2026

57% Nepal study permit approval rate, Jan to Aug 2025, up from about 41% in 2024.

33% An alternative 2025 estimate for Nepal, from a different tracker. Sources disagree, so we show both.

Frequently asked questions

How much money is required to study in Canada from Nepal?

Budget CAD 40,000 to 70,000 for year one: CAD 17,000 to 45,000 tuition, CAD 22,895 in living costs you must evidence, the CAD 235 study permit fee and about CAD 1,800 airfare.

Can I work while studying in Canada?

Yes, up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions, and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks, as long as you stay a full time student before and after.

What IELTS score do I need?

There is no single national visa floor. IELTS 6.0 overall, no band under 5.5, is the common practical minimum most institutions accept. Your later PGWP application needs CLB 7, about IELTS 6.0 with no band under 6.0, for degree holders, or CLB 5 for diploma or certificate holders. PTE, CELPIP and TOEFL are accepted equivalents at most institutions.

What is a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?

A document confirming your place counts toward your province’s share of the national study permit cap. Without one, IRCC returns the application. Most college and undergraduate applicants need one. Master’s and PhD students at a public institution are exempt since 1 January 2026.

What changed with the financial requirement in 2026?

Since 24 July 2026, IRCC checks the source of funds on every application, not only flagged cases, and expects six months of bank statements instead of four. The CAD 22,895 living cost figure itself has been unchanged since 1 September 2025.

What is the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

A work permit matched to your programme length, capped at 3 years. Programmes of 8 months to under 2 years earn a permit of the same length. Programmes of 2 years or more, and all master’s degrees regardless of length, earn the full 3 years. Degree holders need CLB 7, diploma or certificate holders need CLB 5, and you must apply within 180 days of your final results.

Keep reading

Related Nepcoms pages

Career and course counselling Study permit application assistance Scholarship guidance Student accommodation IELTS preparation PTE preparation Skilled migration and Express Entry Partner institutions Blog and guides

Weighing up other destinations before you commit to study in Canada from Nepal?

Australia United Kingdom USA New Zealand Germany All destinations

Official sources for the figures on this page

Government of Canada, 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student capThe 309,670 space cap and provincial breakdown
IRCC, study permit overviewApplying, eligibility and processing
IRCC, Post Graduation Work PermitEligibility, length and how to apply
IRCC, proof of financial supportLiving cost figures and accepted evidence
Ministry of Education, Nepal, NOC portalNo Objection Certificate applications
EduCanada, Government of CanadaOfficial study destination guidance and costs

The living cost figure is reviewed periodically and the study permit cap is set annually by province. Last checked 27 August 2026.