Study abroad decisions are not easy for international students. Often, they are overwhelmed with multiple choices, as in the case of the UK vs. Canada. While both countries have their own offerings, finding the better option for your personal goals is important. Otherwise, you may be penalized with unplanned financial crises, cultural shocks, climate emergencies, and post-study work issues.ย ย
So, how can this confusion between two excellent choices be resolved? The answer is simple โ the more you personalize your choice, the better you arrive at a decision. Letโs begin our comparison of the UK vs. Canada to understand which is better for your case.
Education systems in the UK and Canada is different from the 10+2+3 system followed in India. In the first case, we can categorize the systems as pre-primary, primary, high school, and university levels.
International students can access the worldโs top universities in the UK and Canada for best-in-class academic and career experiences. According to the latest rankings, the following are the top universities in the UK and Canada:ย ย ย
| Top Universities in Canadaย | World University Rankings 2024ย | Top Universities in UKย | World University Rankings 2024ย |
| University of Torontoย | 21ย | University of Cambridgeย | 2ย |
| McGill Universityย | 30ย | University of Oxfordย | 3ย |
| University of British Columbiaย | 34ย | Imperial College Londonย | 6ย |
| University of Albertaย | 111ย | University College Londonย | 9ย |
| University of Waterlooย | 112ย | The University of Edinburghย | 22ย |
| Western Universityย | 114ย | The University of Manchesterย | 32ย |
| University of Montrealย | 141ย | King’s College Londonย | 40ย |
| University of Calgaryย | 182ย | The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)ย | 45ย |
| McMaster Universityย | 189ย | University of Bristolย | 55ย |
| University of Ottawaย | 203ย | The University of Warwickย | 67ย |
| Rankingsย | UKย | Canadaย |
| 1ย | Londonย ย | Torontoย |
| 2ย | Edinburghย ย | Montrealย |
| 3ย | Manchesterย | Vancouverย |
| 4ย | Birminghamย | Calgaryย |
| 5ย | Glasgowย | Ottawaย |
| 6ย | Bristolย | Edmontonย |
| 7ย | Coventryย | Winnipegย |
| 8ย | Newcastle Upon Tyneย ย ย | Waterlooย |
| 9ย | Brightonย | Victoriaย |
| 10ย | Aberdeenย | Brandonย |
Checking your eligibility is the first step in making study abroad decisions. For a personalized checklist, kindly connect with Nomad Creditโs counselor who evaluates your profile and provides insights. Here is a general checklist for UK and Canada study aspirants:ย ย
| For UK universities & collegesย | For Canadian universities & collegesย |
| Application form – duly filledย | Application form – duly filledย ย |
| Receipt of the paid application feeย | Receipt of the paid application feeย |
| A valid passportย | A valid passportย |
| Student visa – Tier 4 (General)ย | A study permit from the immigration authoritiesย |
| CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) from the UK universityย | Acceptance letter from the university & a Provisional Attestation Letter (PAL)ย |
| Proof of English proficiency – IELTS (6.0+), TOEFL (78+), PTE (53+), Duolingo (120+), Cambridge C1 Advanced (180+), and C2 Proficiency (200+)ย | English proficiency proof – IELTS (minimum 6+), TOEFL (minimum 78+), PTE (53+), Duolingo (120+), Cambridge C1 Advanced (180+) and C2 Proficiency (200+)ย |
| Mandatory entrance test results – GRE, GMAT, BMAT, LNAT, UKCAT in applicable casesย | Mandatory entrance test results – GRE, GMAT, SAT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT in applicable casesย |
| SOP (Statement of Purpose)ย ย | SOP (Statement of Purpose) |
| At least 2 – 3 letters of recommendation | At least 2 – 3 letters of recommendationย |
| A resume or CVย | A resume or CVย |
The application process for UK and Canadian universities involves university selection, application, documentation, and funding procedures. With Nomad Creditโs holistic support, you can enjoy a hassle-free application experience at zero cost, letting you save big.ย ย
The study costs for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses differ in the UK and Canada. The tuition fee can be influenced by your field of study, course level, and universityโs decisions.ย ย
| Level of studyย | Tuition fees in the UKย | Tuition fees in Canadaย |
| Undergraduateย | 13,800 – 46,000 USDย | 30,000 – 36,100 USDย |
| Postgraduateย | 11,000 – 36,500 USDย | 18,000 – 21,100 USDย |
| Doctoralย | 18,000 – 42,500 USDย | 6,000 โ 15,000 USDย |
Living costs abroad is crucial in selecting a country to study abroad. The country you choose must be affordable according to your funds.ย ย
| Category of expenseย | UKย | Canadaย |
| Accommodationย | 500 – 1,500 USDย | 900 โ 2,000 USDย |
| Travelย | 46 – 90 USDย | 80 โ 120 USDย |
| Food & Groceriesย | 200 – 350 USDย | 500 โ 1,000 USDย |
| Visa Insurance (yearly)ย | 570 – 600 USDย | 500 – 1,000 USDย |
| Books & Stationariesย | 30 – 50 USDย | 50 – 100 USDย |
| Electricity, gas, internet, etc.ย ย | 50 – 100ย USDย | 100 – 200 USDย |
| Entertainmentย | 100 – 150 USDย | 200 – 400 USDย |
| Others/ Extra moneyย | 100 – 200 USDย | 500 – 700 USDย |
| Totalย | 1,600 – 3,000 USDย | 2,830 โ 5,520 USDย |
UK: Here are the steps to obtain a UK student visa and related stay-back information you need to know:ย ย
Canada: Follow the steps below to secure your Canada student visa.
Getting a job post study in the UK or Canada is a dream of many. Diverse industries offer job opportunities in various roles. You can access your dream job via campus placement, personal connections, or online research on platforms like LinkedIn. As of latest data, Canada vs. UK salaries for different jobs have been provided below:ย ย
| Job opportunitiesย | Salary in the UKย | Salary in Canadaย |
| Engineering – Software engineer, Mechanical engineer, Civil engineer, etc.ย ย | 55,600 USDย | 64,300 USDย |
| IT jobs – Data analyst, Data scientist, Cybersecurity analyst, etc.ย | 55,000 USDย | 73,000 USDย |
| Healthcare – Doctor, Nurse, Pharmacist, etc.ย ย ย | 42,000 USDย | 65,000 USDย |
| Finance – Financial professional, Accountant, Finance Manager, etc.ย ย | 63,500 USDย | 77,000 USDย |
| Arts – Curator, Art teacher, etc.ย | 37,000 USDย | 44,000 USDย |
| Humanities – Teacher, Subject matter expert, Market Research analyst, etc.ย ย | 63,000 USDย | 50,000 USDย |
It is very up to the student to decide whether to study in the UK or Canada. There are pros and cons to every country, and the best choice for you will rely on your preferences, goals, and situation. Think about things like the school programs, the culture, and the way of life to make the choice that fits your needs the best.ย ย
You may consider personal interests and career goals to decide your choice, based on your profile. Here are some useful suggestions:ย ย
To conclude, you can study in the UK or Canada as both countries are rich providers of academic excellence you need for professional success. Explore your personal interests and prioritize your requirements for a better selection.ย ย
That said, take advantage of Nomad Credit in making serious admission and financial decisions. Our experts will offer personalized guidance and provide insights based on your profile, at ZERO COST. Connect now and level up your global ambitions.ย ย
Elevate Your Global Study Dreams! Connect with Nomad Credit Now.ย

Both the UK and Canada are good study abroad choices for Indian students for degree and diploma courses. We suggest you explore your course options based on personal interests and eligibility. For details, connect with our study abroad counselor and get zero cost guidance for making better choices.
Canada can be better if the scope of success for your personal aspirations are better there compared to the UK. To check that out, you may book a zero-cost consultation call with Nomad Creditโs counselor and get valuable insights based on your profile.
The salary can be better in the UK or Canada, depending on your job role, experience, location, and qualifications. In general, companies in Canada pays better than those in the UK. However, note that inflation chances and cost of living are higher in Canada compared to the UK.
You can stay up to 2 years in the UK and up to 3 years in Canada post completion of your graduate studies for work
Canada and the UK offer better living standards with a low crime rate. In terms of living costs, Canada is more expensive than the UK.
Canada is more expensive than the UK if we compare the general cost of living. Living in Canada is cheaper as we move from cities to regional side.
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