Studying in Canada College 2026: Conditions, costs and job opportunities

1. Cost savings
The average tuition fee of colleges in Canada ranges from 13,000 - 18,000 CAD/year (equivalent to 237 - 329 million VND). This is a reasonable cost of studying in Canadian colleges compared to countries such as the US, UK or Australia, while still ensuring a high-quality education program.
2. Application requirements are not too strict
Canada has more than 1,000 colleges, including many colleges with diverse majors such as: Applied Arts, Business, Environment, Hotel - Tourism, Information Technology... Therefore, admission requirements to colleges are often more flexible than those at the university level.
3. Clear career orientation
Colleges focus on practice and career experience. The program is suitable for students who intend to find a job immediately after graduation, with many opportunities for internships and application of practical knowledge, instead of focusing on in-depth theoretical research.

2.1. Requirements to study in Canadian colleges

If you have the desire to study in a Canadian college, you need to meet the following requirements:

2.2. Canada College Student Visa Requirements

You can prepare your visa application for studying at a Canadian college based on the following cases:

Financial Proof Stream:
Students are not required to have an IELTS English certificate when applying for a visa. Instead, you submit financial documents proving that you have sufficient resources to cover all study and living expenses, ensuring an uninterrupted study experience in Canada.

Canada is one of the leading countries in terms of education quality. In addition to specialized knowledge, students also participate in practical classes and have the opportunity to intern in professional working environments such as large companies and corporations. Therefore, the degrees of international students studying in Canadian colleges are recognized globally. You can find suitable jobs with high salaries not only in your home country but also in many other countries around the world.
Recently, the Canadian Immigration Department (IRCC) has updated its post-graduation work permit (PGWP) policy, effective from November 1, 2024. For students studying college degree programs and university programs that are not at the bachelor's, master's or doctoral level, there are 966 majors in 5 fields such as agriculture, health care, STEM, trade and transportation eligible for PGWP.
Therefore, choosing a major when studying in college in Canada after November 1, 2024 becomes extremely important if you want to stay and work after graduation. Do not hesitate to contact IDP for advice and the latest information on choosing the right major in Canada! With a shorter training period (usually 2 - 3 years) compared to university (4 years or more for special majors such as medicine and pharmacy), college students have the opportunity to access the real working environment early. Contact IDP now for advice and the latest information on suitable majors when studying in Canada!

The estimated cost of studying at a college in Canada is about 25,000 - 32,000 CAD/year, including:
Tuition: about 13,000 - 18,000 CAD/year, depending on the college and province.
Living expenses: minimum 22,895 CAD/year according to the new financial proof regulations (effective from September 1, 2025) plus actual living expenses (such as housing, food, transportation), which can range from 22,895 CAD to about 30,000 CAD/year if studying in big cities like Toronto or Vancouver, including housing, food, transportation, health insurance and incidental expenses.

Additional note: When preparing financial preparation for studying abroad, students should calculate additional costs such as health insurance, airfare, books - because the "financial proof" is only a part of the cost that needs to be proven to apply for a study permit. Related article: How much does it cost to study in Canada?

Recently, the Canadian Immigration Department (IRCC) has updated the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) policy, effective from November 1, 2024 and will continue to be adjusted in 2025. Accordingly, students studying college programs or programs that are not at the bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level can only apply for a PGWP if their field of study is on the list of fields prioritized by IRCC. After several updates (November 1, 2024 → June 25, 2025 → July 4, 2025), there are now approximately 920 occupations (CIP codes) in the following 5 groups of fields eligible for PGWP:

• Agriculture & Food

• Healthcare

• STEM (science – technology – engineering – mathematics)

• Skilled Trades

• Transportation

Note: The occupation list is constantly being adjusted by IRCC. Some occupations that were removed in June 2025 have been temporarily restored until early 2026.
Some typical occupations in high-demand fields:

1. Chemical Engineer / Petroleum Engineer

Chemical engineering remains popular in Canada, especially in fields such as energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and green processes—demand is increasing as companies promote sustainable production.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a newly graduated chemical engineer in Canada is about 82,000 CAD/year, with a range of 60,000 - 113,000 CAD.

2. Registered Nurse (RN)

The nursing/nursing industry is in high demand in Canada due to the aging population and the healthcare system's need for more healthcare workers. Therefore, the nursing industry is expected to be quite stable and grow steadily
According to Glassdoor (2025), salaries for newly graduated RNs are usually from 68,000 to 76,000 CAD/year, with an average of about 72,000 CAD/year

3. Data Analysis

The Data analysis/data science industry in Canada is growing strongly due to business demand for big data processing, AI, and Machine Learning
According to Statistics Canada 2025, the demand for data analysis human resources increases by about 15-20% per year.
Provinces with high demand: Ontario (Toronto, Ottawa), British Columbia (Vancouver), Quebec (Montreal).
Newly graduated Data Analyst: average about 55,000 - 70,000 CAD/year.
Newly graduated Data Scientist: average about 70,000 - 85,000 CAD/year.

4. Agricultural Engineer

Canada is strongly developing smart farming, hydroponics, farm automation, and agricultural supply chain management.
Newly graduated Agricultural Engineer: average about 60,000 - 75,000 CAD/year.
Choosing a major when studying abroad at a college in Canada after November 1, 2024, becomes extremely important if you want to stay and work after graduation. Don't hesitate to contact IDP for advice and the latest information on choosing the right major when studying abroad at college in Canada

Here are 20 Canadian colleges with high teaching quality, which are of interest to many international students:

If you are cherishing your dream of studying at a Canadian college, contact IDP

Education to receive useful advice for your upcoming journey!

IDP Education has more than 56 years of experience in advising students to study abroad, playing an important role in international education by helping more than 800,000 students successfully study abroad at schools in Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland.

IDP currently has a network of 210 international admissions offices in 35 different countries, and is the official admissions representative of over 100+ prestigious schools in Australia, the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland. In addition, IDP is also the co-founder and organizer of the IELTS test worldwide, which will best support you to have a great study abroad experience!

Hopefully, the above article has provided useful information for those of you who are planning to study abroad in Canada. From there, you can choose a school that suits your interests and conditions and have useful experiences during the time of studying abroad and exploring new lands.