Engineering Tuition in Canada for International Students

Key takeaways

U of T Engineering: $72,860 (2026-27), up 4% from $70,060
UBC Engineering: $66,199.66 for a full course load (2026/27); yearly rises capped at 3% for new students
Waterloo Engineering: $75,000 for first year, including incidental fees; no tuition in co-op terms
Queen’s Smith Engineering: $59,283.74 plus $1,635.83 fees and $948 UHIP
Waterloo engineering co-op students earned $21.67 to $31.53 an hour on average across six work terms (2025)

International engineering tuition in 2026-27

University	International tuition, year 1	Other fees	Canadian (Ontario/BC resident) tuition
University of Waterloo	$75,000 (includes incidentals)	Co-op fee $836 per co-op term	$19,000 (includes incidentals)
University of Toronto	$72,860	Incidental fees ($2,203.84 in 2025-26) and UHIP	$14,180
UBC Vancouver	$66,199.66	Student fees and BC health fee ($75 a month)	$7,647.53 (year 1)
Queen’s University	$59,283.74	$1,635.83 student and ancillary fees; UHIP $948	$12,152.92
McMaster University	McMaster publishes 2026-27 fees in its cost estimator and fee schedules. We could not read an official figure when we checked, so we do not show one. Use McMaster’s cost estimator.

Sources: each university’s official fee page, checked October 5, 2026. Waterloo’s figures are its first-year estimates for students starting in September 2026, for two terms including incidental fees. UBC’s figure is for a full course load. Canadian figures are for Ontario or BC residents.

What a full engineering degree costs

Engineering degrees take 4 years of study. Co-op and internship programs add work terms, so many students finish in 5 years. Tuition also rises during your degree:

U of T raised international engineering tuition by 4% for 2026-27, for both new and continuing students.
UBC says that for international students starting in 2026/27, tuition will rise by no more than 3% a year for the next 4 years or until graduation.
Waterloo and Queen’s do not promise a fixed rate on their first-year fee pages. Ask about increases for continuing students.

A rough tuition-only total for 4 study years, with 3% a year increases:

University	4 years of tuition (estimate)
Waterloo ($75,000 start)	about $313,800
U of T ($72,860 start)	about $304,800
UBC ($66,200 start)	about $277,000
Queen’s ($59,284 start)	about $248,000

These are our estimates, not quotes. Add health insurance, housing and living costs in the cost of studying calculator.

Can co-op pay for part of it?

Many Canadian engineering programs include paid work terms. At Waterloo, you do not pay tuition during co-op terms; you pay a co-op fee of $836 per term. U of T Engineering offers the Professional Experience Year (PEY Co-op), with co-op fees charged per term from second year onward.

Waterloo reports that engineering co-op students earned, on average, $21.67 an hour in their first work term and $31.53 an hour in their sixth (2025 data). Pay ranged from $17 to $55 an hour.

Rough example: six 4-month terms of about 600 hours each, at an average near $26.50 an hour, is about $95,000 before tax over the degree. That is our estimate from Waterloo’s averages, not a promise. Your pay depends on the job, city and economy.

International students need a co-op work permit as well as a study permit to do co-op work terms. Your school will tell you how to apply. Co-op work does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class.

Costs on top of engineering tuition

Tuition is only part of the bill. Plan for these too:

Health insurance. Ontario universities charge the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP): Queen’s lists $948 for 2026-27, and U of T listed $792 for 2025-26. In BC, international students pay a provincial health fee of $75 a month.
Incidental and student fees. U of T Engineering listed $2,203.84 in 2025-26. Queen’s lists $1,635.83 for 2026-27. Waterloo’s $75,000 already includes them.
Housing. U of T Engineering listed residence and meal plans from $13,645 to $37,848 for 2025-26. Off-campus rent in Toronto and Vancouver is among the highest in Canada.
Books, tools and a laptop. U of T Engineering suggests $1,500 to $2,000 or more a year for books and supplies.

For your study permit, IRCC wants proof of at least $23,448 for living costs plus first-year tuition (one person, applications from September 1, 2026, outside Quebec). For U of T Engineering, that is at least $96,308 before travel. Check yours with the proof of funds calculator.

International vs Canadian engineering fees

International students pay about 4 to 9 times what local students pay for the same engineering program. At U of T, an Ontario resident pays $14,180 and an international student pays $72,860 in 2026-27, about 5 times more. At UBC, a domestic first-year student pays $7,647.53 against $66,199.66, about 9 times more. Becoming a permanent resident during your degree usually moves you to domestic fees from the next term or year, depending on the school’s rules and deadlines. Ask your registrar.

Fees are paid in Canadian dollars, so exchange rates matter. A 5% move in your home currency can change the cost of a $72,860 year by more than $3,600. Compare ways to pay in pay tuition from abroad.

How to choose

Total cost, not first-year cost. Compare 4 or 5 years with increases, plus rent in the city. Toronto and Vancouver rents are among the highest in Canada.
Co-op structure. Waterloo’s co-op is built into the program. Others offer optional internships.
Fee protection. A cap on increases (like UBC’s 3%) makes planning easier.
Scholarships. Most universities offer entrance awards to international students. They rarely cover full tuition.
Path to licence. To work as a professional engineer (P.Eng.), you will need a licence from the provincial regulator after graduation. See find your regulator.

After graduation: work and PR

A bachelor’s degree in engineering is exempt from the PGWP field of study rule. You need CLB 7 in English or French in all four skills for a PGWP, and a 4-year degree can lead to a 3-year permit. Check with the PGWP eligibility checker.

Several engineering jobs, such as civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, are in IRCC’s 2026 Express Entry categories. See the Express Entry category checker and plan your route in study permit to PR.

A bachelor of engineering is also one of the university professional programs whose students’ spouses can apply for an open work permit, under IRCC’s rules as of February 2026.

Common questions

Which Canadian university has the cheapest engineering tuition for international students?

Of the four we compared for 2026-27, Queen’s has the lowest international engineering tuition at $59,283.74, before $1,635.83 in fees and $948 UHIP. Universities in lower-cost provinces may be cheaper again.

How much is engineering at the University of Toronto for international students?

$72,860 for 2026-27, according to U of T’s tuition fee schedules. It was $70,060 in 2025-26. Incidental fees and UHIP are extra.

Is Waterloo engineering worth the cost?

It is the most expensive in our comparison ($75,000 first year, including incidentals), but you do not pay tuition during co-op terms and co-op pay averaged $21.67 to $31.53 an hour in 2025. Compare total cost and your own goals.

Does UBC raise international tuition every year?

UBC says international students starting in 2026/27 will see tuition rise by no more than 3% a year for the next 4 years or until they graduate.

Do I need a work permit for co-op?

Yes. International students need a co-op work permit for required work terms, in addition to their study permit.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Engineering tuition for international students: U of T, UBC, Waterloo, Queen’s and McMaster