Canada vs UK: Which country is best for Indian Students in 2025?

Canada vs UK: Which is best? Both Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) are the top study abroad destinations for international students worldwide. Both countries offer quality education. However, the choice of location depends on student preferences. In this article, we gave a brief comparison of top student destinations to get students some clarity and confidence to choose either Canada or UK.

Both Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) share similarities like diverse cultures, a wide landscape, livability, access to free healthcare, etc. In 2023, Canada hosted nearly 1 million international students as per official estimates. While the UK saw 586,099 according to the Higher Education Student Statistics. This data highlights both countries as excellent choices for higher education. However, before deciding on a desired foreign country and university, knowing about Canada vs UK on crucial factors such as cost of living, tuition fees, post-study work visa options, permanent residence, job opportunities, etc. can be an added advantage for international students.

Table of Contents

• Canada vs UK: Highlights
• Top 10 Factors to be considered to choose between Canada and UK
• Canada vs UK: Education and Grading system
• Top Universities in Canada and UK
• Canada vs Uk: Popular Courses
• Canada vs UK: Admission Requirements and Eligibility
• Canada vs UK: Cost of study and living expenses
• Scholarships availability to study in Canada and UK
• Canada vs UK: Student Visa Requirements
• Post-study work visa details in Canada and UK
• Canada vs UK: Permanent Residence (PR) Opportunities
• Employment Opportunities
• Canada vs UK: Climate and Weather conditions
• Which Country is better- Canada or UK?
• FAQ

Canada vs UK: Highlights

Major aspects	Canada	UK
Total International students	7,53,000	6,80,000
Top courses offered	Health & Medicine, Engineering, Hospitality & Tourism, Business Management	Law, Medicine, Engineering, Business Management, Biotechnology
Course durations	Undergraduate- 3 to 4 years Post graduate- 1 to 2 years Ph.D.- 6 years	Undergraduate- 3 to 4 years Post graduate- 1 to 2 years Ph.D.- 3 to 4 years
Test scores required	IELTS- 6.0+ GRE- 300+ GMAT- 600+ TOEFL- 90+ DET- 105+	IELTS: 6.5-7.0 GRE: 310-315 TOEFL: 90+ GMAT- 650+ DET: 105-120
Student visa fees	150 CAD	£363
Student admission intakes	September and January	September and January

Top 10 Factors to be considered to choose between Canada and UK

While deciding why you should study in Canada vs UK, the following factors serve as the best guidelines to make the appropriate decision.

Canada vs UK: Education and Grading System

The definitions of ‘colleges’ and ‘universities’ differ in Canada and the UK. While deciding to pursue higher studies, let us have a look at how is the education and grading system in Canada and UK

Canada Education and Grading system

• Public and private universities in Canada possess the authority to award degrees such as Bachelor’s, Doctorate, postgraduate diplomas and certifications.
• In the Canadian Education system, colleges award certificates and diplomas, whereas universities award degrees like Bachelor’s, postgraduate and doctorate degrees. For instance, if you plan to pursue bachelors or postgraduate or Doctorate degree, you need to apply for universities instead of colleges.
• Training in the applied fields of work are available at technical institutions and community colleges.
• When applying for Canadian universities, International students are evaluated based on their Grade point average (GPA). This is to determine students' eligibility and academic ability.

UK Education and Grading System

• The definition of college is quite different and a ‘University’ provides ‘higher education’ in the UK. After schooling is done, students can apply to UK colleges to pursue 2 year degrees and later they can apply to UK universities to pursue their Bachelor’s degree (3 years).
• Autonomous institutions run independently and are privately or publicly funded institutions. Universities can be run by Government or private agencies.
• The UK grading system focuses more on student academic performance and specific abilities (talents).
• Universities in the UK follow a “Letter Grade scale system” that falls between letters A and F. Letter ‘A’ being exceptional knowledge while ‘F’ denotes failure with a low score. 
• Degree awarding institutions own and regulate many degrees(foundation, taught and research degrees).
• Many institutions have formed groups such as “Mission groups or Institutional groups”, “Russell Group” and “Cathedrals group”.

Although the UK education system is well established compared to Canada, most international students prefer the Canadian education system for low study and living costs, student -friendly environment and a quick student visa approval.

Canada vs UK: Top Universities

Check out the top ranked universities in Canada and UK as per the World QS Ranking 2025

Top Universities in Canada

University Name	QS World Ranking 2025
McGill University	29
University of Toronto	25
University of British Columbia	38
University of Alberta	96
University de Montreal	=159
McMaster University	=176
University of Waterloo	115
Western University	=120
University of Ottawa	189
University of Calgary	242

Top UK Universities

University Name	QS World University Rankings 2025
University of Cambridge	5
University of Oxford	3
Imperial College London	2
University College London	9
The University of Edinburgh	27
The University of Manchester	=34
King’s College, London	=40
The London School of Economics and political science	=50
University of Bristol	54
The university of Warwick	=69

Now, let us have a look at the popular courses offered in Canada and UK

Canada vs UK: Popular Courses

Popular Courses to study
In Canada	In United Kingdom (UK)
Business Management	Nursing
Engineering, IT & computer science	Law
Health and Medicine	Business and Management
Dentistry	Sociology
Hospitality management	Medicine, Biotechnology, Bioscience
Tourism, Media and Journalism	Engineering, Design studies
Economics	Hospitality and Tourism
Psychology	Psychology
Agricultural science & Forestry	Sports and Exercise science

Canada vs UK: Admission Requirements and Eligibility

Eligibility criteria is the essential factor to be considered while deciding your study between Canada and the UK. Here are some admission requirements and criteria for specific courses in each country.

UK

• Students must complete their 10+2 from a recognized institution/board.
• For enrolling in PG courses, a UG degree (three years) completion certificate with a minimum 75% aggregate is required.
• Candidates may be asked to submit GMAT or GRE results for admission to specific Management courses. However, some universities enrol without these scores through their own entrance exams and interview rounds.
• English language competence exams like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE are accepted in the UK. Most universities consider the IELTS overall score of 6.5, with  6 in each band. 
• Medical Insurance
• Proof of funds
• A statement of Purpose, Letter of Recommendation
• Letter about Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

Canada

• Students' previous qualifications original copies are required.
• To enrol in undergraduate courses in Canada, a minimum of 12 years of schooling is required. In addition to that, you need to take the SAT exam. Degree program duration is 4 years, while diploma is 2 to 3 years.
• For MBA and Master’s courses, GRE or GMAT scores are required. Canadian universities don't have cutoff limits; instead, they provide the accepted average score of particular courses on their official website.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP) and letter of recommendation (LOR) should be submitted.
• English proficiency tests- C1 Advanced, IELTS and TOEFL scores are required. If students plan to study a course in French language, scores of either one French Proficiency test: DALF, DELF, TEF and TCF are needed.
• Students should submit legal evidence about their fund sources for survival and study in Canada.
• An updated resume is needed.

Canada vs UK: Cost of study and living expenses

It is important to have an idea about the cost of study and living expenses in both countries. The study cost in Canadian universities is significantly lower than in UK universities because

• The cost of tuition fee is usually lesser in Canada and hence the tuition fee in Canadian universities are much lesser than UK Universities.
• Canadian dollar has a lower exchange rate compared to other currencies.

Let us dive deeper into the major expenses international students have to bear.

Study cost and Living expenses for Undergraduate (UG) courses in Canada and UK
Main Particulars	Canada	UK
Tuition fee	CAD 10,000 to CAD 30,000 (INR 6,10,845 to INR18,32,536) per year	£8,000 to £15,000 (INR 8,22,602 to INR 15,42,380) per year.
Cost of living	$10,000 to $12,000 per year. (Rs. 7.1L per year)	£12,000 to £15,000 per year. (Rs. 7.8L per year)
Duration of the course	3 to 4 years	3 years

 

Study cost and Living expenses for Postgraduate (PG) courses in Canada and UK
Main Particulars	Canada	UK
Tuition fee	CAD 15,000 to CAD 35,000 (INR 9,16268 to INR 21,37959) per year	£18,000 to £35,000 (INR 1,800,000 to INR 3,500,000) per year.
Cost of living	$10,000 to $12,000 per year. (Rs. 7.1L per year)	£12,000 to £15,000 per year. (Rs. 7.1L per year)
Duration of the course	1 to 2 years	1 to 2 years

Canada vs UK: Scholarships availability

Canada

Irrespective of the course you choose, securing a scholarship in Canada for Indian students helps to manage your expenses. Here are some scholarships offered in Canada for international students and check your eligibility before applying

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Canadian Government scholarship namely, Vanier
• Canada Graduate scholarship
• International Research Linkages
• For Masters Programs- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
• Canada Memorial scholarship for Indian students
• India First year Excellence scholarship - University of Alberta

United Kingdom (UK)

Here is a list of scholarships in the UK for Indian students to cater to your financial needs and fund your higher education.

• Sri Ratan Tata Fellowship for South Asian Students at LSE
• British Council Great Scholarships for Indian students
• Cardiff Business School of Scholarships
• Edinburgh Global Research scholarship
• Government-funded scholarships like Scotland’s Saltire
• Scholarship, Chevening Scholarships, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship 
• Oxford and Cambridge Society of India scholarships

Canada vs UK: Student Visa Requirements

Canada

The Canadian student visa has following rules and regulations 

• Applicants have to take Medical test as a part of visa application process
• You have to apply for post-graduation work permit within 90 days of completing your studies
• Your work limit should not exceed 20 hours per week. A waiver is given during holidays, breaks and summer sessions, where students may work up to 40 hours per week.
• Spouses can work full-time if their stay duration is a year or more.
• The Canadian student visa fee is around CAD 150.
• A separate permit is required to work as an intern or participate in Co-op as per your course requirements.

To know more refer: Canada study visa requirements

UK

International students planning to study in the UK have to apply for a formerly Tier 4 UK visa. The UK government relaxed UK post-study work visa rules for international students. To apply for a UK student visa, the rules to be followed are

• Visa is granted only on a full-time study program
• Students can work part-time, only 20 hours per week (on Campus or off-Campus) during their studies. During the vacation period, they can work full time only on-Campus.
• The tier 4 visa costs £363. If the family accompanies you an additional charge of £363 has to be paid for a dependent visa. Also, An international health surcharge of £705 should be paid.  
• For a short term study visa, you need to leave the UK within 30 days of completion of the course.

Canada vs UK: Post-study Work Visa details 

Canada

By applying for a Canadian post graduation work visa, international students can stay for additional 3 years after graduating from university. This work permit will allow you to stay and work in any industry/field.

UK

The UK Home Office has recently launched its new post study work visa (Graduate route visa) for international students, enabling UK degree holders to stay and look for work for at least 2 years. If you intend to work in the UK after completing your studies, then you should apply for a Graduate visa (PSW UK)

Canada vs UK: Permanent Residence (PR) Opportunities

UK

By applying for Permanent Residence (PR), popularly known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), you can permanently stay and work in the UK without any restrictions and time limitations. The PR application acceptability chances are more if

• You have been living in the UK for the past 5 years
• If one of your dependent relatives or family members is a UK citizen or permanent resident.
• You are staying for the past 5 years on Tier 2 (General) work visa, you may apply for PR. However, your employer should sponsor you.

Other ways to obtain PR:

• Being a refugee, having a humanitarian protection or Discretionary Leave
• Returning to UK with prior indefinite leave
• Having served in the armed forces

Canada

Getting PR in Canada is very flexible and easy. International students can apply for PR under the Canadian Experience Class during their stay on a Canadian post graduation visa. Due to its scanty population and skilled labour shortage, Canada is encouraging its PR program to welcome more immigrants to study, work, and live in the country.

canada vs UK: Employment Opportunities

Canada provides better options as compared to the U.K. in many industries for career advancement and employment. Numerous industries were there in Canada that outperform the U.K. Also, Canada offers plenty of employment opportunities to its citizens, both full-time and part-time. The current unemployment rate in Canada is at its lowest since 2020.

Here are the list of popular jobs in both Canada and UK

Canada

Engineers, Financial Analysts, Project Managers, IT Managers, HR Managers, Nurses etc. are some of the highest paying jobs in Canada.

Details of Annual Salary package in Prime Job Sectors in Canada

Field of Specialisation	Average Annual salary
Business Development Manager	CAD 85,000
Project Manager	CAD 90,000
Electrical Engineer	CAD 77,400
Registered Nurse	CAD 76,362

UK

In the UK, the jobs in demand and highly paid are Dermatologists, orthodontists, Lawyers, Engineers, IT Directors, Data scientists, Advertising and public relations Director, Marketing and sales director etc.

Details of Annual Salary Package in Prime Job Sectors in UK

Field of Specialisation	Average Annual salary
Legal Professionals	￡ 76,522
Senior officials and chief executives	￡ 90,000
IT & Telecommunication Directors	￡ 63,810
Medical Practitioners	￡64,504

Canada vs UK: Climate and Weather conditions

The climate in Canada remains cold, with temperatures below -30°C in many locations. The country experiences very short summers and freezing winters with a lot of snow.

On the other hand, the climate in the UK is maritime, moist, and temperate. The temperature during summer ranges from 15-25°C, while in winter 0-7°C. The weather during winter will be cold, with fog and snow along with unpredictable rains.

Which Country is better - Canada or UK?

Choosing between studying in the UK or Canada depends on individual preferences, goals, and circumstances. Each country has its own advantages, and the right choice aligns with academic interests, cultural preferences, and lifestyle.

Consider the following factors to make an informed decision:

• Compare the cultures of the UK and Canada to see which suits you better.
• Canada is a strong choice for PG Diploma courses in science, business, and humanities.
• The UK offers one-year postgraduate degrees in science, business, economics, humanities, and arts.
• The UK generally has a lower cost of living, while in Canada, expenses vary based on location.
• Check the acceptance rates before applying. Our counselors can provide insights for a smoother experience.

Both the UK and Canada offer excellent academic opportunities for career growth. Prioritize your interests and requirements for the best decision.

For expert guidance on admissions and financial planning, connect with Kanan International. Our team provides personalized support to help you achieve your global ambitions. Reach out today!

Frequently asked questions

1. Which is better UK or Canada? 

The UK has some of the world's best Universities and is improving its efforts to assist international students after graduation. In Contrast, Canada has lower cost of study and living and historically given flexible post-study career opportunities for many international students. Canada has 23% less crime rate compared to the UK and also ranks in the top ten safe nations.

2. Is it better to live in the UK or Canada?

The UK ranked similarly in terms of free healthcare, Education and diverse culture as Canada. UK has higher cost of living than Canada according to Numbeo's cost of living index. On the other hand, Canada provides good options for employment and career advancement and effortless PR applications with relaxed norms. And as per the 2022 Human Development Index (HDI), Canada is in 15th and the United Kingdom (UK) is in 18th position.

3. Which is better UK or Canada for work?

The UK and Canada are good at providing opportunities for employees to excel in their careers. Numerous industries exist in Canada that outperform the UK. Canada provides very good options for career advancement and employment in many industries than the UK. The lowest level of unemployment rate in Canada is 7.5% since 2020.

4. Are salaries higher in Canada than UK?

The average salary in Canada is 12% higher than in the UK. Statistics Canada fixes the average wage for Canadian employees at $1,161 (£725 in euros) per week, while the Office of National Statistics UK, puts the average weekly wage in full-time employment for an adult at £598 (or $ 879 in CAD).

5. Which of UK and Canada has better universities? 

The United Kingdom and Canada have outstanding universities with renowned global reputations. In terms of university rankings, the UK has an upper hand because of its 4 universities that fall within top 10 ranks of QS World University Rankings 2025. The University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London etc. are some of the widely recognized UK universities in terms of education and research. Both the countries offer high quality education.