How Much Do Canadian University Applications Cost in 2027?

The first number on an admissions page may be only a base fee. A complete budget can include extra program choices, international-service charges, document evaluation, online transcript requests, portfolios, auditions, interviews, tests, credential reports, translations, and courier costs. Tuition deposits and residence deposits come later and should not be mixed into the application-fee total.

Use the official application review screen as the final quote. Save a screenshot or receipt showing every line item, because most application charges cannot be refunded after submission.

OUAC currently charges $156 for the first three program choices and $50 for every additional choice. Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents also pay a $10 international service fee. Some programs add faculty-processing charges, and many Group B applicants can face a document-evaluation fee collected for each selected university.

An online transcript request can create another institution-specific charge. OUAC's current list ranges from $0 at Carleton and McMaster to $30 at Western for an Ontario university transcript. Applicants should calculate choices, program fees, document evaluation and transcript requests together before reaching the payment step.

EducationPlannerBC is an application service, but it says every institution sets its own admission fees and that the money is paid directly to the school. Fees are charged per application; EducationPlannerBC does not keep a separate portal fee.

Packaging also varies. Some institutions let one application include two programs, while others require a second paid application. UBC currently lists $78.50 for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and $173.25 for applicants who require a study permit, with possible additional requirements or fees for specific degrees.

McGill currently charges $140.16 for a standard undergraduate application, but a second application for the same term and undergraduate level costs nothing extra. A third application incurs another $140.16. Dalhousie currently charges $70 and lets an undergraduate application include up to two programs.

Those structures make the sticker price alone misleading. Compare cost per usable program choice, confirm whether the second choice is evaluated independently, and check whether the program needs a separate supplement before deciding where to apply.

There is no universal Canadian application-fee waiver. A waiver, exemption or reimbursement must come from an official institution, application service or government program and may depend on applicant status, program, location or financial circumstances. Avoid relying on third-party lists that omit eligibility rules or use expired amounts.

Ontario's current reimbursement program is one verified example. Eligible current or former Ontario children in extended society care applying to a first credential in an OSAP-approved program can seek reimbursement under the current rules. The program requires proof of payment, so receipts matter.

List every intended university and program, then record the exact route used to apply. Add the base application and extra-choice cost, applicant-specific charges, document or transcript fees, and program supplements. Keep deposits in a separate later-stage budget.

Recheck the live portal immediately before paying. Remove choices that do not meet prerequisites, but do not cut a well-researched choice solely to minimize fees. A smaller, evidence-based list usually protects both the budget and the quality of each supplementary application.