Canada vs UK: Which Is Better for Indian Students in 2025?
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Table of Contents
- 2025 Study Destination Comparison: Canada vs UK
- 2025 Immigration Routes
- 2025 Tuition & Living Costs Comparison: Canada vs UK
- Work Opportunities & PR Pathways in 2025: Canada vs UK
- Top Universities & Courses in 2025: Canada vs UK
- Visa Process & Requirements in 2025: Canada vs UK
- Final Judgement: Canada or UK in 2025
- Still Deciding between Canada and UK for 2025?
As an Indian student who is planning to study abroad in 2025, you’re likely to get confused between two top destinations: Canada and the UK. Both of these countries offer world-class education but have key differences in cost, work opportunities, and post-study visas that might change your decision.
This updated 2025 guide will help you explore valuable insights on choosing your best country for immigration between the UK vs Canada when it comes to comparison for Indian students.
2025 Study Destination Comparison: Canada vs UK
Choosing between Canada and the UK for higher education in 2025? Both countries offer world class and strong post work opportunities. However, both countries varies in cost, visas, and carrer pathways.
Here is a quick comparison based on 7 decisive factors, from tuition fees and living expenses to work visas and permanent residency routes, helping you make a conclusive decision.
|
Factor |
Canada |
United Kingdom |
|
Tuition Fees (Annual) |
₹8–15 lakhs (undergraduate), ₹7–20 lakhs (graduate) |
₹8–24 lakhs (varies by program and institution) |
|
Cost of Living |
₹6–10 lakhs/year (lower accommodation costs) |
₹9–15 lakhs/month (higher in cities like London) |
|
Post-Study Work Visa |
3-year PGWP (no job offer required) |
2-year Graduate Route (extendable via Skilled Worker Visa) |
|
PR Pathway |
Express Entry (470+ CRS score) + PNPs (faster processing) |
5-year ILR route (requires Skilled Worker Visa + salary thresholds) |
|
Top Universities |
Toronto, UBC, McGill (QS Top 50) |
Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London (QS Top 10) |
|
Part-Time Work |
20 hrs/week (40 hrs during breaks) |
20 hrs/week (full-time during holidays) |
|
Healthcare |
Provincial coverage (e.g., MSP in BC after 3-month wait) |
Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/year) required |
|
Scholarships |
Government-funded (e.g., Vanier) + provincial awards |
Merit-based (Chevening, Commonwealth) + institutional grants |
2025 Education Systems Compared
Canada
- Degree Structure:
- Bachelor’s (4 years), Master’s (1–2 years), PhD (4–6 years)
- Colleges offer diplomas (1–2 years; job-focused)
- Grading: GPA-based (flexible credit system)
- Advantage: Co-op programs integrated into degrees.
UK
- Degree Structure:
- Bachelor’s (3 years), Master’s (1 year), PhD (3–4 years)
- Colleges provide foundation courses (pre-university prep)
- Grading: Letter-based (rigorous classification system)
- Advantage: Accelerated 1-year master’s programs.
2025 Immigration Routes
Planning your long term future after studies? Though both Canada and the UK offer attractive post-study work options, their immigration pathways diverge significantly in speed, flexibility, and family inclusion policies, you still need to make a final decision.
Here is a camparison that highlights critical differences in work visa rules, PR timelines, and family sponsorship to help you make a decision.
|
Aspect |
Canada |
UK |
|
Work Visa Requirements |
PGWP → CEC/PNP (no employer sponsorship needed initially) |
Graduate Route → Skilled Worker Visa (job offer + £26,200 salary) |
|
PR Timeline |
6–12 months via Express Entry |
5 years minimum for ILR |
|
Family Inclusion |
Spouses get open work permits |
Dependents allowed only if main applicant earns ≥£29,000 |
Winner: Canada (more options for diplomas & degrees)
Also Read: Complete Guide to Canada Visa Processing Time 2025
2025 Tuition & Living Costs Comparison: Canada vs UK
Before you pack your bags to leave for any of the cities, understand the real expenses. While Canada offers lower tuition averages (₹ 8- 24L), London's elite institutions command premium fees (up to ₹45L for PG).
|
Expense |
Canada |
UK |
|
Tuition (Yearly) |
₹8–24 lakhs (UG: ₹8–15L; PG: ₹7–20L) |
₹8–40 lakhs (UG: ₹8–38L; PG: ₹9–45L) |
|
Rent (Monthly) |
₹40,000–80,000 (Cities: Toronto/Vancouver at higher end) |
₹60,000–1.5 lakhs (London: ₹1.2–1.8L; regional: ₹50–90K) |
|
Food (Monthly) |
₹15,000–25,000 (Groceries: ₹10–15K; meals out: ₹5–10K) |
₹20,000–35,000 (Supermarkets: ₹15–25K; dining: ₹5–10K) |
|
Transport (Monthly) |
₹3,000–6,000 (Public transit pass: ₹3–6K; occasional rideshares) |
₹5,000–10,000 (London Oyster card: ₹8–12K; regional buses: ₹4–6K) |
|
Healthcare |
Included in provincial plans after a 3-month wait |
£776/year (₹82K) Immigration Health Surcharge mandatory |
|
Pre-Arrival Costs |
₹1.6–22L (IELTS: ₹16K; visa: ₹9K; GIC: ₹12.4L) |
₹1.3–18.5L (SELT: ₹18K; visa: ₹35K; IHS: ₹47K) |
Winner: Canada (lower living costs + healthcare benefits)
Work Opportunities & PR Pathways in 2025: Canada vs UK
Finding where to start your international carrer? Canada and the UK offer two very different pathways for work experience and permanent residency after graduation. Here are the work opportunities & PR pathways for Canada and UK in 2025:
Core Work Opportunities
|
Aspect |
Canada |
UK |
|
Post-Study Work Visa |
PGWP: Up to 3 years (open work permit) |
Graduate Route: 2 years (no job restrictions) |
|
Part-Time Work |
24 hrs/week off-campus (effective Nov 2024) + full-time during breaks |
20 hrs/week during term + full-time in holidays |
|
Work Permit Flexibility |
Open work permits for spouses |
Dependents require separate sponsorship (minimum salary: £29,000) |
|
Internships/Co-op |
Co-op permits integrated into study programs |
Limited to Tier 4 visa restrictions (employer-specific) |
PR Route
|
Aspect |
Canada |
UK |
|
Primary Route |
Express Entry: CRS score-based (470+ score target) |
Skilled Worker Visa: Job offer + £26,200+ salary |
|
Processing Time |
6–12 months via Express Entry |
5 years minimum for ILR |
|
Key Requirements |
Canadian work experience (PGWP) + language proficiency |
5-year residency + salary thresholds (rising in 2025) |
|
Additional Streams |
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) for regional demand |
Shortage Occupation List roles (e.g., healthcare, engineering) |
Winner: Canada (faster PR, no job offer needed initially)
Top Universities & Courses in 2025: Canada vs UK
Choosing between Canada and the UK for your 2025 studies? Both countries offer world-class institutions, but offer distinct academic strengths and global recognition. Here are the top universities & courses in 2025 for both Canada and the U.K., along with their QS world university ranking:
|
Country |
University |
Q.S World University Ranking (2025) |
Top Courses |
|
Canada |
University of Toronto |
25 |
Computer Science, Business (Global MBA #39), Nursing (#5 globally) |
|
University of British Columbia (UBC) |
38 |
Engineering (#25 globally), Environmental Science, Data Science |
|
|
McGill University |
29 |
Medicine (#29 globally), Law (#33 globally), Psychology (#21 globally) |
|
|
UK |
University of Oxford |
3 |
MBA (#16 globally), Humanities, Law (#2 globally) |
|
University of Cambridge |
5 |
STEM (Maths #2 globally), Law (#3 globally) |
|
|
Imperial College London |
2 |
Engineering (#9 in Chemical Eng), Data Science, Medicine (#Top 10 globally) |
Winner: UK
Also Read: Top 10 Universities in Ireland for Masters in 2025
Visa Process & Requirements in 2025: Canada vs UK
From biometric appointments to interviews, visa approvals make or break dreams. Here are the processing times (4 vs 3 weeks), 2025 policy changes, and pro tips to avoid refusals in either system.
|
Factor |
Canada |
UK |
|
Visa Fee |
₹16,000 (approx.) + biometrics fee (₹5,300) |
₹35,000 (approx.) + Immigration Health Surcharge (₹82,000/year) |
|
Processing Time |
4–6 weeks (subject to biometrics delays) |
3–4 weeks (priority service available for faster processing) |
|
Interview |
Sometimes required (case-specific) |
Usually required for high-risk applicants |
|
IELTS Requirement |
6.0+ (most universities; DLI-specific) |
6.5+ (most universities; UKVI-approved test mandatory) |
|
Financial Proof |
CAD 20,635/year (₹12.4L GIC recommended) |
£29,000/year (₹30L+) for London-based courses |
|
Key Document |
Letter of Acceptance (DLI), GIC proof, study plan |
CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), TB test |
|
Post-Study Work Rights |
PGWP (up to 3 years; no job offer needed) |
Graduate Route (2 years; extendable via Skilled Worker Visa) |
|
2025 Policy Updates |
Cap of 364,000 study permits (-10% from 2024); PAL/TAL required |
Graduate Route unchanged; Skilled Worker salary thresholds rising |
Winner: Canada (lower visa fees, slightly faster processing)
Also Read: Top Scholarships for Indian Students in Canada (2025)
Final Judgement: Canada or UK in 2025
Why Choose Canada?
- Canada has affordable education + living costs.
- If you are planning to work and settle abroad, Canada is the best place.
- Canada offers a mix of diplomas & degrees.
Why Choose the UK?
- The UK has prestigious, shorter degrees.
- Choose UK if you are aiming for global networking.
- If you can manage higher expenses.
Also Read: Scholarships to Study in UK for Indian Students
Still Deciding between Canada and UK for 2025?
Let GetGIS be your guide in helping decide, with expert guidance on comparing universities, costs, and PR pathways side-by-side, optimizing your application for higher acceptance chances, navigati visa processes & documentation (including SOPs), and planning your long-term career & settlement strategy
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Limited-time offer : Access a free 10-Day IELTS study plan curated for you
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main advantage of studying in Canada?
Do I need a study permit for short-term courses in Canada?
How long can I stay in the UK after completing my studies?
Are scholarships available for Indian students in the UK?
Can I work part-time in the UK with a Tier 4 student visa?
