International students

International students face different financial pressures and have access to different sources of funding than their Canadian classmates. Here you’ll find some of the unique costs you might face as an international student at Mount Royal and some of the resources that are available to you.

Budget Basics
Paying tuition & fees
Scholarships & bursaries
Government funding / student loans
Working while in school
Income tax information
Spending money wisely
Banking
Other Links

Budget basics

To help you start building a budget, here are some estimated basic costs you can expect:

Expenses*	Living on Campus	Living off Campus
Tuition / Fees**	$12,550	$12,550
Books / Supplies	$1,300	$1,300
Rent ***	$5,245- $7,335	$5,400 - $7,200
Food	$2,500	$2,500
Transportation	Calgary Transit U-Pass included in tuition and fees	Calgary Transit U-Pass included in tuition and fees
Clothing / Personal Care	$1,100	$1,100
Entertainment	$500	$500
Travel home	Variable	Variable
TOTAL	$23,195 - $25,285	$23,350- $25,150

* These are average estimated costs for eight months (one full academic year) based on 2012/2013** Estimated costs for a Bachelor's Degree based on five courses per semester. For estimated costs for specific programs see Cost of Education.

***Based on a variety of circumstances, from shared accommodation with multiple roommates to independent apartment-living.

Additional costs

If you are an international student who is planning to attend studies at Mount Royal, you shouldn’t forget to budget for other costs that may be associated with applying to study or attending school in Canada.

Study permit
Students planning to study in Canada for more than six months will have to apply for a Study Permit through the Canadian government. The cost to apply for a Study Permit is determined by the government of Canada and is subject to change.
Study permit - application and renewal
Students will need to supply a copy of their admissions acceptance letter and a proof of registration along with their Study Permit application or Study Permit renewal application. The Office of the Registrar will provide the proof of registration letter at a cost of $50 (per letter), the fee for the initial letter is waived.
Medical insurance
All international students who will be attending Mount Royal on exchange are required to purchase medical insurance through Mount Royal International Education ($200 per semester).

International students who are not attending Mount Royal on exchange, and who meet all other eligibility requirements, qualify for coverage under the Students’ Association Health and Dental Insurance Plan, included in the cost of tuition.
Participation fee
Students who are attending Mount Royal on exchange will be charged a $75 participation fee.

Paying tuition & fees

To find out more about how and when to pay your tuition, residence and other fees at Mount Royal, visit paying tuition & fees.

Scholarships & bursaries

International students are eligible for Mount Royal University in-course scholarships and awards. Students seeking additional scholarship or bursary opportunities are encouraged to check their eligibility for other awards at:

Government funding / student loans

As a student who is considering studying in Canada, you are expected to have enough money to support yourself during your studies. You must ensure you have enough money to pay for:

tuition
living expenses
transportation to and from Canada

If you are planning to attend Mount Royal on a Study Permit, you should be aware that you are not eligible to apply for Canadian government funding. If you require a loan to attend school, you should consider getting a loan through your home country.

Some countries will offer government student loans (i.e. Finland) to students who attend Mount Royal. If your home country does not fund students through their government loans program, you may wish to speak to your bank or other financial institutions to secure funding.

American students: Mount Royal is not a Title IV school. Therefore, you cannot qualify for U.S. government funding if you attend Mount Royal.

Working while in school

You must come to Canada with enough money to live and pay your bills while you are studying, without needing to work. In certain situations, you may be able to work while you are studying.

While you may wish to visit Mount Royal Career Services for help with your job search, you might also need to visit the Government of Canada website to familiarize yourself with the rules about working in Canada or to apply for a work permit

Income tax information

Spending money wisely

For more information on money management, visit spending money wisely. You will find information about topics such as:

Money-management
Living away from home
Calgary Transit subsidies
Alberta Heath Care subsidies
Subsidized housing information
Credit checks / credit problems
Emergency funding

Banking

Whether you’re interested in setting up a bank account at the credit union on campus, or finding out where the bank machines are located, you’ll want to visit Banking for more information.