Head to head · updated July 2026
🇨🇦 Canada vs United Kingdom 🇬🇧 — for Nepali students
Choose by destination logic: Canada is an immigration system with universities attached; the UK is a universities system with a work visa attached. Canada wins on PR pathway and lower tuition; the UK wins on speed (1-year Master’s), no dependents-era caveats aside, and visa predictability. If your file is strong and PR is the goal, Canada. If you want the degree fast and options open, UK.
The numbers, side by side
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Realistic first year | Rs 32 – 48 L | Rs 38 – 58 L |
| Tuition (year 1) | Rs 17 – 27 L | Rs 24 – 38 L |
| Living / required funds | Rs ≈20 L (GIC: CAD 20,635) | Rs 12 – 20 L (28-day bank rule) |
| Visa & fees | Rs ≈0.5 L (permit + biometrics) | Rs ≈2.5 L (visa + IHS) |
| Work rights | Work 24 hrs / week | Work 20 hrs / week |
| Intakes | Sep & Jan | Sep & Jan |
| Visa processing | ~2–4 months | ~3–8 weeks |
| English test needed? | Yes — IELTS / PTE | Yes — IELTS / PTE |
Estimates in NPR, July 2026, rounded. Full breakdowns: Canada cost guide · United Kingdom cost guide.
Choose Canada if
- Permanent residency is the actual goal — PGWP → Express Entry is the clearest path anywhere
- You have a strong academic file that can survive the caps regime
- You want US-quality education at two-thirds the price
Choose United Kingdom if
- You have a Bachelor’s and want a Master’s in one year instead of two
- You want predictable, paperwork-driven visa processing with no interview
- Total time abroad matters more than maximum work hours
Canada: watch out
- Study-permit caps mean higher refusal rates — your SOP must be strong
- Provincial attestation letter (PAL) adds a step
- Winters and living costs outside big cities are the trade-off
United Kingdom: watch out
- Dependents not allowed on taught Master’s routes
- The 28-day funds rule rejects careless applications
- London costs nearly double the rest of the UK