Canadian university application fees typically run CA$100–CA$150 per application — manageable for one school, but it adds up fast if you’re applying broadly, which is usually the right strategy for competitive programs. A number of Canadian universities offer fee waivers or reductions, and some are specifically relevant if you’re applying from Ghana, Nigeria, or elsewhere in Africa.
Last verified: August 2026 — fee waiver programs change eligibility criteria and windows frequently. Confirm current terms directly on each university’s admissions page before applying.
University of British Columbia (UBC)
UBC waives its application fee for applicants from UN-designated Least Developed Countries — a list that includes a substantial number of African nations. If your home country is on that list, this is one of the most straightforward, no-conditions waivers available at a major Canadian research university. Check the current UN LDC list and UBC’s admissions page to confirm your country qualifies, since the list is periodically updated.
University of Alberta
Certain departments — Computing Science has offered this in the past — provide limited fee waivers specifically for graduate applicants from countries classified as underdeveloped or developing. Availability varies by department and intake, so check directly with the specific graduate program you’re targeting rather than assuming a university-wide policy.
Smaller universities with periodic full waivers
Several smaller Canadian institutions — Saint Mary’s University and the University of Winnipeg among them — have run promotional windows offering full application fee waivers for first-year, transfer, or graduate applicants at various points. These aren’t standing policies; they’re time-limited promotions, so they require watching the specific university’s admissions announcements rather than assuming they’re always available.
Universities with early-application waivers
Some institutions waive or reduce fees for applicants who apply by an early deadline or attend a recruitment/information session — Lakehead University and The King’s University both fall into this category. If you’re organized enough to apply early, this is a reliable way to reduce cost even without belonging to a specific eligibility category.
What to check before relying on any waiver
- Confirm your country’s current eligibility status for LDC-based waivers, since classifications are reviewed periodically.
- Check whether the waiver applies to your specific program level (undergraduate vs. graduate) — many waivers are level-specific.
- Note any deadline attached to the waiver itself, which can be earlier than the general application deadline.
- Have a backup plan for fees on applications where no waiver applies — spreading applications across a mix of fee-waived and fee-required schools is more realistic than assuming every application will be free.
Beyond fee waivers
Application fees are a small fraction of total study-abroad costs. For the full financial picture, see Cost of Studying Abroad: Realistic Budget Breakdown by Country and Scholarships & Funding for how to fund the rest.