You can study English in Canada at a private language school or at a university language institute. In 2026 a week of intensive study (30 lessons) costs $302 (CAD 430) at ILAC and $337 (CAD 480) at ILSC Toronto, and a homestay room with meals adds $246–281 (CAD 350–400) a week. A course of six months or less needs no study permit, although many nationalities, including Russian and Kazakh citizens, still need a visitor visa to enter; a longer course needs a study permit, a school on the designated learning institution (DLI) list and, in most cases, a provincial attestation letter (PAL).
| At a glance | Rules and prices checked on 2 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Course of 6 months or less | No study permit; visitor visa if your nationality needs one: $70 (CAD 100) plus $60 (CAD 85) biometrics; no work |
| Course over 6 months | Study permit, $105 (CAD 150); school must be a DLI; a PAL is usually required |
| Work during a language course | Not allowed, even with a study permit, if you study only English or French as a second language |
| Course price, 2026 | 30 lessons a week: $263–302 (CAD 375–430) at ILAC, $316–337 (CAD 450–480) at ILSC Toronto |
| Housing | Homestay with meals: $225–281 (CAD 320–400) a week; Toronto residences $326–456 (CAD 465–650) |
| Quality check | Languages Canada members must be accredited under a single national standard |
Who Canada suits for English
Canada works well if you want North American English and a visa process handled online by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), where decisions are usually made on documents rather than at a consular interview. Schools in Toronto and Vancouver run all year, most courses start any Monday, and long programmes can lead straight into a college or university: many schools offer IELTS preparation and pathway courses that replace a test score for admission.
There are trade-offs. Courses cost more than in Malta, and rent in Toronto and Vancouver is high. You cannot fund the trip with part-time work, because IRCC rules exclude students who only take a second-language programme. Winters in Toronto are cold, and summer classes fill with teenagers.
For universities, costs and student life, see the Study in Canada page. If the course is a step towards a degree, compare colleges in Canada and universities in Canada.
Private school, university institute or pathway
| Type | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Private language school (ILAC, ILSC and others) | Weekly starts, 20–38 lessons, general English, IELTS, Cambridge, business English | A study holiday, fast progress, exam preparation |
| University language institute (for example UBC English Language Institute) | Fixed 3–8-week sessions, academic English, campus life | Future degree students who want an academic setting |
| Pathway programme | A language course after which a college or university with an agreement accepts you without IELTS | Entering a college or university through English |
| Teen camps | 1–6 weeks, morning lessons, excursions, homestay | School pupils; ILAC takes 15–18-year-olds |
Check three things before paying. First, membership of Languages Canada: every member must be accredited under one national standard reviewed by independent assessors. Second, the DLI number if the course runs longer than six months, since a study permit cannot be issued without it; ILAC, for example, publishes separate DLI numbers for its Toronto and Vancouver campuses. Third, the refund policy: at ILAC the first four weeks of a paid course are non-refundable.
What courses cost: three official price lists
ILAC (Toronto and Vancouver), 2026 and 2027 prices
Adult programmes start at 18, and young-adult programmes take students aged 15 to 18.
| Intensive English, 30 lessons a week | 2026, per week | 2027, per week |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 weeks | $302 (CAD 430) | $312 (CAD 445) |
| 11–21 weeks | $298 (CAD 425) | $309 (CAD 440) |
| 22–32 weeks | $284 (CAD 405) | $295 (CAD 420) |
| 44 weeks or more | $263 (CAD 375) | $274 (CAD 390) |
Power English with 38 lessons costs $309–337 (CAD 440–480) a week in 2026. The evening school for working adults charges $133 (CAD 190) a week for the semi-intensive option and $91 (CAD 130) for part-time study. Add a $158 (CAD 225) registration fee and a $18 (CAD 25) weekly student service fee. ILAC states that it offers no scholarships, bursaries or other financial assistance.
ILSC Toronto, 2026 prices
Lessons last 50 minutes.
| Programme | 1–12 weeks | 13–25 weeks | 26 weeks or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive, 30 lessons | $337 (CAD 480) | $323 (CAD 460) | $316 (CAD 450) |
| Morning, 24 lessons | $302 (CAD 430) | $288 (CAD 410) | $281 (CAD 400) |
| Afternoon, 24 lessons | $253 (CAD 360) | $253 (CAD 360) | $253 (CAD 360) |
| Part-time mornings, 17 lessons | $228 (CAD 325) | $228 (CAD 325) | $228 (CAD 325) |
The registration fee is $154 (CAD 220); materials cost $42 (CAD 60) for up to four weeks or $11 (CAD 15) a week on longer courses, capped at $316 (CAD 450). A morning 30Plus class for students aged 30 and over, with two activities a week, is priced like the intensive course.
UBC English Language Institute (Vancouver), 2026/27 sessions
The University of British Columbia's language institute runs sessions on fixed dates. Its on-campus ASPIRE programme costs $1,369 (CAD 1,950) for four weeks, and the eight-week English for Academic Purposes course costs $2,738 (CAD 3,900). Applicants pay a non-refundable $140 (CAD 200) application fee and a $421 (CAD 600) deposit for eight-week programmes, credited against tuition. Textbooks are extra.
A four-week budget
| Scenario (Toronto, low season) | Course and fees | Homestay with meals, 4 weeks | Total before flights and insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ILAC Intensive, 30 lessons; homestay with three meals, placement fee and airport pick-up | $1,436 (CAD 2,045) | $1,260 (CAD 1,795) | $2,696 (CAD 3,840) |
| ILSC Morning, 24 lessons; full-board homestay | $1,404 (CAD 2,000) | $983 (CAD 1,400) | $2,387 (CAD 3,400) |
The second row leaves out ILSC's placement and transfer charges, which the school adds to the invoice. From June to August (16 May to 6 September at ILSC) a homestay costs $28 (CAD 40) more per week. Health insurance, flights, visa fees and local transport are extra.
Accommodation
- Homestay. A private room with two or three meals a day. In 2026 ILAC charges $253 (CAD 360) a week from September to May and $281 (CAD 400) in summer for three meals, or $225–253 (CAD 320–360) without lunch, plus a $161 (CAD 230) placement fee. ILSC Toronto charges students aged 18 and over $246 (CAD 350) in low season and $274 (CAD 390) in high season for full board.
- Residences. In Toronto ILAC books rooms in student buildings: a room with a shared bathroom at Harrington Residences costs $326 (CAD 465) a week, a Campus One studio $456 (CAD 650). Vancouver rooms at Hub Place and APT Living cost $316–404 (CAD 450–575).
- Shared house without hosts. ILAC's Toronto option costs $246 (CAD 350) a week for a single bedroom and $211 (CAD 300) for a shared one, more in summer.
At ILAC, students under 18 must take a homestay with three meals. ILAC bookings run Saturday to Saturday, and an extra night for a minor costs $105 (CAD 150).
Visa rules for language students
The key threshold is six months. IRCC decides on visitor visas and study permits; the school only issues the letter of acceptance.
Courses of six months or less
IRCC does not require a study permit for a programme lasting six months or less. Whether you need a visitor visa (temporary resident visa, TRV) or only an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) depends on your nationality; Russian and Kazakh citizens need a visa. The online application normally includes:
- the school's letter with course dates;
- proof of payment for the course and housing;
- bank statements that cover the course, housing and a return ticket;
- evidence of ties to your home country, such as work, studies, family or property;
- for a minor, parental consent and details of the adult responsible for them in Canada.
The visa fee is $70 (CAD 100) and biometrics $60 (CAD 85). A visitor may not work, and the course must end within the authorised stay.
Courses longer than six months
A long course needs a study permit with the same core requirements as a college place: a letter of acceptance from a DLI, usually a PAL (requested by the school after you pay), and funds for tuition, living costs and a return trip. For applications from 1 September 2026, living costs outside Quebec are set at $16,459 (CAD 23,448) a year for a single applicant. In Quebec you obtain a CAQ certificate from the provincial government instead of a PAL. The study permit fee is $105 (CAD 150) plus biometrics. Our guide to the Canadian study permit covers the full process.
Applying from Russia or Kazakhstan
Since 28 January 2026 the Canadian embassy in Moscow has offered no visa or immigration services. Visa application centres in Russia still take biometrics but no longer accept passports, so when IRCC asks for your passport you send it through a centre outside Russia that handles documents. Residents of Russia and Kazakhstan staying longer than six months also need an immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician; visa centres do not carry out medicals. Kazakh citizens give biometrics and hand in their passports at the visa centres in Almaty and Astana. More Russia-specific detail is in studying in Canada for Russian citizens.
Can you work?
No. Even with a study permit, IRCC does not allow off-campus work for students enrolled only in an English or French as a second language programme. Work rights come with a college or university programme of at least six months that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
Paying the school
Canadian schools invoice in Canadian dollars and usually want at least the first weeks paid before they issue the acceptance letter. The payment, the invoice and your bank statements should match, because visa officers compare them. If you pay from Russia, use only legal routes, as described in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Timeline
- 5–6 months before. Decide on the length: up to six months means a visitor visa where required; longer means a study permit, a PAL, possibly a medical exam and more funds.
- 4–5 months before. Choose a Languages Canada member and check the DLI number for a long course. Compare the weekly price for your exact length, since long intensive courses cost less per week at both schools.
- 3–4 months before. Pay for the course and housing, receive the acceptance letter, gather bank statements and evidence of ties.
- 2–3 months before. Apply online and book biometrics.
- After the passport request. Submit your passport, collect the visa and book a flight arriving the Saturday before your start date.
IRCC publishes processing times by country of application and updates them weekly; check them before buying tickets.
Common mistakes
- Booking 26 weeks and applying as a visitor. Anything longer than six months requires a study permit.
- Counting on part-time work. Language-only students cannot work, whatever their status.
- Choosing a school without a DLI number for a long course. A study permit cannot be issued for it.
- Paying in full without reading the refund rules. Schools treat visa refusals differently, so read the terms first.
- Booking summer in Toronto for quiet study. June to August brings more teenagers and higher homestay prices.
FAQ
A 30-lesson week in 2026 is priced from $263 to $302 (CAD 375–430) at ILAC and from $316 to $337 (CAD 450–480) at ILSC in Toronto, and longer bookings lower the weekly rate. Four weeks of tuition and homestay in Toronto come to roughly $2,387–2,696 (CAD 3,400–3,840) before flights, insurance and visa fees.
Only if the course lasts longer than six months. Shorter courses need no permit, though you may still need a visitor visa depending on your nationality. IRCC decides on both; the school is responsible only for the acceptance letter.
No. IRCC rules do not let students on a language-only programme work off campus. Work rights start once you move to a college or university programme of six months or more.
ILAC's adult courses start at 18 and its young-adult programmes at 15, while ILSC runs camps for school pupils with full-board homestays. A minor needs parental consent and a responsible adult in Canada, and IRCC decides whether to issue the visa.
Biometrics can be given at visa application centres in Russia. When IRCC requests the passport, it goes to a centre outside Russia that accepts documents, for example in a neighbouring country. IRCC makes the decision; the centre only forwards documents.
Canadian visitor visas and study permits are normally decided on paper, while a US student visa requires a consular interview. England and the USA offer more schools and test centres. Compare costs and visas in our guides to English courses in the USA and English courses in England.
Yes, in Montreal and elsewhere in Quebec; ILSC teaches French at its Montréal school. For a Quebec course longer than six months you need a CAQ certificate from the provincial government as well as a study permit.
Sources
- IRCC: who can study without a study permit (programmes of 6 months or less) — checked 02.10.2026
- IRCC: working off campus and the ESL/FSL exclusion — checked 02.10.2026
- IRCC: provincial attestation letter and proof of financial support — checked 02.10.2026
- IRCC: fees for visitor visas, study permits and biometrics — checked 02.10.2026
- Government of Canada: visa services in Russia from 28.01.2026 — checked 02.10.2026
- Languages Canada: accreditation standard — checked 02.10.2026
- ILAC: 2026 and 2027 programme and housing fees — checked 02.10.2026
- ILSC Toronto: 2026 price list — checked 02.10.2026
- UBC English Language Institute: 2026/27 dates and fees — checked 02.10.2026
US dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298 = CAD 1.6095, so CAD 1 ≈ $0.702.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the school makes the enrolment decision, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides on the visa or study permit.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Carleton University: Admission and Fees for International Students
- Centennial College Toronto: Admission, Fees and PGWP for International Students
- Studying in Canada for international applicants
- Colleges in Canada for International Students: Programmes, Costs and Post-Graduation Work Rights
- Universities in Canada for International Students: Types, Costs and How to Choose
- Canada Study Permit in 2026: Documents, PAL, Proof of Funds and How to Apply
