Fanshawe College (Canada): Admission, Fees and PGWP for International Students

Fanshawe College is a public college of applied arts and technology in London, Ontario — not London, England. It awards certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, graduate certificates and several honours bachelor's degrees. With a Russian school certificate (attestat), you need grades of at least 3 out of 5 in the required subjects plus IELTS 6.0 for a diploma, or at least 4 plus IELTS 6.5 for a degree. A first year on a typical diploma costs about $13,870 (CAD 19,761) in 2026/27 including mandatory fees. Before choosing a programme, check whether it is on Fanshawe's list of programmes aligned with the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) rules: the Business – Marketing and Business – Accounting diplomas, for example, are not.

Who Fanshawe suits

Fanshawe is for students who want an applied profession and work experience rather than a university degree. Teaching is built around labs, employer projects and co-op work terms. Its strongest areas are IT and cybersecurity, aircraft maintenance, construction and engineering technology, health care, supply chain, design and media.

London has a population of about 500,000 and is cheaper than Toronto, with more than 45,000 college and university students in the city. Fanshawe estimates an international student's living costs at CAD 1,500–2,000 ($1,050–1,400) a month.

Fanshawe is a good fit if you:

• want a fast route into IT, technical trades, logistics or health care;
• already hold a degree or college diploma and want a one-year graduate certificate with Canadian work experience;
• cannot budget for a university at CAD 38,000–55,000 a year.

Look elsewhere if you want big-city life — Toronto colleges such as Centennial, George Brown and Humber — or a university degree from year one: Western University is in the same city. Our guide to colleges in Canada explains how colleges differ from universities, and studying in Canada lists other institutions.

Requirements for applicants from Russia and Kazakhstan

Each Fanshawe programme page has a country lookup. For Russia it shows:

Required subjects depend on the programme; Computer Programming and Analysis, for instance, asks for senior-level English and mathematics. Some programmes are competitive, and international applicants to certain health programmes first complete the Pre-Health Sciences Pathway.

English for a diploma (example: Computer Programming and Analysis):

Degrees and graduate certificates need more: IELTS 6.5 with bands of 6.0, TOEFL 5, PTE 58, Cambridge 176. The IELTS Indicator test is also accepted.

If your English is not there yet. Fanshawe runs its own 10-level English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme, accredited by Languages Canada, with 8 weeks per level. One level costs $2,820 (CAD 4,011) in 2026/27, including health cover and a transit pass. 2027 start dates are 11 January, 8 March, 10 May and 5 July. Completing Level 10 with 75% meets the English requirement for Fanshawe's degree programmes; under an agreement between the two institutions, Western University also accepts this result, with 80% required for Western's graduate programmes.

Programmes and the PGWP: what to check before applying

Since 1 November 2024, graduates of non-degree college programmes get a PGWP only if their programme's field-of-study code (CIP) is on IRCC's list. IRCC has frozen the list for 2026, so no codes are being added or removed. Fanshawe publishes its own list of aligned programmes, with around 90 entries and their CIP codes.

Other PGWP conditions:

• Language. College graduates need CLB 5 in all skills, degree graduates CLB 7. Accepted tests are IELTS General Training, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada — not IELTS Academic. CLB 5 on IELTS General Training means 4.0 in reading and 5.0 in writing, listening and speaking.
• Length. The programme must last at least eight months.
• Timing. Your code counts if it was on the list when you applied for your study permit or when you apply for the PGWP.

IRCC, not the college, decides on the PGWP. See working while studying and the PGWP.

Tuition fees in 2026/27

Fanshawe publishes fees per term for each programme. Tuition for most diplomas is CAD 8,063.89 per term and about CAD 8,716 for degree programmes, plus student union, campus and programme fees. Charged once a year on top:

• health and dental insurance, $870 (CAD 1,244.11) for a fall start;
• a London transit pass, $210 (CAD 305.30), for London campuses.

An academic year has two terms, so the table above includes both terms and the annual charges. For comparisons, see the cost of studying in Canada.

First-term fee deadlines for international students: 15 June 2026 for fall 2026, 19 October 2026 for winter 2027 and 15 March 2027 for summer 2027. Fanshawe takes payments through Flywire and recommends using the Flywire receipt in your study permit application. Legal payment routes from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Scholarships

Online programmes are excluded. The college decides on all awards. More options are listed in scholarships in Canada.

Residence and housing in London

A room in the traditional residences on the London campus costs $7,230 (CAD 10,300) for 8 months in 2026/27, including a mandatory $840 (CAD 1,200) meal plan, plus a non-refundable CAD 100 application fee. Townhouse residences are also available. Fanshawe offers a place to every fall first-year student who completes the application, receives acceptance and makes the first payment by 15 June.

The catch for international students: you email the residence form to the Residence Acceptance team together with proof of an approved visa, and only then complete the portal application. If your visa arrives late, rooms may be gone, so plan a back-up:

• homestay through Canada Homestay Network, which also provides the custodianship that under-18 students need for a study permit;
• private rentals in shared houses or student buildings, where many landlords require 12-month leases.

How to apply and get your PAL

1. Application. International students apply directly to Fanshawe through its Virtual Application System (VAS), not through ontariocolleges.ca. The fee is CAD 100 ($70). Attach your school certificate with grades and a translation, plus any post-secondary transcripts.
2. Letter of Admission (LOA). Fanshawe's International Centre assesses the file and issues an LOA. You may need to pay a deposit before the LOA or within 30 days of it.
3. Deposit and PAL. The deposit for a first PAL depends on citizenship — CAD 2,300, one term's fees or a full year — and is stated in your LOA. About two business days after payment, a PAL request button appears in VAS. If your permit is refused, a second PAL requires topping up to a term's or a year's fees.
4. Personal details. Your name and date of birth must match exactly across the LOA, PAL, study permit application and passport; a PAL cannot be corrected once issued.
5. After the visa. Complete the International Student Form for your term and book arrival and orientation services.

Study permit for Russian citizens

Programmes longer than six months require a study permit from IRCC. Fanshawe's PAL comes from Ontario's cap allocation: 104,780 application spaces in 2026. IRCC sets the 2027 cap in fall 2026, and if you start in 2027 your PAL will be issued from it.

For applicants from Russia:

• Funds. From 1 September 2026, show first-year fees, travel and $16,460 (CAD 23,448) for living costs. Under currency controls IRCC asks you to prove the money can leave the country. TD's student GIC is not offered to residents of Russia, so build the file on bank statements and a sponsor letter.
• Passport and biometrics. Since 28 January 2026, Canada's visa application centres in Russia no longer accept passports or documents, according to IRCC's list of visa application centres. When IRCC asks for your passport, you submit it at a centre outside Russia that accepts documents, for example in Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty or Astana. Biometrics are given after IRCC's instruction letter; before booking, check on the chosen centre's website which services it currently offers.
• Medical exam. Required for residents of Russia and Kazakhstan, with an IRCC panel physician only.
• Fees. $110 (CAD 150) for the permit and $60 (CAD 85) for biometrics.
• Work. Up to 24 hours a week off campus during studies.

More in our Canada study permit guide and studying in Canada as a Russian citizen.

Recognition in Russia

No Canadian colleges are on Russia's list of foreign institutions whose documents are recognised automatically (Order No. 186-r). A Fanshawe credential needed for work or study in Russia goes through recognition, decided by Rosobrnadzor.

Fanshawe or a college near Toronto

Application plan

1. 9–12 months ahead. Pick a programme from Fanshawe's PGWP list and check the Russia requirements in the programme's country lookup.
2. 8–10 months ahead. Take IELTS Academic or another test; if the score is low, budget for EAP levels.
3. 6–8 months ahead. Apply in VAS, pay the CAD 100 fee and upload your certificate with a translation.
4. After the LOA. Pay the deposit, request the PAL and prepare financial documents.
5. Right after the PAL. Medical exam, IRCC application, biometrics.
6. After visa approval. Residence form with a copy of the visa, passport to a visa centre outside Russia, International Student Form.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a business diploma and counting on a PGWP. Marketing, Accounting and several other business diplomas are not on Fanshawe's aligned list.
• Confusing London, Ontario with London, England. Different countries, visas and costs.
• Taking IELTS Academic for the PGWP. The work permit needs General Training or another IRCC-listed test.
• A typo in your name. A PAL with a spelling error cannot be reissued.
• Leaving housing late. International students apply for residence only after the visa, so have a fallback ready.

FAQ

Can I get into Fanshawe College straight after Year 11?

Yes. For certificates and diplomas, Fanshawe accepts the Russian attestat with grades of at least 3 in the programme's required subjects; for degrees, at least 4. You also need IELTS 6.0 or 6.5 depending on the level. Fanshawe's International Centre makes the admission decision.

How much does Fanshawe cost for international students?

In 2026/27 most diplomas cost about CAD 19,000–20,000 ($13,340–14,040) for the first year including mandatory fees and insurance, and degrees about CAD 21,000. Exact per-term amounts are in the college's programme fee table.

Do Fanshawe graduates qualify for a PGWP?

For a non-degree programme, its field-of-study code must be on IRCC's list, and Fanshawe publishes the programmes that align. Degree programmes are exempt from that rule. You also need an IRCC-approved language test, and only IRCC decides on the permit.

Does Fanshawe have residence for international students?

Yes. A traditional residence room costs CAD 10,300 for 8 months with a basic meal plan. International students submit the residence form once their visa is approved, and the college's residence office allocates rooms. Under-18 students can use the homestay and custodianship programme.

Can I move from Fanshawe to Western University?

You can continue at Western after a Fanshawe programme or EAP, as the two institutions have transfer and language agreements. Western University decides on admission and transfer credit, so check its conditions before choosing your Fanshawe programme.

Do I need a PAL for Fanshawe?

Yes, almost everyone getting a first study permit for a college programme needs one. You request it in VAS after paying the deposit stated in your LOA. Ontario issues the PAL, and IRCC decides on the study permit.

Sources

• Fanshawe International: how to apply, PAL and custodianship — checked 2 October 2026
• Fanshawe: international tuition and payment dates, 2026/27 programme fee table (PDF)
• Fanshawe: PGWP-aligned programmes, programmes and requirements
• Programme pages with Russia requirements: Computer Programming and Analysis, Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Management), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Fanshawe: English requirements, EAP
• Fanshawe: entrance scholarships
• Fanshawe: accommodation for international students, traditional residences and rates, applying for residence
• IRCC: PGWP eligibility, field of study, language levels, proof of funds, PAL/TAL, 2026 cap allocations, visa application centres, fees, medical exams by country
• Russian Government Order No. 186-r of 30 January 2023, as amended on 19 February 2026

US dollar figures use the ECB reference rate of 1 October 2026 (CAD 1 = $0.7020), rounded to $10. All data checked on 2 October 2026.

If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the college makes the admission decision.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.