Universities

Queen's University at Kingston: Admission and Fees for International Students

📍 Canada

Queen's University is a publicly funded university in Kingston, Ontario, on Lake Ontario between Toronto and Montreal. It is not Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland, which often appears in the same searches. International school-leavers apply through OUAC; Queen's assesses a Russian attestat individually and publishes required subjects for each programme. The Fall 2027 deadline is 1 March 2027, or 1 February for Commerce, Health Sciences and Nursing. International tuition in 2026/27 is $31,590 (CAD 44,810) a year in Arts and Science, $41,800 (CAD 59,284) in Engineering and $42,900 (CAD 60,839) in the first two years of Commerce.

Stone building with a tower against a pink evening sky, autumn maples in front
Grant Hall, the convocation hall of Queen's University at Kingston. Photo: Takipoint123 / source, CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance 2026/27 details
Type and location Public university, Kingston, Ontario
Language English
Ranking THE World University Rankings 2027: joint 269th
Students 28,794, 15% international (THE 2027 data)
Russian attestat Assessed individually; required subjects by programme
Fall 2027 applications by 1 March 2027; Commerce, Health Sciences, Nursing by 1 February
English IELTS Academic 6.5 (each band 6.0+); Duolingo 120
Tuition $31,590–42,900 (CAD 44,810–60,839) a year; with fees $33,370–44,720
Automatic awards $3,530–17,630 (CAD 5,000–25,000) a year, renewable for 4 years
Residence Place reserved with an offer by the end of May; $11,920–14,340 (CAD 16,910–20,331)

Who Queen's suits

Students choose Queen's for a university town where campus life sets the rhythm, the Smith School of Business, Smith Engineering, health and life sciences, law and politics. About 4,800 residence spaces are reserved for first-year students.

Visas, budgets and institution types are summarised on studying in Canada.

Compare it with:

Requirements for Russian school-leavers

For Russia, Queen's says applicants who have reached the university-entry level of their own country are typically eligible, and that each application is considered individually rather than against fixed thresholds. The general rule that senior-level English is required does not apply where English is not an official language, but several programmes still list English among required subjects.

Programme Required senior-level subjects Extra conditions
Arts, Economics none —
Smith Commerce mathematics, minimum 80% or equivalent mandatory supplementary application
Computing mathematics —
Smith Engineering (all streams) chemistry, mathematics, physics —
Health Sciences biology, chemistry, English, mathematics; English at least 80% mandatory supplementary application
Kinesiology biology, mathematics —
Music English audition and interview
Nursing biology, chemistry, English literature, mathematics; literature at least 75% mandatory supplementary application
Science options English, mathematics and two of biology, chemistry, physics —
Life Science & Biochemistry mathematics, biology, chemistry —

Your personal To-Do List with due dates appears in the SOLUS Student Centre. Queen's also asks for supplementary information so that it can see more than grades. See bachelor's degrees in Canada and studying in Canada after 11 years of school.

English requirements

Test Minimum
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall; every band at least 6.0
TOEFL iBT (incl. Home Edition) from January 2026 4.5, no skill below 4.0
TOEFL iBT before January 2026 88, minimum 20 in each section
Duolingo English Test 120
PTE Academic 60
CAEL 70, no band below 60
Cambridge English 175, no component below 170

Academically competitive applicants below the English threshold may be offered QBridge. QBridge Accelerated is an intensive eight-week summer course from early July leading to any first-year programme; QBridge EAP is for lower scores and leads to Arts and Science or Engineering.

Fall 2027 dates

Date Action
1 October 2026 Applications open
20 November 2026 Recommended OUAC date to access the Major Admission Award application
8 December 2026 Major Admission Award application deadline in SOLUS
1 February 2027 Applications for Commerce, Health Sciences, Nursing
15 February 2027 Supplementary applications for those three programmes
1 March 2027 Applications for all other first-year programmes
31 March 2027 Last day for every document: marks, test results and anything on your To-Do List

Tuition in 2026/27

Queen's charges per unit, so your bill changes if you take more or fewer units than the normal load.

Programme (international) Per unit Normal load Tuition Total with fees and UHIP
Arts and Science (excl. Computing) CAD 1,493.66 30 $31,590 (CAD 44,809.80) $33,370 (CAD 47,324)
Computing CAD 1,826.94 30 $38,640 (CAD 54,808.20) $40,450 (CAD 57,367)
Commerce, years 1–2 CAD 1,843.62 33 $42,900 (CAD 60,839.46) $44,720 (CAD 63,424)
Commerce, years 3–4 CAD 1,843.62 30 $39,000 (CAD 55,308.60) $40,810 (CAD 57,884)
Engineering & Applied Science CAD 1,841.11 32.2 $41,800 (CAD 59,283.74) $43,620 (CAD 61,868)
Health Sciences on campus, year 1 CAD 1,192.25 30 $25,220 (CAD 35,767.50) $26,990 (CAD 38,283)
Nursing CAD 1,782.39 30 $37,700 (CAD 53,471.70) $39,510 (CAD 56,043)

Totals include the student activity levy, ancillary fees with health and dental coverage, and mandatory UHIP insurance (CAD 948 a year). The Board of Trustees approves future rates, usually effective 1 September.

At 2026/27 rates, a four-year Arts and Science degree costs about $126,370 (CAD 179,239) in tuition and Commerce about $163,780 (CAD 232,296); later years may cost more.

Scholarships for international students

All international students entering first year are considered automatically for the Dean's International Award program. Awards are based on academic achievement and renewable for up to four years.

Award Annual value
Arts and Science International Admission Award $3,530, $7,050, $10,580, $14,100 or $17,630 (CAD 5,000–25,000)
Commerce International Admission Award $10,580, $14,100 or $17,630 (CAD 15,000–25,000)
Engineering International Admission Award $7,050, $10,580, $14,100 or $17,630 (CAD 10,000–25,000)

Only students paying international fees and entering post-secondary study for the first time are eligible. Queen's also awards Principal's Scholarships to the top 3% of each programme's competitive admission average, and Major Admission Awards by application by 8 December. See scholarships in Canada.

Residence

International students who receive an offer by the end of May (30–31 May for 2026 entry), apply for residence, pay the $570 (CAD 805) deposit by 1 June and accept their offer are assured a space. About 90% of offers include this commitment; later offers go to a lottery or waitlist.

Room type, 2026/27 Room and meal plan Total with deposit, insurance and levies
Single Plus CAD 19,164 $14,340 (CAD 20,331)
Single CAD 17,629 $13,250 (CAD 18,796)
Double CAD 16,452 $12,420 (CAD 17,619)
Triple / quad CAD 15,743 $11,920 (CAD 16,910)

Fees include furnishing, utilities, internet and the meal plan. CAD 500 of the deposit is refundable if you cancel by 1 July.

Bader College in England

Queen's owns Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, home to Bader College. After closing for repairs, it officially reopened for academic courses in May 2026, starting with the International Law Program; new Queen's courses for the castle are in development alongside continuing education. The first-year programme described in older guides is not currently offered in its previous form, so do not plan your admission around it.

Study permit and the Ontario PAL

Queen's undergraduates need an Ontario PAL (Ontario's 2026 target for PAL-required study permits is 70,074); master's and PhD students at public institutions are exempt for applications from 1 January 2026. A refused study permit is among the situations covered by Queen's residence cancellation and refund rules.

From 1 September 2026, IRCC requires first-year tuition, travel and $16,530 (CAD 23,448) in living costs. The study permit fee is $110 (CAD 150) and biometrics $60 (CAD 85). Since 28 January 2026, Canadian visa application centres in Russia no longer accept passports; Russian applicants submit theirs abroad, for example in Yerevan, Almaty or Astana. Students may work off campus up to 24 hours a week during terms. See the Canadian study permit and working while studying and the PGWP.

Plan for Fall 2027

  1. September–October 2026: choose a programme and check required subjects.
  2. By 20 November 2026: apply on OUAC if you want to reach the Major Admission Award (due 8 December).
  3. By 1 February or 1 March 2027: apply according to your programme; the supplementary application for the three early programmes by 15 February.
  4. By 31 March 2027: upload transcripts and English scores.
  5. April–May 2027: accept the offer, receive the PAL, apply for residence and pay the deposit by 1 June.
  6. June–August 2027: study permit, final documents, arrival.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Kingston and Belfast. They are different countries, admission systems and visas.
  • Missing 1 February. The Commerce, Health Sciences and Nursing deadline falls a month before the general one.
  • Skipping the supplementary application. It is mandatory for those three programmes.
  • Treating tuition as flat. It depends on units; Commerce years 1–2 carry 33 units.
  • Planning a first year at Herstmonceux Castle. That programme is not offered in its former form.

FAQ

Is Queen's University in Kingston the same as Queen's University Belfast?

No. Queen's in Kingston is a Canadian university in Ontario, with applications through OUAC and a Canadian study permit. Queen's University Belfast is a UK university in Northern Ireland with a different admission system.

Does Queen's accept the Russian attestat?

Yes, without fixed thresholds: Queen's considers whether you have reached university-entry level in your own country and assesses each file individually. Required subjects depend on the programme, for example chemistry, mathematics and physics for Engineering.

How much does a Queen's bachelor's degree cost international students?

In 2026/27, CAD 44,810 ($31,590) a year in Arts and Science, CAD 54,808 in Computing, CAD 59,284 in Engineering and CAD 60,839 in the first two years of Commerce. Fees and UHIP add about CAD 2,500.

Which scholarships are automatic?

The Dean's International Award program: CAD 5,000–25,000 a year in Arts and Science, CAD 15,000–25,000 in Commerce and CAD 10,000–25,000 in Engineering. Awards are assessed on academic results without an application and renewable for up to four years.

Will I get a place in residence?

Yes, if your offer arrives by the end of May, you apply for residence and pay the CAD 805 deposit by 1 June. About 90% of offers include a residence commitment; 2026/27 prices run from CAD 16,910 to 20,331 with meals.

What if my English is not strong enough?

If you are academically competitive, Queen's may offer QBridge: the eight-week QBridge Accelerated summer course for all programmes, or the longer QBridge EAP for Arts and Science and Engineering. Successful completion leads into first year.

How does StudyU help with Queen's?

Programme selection, the OUAC and supplementary applications, document translation and the study permit file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Queen's decides on admission and awards, Ontario issues the PAL and IRCC decides on the study permit.

Sources

USD amounts use the ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026 (CAD 1 = $0.7051), rounded to $10. All facts checked on 01.10.2026.

If you want to compare Queen's with other Ontario universities for your profile, send us a request.

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

Next steps

Updated: