International Student Financial Resources

In addition to your savings and financial support from family and friends, you may be eligible for awards and scholarships.

Setting up your account

It’s important to set up a bank account as soon as possible so you can start depositing money, paying bills, and tracking your expenses in Canada. There are two different kinds of financial institutions in Canada: commercial banks and credit unions. There are differences in their ownership structures, the amount of interest that is paid, the fees and the extent of customer service you receive.

Credit Unions are financial co-operatives, owned and controlled by the people who use their services. The people who use credit union services must own shares in the credit union and members of many credit unions share in the profits every year.  Credit unions offer the same services as banks and often have lower fees.

The advantage of banks is that it is often easier to arrange international financial transactions through a bank. There are many banks to choose from, but the CIBC is the only bank that currently offers Automated Teller Machines (ATM) on campus. If you intend to use ATM machines on campus, a CIBC account may save you money in transaction fees.

This tool can help you make the right banking institution choice for you.

In general, there are two types of bank accounts: chequing accounts and savings accounts. 

• A chequing account is useful for regular transactions such as paying bills or other expenses and for withdrawing money. 
• A savings account will pay a higher interest rate if you are keeping money in the account for a long period without withdrawals. 

There are different kinds of chequing and savings accounts that offer different levels of interest. The financial institution should be able to explain which account will best suit your needs.

If you are facing unexpected financial distress, or have had a significant change in your financial situation, please contact Financial Aid and Awards or the UMSU Hardship Fund.

Banks and Credit Unions close to UM Campus

Most bank and credit union websites offer online branch locators. Simply type in an address in Winnipeg to see a list of branches nearby.

It’s important to develop a realistic budget to help you manage your finances and make the most of your experience. Tuition and school fees vary according to the program of study and course load. For an estimate of the tuition and school fees for your program, please refer to fee information hub. Similarly, additional costs will vary depending on how you choose to live. To help you make your own budget, visit the Government of Canada Student Budget Worksheet.

Explore estimated international student costs for undergraduate programs

Living expenses

The following is an estimate of costs, in Canadian dollars, for a single student living in Winnipeg at a very modest level for one calendar year (12 months). Actual living expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and could be higher than what is estimated below.

For newly admitted students:

For returning students:

* Books and supplies fees are subject to change and often increase two to three percent per year.

**Minimum estimate is for a shared accommodation (living with more than one person). Estimates are based on information provided by Canada Student Financial Assistance program and in consultation with UM Financial Aid and Awards.

An additional $5,055 should be added for a first dependent and an additional $5,893 for an additional dependent to cover 12 months of living expenses. Please note, the above spouse and dependent estimates do not include costs for health insurance.

If you have been admitted to UM and require a written estimate of tuition and living expenses, please contact the International Centre at international@umanitoba.ca.

Exchange students

Students coming to UM through the International Centre Student Exchange Program pay tuition to their home universities and not to the University of Manitoba. However, all exchange students will be required to pay Students' Union fees and field trip fees, if applicable. Health insurance fees will vary according to the length of study and the health insurance options chosen.

How and when to pay your tuition and other fees is going to be one of your first concerns. Familiarize yourself with the tuition fee payment schedule, and instructions on how to pay your tuition fees from outside and inside of Canada. Only use University-approved payment methods. Pay your own fees, and never share your UM student account login information with anyone, not even an agent.

You should check your fee assessments in Aurora Student each term to ensure you can pay your fees by the deadline, as you will not receive a fee assessment or invoice in the mail. 

Not paying your fees by the deadline will result in additional fees charged to your account. Your account will also be put on hold, which is serious and means you will not have access to many essential UM services, including the libraries, computer labs, and official documentation orders from the Registrar’s Office (e.g., a transcript, enrolment verification, etc.). Having a hold on your account will also affect your ability to register for courses, and may result with you being de-registered from future term courses.

Learn more about fee payment deadlines and penalties

Some international students will require a tuition fee and living expense estimate letter as part of applying for their study permit. If you need a fee estimate letter, email international@umanitoba.ca to request one. Please note it can take up to 10 working days for an estimate letter to be issued.

The University of Manitoba only requires that you pay your full tuition by the fee-payment deadline. However, if you would like to pre-pay some of your tuition, or if you are required to, please follow these instructions.

Some programs may require a non-refundable tuition deposit when you apply.

Created by the Winnipeg Police Service, read over this brochure on tips to avoid scams and protect yourself from fraud.

Fraud prevention (PDF)

For further information on how to protect yourself, you can find information from the following resources:

• Protect yourself from Immigration Fraud
• Frauds and Scams (Royal Canadian Mounted Police/RCMP)
• Slam the Scam (Canada Revenue Agency/CRA)

You may consider working in Canada to help earn some extra spending money and gain skills to enhance your employability. However, it is important to recognize that the amount you can earn while working cannot fully fund your expenses.

If you do intend to work during your studies, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with very strict requirements that federal government expects international students to meet at all times in order to work on or off campus in Canada during their studies.

Students who wish to stay and work in Canada after their studies are encouraged to work and volunteer to build skills, gain industry connections and references, and enhance their employability. Career Services has a number of resources, such as UMConnect, to support you in finding on-campus work, off-campus work and volunteer positions.

You will need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card  in order to work in Canada. To apply for a SIN card, your study permit must have the conditions to work printed on it.