Is university education in Canada free?

raatkirani2005 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 02:16 PM

I'm under the impression that you can get a free college/university education in Canada if you're a resident or citizen. Is this true? And also, for a student from a middle class home, are they more likely to get loans or grants?

Timbit · #2 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raatkirani2005

I'm under the impression that you can get a free college/university education in Canada if you're a resident or citizen. Is this true? And also, for a student from a middle class home, are they more likely to get loans or grants?

Uh... just talking about Ontario here, but... NO! University education is not free at all.
You can get loans from the government to help you out.

But middle class students are least likely to get loans. They're not going to qualify because they have too much money.

TheStar.com - Education - Middle-class students caught in tuition crunch

IbnMardhiyah · #3 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 02:42 PM

No, as far as I know there is no free college / university in Canada. However they had something like that in the UK, for British citizens, but I'm not sure what the status of that is anymore - ask the Brits on here about that.

As far as grants / loans are concerned for middle-class families, they get them very commonly. Both me and my brother used to work for a company that handled federal and provincial education loans [the third kind was from banks] and eligible students from middle-class made up the bulk of the debtors that we used to service.

Ooozze · #4 (**permalink**) 09-07-2007, 02:56 PM

At least they have free healthcare

Kona_Silat · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raatkirani2005

I'm under the impression that you can get a free college/university education in Canada if you're a resident or citizen. Is this true? And also, for a student from a middle class home, are they more likely to get loans or grants?

There are free universities in the US, but you have to spend some time in the military afterwards.

Variable · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ooozze

At least they have free healthcare

No we don't.

shsh · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Variable

No we don't.

canada does.

Variable · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shsh

canada does.

No we don't! I have to pay for it all every couple of months! Whether i'm in the country or not. It's not that bad, but it aint free.

shsh · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Variable

No we don't! I have to pay for it all every couple of months! Whether i'm in the country or not. It's not that bad, but it aint free.

are you sure?

Variable · #10 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shsh

are you sure?

Unless I've been terribly scammed for the past few years yeh. We normally pay to our province though, not the federal gov't.

shsh · #11 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Variable

Unless I've been terribly scammed for the past few years yeh. We normally pay to our province though, not the federal gov't.

oh...maybe thats it...i am pretty sure you dont have to in ontario...

thats my guess..i dont even live there

Timbit · #12 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 08:04 AM

Um, we have public healthcare.

I don't have to pay for a doctor's visit, sure, but there are still things we have to pay for out of pocket. Like an eye exam if you're over or under a certain age. And dental work. And prescriptions. So you still need health insurance.

So yeah, it's okay, but the system could definitely be better.

Variable · #13 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 11:39 AM

Yeh, here I didn't have to pay for anything until I was 24 as part of my dad's benefits with work. But someone somewhere is paying for it.

heba · #14 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 03:18 PM

hahaha. i wish it was free. freaking tuition

they give out a lot of grants though. so basically if youre poor and smart youll get enough money for a free education lol

stupid stupid tuition i hate you so much

A_cubed · #15 (**permalink**) 10-05-2007, 01:40 PM

As for healthcare being free...great. Long emergency waits and even longer waiting lists to see a specialist = not so great. But, that's what you get with public healthcare.

Tuition at my university ain't too bad, but mind you some of our buildings are falling apart and the university blames that on the tuition fee freeze. At least some employers offer tuition re-imbursement after you graduate...and as for student loans...don't get me started...they sca-rood me over pretty badly