UBC and SFU for Americans: fees, federal loans, study permits and work rules

A Vancouver degree can cost less than out-of-state tuition at a flagship US school, and both UBC and SFU take US federal Direct Loans. But you'll pay international fees, and you need a study permit.

The short version

• UBC's 2026/27 international tuition runs about CAD 51,500 (about USD 36,800) a year for Arts and CAD 53,100 (about USD 38,000) for Science. Increases for students starting in 2026/27 are capped at 3% a year for four years [1].
• SFU estimates CAD 38,944 (about USD 27,800) in international tuition and fees for 2026/27, and about CAD 57,300 (about USD 41,000) with housing, books and insurance [2].
• Both schools take US Direct Loans. That covers Subsidized, Unsubsidized and PLUS loans, but not Pell Grants [3][4]. Federal loan rules changed on July 1, 2026 [5].
• You need a study permit, applied for from outside Canada, usually with a provincial attestation letter [6].
• You can work off campus up to 24 hours a week during terms and full time during scheduled breaks [7].

UBC vs SFU at a glance

The University of British Columbia's main campus sits on a peninsula at the west end of the city, wrapped in forest and beaches. Simon Fraser University's main campus is on top of Burnaby Mountain, east of downtown, with smaller campuses in downtown Vancouver and Surrey. Both are big public research universities. Think flagship state school, not small liberal arts college.

UBC's figures are for a full 30-credit year. SFU's estimate assumes 10 courses (30 units) and includes a transit pass. Neither covers rent, which is the other big line item in Vancouver. USD conversions use the Bank of Canada rate of 1.3989 CAD per USD (November 5, 2026).

Who pays domestic fees

International fees apply because of your immigration status, not your passport. A dual US–Canadian citizen pays domestic tuition. So does a Canadian permanent resident. If one parent is Canadian, find out if you're already a citizen by descent before you apply as an international student. It could save you more than USD 100,000 over a degree.

Applying from the US

Both schools take applicants straight from US high schools and publish US-specific requirements. They focus on grades in your final years and the courses you took for your intended program. AP and IB results can earn credit. Unlike the Common App, you apply directly to each school through its own system. UBC also asks for a personal profile with short written answers.

A few differences from applying stateside:

• You apply to a faculty or program, like Arts, Science or Applied Science, not just to the university. Switching later isn't always simple.
• Deadlines fall in mid-winter for September entry. Check each school's current dates, and don't assume they match US Regular Decision.
• Aid for internationals is limited. Scholarships and awards exist, but most of the cost usually falls on you, your family and your loans.

US federal aid at UBC and SFU

Both universities are approved Title IV schools, so eligible US citizens can use federal student aid [3][4]. In practice, that means loans:

• Direct Subsidized Loans (undergraduates with financial need)
• Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Parent PLUS Loans for parents of dependent undergraduates
• Grad PLUS Loans, for continuing borrowers only (see below)

Pell Grants aren't available. SFU says it isn't approved to administer them as a foreign school [4].

The July 2026 changes

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reshaped federal loans from July 1, 2026 [5]:

• Grad PLUS is closed to new borrowers. If you already had one, you may keep borrowing for up to three years or until you finish, as long as you stay in the same program at the same school.
• New graduate limits: USD 20,500 a year (USD 100,000 aggregate) for most graduate programs, and USD 50,000 a year (USD 200,000 aggregate) for professional programs.
• Parent PLUS is capped at USD 20,000 a year and USD 65,000 lifetime per student for new borrowers.

Grad students at UBC paying international fees will feel this the most. Plan the gap before you accept an offer.

What federal loans won't cover

SFU lists programs and courses that federal loans can't pay for [4]:

• Online and distance courses
• Co-op work terms and practicums
• Courses taken in the US, with few exceptions
• Certificate, diploma and continuing studies programs

Check your program's eligibility with each school's US loans office before you file the FAFSA.

529 plans and tax credits

Because both schools participate in federal aid, they generally count as eligible institutions for 529 plan withdrawals and US education tax credits. Ask the school's US loan office for its federal school code and keep tuition receipts. A US expat tax preparer can check what you can claim.

The study permit

For a full degree, you can't just show up. IRCC's application page says you can't apply for a study permit at a port of entry. You apply from outside Canada, online [6]. The usual pieces:

1. An acceptance letter from UBC or SFU (both are designated learning institutions).
2. A provincial attestation letter from BC, which your school helps arrange. Some applicants are exempt and must say why in the application [6].
3. Proof of funds for tuition and living costs. IRCC says the amount depends on how long you'll stay and where you'll live [6].
4. Biometrics, CAD 85 for one person, if required for you [6].

Apply as soon as you have your acceptance letter. A summer bottleneck is common.

Working while you study

You can work off campus without a separate work permit if you're a full-time student in a degree program of at least six months and your study permit includes the work condition [7]:

You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work. Remote work for an employer outside Canada, like a US internship done from your dorm, doesn't count toward the 24 hours [7]. Track your hours anyway.

Earning money here also means Canadian tax, and you still file a US return if your income is over the filing threshold. If your Canadian accounts top USD 10,000 at any point in the year, file an FBAR too. A lot of students with a summer job and a student loan disbursement land right there.

Parents researching schools can compare notes with other American families in Vancouver in our community group for Americans in Canada.

Sources

1. Undergraduate tuition fees, University of British Columbia
2. Fees and scholarships, Simon Fraser University undergraduate admission
3. Funding for US students, University of British Columbia
4. US Federal Direct Loans, Simon Fraser University
5. Key changes to federal student loans made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Harvard Student Financial Services
6. Study permit: how to apply, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
7. Work off campus as an international student, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Keep reading

• Schools in Vancouver: American and international schools
• BC health coverage (MSP): enrolling and the wait
• Moving to Vancouver as an American: visa routes
• Student loans while living abroad