Compare destinations · checked Oct 2026
US, UK or Canada? Compare them side by side
Degree lengths, visas, work rights, proof of funds and costs for the three countries we cover, checked against official sources in October 2026.
Three destinations
Start with the country, or the course
🇺🇸 USA
- F-1 visa; Form I-20 from an SEVP-certified school
- OPT for 12 months, plus 24 months for STEM degrees
- Main intake in fall, some spring starts
programs in our data
Read the guide →
🇬🇧 UK
- Student visa; CAS from a licensed sponsor
- Three-year bachelor’s, one-year taught master’s
- Graduate Route: 2 years, or 18 months from 1 Jan 2027
programs in our data
Read the guide →
🇨🇦 Canada
- Study permit; PAL needed by most post-secondary students
- Co-op programs and college or university routes
- PGWP of up to 3 years
programs in our data
Read the guide →Live program counts couldn’t load just now. Each destination guide still has the full details.
Side by side
The key rules, compared
As of October 2026. Each country page explains the details and links to the official source.
| 🇺🇸USA | 🇬🇧UK | 🇨🇦Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | F-1 Form I-20 from an SEVP-certified school | Student visa CAS from a licensed student sponsor | Study permit Letter of acceptance from a DLI, plus a PAL for most |
| Visa fees | $185 visa fee + $350 SEVIS fee | £558 + £776 a year healthcare surcharge | CAD 150 + CAD 85 biometrics |
| Bachelor’s | Usually 4 years | 3 years (4 in Scotland) | 3–4 years |
| Taught master’s | Commonly 1–2 years | Usually 1 year | 1–2 years |
| Main intake | Fall (Aug–Sep) Some spring starts | Sep–Oct A few courses start Jan–Jul | September Some January and May starts |
| Work in term time | Up to 20 hrs/week on campus Off-campus only through CPT or OPT | Up to 20 hrs/week Degree level, university sponsor | Up to 24 hrs/week off campus No limit on campus |
| Work after study | OPT: 12 months +24 months for STEM degrees | Graduate Route: 2 years 18 months if you apply from 1 Jan 2027; 3 years after a PhD | PGWP: up to 3 years Field-of-study rule for college programs |
| Living funds to show | First year’s costs on your I-20 Readily available funds for year one | £1,529/month London, £1,171 elsewhere Up to 9 months; rising 30 Nov 2026 | CAD 23,448 a year One person, outside Quebec |
| Tuition benchmark | $31,880 public out-of-state, $45,000 private nonprofit Average undergraduate tuition and fees, 2025-26 (College Board) | Set by each university No official average | CAD 42,062 undergraduate, CAD 24,693 graduate International averages, 2026/27 preliminary (StatCan) |
| Programs in our data | Explore | Explore | Explore |
Swipe the table sideways to see all three countries.
Coming soon
More destinations on the way
We’re adding guides and university data for these next.
🇦🇺 Australia Coming soon
Research universities and post-study work rights. Ask a counsellor if you’re considering it now.
🇩🇪 Germany Coming soon
Public universities and English-taught master’s programs. Ask a counsellor if you’re considering it now.
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Tell the finder your subject, grades and budget, and compare matches across all three. Or book a counsellor who studied abroad.
Sources
Every rule, fee, amount and date in the table was checked against these official sources on 31 October 2026. The country pages give the full source lists.
- Study in the States (DHS), Students and the Form I-20 (checked Oct 2026)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, I-901 SEVIS Fee (checked Oct 2026)
- U.S. Department of State, Fees for Visa Services (checked Oct 2026)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, SEVP: Employment (checked Oct 2026)
- Study in the States (DHS), F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) (checked Oct 2026)
- Study in the States (DHS), STEM OPT Extension Overview (checked Oct 2026)
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Affairs Manual 9 FAM 402.5 (Students and Exchange Visitors) (checked Oct 2026)
- College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025 (2025-26 figures) (checked Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Student visa (checked Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Student visa: apply (timings, fee, decision time) (checked Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Student visa: money you need (checked Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584 (3 September 2026): maintenance amounts from 30 November 2026 (checked Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: how much you have to pay (checked Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK, Graduate visa (checked Oct 2026)
- QAA, The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (2024) (checked Oct 2026)
- UCAS, Choosing a course (sandwich years) (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Study permit: provincial or territorial attestation letter (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Study permit: proof of financial support (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Work off campus as an international student (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Work on campus as an international student (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: about (length of the permit) (checked Oct 2026)
- IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: field of study requirement (checked Oct 2026)
- Statistics Canada, Table 37-10-0045-01 Canadian and international tuition fees by level of study (2026/2027 preliminary, released 16 September 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
- EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Common pathways to college and university (checked Oct 2026)
- EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Graduate studies (checked Oct 2026)