How to Study at the University of Manitoba as an International Student: The Complete 2026 Guide

Founded in 1877, the University of Manitoba is Western Canada's first university — and for Indian students it holds a set of advantages that are easy to miss. UM waives the English test for CBSE and ISC students with 75% in senior English, charges international PhD students the same tuition as Canadians, and runs an engineering co-op programme that actively welcomes international students. Put together, that makes UM one of the most practical research universities in Canada to plan for from India.

This guide is for Indian students planning to study in Canada who want the facts on UM — fees by faculty, entry requirements, entrance scholarships, graduate costs, co-op and the 2026 federal rules on study permits, proof of funds and the PGWP.

University of Manitoba at a Glance

UM is a member of the U15 group of Canada's research-intensive universities and describes itself as Manitoba's largest source of skilled professionals, with around 400 patents covering 300 university-developed technologies. With nearly one in five students from abroad, it is a genuinely international campus — you will not be the only newcomer in your lectures.

What Can You Study at UM?

Engineering

UM Engineering runs a co-op programme that places students in paid 4- to 16-month terms. Estimated international tuition is about $31,400 a year.

University 1 — a flexible first year

Many students begin in University 1, a first year that lets you explore courses before entering a faculty. It suits students who want to keep options open between, say, science, business and health-related degrees.

Agricultural and Food Sciences

A natural fit in a prairie province, with estimated international tuition of about $27,900 a year.

Business

Undergraduate business is estimated at about $26,700 a year for international students. At graduate level, UM offers an MBA and a Master of Finance with their own fee schedules.

Science, Environment and Architecture

Science (about $28,000), Environment, Earth, and Resources (about $27,400) and Environmental Design, the architecture route (about $28,700), round out the most common choices.

Admissions for Indian Students

Undergraduate

• Three general requirements: English proficiency, the general requirements for your country or curriculum, and the specific requirements of your chosen programme.
• Engineering: UM lists an equivalent minimum average of B (80%) across senior-level English, Pre-Calculus Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics, with no less than C (70%) in each.
• Arts: an equivalent minimum average of C (70%) across four academic courses. Health-related programmes set higher bars, around 85%.
• How your marks are read: these are Manitoba-equivalent standards. UM's country tool shows how Indian board results map across — email international.applications@umanitoba.ca to confirm for your board.
• Deadlines vary by programme and are listed in each faculty's applicant PDF. Aim for 1 March at the latest so you are considered for the International Undergraduate Student Entrance Scholarship.
• Application fee: $130, non-refundable. The fee and the application must both arrive by the deadline.

English Language Requirements (Undergraduate)

Graduate

• Minimum academic standard: a GPA of 3.0 (B) or equivalent in your last 60 credit hours of study. Individual programmes may ask for more.
• Indian degree equivalency: UM publishes international degree equivalencies by country. If you hold a three-year degree, check the India entry for your programme or ask graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca before you apply.
• English: proof of proficiency must be submitted with your application unless your degree is from a country on UM's exemption list.
• Funding starts with your department: for the UM Graduate Fellowship, UM tells applicants to contact their department to learn how to be considered.

Tuition and Costs

Two details make these estimates more useful than most: they are inclusive — programme and lab fees, the Winnipeg Transit U-Pass, a gym pass, the student health and dental plan and Manitoba international student health insurance are all built in — and they compare favourably with many other research universities on an Indian student's shortlist. UM's table does not print an academic year, so confirm the figure for your intake with the university before you finalise your budget.

Scholarships

International Excellence Entrance Scholarship — up to $25,000

$25,000 for first place and $10,000 each for second and third. A committee ranks applicants on academics, community engagement and leadership. The $25,000 award needs a minimum 90% average in five approved senior-level courses; the $10,000 awards need the minimum admission requirements. Check UM's international awards page for the application steps and deadline.

International Undergraduate Student Entrance Scholarship — about $1,000 to $3,000

Awarded by high-school average, starting at 85% across your best five senior academic courses. UM's published 2024-25 example shows $3,000 for 95%+, $2,000 for 90%+ and $1,000 for 85%+; amounts are set each year. Apply by 1 March to be considered.

UM Graduate Fellowship

$20,000 for master's students and $25,000 for doctoral students over 12 months, open to international students. Contact your department to find out how to be considered.

International Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship

Recognises the academic achievements of new international graduate students; details are in UM's graduate awards database.

Study Permit, PAL and Proof of Funds

• Undergraduates need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from Manitoba. Manitoba's 2026 allocation under the national cap is 11,196 applications, and 2026 PALs are valid until 31 December 2026.
• Master's and PhD students at public institutions such as UM do not need a PAL from 1 January 2026 and are exempt from the federal cap. Doctoral applicants outside Canada get a 14-day processing standard.
• Proof of funds: from 1 September 2026, a single applicant must show at least $23,448 for living costs, plus first-year tuition and travel. A GIC, bank statements, education loans and scholarship letters all count.
• Health insurance: UM's international fee estimates already include the Manitoba international student health insurance plan.

Co-op, Part-Time Work and the PGWP

• Engineering Co-op/IIP: at least 12 months of paid work experience to earn the designation, in 4-, 8-, 12- or 16-month placements starting in January, May or September. Average pay is about $23 an hour (range $18–$30+), with a programme fee of about $400 per four-month term. UM recommends having at least one paid job or equivalent experience before you apply.
• No separate co-op work permit: since 1 April 2026, post-secondary students no longer need a separate co-op work permit for a work placement that is a required part of their programme, as long as it makes up 50% or less of the programme and the school confirms the requirement in a letter. UM says you also need a Social Insurance Number and a participation letter from the co-op office.
• Part-time work: up to 24 hours a week off campus during academic sessions and unlimited hours in scheduled breaks.
• PGWP: no field-of-study requirement for degree graduates, CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French required, and a three-year permit for degrees of two years or more — or for a master's of at least eight months.

Applying from Bangalore and Karnataka

If you are applying from Bangalore or wider Karnataka, a few UM-specific details are worth knowing.

• Karnataka PUC and English: UM's English waiver names the CBSE and CISCE certificates only. If you are finishing II PUC with the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board, budget time for an English test — at UM, Duolingo, PTE and CAEL are all accepted alongside IELTS and TOEFL.
• Karnataka PUC and academics: UM does not publish a board-by-board India list, so email international.applications@umanitoba.ca to confirm how your II PUC marks map to its programme requirements — CBSE and ICSE students should do the same.
• Degrees from Karnataka institutions: UM publishes international degree equivalencies by country rather than an institution list. Whether your degree is from VTU, Bangalore University or another Karnataka university, check the India equivalency for your programme.
• Biometrics: IRCC lists a Bengaluru visa application centre (run by VFS Global) among its Indian collection points. Appointments are free to book, so book your slot as soon as IRCC asks for biometrics.
• Flights: there is no direct flight from Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) to Winnipeg, so plan for connections via a major hub.
• Talk it through locally: Falcon Nova's office is in Hebbal, North Bangalore (7th floor, Kirloskar Business Park), and you can book free counselling in person or online.

Life in Winnipeg

Winnipeg is a mid-sized city with an affordable, down-to-earth feel, and UM's main Fort Garry campus sits in the south of the city, with the Bannatyne campus in the centre focused on health sciences. The U-Pass included in your fees makes getting around straightforward. Winters are famously cold, so invest in a proper coat, boots and layers when you arrive — students who dress for it discover a city that embraces winter rather than hiding from it, with summers that are warm and sunny.

Is UM Right for You?

UM is a strong choice if you want a U15 research university with inclusive, comparatively moderate undergraduate fees, an English waiver many CBSE and ISC students qualify for, real co-op options in engineering and some of the most affordable graduate fees in Canada. If medicine, dentistry or pharmacy are your goals, those programmes are not open to international students here, and knowing that early lets you choose the right alternative. For engineering, agriculture, business, science and graduate research, UM gives a well-prepared Indian applicant a great deal to work with.