The 10 cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition costs across the country

Choosing the right law school may involve checking its admission process, offered programs, faculty members, and most especially, its tuition fees. While it’s undeniable that legal education is one of the most expensive areas to study for, it doesn’t necessarily have to be this way all the time.

Here, we’ll discuss the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees and other financial considerations when studying law in Canada.

How much is law school tuition in Canada?

Canadian law schools’ tuition fees average at C$20,000 per year. However, these tuition fees may go as low as C$8,000, or as high as C$33,000 per year. It will depend on the degree program, the student’s case, and the location of the law school.

Factors to tuition fees

Typically, Canadian law schools’ tuition fees for Master of Laws (LLM) or the Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD) are more expensive compared to Juris Doctor (JD) program or Bachelor of Law (LLB) program.

Combined or joint programs are also more costly (e.g., Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration or JD/MBA, among others).

As to location, some Canadian law schools’ tuition fees vary depending on whether the student is a local of that province. The tuition fees also increase if the student is an international or a foreign student.

Other expenses

Aside from the tuition fees, law students would have to consider other costs, such as:

• Daily expenses (food, transportation, etc.)
• Academic fees
• Incidental or ancillary fees
• Books and other learning materials
• Living expenses
• Articling and Law Society fees

Some of the incidental and ancillary fees are optional. But when these fees are made mandatory, students would have to pay such fees.

Scholarships, etc.

Most Canadian law schools offer in-school scholarships programs, grants, bursaries, lines of credit, and other financial aids. Law schools may also refer students to external scholarships and government scholarship programs.

Most scholarships would be based on the following criteria:

• Indigenous, racial, or ethnic backgrounds
• Financial needs, prioritizing students from low-income households
• Academic ranking, either from their undergraduate studies or during their first year in law school

What are the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees?

Here are the top 10 cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees compared to other law schools in the country.

The reflected amounts may include mandatory ancillary fees. These amounts only cover the JD or LLB program, and only for the tuition costs of Year 1 or First Year.

Since these fees may change every year or every term without prior notice to applicants, it’s wise to check these universities’ websites for any updates.

These fees are also reviewed yearly by these schools, increasing its chance of changing over time.

Law schools in Ontario:

• • University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law: C$17,568.00
  • Lakehead University – Bora Laskin Faculty of Law: C$19,344.95
  • University of Windsor – Windsor Law: C$20,855.00

Law schools in West Canada:

• • University of Victoria – Faculty of Law: C$12,024
  • University of British Columbia – Peter A. Allard School of Law: C$13,680.32
  • University of Manitoba – Faculty of Law: C$15,164.92

Law schools in Québec:

• • Université du Québec à Montréal – Faculté de science politique et de droit: C$1,819.18
  • Université de Sherbrooke – Faculté de droit: C$1,880.00
  • Université de Montréal – Faculté de Droit: C$2,016.23

Law school in Atlantic Canada:

• • Université de Moncton – Faculté de Droit: C$8,639.00

For more details on these law schools and others in Canada, read our comprehensive list of Canadian Law Schools 2023/24.

Ranked according to tuition fees

We’ve discussed below the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees and how can it these tuition fees be minimized through their scholarships, bursaries, or financial aids.

Again, these amounts may change. The final tuition fees may vary according to the specific circumstance of each student.

1. Université du Québec à Montréal – Faculté de science politique et de droit: C$1,819.18 per semester

The Faculté de science politique et de droit (Faculty of Political Science and Law) of Université du Québec à Montréal or UQAM is the cheapest Canadian law school tuition fee across the country. It’s also the lowest tuition costs in the province of Québec.

UQAM is one of the youngest law schools which offers Bachelor of Law (LLB). Its Faculty of Political Science and Law boasts a unique law program, which offers interdisciplinary studies with international relations and international law.

UQAM’s language of instruction is mainly in French. Applicants will have to pass its French Language Policy. Otherwise, applicants will have to take the UQAM French Test or the International French Test to be admitted.

UQAM allows full-time or part-time study.

Hear more about UQAM’s Faculté de science politique et de droit from a testimony from one of its undergraduate students:

2. Université de Sherbrooke – Faculté de droit: C$1,880.00

Next in rank among the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees is the Faculté de droit (Faculty of Law) of the Université de Sherbrooke. It is also one of the law school whose language of instruction is primarily French.

Located in Sherbrooke, Québec, it offers Bachelor of Laws (LLB) whose First Cycle may be studied in different paths:

• General path
• Cooperative path
• Juris Doctor (with degree in common law and transnational law)

3. Université de Montréal – Faculté de Droit: C$2,016.23

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) of Université de Montréal (or UdeM) Faculté de Droit can be studied in two different paths:

• Honours path
• International Path

Unique to this Faculty of Law is that if offers Juris Doctor (JD) in North American Common Law. This degree program equips students both in Canadian and American common law.

Aside from its JD and LLB programs, Université de Montréal also offers Master of Laws (LLM) in different specializations, and Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD).

UdeM provides options for its students to study full time or part time, which can be taken either with its day classes or evening classes.

Applicants to UdeM’s Faculty of Law may also explore its Faculty scholarships, which includes admission scholarships, financial support bursaries, and Québec’s financial aid program.

4. Université de Moncton – Faculté de Droit: C$8,639.00

The Faculté de Droit of the Université de Moncton is the only Canadian law school that offers its JD common law program entirely in French. The University has a minimum French language requirement for admission.

The JD program of the Université de Moncton also has the cheapest tuition among Canadian law schools’ JD programs.

Its JD program can also be studied for 1 year in any of these countries:

• France
• Belgium
• Swiss
• Madagascar
• New Caledonia

The University also offers other graduate programs, such as:

• Master degree in law
• Master of Business Administration MBA – JD
• Master of Public Administration – JD
• Master of Environmental Studies – JD

First year students can apply for admission scholarships and other financial programs after enrolling. They can also qualify for academic merit scholarships after meeting certain criteria.

5. University of Victoria – Faculty of Law: C$12,024.00

One of the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees in western Canada, the University of Victoria (UVic) – Faculty of Law offers various law degree programs.

Aside from the common law JD program, UVic offers the Joint Degree Program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Orders (JD/JID). The JD/JID is a four-year course that combines Canada’s common law and Indigenous legal processes. This is only offered by UVic.

UVic’s Faculty of Law offers the double degree program of Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA). It also offers other graduate studies such as Master of Laws (LLM) and Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD).

First year applicants of its JD and JD/JID programs may try for the entrance scholarships. Aside from its emergency assistance funds, UVic also has other financial aids for its students, such as:

• UVic Law Bursaries
• UVic General Undergraduate Bursaries
• Law Foundation Diversity Access Grant
• BIPOC Professional Development Fund

To know more about UVic’s Faculty of Law, check out this video:

6. University of British Columbia – Peter A. Allard School of Law: C$13,680.32

The Peter A. Allard School of Law of University of British Columbia (UBC) is also one of the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees in West Canada. Studying in UBC’s JD program may be done through any of its four concentrations:

• Indigenous Legal Studies
• Business Law
• Law & Social Justice
• Environmental and Natural Resource Law

UBC also offers graduate programs, such as:

• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Laws (Common Law) (LLM CL)
• Master of Laws in Taxation (LLM in Taxation)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD)

Law students of UBC may qualify for various scholarships and awards that are based on academic performance. First Year students may also qualify for entrance awards and scholarships. Students may also apply for UBC’s Bursary Programs granted to students with financial difficulties.

7. University of Manitoba – Faculty of Law: C$15,164.92

Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Faculty of Law of University of Manitoba offers the following programs:

• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Laws (LLM)
• Master of Human Rights (MHR) degree

First year applicants for its JD program may choose among the four voluntary concentrations to specialize in:

• Access to Justice in French
• Criminal Law & Justice
• Law & Society
• Private Enterprise & the Law

Its MHR degree is the first in Canada, which focuses on studies related to law and human rights work. The program fee for MHR’s Year 1 is estimated at C$6,884.84.

First year applicants may apply for numerous scholarship opportunities. Second year and third year law students may also be qualified as a Pitblado Scholar, and other performance and merit-based awards.

8. University of Ottawa – Faculty of Law: C$17,568.00

The JD Common Law Program of University of Ottawa (uOttawa) offers the cheapest tuition fees among the law schools in Ontario. The program is offered in two languages: English and French.

It also offers a Civil Law Section where students can enroll under its Bachelor of Laws (LLL). Students under the LLL may also apply for its joint program in international development law and globalization (LLL/DVM).

In addition, uOttawa offers a JD National Program, where holders of a civil law degree from a Canadian university have an accelerated course of study.

Graduate students may also enroll under the uOttawa’s Master of Laws (LLM) and Doctor of Philosophy in Law (PhD).

First year applicants and continuing students have various opportunities for scholarships and bursaries offered by uOttawa. These include Admission Scholarship, Deloitte Canada Black and Indigenous Student Scholarships, and scholarships and bursaries from private funds, among others.

9. Lakehead University – Bora Laskin Faculty of Law: C$19,344.95

The Bora Laskin Faculty of Law of Lakehead University mainly focuses on its JD degree, which is offered in two streams: in-person stream and 1L Online Intensive.

Applicants may choose from any of its applicant categories according to their specific case:

• General
• Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis)
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility
• Mature

Entrance scholarships are automatically granted to top candidates. This is based on an applicant’s GPA and LSAT scores. In addition, Lakehead University also launched its myAwards database, where continuing students can check which scholarships, awards, and bursaries they may be eligible for.

10. University of Windsor – Windsor Law: C$20,855.00

Last on our list of the cheapest Canadian law schools’ tuition fees is Windsor Law of the University of Windsor. This law school currently offers its JD Program, along with its combined degrees of Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) and Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work (JD/MSW).

Unique to Windsor Law is its Canadian and American Dual Juris Doctor (JD/JD). This combined degree allows students to write bar examinations both in Canada and the US.

Graduate students may also apply for Windsor Law’s Master of Laws (LLM).

Both first year applicants and continuing students have various opportunities for scholarships, awards and bursaries. These are either offered by the University itself or by its external partners.

International JD Students

The Canadian law schools’ tuition fees for JD programs discussed above would differ for international students. The tuition fees are more expensive for international students compared to their local counterparts.

Here are the top 5 cheapest JD program tuition fees for international students:

1. Université de Moncton – Faculté de Droit: C$16,251.00 
2. University of New Brunswick – Faculty of Law: C$28,531.00
3. University of Manitoba – Faculty of Law: C$31,743.94
4. Toronto Metropolitan University – Lincoln Alexander School of Law: C$36,223.57
5. York University – Osgoode Hall Law School: C$39,137.28

Looking for more information on Canadian law schools’ tuition fees? Leave your questions in the comment section below.