About the university
Lakehead University is a public university founded in 1965 in Thunder Bay, on the north shore of Lake Superior in Northern Ontario. It also has a campus in Orillia, north of Toronto, and teaches engineering at a STEM hub in Barrie.
Lakehead is small (under 10,000 students) and is known for engineering, computer science, environmental and health programmes, research on Northern and Indigenous communities, and a strong showing in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
Indian students mostly come for course-based and thesis master's degrees in computer science, engineering and management, and for four-year engineering and computer science bachelor's degrees. Graduate tuition is moderate for Ontario, and new undergraduates with high Class 12 marks can receive automatic scholarships of up to CAD 40,000 over four years.
Thunder Bay is affordable compared with Toronto but remote, with long, very cold winters. Orillia and Barrie are much closer to Toronto. Check which campus your programme runs on before you accept an offer.
- Founded
- 1965 (Lakehead marked 60 years in 2025)
- Type
- Public university in Ontario
- Students
- 8,902, of whom 26% are international (Times Higher Education data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 27.1 (Times Higher Education data)
- Campuses
- Thunder Bay (main), Orillia, and the Barrie STEM Hub for engineering
- Intakes
- September for all programmes; January for selected programmes; May for selected graduate programmes
Rankings
THE World University Rankings 2027
1001–1200 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Computer Science (course, project or thesis route)
- Fee / year
- C$26,125
- Duration
- 1 year (course route) or 2 years (project or thesis); co-op for project and thesis students
- Intakes
- September and January (January has limited options)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 80; PTE 58; Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
MSc Engineering – Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$34,125
- Duration
- Up to 2 years (course or thesis route)
- Intakes
- September, January and May
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 80; PTE 58; Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Fee / year
- C$46,505
- Duration
- 12 months (3 terms), Thunder Bay
- Intakes
- September (apply by 1 February)
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 80; PTE 58; Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
Master of Science in Management (MScMgt)
- Fee / year
- C$29,125
- Duration
- 1 year (3 terms), thesis or project route
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 80; PTE 58; Duolingo 120
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- C$23,125
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (6 terms)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (Speaking and Writing 7.0, Listening and Reading 6.5); TOEFL iBT 103; PTE 65; Duolingo 130
- Postgraduate
MSc Engineering – Civil, Mechanical, Chemical or Environmental
- Fee / year
- C$34,125
- Duration
- Up to 2 years
- Intakes
- Check the programme page
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0); TOEFL iBT 80; PTE 58; Duolingo 120
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Engineering – Software Engineering
- Fee / year
- C$42,000
- Duration
- 4 years (5 with the co-op/internship option)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 80 (no section below 19)
- Undergraduate
Honours Bachelor of Science – Computer Science
- Fee / year
- C$31,750
- Duration
- 4 years, co-op option
- Intakes
- September; January for selected programmes
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 80 (no section below 19)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science (course, project or thesis route) | 1 year (course route) or 2 years (project or thesis); co-op for project and thesis students | C$26,125 | ≈ ₹17.5 lakh |
| MSc Engineering – Electrical and Computer Engineering | Up to 2 years (course or thesis route) | C$34,125 | ≈ ₹22.9 lakh |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | 12 months (3 terms), Thunder Bay | C$46,505 | ≈ ₹31.2 lakh |
| Master of Science in Management (MScMgt) | 1 year (3 terms), thesis or project route | C$29,125 | ≈ ₹19.5 lakh |
| Master of Public Health | 2 years full-time (6 terms) | C$23,125 | ≈ ₹15.5 lakh |
| MSc Engineering – Civil, Mechanical, Chemical or Environmental | Up to 2 years | C$34,125 | ≈ ₹22.9 lakh |
| Bachelor of Engineering – Software Engineering | 4 years (5 with the co-op/internship option) | C$42,000 | ≈ ₹28.1 lakh |
| Honours Bachelor of Science – Computer Science | 4 years, co-op option | C$31,750 | ≈ ₹21.3 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Lakehead University with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate (four-year degrees)
International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships (2027-28)
Value: CAD 40,000 over 4 years (90%+), CAD 30,000 over 4 years (80–89.9%) or CAD 6,000 in Year 1 (75–79.9%)
Eligibility: Automatic for non-Canadian students entering Year 1, 2 or 3 from school or an international college or university. Renewal needs a 90% or 80% average each year. Offers appear in the letter of acceptance.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's and doctoral
Graduate Assistantships
Value: CAD 11,314.28 (master's level)
Eligibility: Some full-time graduate students, including visa students. Up to 270 hours of work over Fall and Winter (about 10 hours a week).
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Class 12 equivalent to an Ontario secondary diploma, with an overall average equivalent to at least 70% (higher for competitive programmes).
- Subject requirements by programme: engineering needs English, Mathematics and Physics plus one of Biology, Chemistry or Computer Science, each at 60% or more.
- Business needs English and a Grade 12 mathematics equivalent.
- Application fee: CAD 135.
Postgraduate
- A four-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with at least a B (second-class) standing in the last 20 half courses.
- The MBA also accepts a three-year degree plus five extra full-course equivalents, and needs GMAT 500 or GRE 300 unless waived.
- MSc Computer Science needs a B average in an honours computer science degree; MSc Engineering ECE needs a four-year electrical, computer or software engineering degree with 70% in the last 20 credits.
- International graduate deadlines: 1 February for September, 16 September for January and 15 January for May (recommended). Application fee: CAD 125.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (undergraduate)
- Degree certificate and transcripts (graduate)
- English test score, or an official medium-of-instruction letter for graduate applicants
- CV and statement of purpose or intent (graduate)
- References where the programme requires them
- GMAT or GRE score (MBA and MSc Management)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0 (7.0 for nursing, public health, health sciences and education) |
| TOEFL iBT | 80, no section below 19 (103 for the higher-requirement programmes) |
| PTE Academic | 58, no part below 50, for graduate programmes (65 for the higher-requirement programmes) |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 for graduate programmes (130 for the higher-requirement programmes) |
| Medium-of-instruction waiver | Graduate applicants can be exempt with an official letter confirming three or more years of English-medium degree study. Undergraduates can be exempt after three years of full-time study in an English-language school system. |
Accommodation and living costs
Lakehead guarantees a residence place in Thunder Bay if you apply by the deadline (1 June for September, 1 October for January). Residence halls include a meal plan; townhouses and apartments are room only. Off-campus rents in Thunder Bay are lower than in southern Ontario.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Double room, residence hall (with meal plan)2026-27, Thunder Bay | C$11,588per 8-month year | ≈ ₹7.8 lakh |
| Single room, residence hall (with meal plan)2026-27, Thunder Bay | C$14,204per 8-month year | ≈ ₹9.5 lakh |
| Townhouse or apartment (room only)2026-27, Thunder Bay | C$8,562per 8-month year | ≈ ₹5.7 lakh |
| UHIP health insuranceSeptember start, 1 Sept 2026 to 31 Aug 2027 | C$948per year | ≈ ₹63,516 |
Campus and location
The main campus is on Oliver Road in Thunder Bay, set in woodland near Lake Superior. The Orillia campus is north of Toronto, and engineering is also taught at the Barrie STEM Hub.
- Winters are long and cold, so budget for warm clothing.
- Business Administration is taught at Orillia; most other business, computing and engineering is at Thunder Bay.
- Engineering degrees are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).
Careers and graduate outcomes
Co-op is available in computer science, engineering and several business majors, and in the MSc Computer Science for project and thesis students. Placements depend on employers and are not guaranteed. See our Canada guide for study and post-study work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering co-op/internship | At least 16 months of paid work (adds a year) | Lakehead Software Engineering programme page |
| MSc Computer Science co-op | 8 months (two terms) of employment | Lakehead MSc Computer Science page |
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is a master's at Lakehead for an Indian student?
In 2026-27 a year of the MSc Computer Science costs about CAD 26,125 in tuition, the MSc Engineering about CAD 34,125, the MSc Management about CAD 29,125 and the one-year MBA about CAD 46,505. Ancillary fees and UHIP health insurance (CAD 948 a year) are extra.
Can I get a scholarship with my Class 12 marks?
Yes. New international undergraduates get an automatic entrance scholarship based on their average: CAD 40,000 over four years for 90% or more, CAD 30,000 for 80–89.9% and CAD 6,000 for 75–79.9%.
Does Lakehead accept PTE and Duolingo?
For graduate programmes, yes: PTE 58 and Duolingo 120 meet the general requirement. Lakehead's undergraduate page lists IELTS, TOEFL and CAEL, so check with the university before using PTE or Duolingo for a bachelor's.
When can I start at Lakehead?
September for all programmes. January is open for selected programmes, and May for some graduate programmes such as MSc Engineering ECE.
Is Thunder Bay a good place to live?
It is affordable and safe but remote and very cold in winter. If you prefer to be near Toronto, look at programmes on the Orillia campus.
Sources
- Lakehead: undergraduate fees 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: graduate fees 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead International: dates and fees (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: MSc Computer Science (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: MBA (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: undergraduate English requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: graduate English requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: international scholarships and awards (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: residence rates (opens in a new tab)
- Lakehead: institutional rankings (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education: Lakehead University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.lakeheadu.ca (opens in a new tab)
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