The Prairie Provinces of Canada are fantastic places for studying and living. Across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba you will find exciting cities, friendly people, and of course, top universities. There is so much to explore that you may not even be sure where to start. If so, you are in the right place. Our guide to studying in the Prairie Provinces will tell you all you need to know.
What are the Prairie Provinces like?
Location and demographics
Extending from the centre of Canada towards the country’s southwestern edge – but stopping short of its Pacific coastline – the Prairies are made up of three provinces:
- Alberta is the furthest west of the provinces and reaches into the Rocky Mountains.
- Saskatchewan is named after its longest river, and is the least densely populated of the provinces.
- Manitoba is the most centrally located. This province has a northeastern coastline by the huge Hudson Bay.
While the provinces are all very large, each covering around 250,000 square miles of land, much of the region is uninhabited. Most people in the area live in its warmer southern cities. If you travel outside of these places you will soon find flat farmland that never seems to end. Of course, that is not really all there is: you can also expect to see mountains, lakes and thick forests.
The people of Canada are known for their friendliness, and that is as true in the Prairie Provinces as it is elsewhere in the country. Particularly in the region’s cities, they are used to welcoming newcomers from around the world. In Edmonton and Winnipeg, for example, one in every four people were born outside of Canada. In Calgary, this rises to almost one in every three.
Each province is also home to a large minority of Indigenous Canadians (First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples). These groups have lived in the region for thousands of years, and are recognised as its traditional caretakers. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, they make up almost 20 per cent of the current population.
Thinking of looking elsewhere in the country? The Prairies are not the only option you have for studying in Canada. Learn more about some of its other interesting locations in our ultimate student guides to Central Canada, Eastern Canada and Western Canada.
Culture and history
As you might expect for such a large region, the culture and history of the Prairie Provinces is rich and varied. You will quickly learn a lot about this if you study there, but for now there are a few things that will be helpful to understand.
While people have lived in the region for at least 13,000 years, the areas known today as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were heavily shaped by the arrival of European colonisers in the 17th century. This began with British people looking to exploit the local fur trade, and continued for hundreds of years. It was through war, land purchases and the forced removal of people that the provinces were created, and this long history of oppression should not be forgotten.
Today, the Prairies are a mix of modern cities and unspoiled rural areas, with a lot to enjoy for both local people and visitors. A diverse food scene has been encouraged by an international population and the region’s vast and fertile agricultural land. Small and large arts festivals – including the Edmonton International Fringe Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival – take place across the provinces every year. Sport of the highest quality is also on offer, with three of North America’s top ice hockey teams based in the region: the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets.
What cities are in Prairie Provinces?
Although the Prairie Provinces are full of rural land, they are nevertheless home to some of Canada’s largest cities. In order of population, these are the five biggest:
- Calgary, Alberta The third most populated city in Canada, ranked by the Global Liveability Index 2022 as the third best city to live in the world.
- Edmonton, Alberta The fifth most populated city in Canada, and a major part of its oil and gas industry.
- Winnipeg, Manitoba Home to more than 100,000 Indigenous Canadians, more than in any other city in the country.
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Known as the City of Bridges, a name given in honour of the eight structures that cross the South Saskatchewan River.
- Regina, Saskatchewan A place where you can enjoy the Wascana Centre, a 930-hectare public park with a huge lake.
Wondering where else you could go? Learn about some of the country’s other great urban centres with our guide to the top cities in Canada for international students.
How much does it cost to live in the Prairie Provinces?
The cost of living in the Prairie Provinces will differ depending on the part of it in which you are based. The cities of Calgary and Edmonton tend to be among the more expensive areas, but overall you will find that the region is more affordable than other popular parts of the country, such as Central Canada.
As a general guideline, you should think about budgeting between CAD 1,500 and CAD 2,500 per month for your living expenses. To begin with, though, you will find it worthwhile to consider everything that you may need, look into what it will cost in your place of study, and plan accordingly.
For more advice on budgeting, read our guide to student living costs in Canada.
What services are there in the Prairie Provinces?
The services available to international students in the Prairie Provinces vary throughout the region, and this is something you should think about before deciding which part of it you would like to study in.
For example, one of the most important services you may require is healthcare, and your experience of that will vary depending on which province you live in. In Alberta and Saskatchewan, you are likely to be able to receive some forms of medical care for free. In Manitoba, however, you will usually have to pay for it via the Manitoba International Student Health Plan. Above all, if you are coming to study in the Prairies, you should look carefully at how your health will be looked after.
There are also many smart ways to save money as an international student in the Prairie Provinces, and one of the best is the ISIC. With this student identity card – available for free at most Canadian universities – you can receive discounts on a large range of purchases. It could even be useful when you return home, as it can be used in countries across the world.
What are the post-study options in the Prairie Provinces?
Staying in the Prairie Provinces after graduation will usually require following certain rules, and in most cases that means that you will need a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). The length of time that a PGWP allows you to remain in Canada varies according to the length of time you have studied there, but as soon as you have one, you will be free to live and work throughout the country. You can even apply for the right to have family members join you.
For a more detailed guide to the system, take a look at our advice on how to apply for a post-graduation work permit in Canada.
If you do stay in the Prairies, you will be able to seek out a wide range of top career opportunities. Large employers including Boeing Canada, Nutrien and BioWare all have bases in the region, and are always keen to find talented graduates.
Want to know more about careers in the Prairie Provinces, or elsewhere in the country? Read about the top five graduate jobs in Canada.
What universities are in the Prairie Provinces?
Universities in the Prairie Provinces include some of the mostly highly respected and welcoming in the whole of Canada. A few of the most notable are:
- University of Alberta Located in Edmonton, and rated by the QS World University Rankings 2023 as the top university in the Prairie Provinces and the fourth best in Canada.
- University of Calgary Rated by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 as the second best university in the Prairie Provinces, and the eighth best in the country.
- University of Manitoba Requires a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5.
- University of Winnipeg Where almost 10 per cent of students are international students, representing almost 80 different countries.
- University of Saskatchewan Located in Saskatoon, more than 3,000 international students attend here.
- University of Regina Has several scholarships available to international students, including the International Entrance Scholarship.
What are the main attractions in the Prairie Provinces?
If you are looking for a fun day out in the Prairie Provinces, you will not be short of options. Some of Canada’s best visitor attractions can be found in the region, ranging from the educational to the exciting. A few of the most enjoyable are:
- Canada Olympic Park Developed for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, this sports centre is now a place where even amateurs can enjoy testing their abilities. Top facilities for skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding and mountain biking are all on offer. To bring your heart rate back down, you can even visit Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, a museum attached to the site.
- Royal Alberta Museum Located in Edmonton, this is one of Canada’s largest museums. Its exhibits cover both natural and human history, ranging from dinosaur remains to the founding of Alberta as a province. Just remember not to come on a Monday or Tuesday, when the museum is closed.
- Arctic Glacier Winter Park Winter in Winnipeg brings with it this popular outdoor activity centre in the city’s downtown area, The Forks. Here, you can enjoy snowboarding, tobogganing and ice skating along frozen rivers which form one of the longest natural ice rinks in the world.
What must you see in the Prairie Provinces?
You don’t have to go far from the city to find incredible things to see in the Prairie Provinces. With so much of the region being unpopulated, you can take in some of the world’s most beautiful natural sights in complete peace. Some of the most memorable include:
- The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) This beautiful natural phenomenon fills the night sky with supernatural colours, and is something that people travel across the world to see. You can get an unforgettable look at it in each of the Prairie Provinces throughout most of the year, but you’ll get the best views in the winter months (December, January and February).
- Wanuskewin Heritage Park Only a couple of miles from Saskatoon, this area is both a protected site for the First Nations peoples who have lived nearby for 6,000 years, and a visitor centre for everyone to understand its history and importance.
- The Polar Bear Capital of the World Although it is not an official title, this is how the town of Churchill in northern Manitoba describes itself. Located on the shore of the vast Hudson Bay, the ethical tour guides here will help you spot not only the area’s population of polar bears, but also its beluga whales and rare birds.
- Banff National Park Not far from Calgary, this spectacular protected natural area is a paradise of snow and ice. With thousands of miles of mountainous land, plus endless glaciers and thick forests, it is one of the most popular places to explore nature in Canada. It’s also an ideal place to get involved with a range of outdoor activities, whether that be skiing, fishing or just walking.
Has our guide inspired you to look more closely at studying in the Prairie Provinces?
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