Study in Windsor, Canada

About Windsor

Windsor is a city in southwestern Ontario, on the Detroit River opposite Detroit, Michigan. Statistics Canada estimates the population of the Windsor census metropolitan area at 488,738 on 1 July 2025. It is Canada's southernmost city and has long been called the automotive capital of Canada.

For international students, Windsor offers a mid-sized university city right on the border with the United States, with a riverfront campus and the attractions of downtown Detroit a few minutes away.

Studying in Windsor

Our directory lists four schools in Windsor: one university and one private school, plus the University of Windsor and Collège Boréal, which are not yet classified by type.

• The University of Windsor (UWindsor) has about 18,000 undergraduate and graduate students, in programmes that include law, business, engineering, science, education, nursing, human kinetics and social work. Its main campus faces the Detroit River, next to what the university calls North America's busiest international border crossing. It traces its roots to Assumption College, founded in 1857, and was incorporated as the University of Windsor on 19 December 1962.
• Assumption University is a Roman Catholic university in the Basilian tradition, federated with the University of Windsor since 1962. Assumption College opened on 10 February 1857. Today it offers courses and programmes such as a Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies.
• Collège Boréal is a French-language college with campuses across Ontario, including Windsor (on promenade Forest Glade), and distance learning through Boréal en ligne.
• Academie Ste. Cecile International School is a private English-language elementary and secondary school with day and boarding students.

Teaching is in English at the University of Windsor and Assumption, and in French at Collège Boréal.

Cost of living for students

No official figure for typical student rents in Windsor is published; compare residence and off-campus options on your institution's website.

Transit Windsor charges $3.95 for a single cash fare, including a two-hour transfer, and $124 for a 30-day adult Smart Pass. University of Windsor students who belong to the undergraduate, part-time or graduate student associations (UWSA, OPUS, GSS) receive the UPASS, a universal smart pass; St. Clair College students have a similar SaintsPASS.

Most foreign nationals need a study permit for a designated learning institution (DLI); the application fee is CAN$150, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Students whose permit allows it can work off campus up to 24 hours per week during regular terms.

Getting around and daily life

Transit Windsor runs the city bus network, and smart cards have replaced paper tickets. The University of Windsor has its main campus on Sunset Avenue and buildings downtown, so many students combine walking with the bus. Crossing to Detroit requires the right documents for entry into the United States, so check them before planning a trip across the border.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Windsor?

Our directory lists the University of Windsor and Assumption University, which is federated with it, as well as the French-language Collège Boréal.

Can I study in French in Windsor?

Yes. Collège Boréal, a French-language college, has a campus in Windsor.

How much does public transport cost for students in Windsor?

A Transit Windsor cash fare costs $3.95 and a 30-day adult Smart Pass $124. University of Windsor students in the student associations have the UPASS.

Can international students work while studying in Windsor?

Students with a study permit that allows off-campus work can work up to 24 hours per week during regular terms, according to IRCC.