If you are torn between Canada, Australia and the Philippines, decide your length of stay, budget and goal first. We set out the official short-study entry rules and price levels side by side, with the order of steps. Checked on 30 October 2026.
In short
Canada lets you take a program of six months or less without a study permit, and Australia’s ETA allows up to three months of study in total; in the Philippines, language school students need an SSP. On the World Bank price level index (United States = 1.0), the Philippines is 0.39, Canada 0.93 and Australia 1.05. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check them for your passport.
Three things to decide first
Rather than choosing by image, decide these three first and see which countries remain.
- Length: how many weeks (this changes whether you need a visa)
- Budget: a ceiling for tuition, housing, local fees and living costs
- Goal: speaking, an exam, work, or a step towards a second country
Short-study entry rules
How long you can study without a student visa differs by country, and eligibility depends on your nationality. The official sources say the following.
Visa-exempt travelers flying to Canada need an eTA (CAD 7), and programs longer than six months need a study permit (IRCC). Australia’s ETA app has a service charge of AUD 20, and if your main reason for travel is study, the Department of Home Affairs says to apply for a student visa.
| Country | Studying without a student visa |
|---|---|
| Philippines | Language schools require an SSP |
| Australia | Up to 3 months in total (ETA) |
| Canada | 6 months or less (no study permit) |
Price levels
On the World Bank price level index (United States = 1.0), the Philippines is 0.39, Canada 0.93 and Australia 1.05.
Check living cost guides on BLOOM ABROAD’s cost pages for the Philippines, Canada and Australia.
Costs in the Philippines
Some schools in the Philippines include meals in housing, so compare totals that include local fees. Totals for 4 to 24 weeks from schools’ official tables are in our article on costs for 1, 3 or 6 months.
Do not run applications in parallel
Once you are down to two countries, this order means less reworking.
- Write down your goal, length and budget ceiling
- Narrow down to two countries
- Choose schools in each country and get quotes on the same terms
- Once quotes are in, check the documents and procedures on official sources
- Book flights and insurance after the school confirms your place
Studying in two countries
You can also build your speaking in the Philippines first and then move to Canada or Australia. A visa or study permit for the second country may need to be applied for before you leave home, so check its timing first.
See each country's page for the details
For the Philippines, see our guide to studying English in the Philippines. For Canada and Australia, see the Canada page and the Australia page.
Sources
Government and public bodies
- IRCC: Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) facts (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- IRCC: Studying in Canada without a study permit (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Australian Department of Home Affairs: ETA (subclass 601) (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Bureau of Immigration (Philippines): FAQs (checked 29 Oct 2026)
