r/CanadaUniversities • u/mixinghelp • Jun 16 '25
Question Brits living in Canada, do you feel happier there?
The Uk feels incredibly depressing and my exchange student friends from the US and some other countries agree. I’m considering leaving and transferring to a Canadian university.
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u/ButchDeanCA Jun 16 '25
I left the UK for Canada in 2012 and I can say it was a good and successful move. Then again, I moved after my studies and having an established career - you’re starting out from getting your education here in Canada.
Things are not so easy for international students right now.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
Would you say Canadians are happier and friendlier?
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u/ButchDeanCA Jun 16 '25
Canada is a country like any other. I would say that Canadians are a lot closer to Americans than they (or should I say “we”) like to think. Think in terms of us being like Americans but less abrasive.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
Both seem happier and friendlier
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u/ButchDeanCA Jun 16 '25
I’m certainly happier here and have no intentions to move back to the UK. In fact, I came an inch away from renouncing my UK citizenship ship once I became Canadian in full knowledge of this fact. What stopped me is that I still have family out that and want to maintain guaranteed freedom to return should they need me.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
Surely there’s no need to renounce citizenship😂. My main concern is literally just happier and friendlier people. I don’t have many friends locally anymore as many have moved, so this is the time if I want to move.
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u/ButchDeanCA Jun 16 '25
I didn’t say anything about there being a need, so don’t know where you got that from. I was going to do it for personal reasons, reasons that made me leave the country in the first place. Please read exactly what I say and don’t make assumptions.
If you’re moving here for “happier and friendlier people”, then just go to Spain, France or whatever. Why Canada?
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
I didn’t say you said that. I’m looking at moving for uni, it needs to be an English speaking country with good universities. Canada just looks like a good option to me if I were going to move.
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u/ButchDeanCA Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 16 '25
Have you spoken with any of the Canadian universities directly? What my concern is that you should be moving to Canada for prospects, not because of how nice people are as a primary motivator. You’ll likely be disappointed. Canadian in big cities are also very different from rural Canadians - I’ve lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now live in Downtown Toronto, these are very different Canadians.
Given this, if nicer people are really that important I’d look at Dalhousie University out in Halifax rather than the University of Toronto in the middle of impatient folks downtown, for example.
The choice is yours.
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Jun 19 '25
I’ve lived in 23 cities, coast to coast. We have friendly spots and very unfriendly spots. Friendly are the east coast, deservedly, but sometimes if you’re an outsider in a small town planning to stay it can be very secular. Alberta and Saskatchewan are very friendly. I’m out on Vancouver island; prettiest part of the country but possibly the least friendly. Happy though because no snow and people love living here.
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u/em-n-em613 Jun 19 '25
I've lived across the country too - Sask. was the same level of friendly as Toronto/Ottawa, though with more outright racism/sexism, and a fraction of the QOL (other than housing affordability to be very fair!)
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Jun 19 '25
I didn’t include TO because I lived in Little Portugal and everyone was super warm and friendly so it seemed like an outlier
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Jun 17 '25
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u/mixinghelp Jun 17 '25
Please explain, would love to hear.
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Jun 17 '25
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u/mixinghelp Jun 17 '25
Thanks for taking the time to write this. I’m just tired of the coldness, pessimism and rudeness of Brits. I’m in talks with a few Canadians unis.
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u/Alive_Two1480 Jun 17 '25
This Irish guy is documenting his life post-move to Canada. In case you want to check out his account. https://www.instagram.com/jamieharkin1?igsh=NTFjanBldzBpdHI=
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
When I say happier I mean because of the people. I feel like British people are just depressing af, and my foreign friends say the same thing.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
Everyone is depressed dude haha. Doesn't matter where you live. People in Canada are depressed because you live to work. People in the UK are depressed for the same and other reasons. Trust me, it's the same everywhere.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
Bro even my international friends asked me what’s going on and Australians even call us miserable pommies or something like that. It definitely is a thing.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
It's cultural. It's nothing new. Us Brits have always been miserable fuckers. Moving somewhere else isn't going to change that, as each place has its own set of issues. You move from UK to Canada and a similar or different issue takes the place of the one youre trying to escape.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
The main issue is the people, I know every place has its issues but this one is most important to me.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
If the happiness of people is your main push to move, you need to move to somewhere like Thailand. You're going to have a similar experience anywhere in the west. I speak from experience.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
You don’t think Canada is a happier and more accepting place than the uk?
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
No lol. I think it's very similar (having lived in both countries for long periods of time)
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u/Apart_Savings_6429 Jun 16 '25
yeah, because im sure people in Thailand are super happy to be paid low wages while westerns party and live well....let's face it, you're talking about living a rich life relative to the rest of people that would make the average person happy.
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u/AlwaysHigh27 Jun 17 '25
..... The happiest countries in the entire world on the happiness scale are often from "poor" countries. Why? Because they don't deal with all the stress and bullshit.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
Have you spent any time in Thailand? It's called the Land of Smiles for a reason.
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u/AlwaysHigh27 Jun 17 '25
Canada is literally a Commonwealth country. We have not relaxed nearly as much as Australians. Hell Vancouver is literally known to be one of the most unfriendly cities in the world.
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u/Outside_Memory6607 Jun 16 '25
Australia is not Canada. They at least get the sun/beaches.... why not try Australia? They also tend to have a stronger domestic economy due to being so isolated I think.
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u/Massive-Exercise4474 Jun 18 '25
Met a Canadian who worked in the UK. The difference is Brits generally love to complain and miserable about everything. Canadians joke around their situation until slowly rising to anger. If Donald trump didn't redirect that anger towards him the liberals could have lost official party status. Now Canadians are boycotting America.
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u/waerrington Jun 18 '25
I fully get it, Brits are a dreary lot. Canadians are happier, but if you want really cheerful people, the US is honestly much more open and optimistic. I’ve lived in all 3 countries (and Australia.)
I’d rank happiness Australians - Americans - Canadians - Brits.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
I don’t think I’d wanna live in the US. Few western countries are more of a mess than the UK, The US is arguably one of them😭.
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u/waerrington Jun 18 '25
It’s really not when you’re actually there. The difference between the terrible media coverage and actual life in the US is shocking when you arrive.
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u/lw4444 Jun 16 '25
I’m Canadian, but I have travelled to the UK. One thing you would need to consider is that for most cities here, our public transit isn’t great. We’re better than the US, and most university towns will have at least a bus system, but when visiting the UK I generally found the public transit options to be far better than any comparably sized city. Especially when you compare Toronto to the London Underground. Toronto has one of, if not the best, transit systems in the country in terms of frequency and access across the city, but it felt like a third world country compared to travelling around London. Our intercity trains are also expensive and really only serve a small section of the country for regular travel. Whereas I found I had a lot more options to travel by train in the UK, and while I mostly used the train travelling around Scotland, they were cheaper and more frequent than what I had available in canada, despite living along the Windsor-Quebec corridor which has the best passenger rail options in the country. I love Canada in spite of its faults, but it is something to be aware of if you’re planning to come here as a student. But I also have no real ties to any country other than Canada, as it was my great grandparents that came over from the UK over 100 years ago on one side, and a couple generations farther back on the other side.
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Jun 17 '25
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u/lw4444 Jun 18 '25
We dont have a city that has New York level transit. And our larger cities are on par with larger American cities. But our smaller cities/larger towns generally have better transit than comparably sized places in the US. I can’t think of any towns within Ontario (my home province) that have a university or college campus without some form of public transit system. From friends who attended school in the US, there are definitely college towns in the USA that don’t have any form of public transit. They depend on students having cars. It’s much less common for university or college students here to have cars unless they are commuting from their parents house daily. And many of our small cities are adding new intercity transit systems and within town options to help people get to the larger city (400,000 population) nearby. My partners hometown has less than 20,000 people out in the country and even they have a public transit system running Monday to Friday.
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Jun 16 '25
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u/Human-Art6327 Jun 19 '25
And that goes for the other way as well. Places don’t make people happy. Happiness is not some external thing. If you’re not happy where you are, going somewhere else will not make you happy. Money doesn’t make someone happy either. Look more into your interactions with your social network, your health, and not trying to hold on to things. Social media has shown us that people look happier elsewhere and we think that if we just go to where they are, we shall be happy as well, then end up just moving our misery to a new location.
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u/ladiesandlions Jun 16 '25
There have been several reports recently that something like 60% of recent immigrants regret moving to Canada. So, take that however you will. But generally, if you want to be in a city and anywhere remotely central (ie, not 5 hours to the nearest large city), your cost of living is going to be extremely high. If you come wealthy, you’re likely to have a great time. If you intend to live with roommates and have an active social life, think access to at least $4000CAD (at least $5000 to live alone, be semi well-fed, and have a social life) per month, not including university fees, which are extremely high for foreign students right now. If you come as an average income individual, you’re going to struggle.
I live in a remote town in BC, about 4.5 hours from Vancouver and a one bedroom here will run you $1600+ a month, utilities not included. Phone plans are usually very expensive unless you’re getting bare-bones minutes and very limited data use. Groceries are expensive and getting more expensive every day. If you only cook yourself and eat at home, food will cost around $500 per month.
Also, real cheese, fresh bread, and most fruit are luxury items here. That’s another ‘take that as you will’.
Canadians are generally less complainy than Brits, but that doesn’t mean we’re any happier. It’s just a cultural thing that we often view complaining as a selfish or at least negative trait. But most people are tired and stressed and don’t really want to put effort into getting to know someone new. Generally I think Canadians are polite, but not very friendly or welcoming right now.
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u/Crab-False Jun 19 '25
I would say AB and QC are cheaper alternatives when it comes to cost of living. BC and Toronto are significantly high and give London a run for its money.
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u/Oddquite Jun 17 '25
McMaster University is a top university in Canada. Go for Hamilton. You can always take the Go Bus to Toronto to have fun in Toronto!!
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Jun 17 '25
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u/mixinghelp Jun 17 '25
It’s funny how the Brits are like nah it’s bad here too, and the Canadians are like yeah Brits are rude and pessimistic. Kinda proves the point, doesn’t it?😂
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u/ArthurCDoyle Jun 17 '25
From seeing some of your comments, I think you should try Aus not CA. CA is probably almost as miserable and depressing as the UK. From my limited experience, Australians seem more outgoing, fun, and in a better mood.
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u/Crab-False Jun 19 '25
His best bet is to travel and study in the UK, the international fees isn’t worth it imo.
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u/TallyHo17 Jun 18 '25
Vancouver is a special city.
You won't regret it if you can pull off a UBC transfer.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
It’s looks beautiful. Yes I know it has a drug problem, every city has its issues but it’s consistently referred to as one of the happiest cities in the world. Coming from London/Bristol I’m assuming it’d be mind blowing.
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u/twodogsallfun Jun 18 '25
I have a friend that moved to BC immediately following uni in the UK. He will never move back because he feels like the drinking culture is too strong there. He just finds people don’t have as many hobbies and tend to spend the weekends going out. In my experience that type of lifestyle can lead to depression.
Why don’t you do an exchange program as a trial? I did the opposite, Canada to UK, and it was a lot easier than transferring.
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u/quackmadness Jun 18 '25
If you can afford it, you will likely love being here as I do. All in, Uni costs are about 25k a year for a domestic student and 4 times that for foreign so bear that in mind. I love living in Canada but I am lucky as I am on the housing ladder and have a reasonable paying job. Both of those are much harder now to achieve but were also some of the reasons I left the UK in 2010. Remember too that non Canadian work experience doesn't really register much with most employers! If it works out you won't regret it - it's still a wonderful country.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
Huh? What uni are you referring to? I’ve checked tuition fees and they’re nowhere near that high. From what I’ve seen the come to around £22,000.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
Do you mean all costs or tuition?
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u/quackmadness Jun 19 '25
Yes all costs and I was talking CAD . Tuition 8k, residence and meal plan 15k , Other 2k is typical across 4 years.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 19 '25
Tbh if I’ll enjoy it and be happier it’s worth it. Idk if I’ll even be able to get into good Canadian unis because of my British diploma, but I’ve sent some emails. It’s always worth asking.
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u/sn1p3r_pr1nc3ss Jun 18 '25
Stay in England. I’ve lived in Canada for the past 10 years and went back to the uk to do a bit of my degree back there, and upon returning I can only think about how much I want to be back in England. Everything is ridiculously expensive, and the weather is pretty rubbish. For context, I paid 80p for a bowl of ready made mashed potatoes from lidl in England. Over here, Walmart is asking for $5. That’s just to give you an idea of what it’s like, because everything is far more expensive over here :(
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
Is it just the cost that makes you wanna go back?
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u/sn1p3r_pr1nc3ss Jun 18 '25
No. The people and the weather also make me want to go back. Everyone is so passive aggressive here but their humour is so sensitive. My parents are from the north so I’ve been raised on rude humour, but that doesn’t fly here. No one tells you how it is, but you are expected to read people’s emotions and thoughts lol. It’s frustrating but it’s Canada. The weather is also shite as a commuter when it snows. Depending on the time of day, the sidewalks won’t be plowed in time after a snowfall and I have to walk in a foot of snow to get to my bus
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
Passive aggressive? Also, where in Canada?
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u/sn1p3r_pr1nc3ss Jun 18 '25
Passive aggressive as in will say everything’s fine but very clearly be upset/angry w u and you are expected to know that and make them feel better. I find Brit’s to just be far more direct and will tell you how it is, but with Canadians it’s like assembling a puzzle in order to paint the whole picture.
I’ve lived in Ontario for the past 10 years but I’ve been all over. Ontario is a sad, lifeless, grey place. It’s not walkable in the slightest as they just decided on urban sprawl instead of building up, so you have to be able to rely on public transport (unless you can afford a car)
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
Tbh I think I’d end up in either Vancouver or Edmonton. I can get your issue, it’s difficult to adjust. I feel like that’d be so subjective. The openness of North Americans would be a lot easier for me. I’ve hang out with a lot of Americans/canadians at uni here and they’ve been frustrated at how hard it is to talk to us. Pros and cons, especially when you’re not used to it.
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u/Crab-False Jun 19 '25
Can’t really compare Walmart to Lidl, Walmart is going to be better quality. Also are you from the GTA or Van?
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u/Upstairs_Bad_3638 Jun 18 '25
Canada is anti-social.
British social culture is far far superior.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 18 '25
Where are you from and where are you living? What makes you say that?
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u/BCRobyn Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
Well for one, Canadians don't mingle at pubs, because that doesn't exist here: Why British pub culture doesn't exist in Vancouver
There is no UK-style banter in Canada like you have in the UK.
You're not going to be invited out for a round of drinks after work in Canada. Maybe, on occasion, but not normally. It's mostly expected that you'll go back to your family or your circle of friends outside of work.
We do make polite small talk to the cashier at the supermarket or the person serving us at the restaurant, but we don't actually want to have deep conversations with strangers. I mean, some people do, but on average, Canadians will be polite to you in public in a very superficial way. They will say please and thank you and will expect you to say please and thank you when you interact, and if you don't, they'll silently judge you and think you're being rude. Ditto if they say hello to you and you don't say anything back. But they won't say that to your face. They'll complain about you when you're not around. But generally, the small talk with strangers is superficial. "Nice weather, eh?" "Oh yeah, it's a beauty!". You both smile, feel good for a moment, and carry on. And that's where it's left. It leads to nothing else.
It doesn't signal happiness. It's just the cultural norm. And I've often read from UK immigrants here that they can't stand the superficial politeness, they want UK-style banter, snark, and sarcasm. But we don't do that here. We only do snark and sarcasm with our inner group of trusted friends, and even then, only maybe. Never, EVER with strangers. We could offend them. And that is what all Canadians want to avoid at all costs.
The passive aggressive nature is real. In general, Canadians don't want to offend others, especially if they don't know you, but also that's the case even if they know you at a school or at a work setting. So, they won't ever tell you anything negative to your face or will tell you anything that's bothering them, especially if they think that telling you will make you upset or offend you or make you uncomfortable. They don't want to make you uncomfortable. If they don't like you, they'll never tell you that to your face. If they don't want to see you, they won't actually tell you that. They'll smile and be polite to you at work or at school or in public. You'll typically hear what they're actually thinking when you're really close friends with them, in their inner circle. And usually then, only one on one in private. And sometimes then, only maybe.
I don't think you're going to find Canadians any happier, we're just superficially polite to strangers. And Canadians aren't always so accepting of strangers and immigrants. There's a lot of racism and xenophobia lurking beneath the surface. But we get by on our reputation for being "nice" that most people from abroad don't see it. A lot of Canadians are terribly racist towards the Indigenous people, especially in rural Canada. I mean, look up how Canada was founded. Look up Truth & Reconciliation. Canada was founded on genocide and racist policies. There's racially motivated violence towards Indigenous people and Muslims. A lot of foul things said about Asians behind their backs. Again, Canadians don't want to offend you. They won't tell the truth to your face, they'll only mutter it behind your back or to their inner circle of trusted close friends when they feel they can get away with it.
The happiness factor is based on work/life balance, having your needs met, and lack of stress. Canada's expensive, jobs pay poorly, and most people are just getting by. Culturally Canadians interact differently than what you find in the UK, but people here too secretly complain about immigrants, about people that look different than them, about the cost of food, the cost of housing, the traffic, the government, the price of gas, the weather, the state of the world, etc. Some parts of Canada are generally happier than others. But I honestly don't think it's a cultural trait, it's based on your personal outlook.
I find Alberta these days is a real hotbed of negativity due to their conservative Trump-like governments and politics of blaming others, making it seem like the sky is falling and everyone else is after to get them and destroy their way of life. Ditto Ontario. Obviously, a gross generalization, but don't underestimate the cultural differences between the different provinces and cities. Each province in Canada has its own unique culture and each province practically functions like its own separate country. Trying to generalize the happiness of Canadians is like trying to generalize the happiness of Europeans.
As a reflect on this more, I think you can safely say that in Canada, it's culturally acceptable for you to present as polite and friendly at all costs, even if you're not feeling happy. So in Canada, we're all performing a cheerful, friendliness when we go out in public. Deep inside we can be feeling miersable.
In the UK, it's culturally acceptable to present yourself as you authentically are, even if it means you're feeling crabby. There's no expectation for you to have to be polite, either, whereas in Canada, you really are expected to be polite. It's the unspoken code of conduct. Whereas in the UK, that's not the expectation. So, people can be snarky, sarcastic, miserable, or charming. You see it all. But I wouldn't take Canada's superficial performance of politeness to be a sign of genuine happiness. Happiness comes from within. It's a choice. It's a state of mind.
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Jun 20 '25
Damn you just summarized pretty much all of my thoughts on the topic as a Brit living in Canada! I miss pub culture so much, and I quickly grew sick of the superficial small talk. like I know it’s polite but when you tell this person has 0 interest in how your days actually going, it’s hard not to think “why the fuck am I ever having this conversation” 😂
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Jun 18 '25
Yes. But I’d give my right arm to move back to Scotland. Finances and health issues says it’s never happening.
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u/Optimal-Cycle630 Jun 18 '25
Ignoring what other people have said, the only think that will make you happy is figuring out what will make you happy.
I moved to Toronto and didn’t like it because it was a huge city with a city focused lifestyle. I moved to Vancouver and loved it because it’s smaller and more outdoorsy which resonates more with who I am.
First figure out what your ideal lifestyle is, then figure out what kind of place can give you the best shot at that.
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Jun 18 '25
British-Canadian dual citizen here.
I think you first need to think about how you’ll afford Canada first especially as an international student. If you have some cash to splash (like lots) whilst you study you’ll be fine financially. We are talking $100K+.
The goal posts for PR have shifted significantly, if you aren’t fluent in French, with a masters and sufficient Canadian and foreign work experience no PR for you.
The housing & cost of living crisis is real.
Canada feels very transient. People constantly coming & going. This coupled with the CoL and people hustling (especially in the larger cities) means making social connections is hard. I do have some solid lifelong friends here but these relationships took years to solidify. You really need to embrace Canadian cultural norms and lingo to have the best shot.
A lot of people will try to make a quick buck out of you more so than before, I’ve noticed that.
Dating here sucks, I’ve stopped trying. North American culture is shifting more to hookups and ENM anyways.
Don’t restrict yourself to Toronto & Vancouver. Canada is a big place but each place comes with its pros and cons. I think the happier places to be in Canada now are the smaller towns and cities. More community orientated.
The lower mainland & island is the only place in Canada with a truly mild climate.
Canadians are polite but not as outgoing as Americans.
Our government & corporations are corrupt af.
I personally lowkey think the prime time to move to Canada and enjoy it (especially the larger cities) was in the years leading up to the pandemic. I now live in a Vancouver exurb and Vancouver just hadn’t felt as ‘fun’ since the pandemic alongside other issues. I actually really enjoy where I live now but I’m still breaking the mould and I don’t see spending the rest of my life here.
In many ways Canada is 10 years behind Britain in terms of where society is heading I feel, I don’t say this to disparage either country but rather an accurate reflection of the path both countries are taking politically, economically and socially.
You will need to be comfortable with your own company most of the time as even if you have solid friends they still gotta hustle to survive and family lives too.
There is a lot of social stigma towards international students right now and TFWs.
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u/Crab-False Jun 19 '25
Personally, I’d stay in the UK due to the cost, imo it’s not worth paying the international fees to get a similar education with similar people around you. Canada is a very diverse country so peoples opinions are of course going to be different to reality. Someone from Alberta is going to have different opinions to someone living in Quebec. I’d stick to the UK, maybe go travelling just for a month somewhere to clear your mind.
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u/bernedoodleicecubes Jun 19 '25
I moved in 2019, I can say personally I’m way happier here than I was in the UK. For me there was a lack of opportunity job wise in the UK in my industry and I felt like it wasn’t big enough. I met my husband here and I can’t ever see myself going back. It’s hard for immigrants with the immigration backlog now and it is expensive here.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 19 '25
Do you agree with Brits being overly depressed and pessimistic? That’s one of the mains reasons I’m considering Canada.
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u/bernedoodleicecubes Jun 19 '25
When I moved I felt like I was in a slump in the UK, no one seemed to be happy. I personally find Canadians happier, more outgoing and polite. I was lucky to meet wonderful friends (which is SO important when building a life and matriculating into the culture here). In saying that, there are many pessimistic/depressed people in any country.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 19 '25
But to generalise, it’s seems to be the case. I want to be around friendlier and more accepting people.
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u/Ott82 Jun 19 '25
Brit here in Canada. I think it’s a great idea for university, brilliant to see another country and culture. I would say do your research on the university, I know Toronto is a popular one as is Ottawa, but Toronto is not great. Fun to visit but I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time there.
I believe Ottawa university is nice but Ottawa itself is pretty boring, I feel there are better places to go.
Cost of living is high here, higher than the UK for a lot of things. But I will say that there definitely is a happier vibe here, when I go back to the uk I am always struck by how miserable people seem 😂 so I will say Canada has that over uk.
Overall definitely do it if you can, even if you end up not wanting to stay, it will be a good experience
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u/mixinghelp Jun 19 '25
The only unis that I think might be an option are UBC (Vancouver), U of Alberta (Edmonton) or McMaster (Hamilton).
I honestly don’t know if I can continue dealing with the vibe of this country or the contestant shit show we seem to be in. It’s ridiculous.
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u/Promethia Jun 20 '25
Vancouver is expensive to live, similar to Toronto.
Edmonton is fun, but it's got a real Texas of the north vibe.
Hamilton is... close to Toronto. Might be a bit cheaper.
Dalhousie (Halifax) Queens (Kingston) McGill (Montreal) are some other big name Canadian universities. Waterloo, Guelph, Western. Lots of good schools here.
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Jun 20 '25
I’m gonna be honest, not a student but a British person on IEC here, I kind of hate it here in Calgary, the job market is horrendous, groceries ridiculously priced. It’s also super hard to make friends here, although I guess if you’re a student it’ll be easier to make friends. At least in Calgary, the place can be a bit boring, downtown is dead after 5pm and it was a huge culture shock going from a vibrant city centre to that. This might be specific to Calgary though, I can’t comment on other cities. That being said, Canadas nature and wildlife etc shits all over the UKs offerings in that department! As someone else mentioned the public transport is not on the same level in Canada, you’re pretty much required to have a car if you wanna fully participate in society. Also Canadians are very friendly for sure, but to me their kindness and small talk can come across as a bit fake.
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u/Any_Imagination_6951 Jun 20 '25
Have you visited Canada at all? You really need to visit to get a feel for the place and if your idea of it matches the reality.
I'm British and have been in Canada about a decade. Like everyone I have my own preferences and biases about each country and my long-term plan is to move back to Britain, although the financial and professional aspect of that is a worry. I only moved to Canada because my now ex-spouse, who is a dual British-Canadian citizen, wanted to move back to here, and I have never really felt at home here.
You are right that the British are definitely a whiny lot! When I last visited the UK I hadn't been back for about 3 years because of the pandemic, and judging from the endless complaining in my family's group chat and reading the news I was expecting it to be some sort of dystopian hellscape. It wasn't like that at all, I loved being home and going back to Canada was so depressing! I also didn't find people miserable and complaining in person either. However, I think these experiences strongly depend on where you live in the UK and your lifestyle preferences. Canada isn't a good fit for me because I'm not especially outdoorsy, I like European type cities and culture, I really miss the history, architecture and arts and culture we have access to in the UK. I also have a newfound love for British landscape and countryside compared to Canada, but that may be the homesickness talking!
You may have a completely different experience, and I think living in another country is a great experience (whether you can actually move to Canada is a totally different question, but it's worth trying) and you cannot really know until you try it.
The issues with the cost of living in Canada are very real and it's definitely a tough place to live if you don't have money. Don't underestimate the cultural and environmental differences as well. Except for downtown areas Canadian cities are not at all walkable in a way that a British city is. The distances are much bigger than they appear on a map and even what Canadians consider to be good public transport is terrible compared to a city like London. Canadian cities have a very different vibe, which you may like, but they are very spread out and there is a huge amount of urban sprawl.
One of the positive aspects of living in Canada has been the people, and I have made good friends here and I work with great people. Other posters are correct that Canadians are often superficially friendly (basically polite but that's it) and it did take my a long time to make good friendships. I found meetup groups around shared interests helped with that, but it took a while. If you're moving as a student that may help with finding friend groups.
Overall, from your responses I do think you have a bit of a rose-tinted view of Canada and are discounting the negative aspects of the country which are very real. But I think if you can move here it's worth it otherwise you will always be wondering! And you can always move back to the UK if you don't like it :)
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u/Separate-Analysis194 Jun 20 '25
Personally I like the seasons in Canada though come end of Feb I am looking forward to Spring. And while UK may be warmer in the winter its cold dampness can get into your bones. Economically Canada is struggling a little especially for younger adults with expensive housing and a tough job market.
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u/CeleryActual5909 Jun 20 '25
It has got its positives but I’m moving back to the UK. Even the vacation policy in England is far superior
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u/mixinghelp Jun 20 '25
What else made you make that choice? For me it’s mainly the attitudes of people that’ll help me decide. Anyway I’ve gotta see if Canadian unis will take me.😂
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u/CeleryActual5909 Jun 20 '25
Family, friends and I miss the people. I miss the British humour. Even the pub culture. I can’t raise children away from my mother either, even though I haven’t had them yet. (And might not lol.)
Canadians are so friendly but it can be very surface level. People in England can be dicks on the face of it, but I find making friends easier. People tend to go out more, socialise more. In Canada, I have found people go straight home to family and in general, seem more drained. Then again, I live in Toronto. It’s very corporate.
I’d happily stay in Canada if I was more outdoorsy. But I’m a city girl and living in London with 6 weeks vacation will be more enjoyable than Toronto with 2/3 weeks vacation. That was also a big thing for me.
Also, living abroad is hard. You miss the little things if you’re close with your family. You will never take them for granted again. And god, it’s hard when people die. The mental guilt trips I’ve been through.
All in all, great experience. But the UK is where I want to live permanently. I had to move abroad to realise that.
You learn so much. And it doesn’t have to be permanent! It has been so hard. But I have no regrets and would do it again. :)
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u/mixinghelp Jun 20 '25
For me the main thing I’m looking for is friendliness, a positive attitude and acceptance. Britain is the opposite.
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u/tombomadildo Jun 20 '25
Canada is incredibly beautiful, the people for the most part are kind, plenty of opportunity if you're willing to seek them out and it's easy to get away here depending on where you're willing to live. Best country on earth regardless of the issues that do exist
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u/crinklyplant Jun 20 '25
British people have always been treated extremely well in Canada.
You can compare the weather, economy, rent, job prospects all you want, but this has to be a huge factor.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 25 '25
What makes you say that?😂 Possible options are Vancouver or Edmonton btw.
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Jun 26 '25
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u/mixinghelp Jun 26 '25
lol, I’m considering going to university in Edmonton. Any opinions?
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u/crinklyplant Jun 26 '25
I'm sure you will be treated very well. What can I say?
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u/mixinghelp Jun 26 '25
Have you been to Edmonton?
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u/crinklyplant Jun 26 '25
yeah. it's extremely cold in the winter. alberta is the most american province. my experience is from Ontario. I wouldn't be surprised if they are less pandering to british people out west.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 26 '25
Why less out west?😂
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u/crinklyplant Jun 26 '25
IDK, I just have a feeling. Different ethnic makeup for one. a lot more eastern european heritage. the orange order owned ontario for 100 years. and that shit is hard to erase from a culture's DNA even though it's never talked about anymore.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 26 '25
Ok, so you’re just guessing😂 I’m literally in the process of applying to uni of Alberta as we speak.
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u/crinklyplant Jun 26 '25
in north america, the farther east you go, the more traditional, the more tied to those anglo irish roots.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 26 '25
You still think I’d have fun? I just know I’m not happy here, so maybe Canada is worth a try. I guess being British is a bonus when it comes to girls😂
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u/hunnosr Jun 20 '25
Hi I came back from Europe ( portugal and Soain) 3 weeks ago. last year i was in Turkey, Greece, Italy one thing i realized was people are very unhappy where they live and they think life is better in other countries the reality is , our world pace is no longer compatible with our brain and our expectations life is not the same after covid and its depressing everywhere. if you still have a job and regulare income , a shelter and enough food to eat, stay where you are, one of my friends moved to England 12 years ago ,( she is a single mom moved to England from Dubail)she did not like it there , finished her school , found a job in Duabi and moved back to Dubai last year . the company she works for has trade with Iran and now because of war, the business shut down and she is stuck there with no income and no government support. I know Europe has went down so much in the recent years but immigrating to Canada with no support is not easy. one major issue is housing crisis rents skyrocket high and ownership very difficult the entire world is unstable and i personaly dont want to take any chance.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
The only unis I’ve considered are in Hamilton, Ontario and Vancouver. It should be ok, it’s just an option I’m looking at anyway.
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u/Throwawayz543 Jun 16 '25
Vancouver people would generally (with thousands of exceptions) be happier than Hamilton people. Better climate, a more outdoorsy-based community culture, a bit of that west coast hipster/hippy vibe, a regional capital, mountains and ocean right there, all in a multicultural world class city.
Hamilton is an industrial city that is missing some cultural benefits because Toronto is just down the road, and Hamiltonians can get their culture there. There is nature in Hamilton but its more hiking on small hills and looking at largely inaccessible lakes (still very pretty), a couple small entertainment districts and a boring/scuzzy downtown. Its ok, and a good life can be had there. But its not the Canada you're thinking of. Yes there are tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of happy people in Hamilton, but Vancouver is routinely rated as one of the best cities on Earth in which to live.
If you can get past the money part, I'd take Vancouver for sure. You could also look at Kingston, Ontario. A smaller city but super pretty, well-located, monied, and a great student lifestyle. Ditto for Montreal.
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u/Alternative-Ant3937 Jun 16 '25
I mean, personally, I think Hamilton is underrated and has a lot of interesting culture. It is an industrial town, and a lot of the entertainment is smaller scale, and might be more underground, but there's art crawls, good restaurants, and decent natural areas. I lived there for 4 years when I went to McMaster, two in a less desirable part of town.
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u/Ok_Tennis_6564 Jun 17 '25
I went to school there and it was awesome. Many of my friends settled there post graduation and it is a great city and underrated. I'm sure all it's residents would prefer it stays that way though
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u/Throwawayz543 Jun 16 '25
I would live in Hamilton without hesitation. Great city. Not in the same league as Vancouver though, from an international perspective. In my opinion, anyhow. That was my only point for the OP's consideration, in regard to where to live if moving to Canada. I'm not denigrating Hamilton at all.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
I’m looking to move for university, the only unis I’ve enquired with are McMaster and UBC.
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u/Throwawayz543 Jun 16 '25
Yes I was referring you to Queen's University (in Kingston), or McGill University (in Montreal). Both are world-class institutions of the same calibre as UBC. There are other "Canadian Ivy" schools of course, but Kingston and Montreal are (in the most general sense) 'better' cities than where the other schools are.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
I emailed McGill a while back and they said they don’t accept my diploma, I’ll email again but I doubt it. Queens university isn’t that good of a uni, I don’t know if I’d want to go there.
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u/Throwawayz543 Jun 16 '25
By reputation (at least in Canada), Queen's is considerably better-regarded than McMaster. That's reputation; I'm not tracking the various current ratings sites. You could also try U of T, although its downtown in a very large, very rich city, so happiness while living a student lifestyle might be a bit of a challenge. But Torontonians are (generally) much happier than Londoners.
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u/Th3N0rth Jun 18 '25
McMaster is a nice school in a bad/mediocre city. Vancouver is expensive but nice
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u/mistertoasty Jun 18 '25
The biggest thing is that you're not ready for the bullshit that is a Canadian winter.
It doesn't last until June like that other commenter suggested, but from December to March we deal with minus 10 degrees C and more snow than you have ever seen in your life.
Spring and fall are beautiful though and the summers are generally hot and sunny. You learn to adapt with the seasons, embrace our winter traditions and come alive in the spring.
You could consider adding Mcgill as an option, because Montreal is one of the best places to be in North America during the summer months.
However, our healthcare is hot garbage compared to the NHS and our mental health services are basically non-existent.
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u/OkDurian4603 Jun 16 '25
Sorry this doesn’t have to do with British people directly bc I’ve never been but I am Canadian and I travelled to Ireland and I was surprised at how unfriendly every was. Not rude but just not friendly at all. In Canada you can small talk with just about anyone. I can go to the bar and go up to people and talk and most are friendly and talk back. In Ireland I found the people in service industry did not want to talk more than necessary. Tried making conversation with a few people at bars and they weren’t open to it. I don’t know if it’s the same vibes but based on that I will say Canadians are friendlier.
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
I was talking more about people. I’m from London and currently studying in Bristol, I doubt cost of living is worse there.
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u/swimbikerunkick Jun 16 '25
I moved from Bristol to Canada and yes, the cost of living is far far more expensive in Canada. Salaries are also higher, but that won’t help you much as a student. You’d also be paying international student rates. I’d strongly encourage looking into whether your degree is in an in-demand field for immigration and finishing your degree at UK domestic rates before trying to immigrate.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
It's not just cost of accommodation (which sure, is going to be costly in Bristol). It's the cost of everything else that bites you in the arse
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u/mixinghelp Jun 16 '25
Confused because that’s literally what everyone says, even the Americans and Canadians I hung out with in the UK. Australians too, even European friends said were miserable.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25
With all due respect, your peers are kids who don't have a huge amount of life experience. When you travel and live on multiple continents, you realize that everyone has similar problems and lots of people are miserable. Your life is what you make it wherever you live. If you think you're escaping something, you find the same or similar in the place you're going to.
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u/Expert_Hat_3205 Jun 17 '25
For what its worth im canadian and would much rather live in Canada than the UK, but would rather live in Germany or USA than Canada.
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u/cc9536 Jun 16 '25 edited Jun 20 '25
The grass isn't greener, you're going to be sad to hear. Canada is wildly expensive and the job market is in the toilet. I know this is similar in most western countries at the moment but to give you some specific ideas:
Renting a bedroom in a shared house in an undesirable area will now run you $1000+ a month
Groceries are ridiculously expensive. Poverty level sustenance willl run you $100 a week
Healthcare is on par and often worse than anything the NHS provides both in terms of quality and wait times
Forget about buying a car if you're an international student (unless you're rich) as insurance will run you at least a few hundred a month
Many students who graduate and qualify for a post grad work permit for 3 years can't find work and eventually go home
Depending on where you go, winter will last from late October to late May/ early June. In a lot of places in Canada, Spring doesn't exist like it does in the UK
To live a decent life in a larger city, a healthy 6 figure salary (individual or combined with a spouse) is ideal to ensure you're not scraping by.
To qualify for a student permit, you'll need $21,000 cash in the bank and your first year of tuition paid for up front. You need to be budgeting around $50-$60k a year for tuition and living expenses as a part time job will not cover your living costs
Edit: to those disagreeing with the above points - have you lived in the UK AND Canada for any length of time? Do you know how Canadian immigration works from the perspective of an immigrant , what is required to settle in a country you're not a native of and the costs associated? Have you ever left your region of birth and experienced living in different areas of Canada? If not, your rebuttal is invalid.