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Canada is ranking among the top 5 study-abroad destinations for international students and the top 3 study destinations for Indian students. Currently, Canada is home to around 622,000 international students registered across all levels of education. Top Universities in Canada have made their mark worldwide for academic excellence and excellent research.
A total of 31 top universities in Canada feature in QS World University Rankings 2024 and 31 universities feature in Times Higher Education World University rankings 2024. A feat matched by only a handful of other countries. Canadian Universities not only ace world university rankings for their education and learning but also make it to the graduate employability rankings of the world.
Also Check: MBA in Canada
The University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (UBC), and McGill University are the top Universities in Canada among the world rankings. Along with these three universities, there are around 5-7 other universities that make it to the top of the list each year.
Know more: Why Studying in Canada is better than USA?
Top Universities in Canada: Rankings
Given below are some of the top-ranking universities of Canada recognized by the global ranking agencies such as Times Higher Education and QS 2023-2024, as well as, national ranking agencies like Macleans.
| University | Maclean’s Ranking 2023 | THE World Ranking 2024 | QS World Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | #1 | #21 | #21 |
| University of Waterloo | #2 | #112 | #112 |
| UBC | #3 | #41 | #34 |
| McGill University | #4 | #46 | #30 |
| McMaster University | #5 | #85 | #189 |
| Queen’s University | #6 | #251-300 | #209 |
| UAlberta (University of Alberta) | #7 | #109 | #111 |
| University of Montreal | #8 | #111 | #141 |
| Simon Fraser University | #9 | #251-300 | #318 |
| University of Victoria | #10 | #351-400 | #322 |
| University of Calgary | #11 | #201-250 | #182 |
| University of Guelph | #12 | #401-500 | #486 |
| Western University (UOW) | #13 | #201-250 | #114 |
| University of Ottawa | #14 | #177 | #203 |
| Dalhousie University | #15 | #301-350 | #298 |
| Laval University | #15 | #251-300 | #441 |
Top Colleges in Canada
Courses in Canada for International Students
Pursuing higher education in Canada may seem slightly different as the universities are handled by provincial governments. Undergraduate degrees in Canada take up to 3-4 years to complete and postgraduate (full-time) courses may take up to 1-3 years depending on the university and the type of program.
What makes higher education in Canada outstand from other countries is the variety of short-term courses offered at top universities. These include associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, etc. Associate degrees are usually available to high school pass-outs and diplomas and certificates are available at both UG and PG levels.
Top Universities in Canada by International Student
Around 50% (~141,150) of the total study permit holders in Canada were found studying in the province of Ontario for the year 2019. This suggests that Ontario is one of the best cities for international students in Canada. British Columbia and Quebec follow this list.
The presence of international students in various universities is representative of its popularity among international students. Given below are the top universities in Canada based on the international student percentage along with the province in which these are located:
| University | % of International Students | Province |
|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 25% | Ontario |
| UBC | 33% | British Columbia |
| SFU | 31% | British Columbia |
| McGill University | 32% | Quebec |
| Concordia University | 33% | Quebec |
| UAlberta | 28% | Alberta |
| York University | 27% | Ontario |
| Dalhousie University | 28% | Nova Scotia |
| University of Windsor | 28% | Ontario |
| University of Montreal | 23% | Quebec |
| University of Regina | 24% | Saskatchewan |
As per the Canadian government, the three major reasons for which international students pursue education are world-class education at the top universities of Canada, the reputation of society as tolerant and non-discriminatory, and the safety of immigrants. This statement is supported by facts like 66% of the total student population apply for a Candian PR.
Top Universities in Canada by Employability
Candian universities are known for producing the most employable graduates, nine top universities of Canada appear in the global university employability rankings (Times Higher Education). Given below are the graduate employability rankings followed by the graph depicting maximum and minimum placement packages offered to students of different programs at these universities:
| University | Employability Rank (QS-2022) | Employability Rank (THE-2022) |
|---|---|---|
| U of T | #21 | #11 |
| Western University | #=43 | - |
| McGill University | - | #29 |
| Universite de Montreal | #191-120 | #63 |
| UBC | - | #36 |
| McMaster University | #=81 | #78 |
| University of Alberta | #99 | #172 |
| University of Victoria | #301-500 | - |
| Dalhousie University | #301-500 | - |
| University of Waterloo | #24 | #191 |
Placement Package Offered:
Top Universities in Canada for MBA
Three business schools of Canada were ranked among the top 100 business school rankings by Financial Times, 2020. As per Times Higher Education, top global business school rankings- 20, four of the top universities of Canada made it to the list. QS Global MBA Rankings recognized 9 top universities of Canada among the top 150. Given below are the top universities in Canada for MBA, with program fees, and GMAT score requirement.
| Rankings (QS MBA rankings’23) | University | Tuition Fees (CAD/yr) | GMAT Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| #41 | Rotman School of Management | 67,530 | 550 |
| #73 | McGill University | 50,445 | 550 |
| #69 | Ivey Business School | 126,600 | 550 |
| #=76 | Smith School of Business | 105,100 | 600 |
| #=98 | Schulich School of Business | 58,928 | 550 |
Pursuing MBA in Canada will cost you a lot less than in the USA and yet offer you with returns as high as any US institution.
Top Universities in Canada for Engineering
Some engineering schools in Canada are recognized globally by ranking agencies like US News and Maclean’s. Given below are some of the top universities in Canada for Engineering along with the program fees and popular engineering degree offered with those universities.
| QS Ranking (US News’23) | University | Program Reputation (Maclean’s) | Popular Program | Fees (INR/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #27 | University of Toronto | 1 | BEng/BASc MEng/MASc |
37 lakhs 18.53 lakhs |
| #37 | University of Waterloo | 1 | BASc MEng/MASc |
33.36 lakhs |
| #33 | UBC | 3 | BASc MEng/MASc |
28.41 lakhs 12.97 lakhs |
| #93 | UAlberta | 5 | BSc. MSc./MEng. |
24.09 lakhs 6.18 lakhs |
| #41 | McGill University | 4 | BEng. MEng/MscA. |
27.79 lakhs 6.79 lakhs |
Top Universities in Canada for MS
Recognized among the top five programs to study in Canada, MS in Canada is a scientifically aligned degree program allowing students an experience that goes beyond academic learning. Some of the top universities in Canada for MS are as follows:
| THE Rankings | Universities | Popular Programs |
|---|---|---|
| #21 | U of T | MS Computing Data Science |
| #40 | UBC | MS in Computer Science |
| #46 | McGill University | MS in Mineral Engineering |
| #85 | McMaster University | MS in Computer Science |
| #111 | Universite de Montreal | MS Statistics |
Top Universities in Canada for Research
Group of Canadian Research Universities or U15 consists of 15 Canadian research-intensive universities conducting $8.5 billion worth of research annually.
- These universities hold 81% of Canadian university patents.
- 79% of all the competitively allocated research funding is offered to these universities.
- 85% of the research licenses in Canada are held by these partner universities.
Offering students with maximum research opportunities in Canada, these universities are home to 70% of the total full-time doctoral students in Canada.
The partner universities are: UAlberta, University of Manitoba, University of Calgary, McMaster University, UBC, McGill University, University Laval, Dalhousie University, U of T, University of Ottawa, UWO, Queen’s University, Universite de Montreal, and University of Saskatchewan.
Admission to Top Universities in Canada
International applicants who wish to study in Canada are required to fulfill the following criteria depending on the level of the program applied for:
Where to make applications: Applying with the top universities in Canada can be done through some of the application portals available for students such as OUAC, ApplyAlberta, or through university websites. Find out more details How to apply for Canadian Universities, here.
Bachelors Aspirants:
- Sr. Secondary School Certificate
- English language proficiency
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 90
- French language proficiency, for universities offering education in French
- SAT or ACT may be required.
Masters Aspirants:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject
- Grade required: B/B+
- Percentile: 65-80%
- English language proficiency
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 90
- French language proficiency is required for universities where the mode of education is French.
- Scores of other exams required to study in Canada, such as GMAT, GRE, etc.
Also Explore: PTE Accepted Colleges in Canada
Transfer Credits to Canadian Universities: Many community colleges and accept students who have completed some post-secondary work at any institution, including career college. Students interested in continuing their studies must make sure they have knowledge about how their career college credits will be transferred to other colleges and universities. Students should also find out if that college has a specific University Transfer program and what are the requirements.
Top Universities in Canada Costs
The tuition fees vary drastically among the top universities and are also dependent on the program you wish to pursue. Apart from tuition fees aspirants must also be aware of living in Canada. The cost of living is broadly inclusive of accommodation expenses and living expenses like food, entertainment, shopping, etc. These are detailed below:
Residence at Top Universities in Canada
The residence is an important topic. It can make a real impact on your first-year experience. It helps the students to interact and learn via quality programs. With it, students get a home away from home with several facilities such as meal plans, gymnasium, parking, etc. some universities also conduct a test to find out a compatible roommate for you.
| Name of the University (Top ten) | Residence Facility | Approx Cost of On-Campus Accommodation (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Yes | 20,455 |
| University of British Columbia | Yes | 17,000 |
| McGill University | Yes | 13,000 |
| University of Alberta | Yes | 11,200 |
| University of Waterloo | Yes | 12,400 |
| McMaster University | Yes | 11,100 |
| Queen’s University | Yes | 10,100 |
| UOW | Yes | 10,000 |
| SFU | Yes | 5000 |
Living in Canada
While pursuing your education at some of the top universities in Canada, it is important that you indulge yourself in the amazing and vibrant culture that Canada has to offer. Some of the major student cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc offer a wide range of cultural diversity. You can explore art, heritage, food, bars, pubs, etc. The multicultural society offers students not only authentic experiences but also find cuisine, movies, and people of their own cultural descent.
The cost of living in Canada depends on various factors. Some of the decisive factors include the province of study, accommodation type, lifestyle, etc. Given below is a table detailing the expense of living in Canada:
Province |
Type of Expense Monthly (CAD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Food | Transportation | Miscellaneous | |
| Alberta | 481 | 282 | 73 | 338 |
| Ontario | 600 | 270 | 86 | 290 |
| Quebec | 423 | 272 | 42 | 318 |
| British Columbia | 871 | 279 | 108 | 342 |
| Newfoundland | 495 | 269 | 69 | 234 |
| New Brunswick | 458 | 245 | 71 | 237 |
| Nova Scotia | 500 | 245 | 68 | 247 |
| Manitoba | 495 | 253 | 100 | 307 |
| Saskatchewan | 560 | 259 | 83 | 311 |
The above-mentioned expenses are monthly costs in Canadian Dollars. The cost may vary depending upon your choice of accommodation and lifestyle. An additional 10,000 CAD (annually) must be available with an international student living outside the province of Quebec.
As the overall expense including tuition fees can be overbearing for international students, it is often suggested that students must look for scholarships available to study in Canada.
Scholarships at Top Universities in Canada
To study in Canada, one must be prepared to spend a humongous amount of money on their education. In case, you are on a budget you can always look for alternatives like scholarships, loans, and other funding for international students in Canada. Listed below are the top universities as per the total amount of financial aids offered by them.
| University | Total Financial Aid (in Million CAD) |
|---|---|
| University of British Columbia | 329 |
| University of Toronto | 239 |
| McGill University | 135 |
| University of Waterloo | 130 |
| University of Alberta | 113 |
| McMaster University | 109 |
| University of Calgary | 100 |
| York University | 84 |
| Western University | 80 |
| Queen's University | 72 |
For the one’s looking for an elite university in a developed nation, applying to top universities in Canada is an attractive option. With an increase of 31% in international students from previous, and 34% Indian student population Canadian universities are gaining popularity with each passing year. The reputation, research intensiveness, teaching excellence, and career outcomes are close to the world’s leading education provider- USA, making post-secondary education in Canada, climb up the ladder at a fast pace.
Similarly, with the increasing demand for short courses among students, top universities in Canada are including a variety of such programs available to high school and university graduates and making their mark among the global student population. The comparatively easier visa policies and immigration-friendly policies have made Canada a perfect choice for Indian students. The Study permit approval rate for 2023 is approximatel 60%. Contrary to this, nearly 280,000 were issued by the end of June 2023.
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