Out of 131 universities in Canada, University of Toronto and University of British Columbia are the top-performing schools in Canada. This list covers both public and private institutions in Canada.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Canada. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Canada.

How do I get admission to the best universities in Canada?

Applying to the universities in Canada involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Canada to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Canada?

Tuition fees at Canada’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 4,932 CAD to 73,100 CAD , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 1,063 CAD to 83,200 CAD. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Canada!

As we cover the best universities in Canada for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Canada for International Students

The University of Toronto is recognized as Canada’s leading university and is one of the top public universities in the world. More than 97,000 students study at its three campuses across the Greater Toronto Area. The Mississauga, St. George, and Scarborough campuses allow students to engage in immersive and practical learning in one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse urban centers. The university has many notable alumni and faculty, including eight Nobel Prize winners. 

Established in 1908, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is the oldest and most prestigious university in British Columbia. It has distinguished itself as a global centre for research and learning. Over its century-long history, UBC has produced numerous outstanding individuals, including Nobel laureates, prime ministers, and prominent world leaders and artists. In addition, the university is home to several research institutes and world-class facilities, including the world’s largest particle accelerator and the first Max Planck Institute in North America.

McGill University is one of Canada’s oldest and highest-ranked public universities. It attracts students from around the globe, and international students constitute a significant percentage of McGill’s large student population. The university’s 200-year history is marked by academic and research excellence, with impressive contributions to the world through significant discoveries and innovations. It has many notable alumni, including Nobel laureates, world leaders, executives, and pioneers across different fields.

The Université de Montréal (UdeM) is a prestigious French-language university located in Montreal, Canada. The university offers an incredibly wide range of programs and aims to create and disseminate knowledge to benefit society. It highly provides education through practical learning and quality assessments in order to produce graduates that are professionally trained and ready for the global industry.

The University of Waterloo was founded due to the entrepreneurial spirit of some business leaders in Ontario, who dreamt of a university designed to address the world’s problems. The institute opened with 74 engineering students and a pioneering emphasis on experiential learning. Such practical learning and cooperative education practices remain Waterloo’s cornerstone today, helping students become leaders and entrepreneurs. The university continues to drive innovation, collaborating with industry to help build an ecosystem to support entrepreneurial growth.

The University of Alberta is a vibrant university in Canada with five campuses at various locations in Canada — four in Edmonton and one in Camrose. It is the fifth-largest university in the country, with over 35,000 students enrolled at the school yearly. The university has garnered a reputation for its impactful research and commitment to bettering the lives of students from indigenous communities in the region. Among its numerous initiatives for indigenous students are free online courses and targeted scholarships.

McMaster University was established in Toronto with a generous donation from Senator William McMaster. Originally a Baptist institute, McMaster eventually became a non-denominational university with public funding, moving to Hamilton in response to the need for a big campus. Today, it is one of the leading universities in Canada and well-recognized internationally, with more than 60 research centers and institutes across disciplines.

The University of Ottawa is the world’s largest bilingual university; its bilingual tradition can be traced back to its origin more than 150 years ago. It was established as a bilingual Catholic college, with students studying in both English and French. The university became a publicly funded secular institute in 1965. It is one of the top research universities in the country, with more than 90 Canada Research Chairs. The university has four main strategic areas for research: advancing sustainability, fostering just societies, understanding different aspects of digital technologies, and promoting health and wellness. The University of Ottawa has several research centers and laboratories with state-of-the-art facilities to contribute towards cutting-edge research.

The University of Calgary, colloquially known as UCalgary, prides itself on its research output and contributions to promoting innovation in Canada. It is a member of the U15, an association of the top 15 universities in Canada, and has distinguished itself through innovations in entrepreneurship. Due to its passion for transforming entrepreneurship in the country, the university operates a business incubator close to the primary campus and actively supports entrepreneurs originating from the school. 

Western University is a leading university located in London, Ontario. It is one of the founding members of the U15, a group of Canada’s best research universities. The university has one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses, combining historic Gothic structures with modern buildings. It seeks to build a secure and inclusive community with major initiatives to strengthen accessibility, diversity, sustainability, safety, and mental well-being. Western University aims to provide a university experience that leads to holistic development and prepares its graduates to become future leaders. The university has a vast network of alumni who are recognized for their intellect and contribution, including several recipients of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Dalhousie University (Dal) is a public research university with four campuses spread across multiple locations in Nova Scotia. The university has vastly distinguished itself in research and innovation and is a member of the U15, a group of top research-intensive universities in Canada. In terms of its mission, Dalhousie University aims to provide a conducive, engaging, and collaborative environment where researchers, instructors, and students can achieve excellence.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a public research university in Burnaby City, Canada. The university places great emphasis on research, especially in sustainability. It styles itself as one of the world leaders in research, knowledge development, and sustainability. Due to its focus on research, SFU offers one of Canada’s best graduate and postgraduate programs. Discoveries made by some of its students have been vital to solving global challenges.

Established in a charter issued by Queen Victoria, Queen’s University had humble beginnings, opening with just two professors and 13 students in a small house on the outskirts of town. Initially supported by the Presbyterian Church, the institute later separated from the church and embraced secularism. Over the years, it faced many adversities — it went through periods with meager financial support, witnessed stagnation during the economic depression, and survived two world wars. The end of the second war finally ushered in an age of uninterrupted growth in the university’s history. It opened more departments and undertook renovations and new building constructions. Today, it is a member of the U15 group of research-intensive Canadian universities and has more than 31,000 full and part-time students studying at its campus in Kingston. It has many renowned research and creative centers, including the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.

The University of Victoria (UVic) is one of Canada’s top research-intensive educational institutes, with a history that can be traced back to the establishment of Victoria College in 1903. Granting degrees since 1963, the university has more than 20,000 students studying at its campus in Victoria. UVic is committed to engaging with the local community, fostering diverse perspectives from indigenous and international communities, and driving sustainability initiatives. It aims to positively affect society through its research, particularly in the areas of environment and sustainability, health and wellness, and technology’s impact on the human experience. UVic is also committed to encouraging scholarship led by the indigenous population across different disciplines and research highlighting social justice and equity.

Université Laval aims to shape its students to become engaging members of the community. It has a vast number of programs in different areas of study for its students. Université Laval is also known for being an outstanding research hub with numerous projects that contribute to the development of society.

The University of Manitoba (UM) is a research-intensive university and a member of U15. It is the premier institution of higher learning in the Manitoba province, with several achievements in education, science, and technology. The university has produced numerous high-profile individuals, including Nobel Prize recipients, Academy Award winners, Olympic medalists, and high-ranking government officials. UM continues to pave the way for research and learning in high-impact topics like human rights, global health, and climate change.

York University is one of the largest public universities in Canada. It has three main campuses (Glendon, Keele, and Markham) in the Greater Toronto Area and satellite locations in different parts of the country and outside. Informed by a strong commitment to the public good, York University’s vision is to provide an excellent research-driven learning environment for a diverse student community.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is a Canadian university located in the province of Saskatchewan. Its main campus is situated in the lively city of Saskatoon and houses spaces that support USask’s intercultural and interdisciplinary emphasis. The university seeks to bring people across disciplines and communities together to address the region and the world’s biggest challenges with creative and innovative solutions.

Concordia University was established by the amalgamation of two educational institutes with rich histories, Loyola College and Sir George Williams University. Concordia continues to be guided by the core values of its founding institutes. It has expanded infrastructure at both campuses with several new buildings and facilities. Concordia University prides itself on being a next-gen university, bringing exciting innovation to its teaching and learning practices, knowledge creation and dissemination strategies, and space utilization.

The University of Guelph was established by merging three colleges with their own rich histories: Ontario Veterinary College, Ontario Agricultural College, and Macdonald Institute. Since then, the university has expanded to add more departments and programs across different fields. The University of Guelph now has three campuses. Its main campus in Guelph is a collaboration with the Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto, while its third campus in Ridgetown is known for its agriculture, veterinary, and environmental science programs.

Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) is a public university founded to honour the memory of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who died in the First World War. The university is renowned for its research in ocean-related fields. It is a partner with the Ocean Frontier Institute and commits most of its research funding to the sustainable utilization of the Ocean’s resources. MUN offers one of the best marine courses available in Canada and has gained a strong reputation in oceanography and related fields.

Established by the Ursuline Sisters, Brescia University College is a Catholic institution of higher learning committed to providing impactful education to women from all faiths and backgrounds. It is a women’s only university. Brescia believes women’s universities are still important in today’s contemporary society as they provide safe learning spaces for women. The university actively cultivates a supportive learning environment to ensure every woman reaches their maximum potential and graduates to become leaders and significant contributors to society.

Carleton University was established by the community in Ottawa to meet the needs of veterans coming back from World War II and to provide the opportunity to pursue higher education for those forced to join the workforce to deal with the economic depression. The university’s strengths are its programs in journalism, technology, architecture, and international and public affairs. More than 24,000 full-time students study at its sprawling 100-acre campus located next to the historic Rideau Canal.

Polytechnique Montréal is a technological university and one of Canada’s largest institutions for engineering education. An important factor in the engineering sector of Quebec, the university is focused not just on research innovation but also on its social consequences and is deeply committed to sustainable development. Graduates of the university have gone on to be involved with significant projects in the region and the world.

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is a public research university with two primary campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. With a history stretching back to 1785, UNB is the oldest and most prestigious university in Canada. Since its establishment, the university has distinguished itself by producing outstanding individuals in nearly all fields of human endeavour. UNB heavily supports entrepreneurship and innovation by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and industry partnership to enhance creativity and problem-solving.