Canada, also known as The True North, contains some of the top universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2020. These academic institutions offer exceptional opportunities for higher learning. If you’re an international student hoping to study abroad, Canadian universities offer many different programs and degrees for you to choose from.
Obtaining a Canadian Study Permit will get you one step closer to studying at one of Canada’s world-class research institutions and learning in either English or French. Not sure which school is right for you?
Read on to learn about the top 10 universities in Canada or click here to learn about Canadian Study Permits or Student Work Visas. These schools offer a variety of programs that will appeal to students who are searching for the best universities in Canada for international students.
Below you will find a list of universities in Canada for international students with a short review of each school so you can find the best school for you.
University of Toronto
According to “The Times Higher Education Best Universities in Canada 2020 Rankings”, the University of Toronto ranked 18th globally and the top university in Canada.
The campus is one of the most diverse in Canada, attracting students from all around the world, including 160 countries, making U of T an attractive choice for international students. The university is structured like a collegiate system. If you want to be part of a large university and attend one of the best colleges within a university, then U of T is your best option.
Known as one of the best schools in Canada for medicine, the discovery of insulin occurred at U of T by renowned Nobel laureate, Frederick Banting. With a great number of undergraduate and graduate programs offered and a global mix of students, U of T is one of the most attractive schools in the country.
Notable alumni include five Canadian prime ministers and writers Michael Ondaatje and Margaret Atwood. In total, 10 Nobel laureates are affiliated with the university, including Banting.
University of British Columbia
UBC ranks second in the list of top 10 Canadian universities and 34th globally. The university earned its rank due to its reputation for research, distinguished alumni, and scholarships available for international students.
UBC has two campuses - one in Vancouver and one in Kelowna. Students from abroad will appreciate the fact that the climate of the Greater Vancouver Area tends to be much milder than the rest of Canada and offers proximity to beaches and mountains.
This prestigious university has housed many prominent people and produced many scholars and athletes - 3 Canadian Prime Ministers, 8 Nobel prizewinners, 65 Olympic medalists and 71 Rhodes scholars.
McGill University
Montreal’s McGill University ranked third in Canada and 42nd globally, according to Times Higher Education. McGill is the only Canadian university represented in the World Economic Forum’s Global University Leaders Forum.
Renowned as a medical school, McGill established Canada’s first faculty of medicine, which attracts international students to the iconic campus. All of the original buildings were constructed with local grey limestone, which provides also a unique aesthetic.
Offering more than 300 degree subjects to more than 31,000 students, from 150 countries, McGill is one of three universities in Quebec at which you can learn in English. In fact, nearly a quarter of the student body is from overseas.
Notable McGill graduates are singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and actor William Shatner.
McMaster University
The fourth-ranked Canadian and 72nd globally ranked university is located just over one hour southwest of Toronto in the city of Hamilton. Located on 121 hectares of land, McMaster is beautifully situated and is a close 15minute drive to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
McMaster readily accepts international students many who are drawn to its well-known medical school. Students and faculty come to McMaster from over 90 countries and the university has established around 70 international exchange agreements with universities around the world. Other well-known faculties are engineering, business, humanities, social sciences, and science.
McMaster is also well-known for its research work, particularly in the field of health sciences.
University of Montreal (Université de Montréal)
The University of Montreal is ranked fifth on the list of best Canadian universities and 85th globally. The only francophone university in the top 5, this school is located in the architecturally beautiful city of Montreal and the main campus is located on the slopes of Mont Royal. Seventy-four percent of the student population typically enrolls in undergraduate study.
Sports are popular at this university, particularly badminton, football, and hockey.
The University of Montreal is well-known for its many business graduates and for graduates noted for their contributions to scientific research. Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, as well as 10 premiers of Quebec, are counted as distinguished alumni.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta, with its main campus in the province’s capital - Edmonton - earned the sixth spot in the top 10 Canadian universities and the 136th spot on the Times Higher Education list of the world’s top universities. If you’re interested in energy research, the University of Alberta offers outstanding programs linked to this industry, including programs dedicated specifically to oil sands study.
U of A’s variety of majors as well as the achievements of its alumni, who have founded over 70,000 organizations across the world, contributed to its ranking. A distinguished faculty has received more 3M teaching awards than any other Canadian university.
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa, located in Canada’s capital city ranks seventh in Canada and 141st globally.
The largest bilingual (English-French) university in the world, Ottawa U offers courses in both languages. International students from more than 150 countries enroll at this public university and study at a school that offers high-quality education and traditionally lower tuition fees than other Ontario universities.
Studying downtown in a medium-sized city while also being able to live downtown, due to traditionally lower rents than Toronto, for example, is a definite draw for English speaking and non-English speaking international students.
University of Waterloo
Ranked eighth on the list of top ten universities in Canada and between 201st and 250th in the world, the University of Waterloo is located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, in Waterloo, Ontario.
One of many schools in Canada for international students, this university has become a leader in co-operative education programs. UW has the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, is one of the best Canadian universities for international students, and is committed to innovation and collaboration in order to foster a better future for Canada.
The University of Waterloo is known for its engineering and physical sciences program, which the Times Higher Education Magazine places in the top 75 programs worldwide.
Western University
Western is ninth on the list of top 10 Canadian universities and is ranked between 201st and 250th in the world.
As one of Canada’s research-intensive universities, Western is known for its exceptional academic programs, research discoveries, and its location in beautiful London, Ontario.
Western offers more than 400 undergraduate programs and 88 graduate degree programs. A mid-sized university, more than 38,000 students attend the school from 121 countries.
Considered one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses, Western is situated on a campus filled with trees, green spaces, beautiful study space, architecturally pleasing buildings, and impressive facilities.
This university has specialized programs in business administration, dentistry, education, law, and medicine.
University of Calgary
Situated close to the idyllic Rocky Mountains, the University of Calgary, founded in 1966, is located in the city of Calgary, in the province of Alberta and is ranked tenth in Canada and between 201st and 250th in the world.
The university has an alumni network of over 160,000 people, attracts around 30,000 students, 3,000 of which are international students from around 125 countries. The University of Calgary is primarily a research university and operates 50 research institutes and centers. A secondary campus opened in 2007 in Doha, Qatar.
Notable programs are engineering, commerce, dance, and kinesiology.
Distinguished alumni are former Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, and astronaut Robert Thirsk, who holds the Canadian record for the longest space flight and the most time spent in space.
