Top Universities in Vancouver for Indian Students

University of British Columbia (UCB) and Simon Fraser University are on the list of the top 10 universities in Vancouver Canada. These universities offer UG, PG and PhD courses related to streams like business, communication, engineering programs art and design. 

Vancouver is one of the best student cities in Canada. It is the home of some of the top universities in Canada like the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. The ranking of these Canadian universities is impressive in QS ranking 2025 and THE ranking 2025. If you are coming to study in Canada, you can consider the universities located in Vancouver city for higher studies. 

In this article, you’ll learn about the best universities in Vancouver and their features. We’ll also discuss more about why you should study at these universities and what things you can expect from Vancouver. With a large number of immigrants coming to this beautiful city over the last many years, so, it provides an environment where one can learn about different cultures and meet people from different backgrounds. The higher education institutions in Vancouver focus on imparting practical experience and also provide excellent research opportunities to students.

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List of Top Universities in Vancouver Canada

In order to give you a more clear picture, we’ll provide the list of top universities in Vancouver:

1. University of British Columbia
2. Simon Fraser University
3. University Canada West
4. Vancouver Island University
5. Capilano University
6. Columbia College
7. Emily Carr University of Arts & Design
8. Kwantlen Polytechnic University
9. Langara College
10. British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

Top Universities in Vancouver Canada Details

After USA and UK, Canada has the largest number of top-rated universities in the world. In comparison to universities in the USA, colleges in Canada offer quality education at a reasonable cost. Learn more about some of the best colleges and universities:

1) University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is one of the best universities in Canada that follows dynamic teaching methods combined with modern facilities to educate students. The university is placed in the 38th spot globally by the QS World University Rankings 2025. The university boasts of an excellent student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Students from more than 162 countries are studying at the university, which also provides students with a diverse environment. The University of British Columbia is consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. It has produced 8 Nobel Laureates, 3 Canadian Prime Ministers, and 65 Olympic Medal Winning athletes. 

The following table provides some of the top courses offered by the University of British Columbia:

UBC Fees for Top Courses

For Undergraduate Courses

• Applied Science - Engineering: $57,735.91 (INR 47,85,674.73) Full-fee
• Arts: $44,942.40 (INR 37,25,232.84) Full-fee
• Commerce: $58,153.50 (INR 48,20,288.37) Full-fee
• Computer Science: $46,295.70 (INR 38,37,406.59) Full-fee
• Science: $46,295.70 (INR 38,37,406.59) Full-fee

For Graduate Courses

• Architecture: $16,506.70 (INR 13,68,224.68) Per installment
• Economics: $9,417.34 (INR 7,80,594.37) Per installment
• MBA: $23,639.63 (INR 19,59,466.47) Per installment
• Data Science: $17,375.42 (INR 14,40,232.06) Per installment
• Engineering: $7,971.21 (INR 6,60,726.02) Per installment

2) Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University is a public university established in 1965, Simon Fraser University is counted among the best universities in Vancouver and the top 250 universities in the world. The university has tied up with various international educational institutions and offers student exchange programmes with universities in Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, the US, Australia, and Europe. SFU is one of the top 15 research universities in Canada and it is renowned all over the world for its scholarships and research excellence. Simon Fraser University has 65 research institutions and over 40% of research articles appear in the world's top 10% journals. As per the QS World University Rankings 2025, Simon Fraser University has been ranked at 319th position.

The table given below provides a list of the top courses offered by Simon Fraser University:

SFU Tuition Fees 

• For Typical Undergraduate Courses: Tuition Fee: CAD 16,523 (INR 10,06,896.10) (per term cost)
• For Typical Graduate Courses: Tuition Fee: CAD 2,067 (INR 1,25,961.04) (per term cost)

3) University Canada West

Founded in 2004, the University Canada West (UCW) is a contemporary independent university located in the heart of vibrant Vancouver. It is known for offering an excellent learning environment to students at affordable rates. UCW is a member of the prestigious Global University Systems, an international education group including some of the world’s best institutions. Apart from this, it allows students to transfer academic credit from other recognized educational institutions to pursue UCW courses and programs. UCW is a business-oriented university that provides vital industry experience to students by giving them the opportunity to understand the nuances of business by offering practical skills. Over 8,000 students from more than 110 countries study at the University of Canada West. 

The table given below provides various University Canada West courses:

UCW Fees for Top Courses

• For Undergraduate Courses: Bachelor's degree courses: CAD 80,720 (INR 49,19,000.99) Full fee
• For Graduate Courses : MBA: CAD 40,635 (INR 24,76,258.74) Full fee
• MBA Foundation: CAD 8,135 (INR 4,95,739.26) Full fee

4) Vancouver Island University

Vancouver Island University is a public university founded in 1936, Vancouver Island University (VIU) is widely recognized for its research-centric approach. The university offers quality education programs at a reasonable cost. The class size at VIU is relatively very small, so dedicated, talented faculty get to know students by name and provide attention and any help that a student need. It offers undergraduate courses in various disciplines like arts, sciences, interior design, graphics, and business. Moreover, the university has an excellent student-faculty ratio of 6:1. VIU is considered one of the best universities in Vancouver.

The table given below provides various courses offered by Vancouver Island University:

VIU Fees for Top Courses

For Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate Degree, Diploma and Certificate Courses: CAD 776.48 (INR 47,317.96) Per credit up to a maximum of CAD 10,870.72 (INR 6,62,451.47) per semester for 15 credits

For Graduate Courses

• Graduate Certificate in Business: CAD 765.77 (INR 46,665.30) Per credit
• Graduate Diploma in Hospitality Management: CAD 765.77 (INR 46,665.30) Per credit
• Graduate Diploma in Project Management: CAD 765.77 (INR 46,665.30) Per credit
• MBA: CAD 756 (INR 46,069.93) Per credit

5) Capilano University

Capilano University is a teaching-focused university in North America. CapU is a public university founded in 1968, Capilano University offers more than 100 programs in diverse areas ranging from early childhood education to animation and tourism management. Almost 96% of the graduates found employment within the industry. Also, with students from more than 57 countries, it offers a diverse culture to students which helps in the overall development of students.

The table given below provides some of the top courses offered by Capilano University:

CapU Fees for Top Courses

Standard Tuition Fee: $644 per credit (INR 53,380.55)

6) Columbia College

Canada’s oldest independent international two-year university transfer college is part of the Student Partners Program (SPP) in India and China. It is highly popular among international students. Columbia College was established in 1936 and serves as one of Canada's longest-established international not-for-profit colleges. Considering the need for international students, the university started offering an English as a Second Language Program. One of the best colleges in Vancouver, Columbia College aims to provide excellent preparation for students’ university entrance. Columbia College is a member of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), the Federation of Independent School Associations (FISA) and Languages Canada. The college has currently 2,100 students from more than 61 countries around the world. 

The table given below provides some of the courses offered by Columbia College:

Columbia College Fees for Top Courses

Standard Tuition Fee: $585 per credit (INR 48,490.09)

7) Emily Carr University of Art & Design

Emily Carr University of Art and Design is a public university established in 1925. The university is a world leader in art, media and design. The ECU is one of British Columbia's oldest and the only one dedicated solely to professional education and learning in the arts, media and design. The university has over 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,900 active non-credit students. International students come from more than 50 countries and throughout the year have more than 35 exchange students and researchers from around the world on campus. The university is ranked 24th in the world for arts and design by QS Subject World University Rankings 2022. 

The table given below provides some of the majors offered at Emily Carr University of Art Design:

ECU Fees for Top Courses

For Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate degrees: CAD 25,156.40 (INR 15,33,007.39) Per year

For Graduate Courses

• Master of Fine Arts: CAD 39,835 (INR 24,27,507.49) Full fee
• Master of Design: CAD 46,045 (INR 28,05,939.06) Full fee

8) Kwantlen Polytechnic University 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University was established by the government of British Columbia in 1981. It has five campuses located in the Vancouver region of B.C. The university offers over 140 bachelor's, associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs. KPU is Canada's only public polytechnic university. More than 20,000 students annually come to KPU for higher education.

The table given below provides some of the top courses offered at Kwantlen Polytechnic University:

KPU Fees 

Tuition Fees per semester: CAD 15,100 to CAD 24,367 (INR 9,20,179.82 to INR 14,84,902.10)

9) Langara College

With its genesis in 1965 as a division of Vancouver Community College, Langara College inaugurated its West 49th Avenue campus in 1970. The Provincial College and Institute Act allowed for the establishment of Langara College as a stand-alone public college on April 1, 1994. Langara College offers various courses in Arts, Business, Science & Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Health domains. The table given below provides some of the top courses offered at Langara College:

10) British Columbia Institute of Technology

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) finds its origins in the year 1964. The institute offers more than 300 programmes and 1,000 part-time courses in Applied and Natural Sciences, Business and Media, Computing & Information Technology, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Trades & Apprenticeships. The table given below provides the top courses offered by the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT):

Cost of Studying and Living in Canada

The cost of studying in Canada can vary from CAD 7,500 to CAD 60,000 per year depending on the course and the university. The cost of living in Canada can be around CAD 19,000 per year depending on your location and your lifestyle. In order to reduce the cost of studying, students can apply for scholarships to study in Canada and/or choose to work part-time.

Admission Requirements for the Best Universities in Vancouver

The application process for Colleges and Universities in Vancouver will vary as per the university/college and course requirements. An overview of these admission requirements is given below:

• Schooling
• Bachelor’s degree with a certain CGPA (if applying for Master’s or PG Diploma).
• Academic or Professional experience (course-specific).
• GRE or GMAT scores.
• English language proficiency test scores: IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo score.
• Latest resume.
• Statement of Purpose (SOP).
• LORs (Letters of recommendation).
• Admission Essays.
• Work Samples and/or Video Samples (for creative courses).

Reasons for studying in Vancouver are plenty, but the quality of education along with the friendliness of the local people are the major factors that attract students from across the globe to pursue their higher education here. Now that students are aware of various aspects of the top universities in Vancouver, they can take an informed decision. Students may also read about the comparative guide for Tronto vs Vancouver. Besides Vancouver, students are also advised to check the top 10 colleges in Calgary as well.

For help with university applications, students seeking to study abroad can contact our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors. The comments section below allows candidates to contact us as well.