Best Universities in Canada 2025: Ranking & Courses
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Best Universities in Canada 2025: Ranking & Courses

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Jan 22, 2025 10:53 IST

The list of these top 10 universities in Canada is based on their ranking in QS and THE ranking. This list will be helpful for those Indian students who are planning to study in Canadian universities but have less knowledge about these educational institutions.

Top Universities in Canada

THE ranking 2025 for top universities in Canada has been released. Like, every year the University of Toronto is #1 university in Canada for international students followed by McGill University and the University of British Columbia. These top universities in Canada offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate courses.

Canada is one of the most prominent educational hubs in the world. The excellent education system, English language curriculum, and top-ranked universities in the world are the reasons to attract international students to study in Canada. Canadian universities offer a wide range of full-time degree programs recognized worldwide, making it the perfect choice to study abroad. This blog has mentioned an updated list of top universities in Canada, their popular courses and more.

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Related Read: :Best Colleges in Canada

Top Ranking Universities in Canada

The table given below provides the ranking of best universities in Canadaaccording to various ranking indices:

Universities

QS World University Ranking 2025

THE Ranking 2025

University of Toronto

25

21

McGill University

29

45

University of British Columbia

38

41

University of Alberta

96

=116

University of Waterloo

115

=163

Western University

120

201-250

University of Montreal

159

=125

McMaster University

176

=116

University of Ottawa

189

=191

Queen's University

193

201-350

It is crucial to remember that personal preferences, academic interests, and professional objectives ultimately determine which university a student attends. Before making a choice, it is advised to explore several universities and their programme offerings.








1) University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto boasts the best teaching and research faculties across North America. The university’s engineering school and law faculty are appreciated for their excellence among its other faculties. In addition, its medical programs and research performance are praiseworthy by the highest industry standards. A daily feature among the top-ranked universities worldwide, the college boasts of nurturing some of the best minds. Some of the popular courses pursued at the University of Toronto are:







  • International Foundation Program
  • Arts and Science, St. George campus
  • Applied Science and Engineering
  • Medical Radiation Sciences
  • Kinesiology and Physical Education
  • Daniels Faculty of Landscape, Architecture, and Design

Also Read:

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2) McGill University

Home to over 10,000 international students who constitute over 30 per cent of the student demographics, it speaks volumes about McGill University’s popularity among students worldwide. The university is often touted as one of Canada’s best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading research-intensive universities in the world. With state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned school of staff, the university works hard to provide international undergraduate, graduate, visiting, and exchange students with a host of academic and non-academic services and resources to make their stay at the university a memorable experience. McGill University comprises eleven faculties and eleven schools, covering everything from law to music, to religious studies.

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University of Toronto

Toronto, CanadaPublic

14 courses
₹ 18.24 L - 47.21 L
The University of British Columbia

Vancouver, CanadaPublic

8 courses
₹ 5.82 L - 62.06 L
McGill University

Montreal, CanadaPublic

4 courses
₹ 13.97 L - 59.8 L
University of Alberta

Edmonton, CanadaPublic

9 courses
₹ 5.14 L - 17.34 L
University of Calgary

Calgary, CanadaPublic

5 courses
₹ 14.28 L - 32.86 L
McMaster University

Hamilton, CanadaPublic

10 courses
₹ 6.85 L - 40.93 L
Western University

London, CanadaPublic

8 courses
₹ 8.75 L - 76.09 L
University of Ottawa

Ottawa, CanadaPublic

5 courses
₹ 14.24 L - 42.51 L
University of Waterloo

Waterloo, CanadaPublic

8 courses
₹ 13.08 L - 41.68 L
University of Montreal

Montreal, CanadaPublic

1 courses
₹ 13.05 L - 13.05 L
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  • Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Faculty of Arts
  • School of Continuing Studies
  • Faculty of Dentistry
  • Faculty of Education
  • Schulich School of Music
  • Faculty of Medicine

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3) 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 boasts 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.  Popular subjects offered by the University of British Columbia include:

  • Mineral and mining engineering
  • Sports-related subjects
  • Geography

4) University of Alberta

The University of Alberta offers a plethora of over 200 undergraduate programs across 18 faculties among international students and is home to 400 research laboratories. The university that is home away from home to its students is tailored with thirteen on-campus residences providing a haven for students to study. Students can also participate in over 450 student clubs and groups in the university during their time in Alberta. Every year the university offers over $28 million (CAD) to students in scholarships, awards, and financial support. Many programs in the university offer students paid co-op work or internship placements, both in Canada and in other countries. Popular faculty include:

  • Arts
  • Engineering
  • Pharma and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Law
  • Business
  • Sports and Education, among others

5) University of Montreal

The University of Montreal was founded in 1878 and delivers high-quality education to students. The University of Montreal and its affiliated schools, HEC Montreal and Polytechnique Montreal, are one of the best higher education institutions in Quebec. The university has constantly held high rankings with almost 69,000 students, of which 10,000 belong to international communities. The university offers nearly 600 programs across its 13 schools. In addition, the university has performed well in research and athletics both. The top faculties and schools are:

  • Arts and Science
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Polytechnique Montreal
  • HEC Montreal
  • Education

6) McMaster University

McMaster University was established in 1887. It has been ranked in the top 80 universities in the world by various ranking indices. Since its inception, the University has grown by leaps and bounds to house more than 70 research institutes and more than 31,000 students. The University campus is comfortable and provides excellent academic and networking opportunities to its students. Top faculties and schools at McMaster University include:

  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Sciences
  • Humanities
  • Science
  • Social Sciences

7) University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo finds its beginnings in the year 1957 with it started with 74 engineering students. The University has been ranked at 158th position on the QS World University Rankings 2024. The University is now home to more than 42,000 students and has an alumni base of more than 220,000 graduates. The University of Waterloo provides its high-quality academic programmes through its following faculties:

  • Arts
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Mathematics
  • Science

One of the reasons why Canada is a favourite study destination for international students wanting to study overseas is its promising post-study work options. Most Canadian universities have a cell called a Career Services Center, which helps you get jobs and helps you prepare for interviews.

The on-campus recruitment is always driven by student interest. Companies that recruit through the University do not offer a job directly. What they offer is an internship or co-op. Companies like to see your work for a few months before they hire you full-time for jobs in Canada.

Why Study at the Best Universities in Canada?

Before we move on to the top universities in Canada, let us look at some of the benefits of studying at the best universities in Canada:

  • Quality of Education: The educational system of Canadian universities is of the highest calibre, and there are numerous options for faculty research and first-rate facilities. Numerous institutions are among the best in the world for disciplines like science, business, and engineering. You will receive an education that will help you achieve your job objectives.
  • Job Prospects: Since Canadian degrees are respected worldwide, they provide access to both domestic and international employment opportunities. Exposure to a diverse environment while in school is highly valued by many employers. In the global job market, you will have a competitive advantage.
  • Post-Study Work and Canada PR: You can be qualified for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme after graduating from a Canadian university, which gives you the opportunity to earn important Canadian job experience. Your profile will be improved by this work experience for citizenship and permanent residency.

That's all about the Canada university ranking. It shows the country's academic excellence, research innovation, and student experience

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.

Q:   What are the top universities in Canada?

A:

According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, these are the Canada University ranking:

  1. University of Toronto
  2. McGill University
  3. University of British Columbia
  4. Univrsity of Alberta
  5. University of Waterloo
  6. University of Montreal
  7. McMaster University

Apart from these universities, there are some other popular educational institutes in Canada which offer quality education. You can explore them.

Q:   Which are the top undergraduate (UG) courses to study in Canada?

A:

Below mentioned are the top five undergraduate courses in Canada

  • Engineering
  • Information technology
  • Business management
  • Pharmacy technician
  • Hospitality management

The best UG course to take ultimately depends on personal preferences, aptitude, and professional objectives. It is critical to examine various colleges' undergraduate course offerings, admission standards, tuition costs, and financial aid policies.

Q:   Which are the top postgraduate (PG) courses to study in Canada?

A:

Below mentioned are the top five postgraduate courses in Canada

  • Business Management
  • Hospitality Management
  • Health Science
  • Science and Engineering
  • Information Technology

The ideal PG course to take, however, ultimately depends on personal preferences, aptitudes, and professional objectives. Finding the greatest fit for your academic and career goals requires research into various universities' PG course options, admission standards, tuition costs, and scholarship programmes. 

Q:   Which is the best course to study in Canada?

A:

Some of the popular courses to study in Canada are:

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Health Sciences
  • Physiotherapy
  • Information Technology
  • Animation and Gaming courses in Canada

Q:   What is the processing time for the application process at Northern College, Canada?

A:

Northern College can take up to 6 weeks to provide an offer letter to international students. Since thousands of applications are enrolled at the college for programs under different specializations, the college reviews each application and segregates them. The whole process is quite time-consuming. The segregation of applications is done based on the student’s academic performance, English language scores, extracurricular activities, and relevant experiences.

Q:   What IELTS score is required for UCW Canada?

A:

Yes, the minimum English proficiency requirements for admission in the University of Canada West are:

TESTMINIMUM OVERALL SCOREMINIMUM WRITING SCORE
IELTS – Academic6.56.0
IELTS – Indicator6.56.0
CAEL7060*
CAEL Online7060*
CAE*176N/A
Duolingo*110100*
Password6.56.0
PTE – Academic6160
TOEFL – iBT8820*

*The minimum writing score is also applicable to all assessed components of the test.
*May be either of the following three tests; Cambridge B2 First; Cambridge C1 Advanced; or Cambridge C2 Proficiency
*After July 31, 2023, UCW will only accept Duolingo from applicants from Ukraine, Russia, Iran and Belarus. However, UCW may accept Duolingo from applicants in other countries where no other English proficiency test is available. If an applicant is submitting a Duolingo test score from any country other than Ukraine, Russia, Iran or Belarus, they must send it along with an explanation letter, but acceptance is not guaranteed. All other applications with a Duolingo result submitted after July 31, 2023 will be returned.
*Writing is assessed as the average score for achievement in both Literacy and Production.

Q:   How to apply in Royal Roads University Canada?

A:

International students can apply for Royal Roads University admissions by following the below steps:

Step 1: Find your programme from Royal Roads University courses

Step 2: Check programme specific deadline and admission requirements

Step 3: Now, fill your Royal Roads University admission application online as early as possible

Step 4: Pay non-refundable Royal Roads University application fee

Step 5: Submit all your supporting documents

Step 6: Once submitted, check the status of your application online to see how it's progressing

Check How to Apply for UG & PG Courses in Canada?

Q:   Is Canada or USA cheaper to study?

A:

International students are more likely to receive financial help or scholarships from Canadian universities than from American ones, which is quite uncommon. Furthermore, tuition at Canadian institutions is typically 27% less expensive than that of US universities. However, some United States universities offer international students Financial aid and other scholarships that help them to study in the United States.

About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert

Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio

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Reviewed by
Prayas
UG & PG expert

Armed with a decade of professional experience, Prayas is a connoisseur of the overseas education industry. He holds a post-graduate diploma in marketing and has the knack for finding ideal study options for student... Read Full Bio

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