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 28 top universities in Canada feature in QS World University Rankings 2022 and 32 universities feature in Times Higher Education World University rankings 2022. 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 2022, as well as, national ranking agencies like Macleans.

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:

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:

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.

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.

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:

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.  

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:

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.

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 185% in international students from 2010-2019, 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. Though in the pandemic did lead to a decline, yet  67% of international students opted to study in Canada. Though Canada has banned Indians from traveling, it is one of the most popular study abroad destinations amongst Indian students. The comparatively easier visa policies and immigration-friendly policies have made Canada a perfect choice for Indian students. The Study permit approval rate for 2021 (initial four months) rose 15% of 2020 and over 64,000 study permits were issued in all of 2020. Contrary to this, nearly 58,000 were issued by the end of April 2021.