Top Universities in Canada by Province

1. McGill University

McGill University, based in Montréal, is the second highest-ranked of the top universities in Canada this year at joint 31^st. Established in 1821, McGill currently has around 39,660 students, with around 32 percent coming from outside Canada. 

2. Université de Montréal

Ranked 118^th in the world this year, the Université de Montréal is known for its research, with over CA$500 million in research funding and one of the highest volumes of research for any university in Canada. 

3. Laval University

Based in Quebec City, Laval University is placed joint 420^th in the world this year, and is the oldest higher education institution in Canada, with roots going back to 1663. It was also the first French-speaking university in North America.

4. Concordia University

Concordia University is ranked joint 477^th in the world in 2021 and is in the global top 250 for both indicators which measure on-campus diversity: percentage of international faculty members and international students.

5. Université du Québec

The Université du Québec is ranked 601-650 in the world in 2021 and made up of 10 constituent public universities which collectively have 87,000 students, the largest of which is in Montréal.

6. Université de Sherbrooke

Based in the city of Sherbrooke, the Université de Sherbrooke is ranked 701-750 in the world in 2021 and also runs a campus in the Longueuil suburb of Montréal.

British Columbia is the westernmost province in Canada and is known for its breath-taking natural beauty. One of Canada’s most mountainous regions, British Columbia boasts the largest ski resort in North America, making it a popular choice with students keen on snow sports. Several top Canadian universities can also be found here.

1. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is consistently ranked third among the top universities in Canada and climbed seven places in the World University Rankings to now rank 45^th, achieving its highest rank for the academic reputation indicator (28^th). It has around 64,800 students at its campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna.

2. Simon Fraser University

Ranked 13^th among the top Canadian universities, Simon Fraser University is placed joint 323^rd in the world and has its main campus in Burnaby, just east of Vancouver. It was established in 1965 and named after Simon Fraser, a North West Company fur trader and explorer.

3. University of Victoria

The University of Victoria is ranked joint 370^th in the world and 14^th in Canada, and is located in the capital of British Columbia, Victoria. It’s home to roughly 21,800 students, over 3,000 of whom are international.

Alberta is the most populous of Canada’s ‘prairie provinces’ and is no less mountainous than British Columbia to its west. Two of the 10 highest-ranked universities in Canada are based here:

1. University of Alberta

Ranked fifth in Canada and 119^th in the world, the University of Alberta is mainly based in the city of Edmonton and is a major economic driver to the province, accounting for five percent of its annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

2. University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is ranked 246^th in the world and ninth in Canada in 2021 and is one of the younger top Canadian universities, founded in 1966. It’s been at the forefront of numerous innovations in its history, such as the invention of the neurochip.

The list of top Canadian universities doesn’t end there, with the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador each hosting one internationally ranked university. 

1. Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia

Ranked joint 291^st in the world and 12^th in Canada, Dalhousie University has three campuses in Halifax, and has its medical school in the city of Saint John, in the neighboring province of New Brunswick. 

2. University of Saskatchewan

Located in the city of Saskatoon in the central prairie province of Saskatchewan, the University of Saskatchewan is ranked joint 465^th in the world in 2020. 

3. University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba is located in province capital and largest city, Winnipeg, and is ranked 601-650 in the world this year. 

4. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Finally, in Newfoundland you’ll find the largest university in the ‘Atlantic Canada’ region with 18,000 students, the Memorial University of Newfoundland, ranked 701-750 in the world.

-- 

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

This article was first published in September 2019 and most recently updated in June 2020.

Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.