Top Universities in Canada by Province

<p>26 Canadian universities are featured in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2021"><strong>QS World University Rankings® 2021</strong></a>, including three in the top 60. A further 11 are in the global top 400, all ranked based on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings/methodology">methodology</a>&nbsp;which considers each institution’s rating among employers and academics, as well as its research impact and other factors.</p>

<p>See below for a table of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/world-university-rankings/top-universities-canada-2021">top 10 universities in Canada</a>&nbsp;in 2021, and read on to discover more about the institutions in each province.</p>

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<h3>Top 10 Universities in Canada – QS World University Rankings 2021</h3>
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<p><strong>Canada Rank</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Global Rank</strong></p>
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<p><strong>University</strong></p>
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<p><strong>City</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Province</strong></p>
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<p>1</p>
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<p>=25</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-toronto/"><strong>University of Toronto</strong></a></p>
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<p>Toronto</p>
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<p>Ontario</p>
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<p>2</p>
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<p>=31</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/mcgill-university/"><strong>McGill University</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Montréal</p>
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<p>Quebec</p>
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<p>3</p>
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<p>45</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-british-columbia/"><strong>University of British Columbia</strong></a></p>
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<p>Vancouver</p>
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<p>British Columbia</p>
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<p>4</p>
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<p>118</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/universit%C3%A9-de-montr%C3%A9al/"><strong>Université de Montréal</strong></a></p>
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<p>Montréal</p>
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<p>Quebec</p>
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<p>5</p>
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<p>119</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-alberta/"><strong>University of Alberta</strong></a></p>
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<p>Edmonton</p>
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<p>Alberta</p>
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<p>6</p>
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<p>144</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/mcmaster-university"><strong>McMaster University</strong></a></p>
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<p>Hamilton</p>
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<p>Ontario</p>
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<p>7</p>
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<p>=166</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-waterloo/"><strong>University of Waterloo</strong></a></p>
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<p>Waterloo</p>
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<p>Ontario</p>
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<p>8</p>
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<p>=203</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-western-ontario/"><strong>Western University</strong></a></p>
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<p>London</p>
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<p>Ontario</p>
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<p>=9</p>
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<p>=246</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-calgary/"><strong>University of Calgary</strong></a></p>
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<p>Calgary</p>
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<p>Alberta</p>
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<p>=9</p>
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<p>=246</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/queens-university-ontario/"><strong>Queen’s University</strong></a></p>
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<p>Kingston</p>
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<p>Ontario</p>
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<div class="content"><img alt="University of Toronto" class="media-element file-default" src="/sites/default/files/university-of-toronto.jpg" style="" title="University of Toronto"></div>
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<p>More than a third of the top universities in Canada can be found in Ontario, and it’s also the most populous province in the country, home to more than 38 percent of Canada’s overall population. Four top Canadian universities are found in Canada’s largest city, <a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/toronto">Toronto</a>, and two are based in capital city <a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/ottawa">Ottawa</a>, which were both featured in the top 50 of the <a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/city-rankings/2019">QS Best Student Cities 2019</a>. Ontario’s highest ranked institutions are:</p>

<ol><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-toronto/"><strong>University of Toronto</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>Ranked joint 25^th in the world and number one in Canada this year, the <strong>University of Toronto</strong> gets its highest score in the ‘academic reputation’ indicator (15^th in the world) and is known for its research innovations, having been the birthplace of insulin and stem cell research.</p>

<ol start="2"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/mcmaster-university"><strong>McMaster University</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>Based in the city of Hamilton, <strong>McMaster University</strong> is ranked 144^thin the world, and was established in 1887, taking its name from the Honorable William McMaster, a prominent Canadian Senator and banker who bequeathed CA$900,000 to its founding.</p>

<ol start="3"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-waterloo/"><strong>University of Waterloo</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>Ranked joint 166^th in the world, the <strong>University of Waterloo</strong> is known for its cooperative education (co-op) programs, which allow students to integrate their education with relevant work experience.</p>

<ol start="4"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-western-ontario/"><strong>Western University</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>Previously known as the University of Western Ontario, <strong>Western University</strong> is ranked joint 203^rd in the world this year and is a member of the U15, a group of 15 research-intensive Canadian universities. </p>

<ol start="5"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/queens-university-ontario/"><strong>Queen’s University</strong></a></li>
</ol><p><strong>Queen’s University</strong>, based in Kingston, is ranked joint 246^th in the world in 2021. Founded in 1841 via a royal charter issued by Queen Victoria, Queen’s boasts more than 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) of land throughout Ontario.</p>

<ol start="6"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-ottawa/"><strong>University of Ottawa</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>The highest-ranked university in Canada’s capital city, the <strong>University of Ottawa</strong> is placed joint 279^th in the world, up two places from 2020, and is the largest bilingual university in the world, with around 42,250 students.</p>

<ol start="7"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/york-university"><strong>York University</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>Another of the top Canadian universities located in Toronto, <strong>York University</strong> is ranked joint 531-540 in the world and is known for its prestigious film school, which is considered one of the best in Canada.</p>

<ol start="8"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-guelph/"><strong>University of Guelph</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>The <strong>University of Guelph</strong>, based in the city from which it takes its name, is ranked 571-580 in the world this year and is considered particularly prestigious for veterinary science. </p>

<ol start="9"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/carleton-university"><strong>Carleton University</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>Based in Ottawa, <strong>Carleton University </strong>is ranked 601-650 in the world this year, and 22^nd in Canada.</p>

<ol start="10"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-windsor/"><strong>University of Windsor</strong></a></li>
</ol><p>In the city of Windsor, Canada’s southernmost city, the <strong>University of Windsor</strong> is placed 751-800 in the world and 25^th in Canada in 2020. </p>

<ol start="11"><li><a href="https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/ryerson-university/"><strong>Ryerson University</strong></a></li>
</ol><p><strong>Ryerson University</strong>, in downtown Toronto, is ranked 801-1000 in the world rankings this year and is one of Canada’s largest universities, with 43,000 students.</p>