Top Universities in Canada by Province 2014/15

Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2019.

This year’s QS World University Rankings® features a total of 26 Canadian universities ranked within the top 800 universities worldwide. Of this number, five stand within the top 100 worldwide, and a further 10 are placed within the top 300.

Compared to last year’s rankings, more than half of the top universities in Canada have improved their position, in some cases climbing as many as 30 ranks. This reflects the country’s continued dedication to developing its higher education system, and Canadian universities’ stable position in an increasingly competitive global market.

With so much choice and so many enticing Canadian cities, the choice of where to study in Canada is a tough one… To help you decide, here’s a list of all the top universities in Canada that feature in the QS World University Rankings 2014/15, divided by province, in order to help you get a feel for the higher education landscape across the country. For more information on undertaking study in Canada, visit our country guide.

Top universities in Ontario

Located to the east of the country and sharing borders with New York and Michigan among other US states, Ontario is the most populous of all Canadian provinces, home to 40% of Canada’s entire population and 11 of the country’s top universities. Often considered the cultural hub of the nation, Ontario is home to two internationally famed urban centers: Ottawa (the Canadian capital), and Toronto.

Once largely known only as a center for politics, Ottawa has in recent years become a popular city for young, culturally sophisticated urbanites and students keen to explore the multitude of venues and international cuisines the city has to offer. It’s home to two universities which feature in the latest QS World University Rankings. Toronto, on the other hand, has a long legacy of being a thriving cultural city, with a busy financial district, internationally diverse community and a total of four of the top universities in Canada.

The top universities in Ontario this year are:

	Ranking among universities in Canada	World ranking 2014/15	World ranking 2013/14	Global change in position this year
University of Toronto (Toronto)	1st	20th	17th	↓3
McMaster University (Toronto)	6th	113th	140th	↑27
University of Waterloo (Hamilton)	7th	169th	180th	↑11
Queen’s University (Kingston)	9th	187=	189=	↑2
University of Western Ontario (London)	10th	191st	199=	↑8
University of Ottawa (Ottawa)	11th	218th	227=	↑9
York University (Toronto)	16th	421-430	401-410	↓2 groups
University of Guelph (Guelph)	17th	431-440	461-470	↑ 3 groups
Carleton University (Ottawa)	21=	501-550	501-550	-- No move
Ryerson University (Toronto)	23=	701+	701+	-- No move
University of Windsor (Windsor)	23=	701+	701+	-- No move

Top universities in Quebec

Even further east and extending right up into the northernmost part of eastern Canada is the province of Quebec, Canada’s largest province with the second-largest population. French is the official language of Quebec, a legacy of European settlers in the 17^th century and a factor which has played a major role in shaping the cultural landscape of the region. The city of Montréal, offering four of the top universities in Canada, displays Quebec’s cultural vibrancy in full force, with its brimming arts scene, eclectic cuisines and Parisian-inspired approach to life. Quebec City, the capital of the province, is also popular among visitors for its picturesque historic district, and is home to another of Canada’s top universities.

The top universities in Quebec this year are:

	Ranking among universities in Canada	World ranking 2014/15	World ranking 2013/14	Global change in position this year
McGill University (Montréal)	2nd	21st	21st	-- No move
Université de Montréal (Montréal)	4th	83rd	92=	↑9
Laval University (Quebec City)	15th	298=	329=	↑31
Université de Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke)	18th	441-450	441-450	-- No move
Concordia University (Montréal)	19th	461-470	481-490	↑2 groups
Université de Québec (Montréal)	21=	501-550	411-420	↓9 groups

Top universities in British Columbia

British Columbia, another of Canada’s vast, geographically stunning provinces, is on the west coast of the nation, distanced from eastern Canada by over 3,500km. Popular amongst snow sports fans, British Columbia is one of Canada’s most mountainous regions, home to the largest ski resort in North America. The province capital, Victoria, and its largest city, Vancouver, each claim one top Canadian university, and both combine urban culture and attractions with magnificent surrounding natural landscapes.

The top universities in British Columbia this year are:

	Ranking among universities in Canada	World ranking 2014/15	World ranking 2013/14	Global change in position this year
University of British Columbia (Vancouver)	3rd	43=	49th	↑6
Simon Fraser University (Burnaby)	12th	222=	244=	↑22
University of Victoria (Victoria)	14th	290=	321=	↑31

Top universities in Alberta

Heading back east again from British Columbia is the Canadian province of Alberta, a region no less mountainous and the nation’s most populous ‘prairie province’. Two top Canadian universities are situated here: one in the capital city of Edmonton and one in Calgary, the region’s largest city. Nicknamed ‘the festival city’, Edmonton is known for its jam-packed cultural calendar as well as being home to the biggest mall in North America. Calgary, rich with oil money and cowboy history, has made a name for itself as a clean, pleasant and environmentally friendly place to live.

The top universities in Alberta this year are:

	Ranking among universities in Canada	World ranking 2014/15	World ranking 2013/14	World ranking 2013/14
University of Alberta (Edmonton)	5th	84th	96th	↑12
University of Calgary (Calgary)	8th	171=	201st	↑30

Other top universities in Canada

In a country so huge, it’s easy to overlook certain regions, but that’s not to say there aren’t top Canadian universities outside of the most touristy provinces. Aside from those listed above, four more Canadian provinces claim at least one university in this year’s international rankings. These are Nova Scotia, an eastern peninsular comprised of 3,800 coastal islands; Saskatchewan, a central province bordered by Alberta in the west; Manitoba, another central province home to thousands of lakes and rivers; and Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada’s easternmost province with a Celtic cultural influence.

The top universities in these regions this year are:

	Ranking among universities in Canada	World ranking 2014/15	World ranking 2013/14	Global change in position this year
Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)	13th	235=	244=	↑9
University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)	20th	481-490	421-430	↓6 groups
University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Manitoba)	21=	501-550	431-440	↓7 groups
Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador)	22nd	651-700	601-650	↓1 group