7 top universities in Canada for international students

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image - Canada
Reading time: 8 minutes

Canada is one of the most educated countries in the world. In fact, 63% of people aged 24-34 have completed their post-secondary education; only South Korea ranks higher among OECD countries.  

It comes as no surprise, then, that Canada is also home to some of the best universities in the world. From coast to coast, Canadian universities excel at innovation and research - and they work hard to support international students who’ve chosen to call the country home.  

So, which institutions should you have on your radar? Here are seven top international universities in Canada:  

1. University of British Columbia  

Founded in 1908, the University of British Columbia boasts some of the most beautiful campuses in Canada. It's largest

is in Vancouver and sits against a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Its second campus a few hours away is nestled in the unique Okanagan wine region.

But, the University of British Columbia doesn’t make our list just for its incredible locations. The university is also one of the world’s best research universities - it’s ranked 45th globally by the QS World University Rankings, and number three in Canada.  It’s also home to a top subatomic physics research lab, which possesses the world’s biggest cyclotron (a particle accelerator).  

And guess what? The University of British Columbia is also ranked North America’s most international university. Students from 166 countries are enrolled there, and the university also has a regional office in Hong Kong.  

Cost of living: Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada. A one-bedroom apartment in downtown Vancouver costs about $2,050 CAD/month. Learn more about how much on-campus housing costs here.  

Tuition: Read more about the university’s fees here.  

You might like: How to apply for a Canadian student visa. 

2. University of Ottawa  

What better place to study than in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada? Sat on the border between Ontario and Quebec, the University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual university in the world. It was founded in 1848, and today offers more than 450 programs in French and English.  

The University of Ottawa campus features historic buildings, is close to the famous Rideau Canal, and was named number 6 in Canada for sustainability in 2020, according to the UI Greenmetric World University Rankings.  

In recent years, the university has also invested in five new state-of-the-art facilities and research labs - including a black box theatre and an innovative STEM complex. You can take a virtual tour of the whole campus here. 

Cost of living: A one-bedroom apartment downtown costs $1,618 CAD/month on average. Check out how much on-campus housing costs here.  

Tuition: Learn more about tuition fees with the University of Ottawa’s fee calculator. 

3. University of Alberta 

The University of Alberta is located in and around Edmonton, which is the capital city of the province of Alberta. It was also founded in 1908 and boasts 18 faculties stretched across five campuses - where students from 156 countries are enrolled.  

According to QS University Rankings, the University of Alberta is ranked 6th in Canada. It’s also ranked among the best in the world by the Centre for World University Rankings for a range of subjects - including forestry (5), geology (5), as well as - this one is cool -  paleontology (3)! In fact, a few hours from the University of Alberta is Dinosaur Provincial Park, which has been recognized by UNESCO for containing many of the most important fossils discovered from the “Age of the Dinosaurs.” 

Cost of living: A one-bedroom apartment in downtown Edmonton costs $1,171/month on average. Learn more about University of Alberta on-campus housing here.  

Tuition: Learn more about tuition fees at the University of Alberta here.  

4. Dalhousie University   

Dalhousie University is a research-intensive university in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was founded in 1818, and offers students more than 190 undergraduate and graduate programs. Like a few other universities on our list, Dalhousie University is part of the U15 - a group of 15 leading Canadian research universities. Nearly 20% of students at the school are international. 

Dalhousie boasts four campuses - three in Halifax and one a couple of hours away in a town called Truro. And, the province of Nova Scotia is an excellent place for international students to call home. It’s located in the heart of the Atlantic maritime, and students here will enjoy beautiful ocean views, vibrant nightlife, great live music, and friendly people. In fact, Canadian magazine Maclean’s named Halifax the best city in Canada to live and work remotely in 2021.  

Cost of living: Halifax is an affordable city in Canada. For example, a one-bedroom apartment downtown costs about $1,415/month. Check out how much on-campus housing at Dalhousie University costs here.  

Tuition: Learn more about tuition fees at Dalhousie University here.  

5. York University  

Founded in 1959, York University is the third-largest university in Canada. It’s located in Toronto - a great student city - and is home to 11 faculties. York excels in a range of courses - from education to psychology, to business. In fact, its executive master of business administration (EMBA) program was ranked first in Canada and number 21 in the world by Financial Times in 2020.  

York University has one main campus in Toronto, as well as a smaller bilingual campus closeby. It also boasts a Hyberbad campus, where students have the opportunity to split their two-year master of business administration (MBA) course between Canada and India, as well as Las Nubes EcoCampus, located on 414 acres of protected land in Costa Rica!  

Cost of living: A one-bedroom apartment in downtown Toronto costs about $2,100/month on average. But since York University is located outside the city center, rent may be cheaper. You can also find out more about on-campus housing at York University here.  

Tuition: Learn more about tuition fees at York University here.  

6. University of Manitoba  

The University of Manitoba is located in Winnipeg, right in the center of Canada. It was founded in 1877 - making it the oldest university in Western Canada! The university offers more than 100 programs, and more than 20% of students are international. The University of Manitoba also has one of the largest Indigenous student populations in the country.  

The university has two campuses; the largest one features 60+ buildings spread out through 692 acres, and the second is a world-class health sciences center located downtown Winnipeg. It’s also home to the Smartpark Research and Technology Park, an innovative hub that’s home to 10 buildings and 20 companies working in areas like ICT, engineering, and health and biotechnology.  

Cost of living: Winnipeg is very affordable. A one-bedroom apartment downtown costs just $1,077/month on average. Learn more about on-campus housing at the university here.  

Tuition: Learn more about tuition fees at University of Manitoba here. 

7. McGill University  

McGill University is based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1821, it’s one of the most prestigious universities in Canada - and ranked 2nd in the country by QS University Rankings (31st in the world).  

For the last 16 years, McGill’s also been ranked by Maclean’s Magazine as the best medical school in Canada. The university also has a global research focus - for example, they have international research partners in 99 countries. If you’re interested in the research they do, you can read about the 7 themes they focus most on here. 

One of the best parts of enrolling at McGill? You get to live in Montreal! McGill University boasts two campuses; the main downtown campus is filled with green space and historic buildings, while the second sits on 1606 acres about 45 minutes from the city. And with its incredible arts, culture, and diversity, Montreal was named the world’s best student city for international students this year.  

Check out our blog: 6 reasons to study in Quebec 

Cost of living: Montreal is also one of the most affordable big cities in Canada. It costs about 1,300 CAD/month on average to rent a one-bedroom apartment. Learn more about student residence costs here.  

Tuition: Learn more about tuition fees at McGill University here.  

Canada is home to many world-class universities - and we can help you earn a spot. Our computer-based, unbiased English language exam PTE Academic is accepted by the majority of Canadian universities and colleges. 

Discover more about PTE English tests for Canada.

Related Content

  • Image- A woman in front of Big Ben- 800px
    Job opportunities for international students in the UK
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Studying abroad is rarely cheap. Even if you’ve got a scholarship, a job on the side can help you live a little more comfortably during your degree. Luckily, there are lots of jobs for international students in the UK. You just need to know where to find them.  

    Once you arrive, you’ll be able to do the traditional resumé drop-offs and ask about opportunities in the store. But you don’t have to wait until then to start your hunt. Jumping online and applying in advance is the best method for getting a job in the UK for international students. It’s also nice to know that you’ve got a casual or part-time position waiting for you.  

    This quick guide discusses a variety of jobs in the UK for international applicants including: 

    • Part-time jobs in the UK for international students

    • Summer jobs in the UK for international students 

    • Graduate jobs for international students in the UK

       

    Part-time jobs in the UK for international students

    If you’ve got strong time-management and organization skills, working a part-time job while you study can be an effective way to earn an income. On an international student visa (Student route visa), you’re able to work up to 20 hours per week during the term. 

    Common part-time jobs for international students in the UK include: 

    • Receptionist

    • Retail worker

    • Mystery shopper

    • Shelf packer 

    • Waiter/barista/bar tender

    • Student ambassador

    • Library assistant

    Would you prefer a part-time job that is more academic in nature will intellectually challenge you as much as your actual course? You might consider becoming a research assistant at your university.

    If you’re studying a postgraduate degree or PhD, you could even apply for part-time teaching jobs in the UK for international students. Sharing your experience with undergraduates in tutorials is a great way to solidify your own knowledge while earning some money.

    The UK’s largest job databases are a good place to start your hunt:

    If you’ve got a specific job in mind, try searching for a niche jobs website (e.g. C+D Jobs is a great place to find pharmacy jobs in the UK for international students).

    Most UK universities have support services that can help you find a part-time job (as well as a job after you graduate). As an example, the career center at University College London helps UCL students with all types of career-related activities – including finding part-time jobs in London for international students. Similarly, the University of Edinburgh runs a careers service where international students can get advice about part-time jobs in Scotland. Visit your chosen university’s website to see what kind of career services they provide.

    Summer jobs in the UK for international students 

    Prefer to focus all your time and energy on your studies? That’s alright – a casual job during semester breaks might be a good alternative for you. A student visa allows you to work full-time during vacation periods.

    Most of the part-time jobs listed above are also great options for working during your time off. You may also find an opportunity over summer to work as a:

    • Sales representative

    • Event assistant

    • Call center operator

    • Private tutor

    The resources previously mentioned for part-time jobs are also relevant for international students finding a summer job in the UK. You should also consider talking to your university’s career support staff about any summer internships that might be available – these can provide a great experience and give you a foot in the door.

    Graduate Jobs in the UK for International Students

    As your final exam and graduation approach, you’ll naturally start thinking about your first job after university. The UK’s immigration program will allow you to transition from a student visa to a working visa if you secure a position that meets the relevant salary and time criteria.

    This is where your university’s career center will really come in handy, so make sure you’ve made appointments with them well ahead of your last class. They can help you find and apply for UK jobs for international graduates.

    Many jobsites allow you to filter your search to jobs that are marked as suitable for new graduates. Check that you’re searching in the right area/with the right filter.  

    Whether you’re looking for a part-time role while you study or a full-time job to extend your stay in the UK, you’ll find a wide range of opportunities available to you.

  • Image- Woman reading - 800px
    Reading: Self-Improvement
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.

    To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.

    To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.

    Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:

    • Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute

    • Reading short articles of around 300 words

    • Read often for short periods of time

    You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.

    When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.

    Multiple-choice, choose single answer

    In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.

    Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.

    Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

    In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.

    Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.

    You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.

    Re-order paragraphs

    To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.

    In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.

    Fill in the blanks and reading & writing: fill in the blanks

    For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.

    You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.

    Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.

    To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.

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