7 top universities in Canada for international students

PTE Author
PTE Author
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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.

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    Our Secure English Language test, PTE Academic UKVI, is accepted by the UK’s Home Office for all UK visas to test your four language skills – including the Skilled Worker visa.

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