Top 10 Canadian Universities of 2021

Canada has become a popular destination for international students. The strong infrastructure, modern curriculum and well-equipped campuses of Canadian universities make it a choice destination to study abroad.

Apart from this, Canadian universities have a high ranking among international colleges and universities and have an enviable reputation which makes them top-ranked destinations for international students.

Top reasons why students choose Canada:

• Quality of the Canadian education system
• Prestige of degree or diploma from that institution
• Availability of the desired program
• Tolerant and non-discriminatory nature of Canadian society
• A safe environment

 Some other pertinent reasons for choosing Canada include:

• Numerous research opportunities
• Possibility of immigration after completing the course
• Vibrant campus atmosphere
• International students have the option of working when studying
• Good internship opportunities

 Intakes in Canadian Universities

Canadian universities have three intakes in a year:

Intake 1: Fall Semester – Starts in the month of September. This is the primary intake for most universities.

Intake 2: Winter Semester – Starts in the month of January

Intake 3: Summer Semester – Usually starts from April/May. However, this intake is available only for limited programs and colleges.

We would advise you to apply well in advance because admissions and scholarships get difficult when you apply closer to the deadline. It is better to apply 6 to 9 months before the academic session starts.

Top universities in Canada

According to the QS World University Rankings, these are the top universities in Canada for 2021:

1. University of Toronto

In the 2021 university rankings, the University of Toronto rose four places, largely due to its academic credibility score, where it ranks 15th worldwide. According to Maclean’s 2020 report, it is also ranked number one for creating tomorrow’s leaders. As the leading institution for research, exploration and creativity in Canada, the University of Toronto encourages diversity in its student body.

2. McGill University

At number two is McGill University which is based in Montreal and is one of the world’s most prestigious colleges. World leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Nobel laureates, as well as other distinguished figures in the arts, sciences, and industry are among its notable alumni.

3. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia, ranked number three in Canada, is one of the best universities for medical/doctoral schools. This university attracts more than 15,000 foreign students per year because of its global reputation, accounting for 28.1 percent of its total number of students. A significant fact about UBC is that for climate change action and sustainability research, it ranks number one in the world.

4. Université de Montréal

Universite de Montréal, a French-speaking research university in Montreal, is known for its life sciences and medicine programs and its school of pharmacy and pharmacology. The university was established as the satellite campus of Université Laval in 1878. It is now autonomous and has over 67,350 students which includes 10,000 international students.

5. University of Alberta

The University of Alberta, based in Edmonton, receives its highest score in the international faculty indicator, accepting each year more than 40,000 international students from 156 countries. Due to its dominance in agriculture, medicine, and social sciences, this school is highly regarded worldwide.

6. McMaster University

McMaster University, renowned for its prestigious medical school, is one of the top three research-intensive universities in Canada. The university is located in Hamilton, Ontario. Here are some main research fields that McMaster focuses on:

• Human Health and Social Determinants
• Indigenous Research
• Global Sustainability
• Materials and the Built Society

7. University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is considered the most innovative university in Canada, climbing seven spots in this year’s world ranking. This company is also known for its pioneering program of co-op and experiential learning. In order to build cooperative education opportunities for students, UW partners with 7,100+ employers and business leaders every year.

Students are able to apply experience from the classroom to the workplace with this program and earn money to help fund their education, all while preparing themselves for the job market.

8. Western University

Western University, one of the top research universities in Canada, was established in 1878 and has more than 38,000 students from 121 countries.

This university performs well in the citations per faculty metric, meaning their students are able to generate a high volume of quality research papers.

9. Queen’s University

Queen’s University, based in Kingston, Ontario, ranks 5th among Canada’s medical-doctoral universities. Students from more than 100 countries are also home to this university and rank 3rd in student satisfaction, making it an enticing choice for foreign students worldwide.

91% of graduates from Queen’s University are employed within six months after graduation.

10. University of Calgary

One of Canada’s top six extensive research universities is the University of Calgary which ng to is equal in ranking to Queen’s university. This university draws more than 33,000 students annually, with 250+ programs and an outstanding 94.1 percent graduate employment rate. This school is well-known for addressing these six global goals if you are considering research-focused programs:

• Energy innovations
• Human dynamics in a changing world
• Engineering solutions for health and well-being
• Earth-space technologies
• Infections, inflammation, and chronic diseases
• Brain and mental health