Top 20 Universities in Canada for International Students 2024

Canada is one of the topmost study-abroad destinations for international students. And why not? The country houses some of the top universities in the world, such as the University of Toronto and McGill University. More than 8 lakh students from around the world had active Canadian student visas in 2022. So if you are also planning to pursue your higher education in the country, then this blog will help you discover the top 20 universities in Canada for foreign students. Along with that, we will also cover aspects like tuition fees, admission requirements, application process, and so on. Read on to know more!

Number of Universities in Canada	100+
Top Universities	University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Waterloo
Tuition Fees	CAD 21,000 – 36,100 per year
Living Costs	CAD 5,700 – 18,750 per year
Popular Disciplines	Commercial Banking, Economics, Entertainment, Finance, Research, Technology, Trade
English Language Proficiency Tests Required	IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test
Standardized Tests Required	GMAT, SAT, GRE

Why Study in the Top 20 Universities in Canada?

So why choose among the top 20 universities in Canada? These institutes provide world-class quality education at affordable fees than the US and UK for international students. Also, Canada ranks 9th in terms of innovation according to the Global Innovation Index, offering numerous innovative courses in sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Aerospace, Biotechnology, and Environment. Plus, these universities are all located in student-friendly cities where students can interact with people from diverse backgrounds. International students can also work part-time for 20 hours per week along with their studies. Once the studies are complete, students can also apply for a work permit that lasts up to 3 years.

Also Read: Cost of Living in Canada: A Guide

List of Top 20 Universities in Canada for International Students

Here’s the list of the top 20 universities in Canada for international students along with their global rankings:

University	QS World University Rankings 2025
University of Toronto	25
McGill University	29
University of British Columbia	38
University of Alberta	96
University of Waterloo	115
Western University	=120
Université de Montréal	=159
University of Calgary	=198
McMaster University	=176
University of Ottawa	189
Queen’s University at Kingston	193
Dalhousie University	=275
Simon Fraser University	319
University of Victoria (UVic)	349
University of Saskatchewan	=340
York University	=362
Concordia University	415
Université Laval	=423
University of Guelph	=456
Memorial University of Newfoundland	661-670

Let’s learn about some of these top universities in detail:

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto (UoT) is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario. It is the largest university in Canada by enrollment, with over 90,000 students. One of the most prestigious universities in the world, UoT consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in global rankings. The institute offers a wide range of UG and graduate programs in various disciplines and is home to many world-renowned scholars and researchers.

McGill University

McGill University is situated in Montreal, Quebec. It is the second-largest university in Canada by enrollment, with over 40,000 students. McGill is a bilingual university, and it offers instruction in both English and French. The university is known for its strong programs in medicine, law, engineering, and business.

Also Read: Top Scholarships For Indian Students To Study In Canada

University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the third-largest university in Canada by enrollment, with over 60,000 students. UBC is a global research university, and it is a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and the Universities Research Association. The university is known for its strong programs in science, engineering, and business.

University of Alberta

The University of Alberta (UoA) is located in Edmonton, Alberta. It is the fourth-largest university in Canada by enrollment, with over 50,000 students. UoA is a comprehensive university, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines. The institute is known for its strong programs in engineering, medicine, and science.

University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo (UW) is a public research university situated in Waterloo, Ontario. The institute has over 40,000 students and is known for its strong programs in engineering, computer science, and mathematics. The university also has a large co-op program, which allows students to gain work experience in their field of study before they graduate.

Top Disciplines/Subjects for International Students

When it comes to choosing a course to pursue in any of the top 20 universities in Canada, students generally lean more towards the following subjects:

• Commercial Banking
• Business and Finance
• Computer Science 
• Information Technology
• Healthcare and Life Science
• Research
• Data Analytics
• Entertainment
• Media and Journalism
• Economics
• Psychology
• Trade etc

Also Read: Canadian Student Visa: Eligibility Criteria, Documents Required, How to Apply 

Cost of Studying in Canada in 2024

The cost of studying in Canada comes to around CAD 13,000 – 35,000 for international students. It varies depending on the course, its level and the university chosen. Courses like arts, humanities, and education are less expensive than STEM courses. Here’s the annual tuition fee for each course level: 

Course Level	Tuition Fee (per year)
Undergraduate	CAD 12,700 – 19,600
Postgraduate	CAD 17,000 – 24,500
MBA	CAD 6,800 – 14,700
PhD	CAD 29,400 – 39,200

FAQs

Relevant Reads:

Discover Top Law Colleges in Canada for International Students	Things You Should Know About Canadian Culture
Power Engineering Courses in Canada for International Students	Top 7 Colleges in Canada for MBA without GMAT
Business Analytics Courses in Canada: Top Courses, Annual Tuition Fees and Duration	Minimum TOEFL Score Required for Canadian Universities

We hope that this blog gave you a complete overview of the top 20 universities in Canada for international students in 2024. To discover more such study abroad destinations, start following Leverage Edu today, or give us a call at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session. Thank you for reading!