Top Universities in Canada 2025
Discover the Times Higher Education Canada University Rankings 2025 and explore which institutions rank the highest in the country.
This list highlights the best universities in Canada based on the trusted Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. Our comprehensive evaluation covers key areas such as teaching quality, research excellence, industry partnerships, and international outlook.
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Top universities in Canada
| Canada Rank 2025 | WUR Rank 2025 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | University of Toronto | 88.3 | 76.2 | 93.5 | 93.4 | 94.9 | 91.8 |
| 2 | 41 | University of British Columbia | 77.8 | 62.3 | 76.7 | 89.7 | 79.8 | 94.3 |
| 3 | 45 | McGill University | 76.7 | 66.2 | 70.9 | 88.6 | 78 | 91.6 |
| =4 | 116 | McMaster University | 65.2 | 41.2 | 50.2 | 93 | 100 | 87.6 |
| =4 | 116 | University of Alberta | 65.2 | 48.2 | 56.7 | 79.3 | 100 | 90.4 |
| 6 | 125 | Université de Montréal | 64.3 | 49.3 | 53.2 | 79.5 | 97.8 | 86.8 |
| 7 | 163 | University of Waterloo | 60.9 | 41 | 48.9 | 83.1 | 77.1 | 88.4 |
| 8 | 191 | University of Ottawa | 59.2 | 37.2 | 44.7 | 85.1 | 81.4 | 87 |
| =9 | 201–250 | University of Calgary | 55.8–58.6 | 34.4 | 42.8 | 83.6 | 88.9 | 85.7 |
| =9 | 201–250 | Western University | 55.8–58.6 | 39.5 | 42.1 | 76.7 | 99.5 | 87 |
| 11 | 251–300 | Université Laval | 53.7–55.7 | 40.5 | 38.9 | 70.8 | 96 | 76.1 |
| =12 | 301–350 | Dalhousie University | 51.1–53.6 | 29.6 | 32.9 | 76.9 | 78.2 | 88.5 |
| =12 | 301–350 | Queen’s University | 51.1–53.6 | 35 | 36.4 | 76.2 | 79.8 | 76.3 |
| =12 | 301–350 | Simon Fraser University | 51.1–53.6 | 28.6 | 35.5 | 81.8 | 84.5 | 92.2 |
| =12 | 301–350 | University of Victoria | 51.1–53.6 | 29.6 | 37.1 | 81.7 | 65.8 | 86.5 |
| 16 | 351–400 | University of Saskatchewan | 49.4–51.0 | 39.2 | 34 | 63.9 | 94.2 | 78.5 |
| =17 | 401–500 | University of Guelph | 46.0–49.2 | 33.9 | 36.3 | 66.4 | 80.4 | 65.7 |
| =17 | 401–500 | University of Manitoba | 46.0–49.2 | 28.1 | 34.4 | 73.1 | 63.3 | 60.4 |
| =17 | 401–500 | York University | 46.0–49.2 | 28 | 32.5 | 73.5 | 71 | 82.9 |
| =20 | 501–600 | Carleton University | 43.3–45.9 | 22.1 | 30.4 | 65.2 | 70.4 | 77.5 |
| =20 | 501–600 | Concordia University | 43.3–45.9 | 23.9 | 30.6 | 65.2 | 66.5 | 87.5 |
| =20 | 501–600 | Memorial University of Newfoundland | 43.3–45.9 | 30.3 | 26.1 | 64.2 | 83.7 | 87.3 |
| =20 | 501–600 | Université du Québec | 43.3–45.9 | 31.7 | 34.2 | 56.5 | 71.8 | 74.9 |
| =20 | 501–600 | University of Windsor | 43.3–45.9 | 28.7 | 30.5 | 59.7 | 65.9 | 89.7 |
| =25 | 601–800 | Toronto Metropolitan University | 38.2–43.2 | 19.5 | 31.4 | 59.9 | 67.7 | 63.3 |
| =25 | 601–800 | University of New Brunswick UNB | 38.2–43.2 | 22.1 | 23.6 | 61.9 | 67.1 | 81.2 |
| =27 | 801–1000 | Ontario Tech University | 34.5–38.1 | 17.7 | 25 | 61.4 | 53.6 | 64 |
| =27 | 801–1000 | University of Regina | 34.5–38.1 | 18.6 | 20.4 | 66.5 | 37.6 | 70.1 |
| =27 | 801–1000 | Wilfrid Laurier University | 34.5–38.1 | 15.6 | 20.2 | 55.2 | 61.4 | 67.2 |
| =30 | 1001–1200 | Lakehead University | 30.7–34.4 | 16.3 | 24.2 | 53.5 | 42 | 59.5 |
| =30 | 1001–1200 | University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) | 30.7–34.4 | 21.1 | 22.4 | 50.6 | 20.3 | 54.7 |
| 32 | 1201–1500 | St Francis Xavier University | 25.2–30.6 | 16.7 | 18.1 | 48 | 27.9 | 54.5 |
| 33 | 1501+ | University of Lethbridge | 10.5–25.1 | 19.1 | 14.3 | 29.6 | 41.7 | 61.2 |
Key insights from the 2025 Canada University Rankings
- The University of Toronto remains the highest-ranked Canadian institution, consistently recognised for its research impact and academic excellence.
- University of British Columbia and McGill University continue to hold strong global positions, known for their world-class faculty and international outlook.
- McMaster University and University of Alberta share the fourth spot.
- Quebec’s universities like Université de Montréal and McGill offer robust French-English bilingual programmes, attracting diverse student populations.
- In total, 33 Canadian universities are featured in the Canada university ranking 2025, showcasing the country's strength in higher education.
Choosing the right university in Canada
When considering the top universities in Canada, prospective students should weigh factors like programme offerings, campus culture, location, and tuition fees. Whether you’re seeking cutting-edge research, strong co-op programmes, or vibrant campus life, Canada offers a wide range of options.
Use the Canada university ranking above to explore institutions that align with your academic goals and career ambitions.
The table for the best universities in Canada was derived from data collected from the THE World University Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page.
