Posted by Canada has become a place for international students seeking quality higher education opportunities. In recent years, it has consistently ranked among the top destinations for international students, and it’s easy to see why.
International students in Canada are generally allowed to work part-time during their studies and full-time during scheduled breaks, which is another advantage.
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Why Study in Canada?
Canada offers a high standard of living with a stable, peaceful society, ranking third globally for the best quality of life.
Canada is one of the most popular destinations for international students, with a 31% increase in international students in Canada from 2021 to 20221. At the end of 2022, Canada saw 43% growth over the previous five years and nearly 170% over the last decade.
International students can enjoy flexible and high-quality education options, with over 8,000 college and 16,000 university programs available.
Tuition fees are generally lower than in Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. International students can also work during their studies and obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit after their studies.
A long-term return on investment is possible with internationally recognized Canadian qualifications, as 60% of international students who were employed during their study period became landed immigrants within 10 years of obtaining their first study permit.
Popular Courses in Canada
The following are some of the most popular courses in Canada for international students:
- Business & Management Studies
- Hospitality & Leisure Management
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Accounting & Finance
- Computer Science
- Media & Journalism
- Nursing
- Dentistry
- Communication
- Education
- Psychology
List of the Best Colleges in Canada for International Students
Below is a table showing the best colleges in Canada for international students:
20 Best Colleges in Canada for International Students
1. University of Toronto
- Founded: 1827
- Location: St. George Campus, Scarborough Campus.
- Ranking: The University of Toronto is ranked 18th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: The University of Toronto is accredited by the Ontario Council on University Affairs (OCUA).
- Financial aid: The University of Toronto offers a variety of financial aid programs to students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: The University of Toronto offers over 700 undergraduate and graduate programs in a wide range of subjects.
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world.
2. University of British Columbia
- Founded: 1878
- Location: British Columbia, Canada.
- Ranking: UBC is ranked 46th in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023.
- Accreditation: UBC is accredited by the British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT).
- Financial aid: UBC offers a variety of financial aid programs to students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: UBC offers over 700 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, science, engineering, business, law, and medicine.
UBC is a public research university located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the most prestigious universities in Canada and is consistently ranked among the top 50 universities in the world.
3. McGill University
- Founded: 1821
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023; 32nd
- Accreditation: McGill University is accredited by the Canadian Association of University Schools of Nursing (CAUSN).
- Financial aid: McGill University offers a variety of financial aid options to students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: McGill University offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, science, engineering, business, law, medicine, and education.
McGill University is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1821 by royal charter and is named after James McGill, a Scottish merchant.
4. University of Alberta
- Founded: 1908
- Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- Ranking: 125th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: The University of Alberta is accredited by the Canadian Association of Colleges and Universities (CAICUS).
- Financial aid: The University of Alberta offers a variety of financial aid programs for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: The University of Alberta offers over 400 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, and medicine.
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 and is the oldest university in the province.
5. University of Waterloo
- Founded: 1957
- Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
- Ranking: 1st in Canada for computer science, engineering, and mathematics (2021 Maclean’s University Rankings)
- Accreditation: the University of Waterloo is accredited by the Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP) and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
- Financial aid: The University of Waterloo offers a variety of financial aid programs to help students pay for their education. These programs include scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: The University of Waterloo offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including science, engineering, math, business, arts, and humanities.
The University of Waterloo is a public research university in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1957 and has since become one of Canada’s leading universities for science, engineering, math, and technology.
6. University of Montreal
- Founded: 1878
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Ranking: 111th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Member of the Association of American Universities
- Financial aid: The university offers a variety of financial aid programs for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: The university offers over 600 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, sciences, engineering, business, law, medicine, and health sciences.
The University of Montreal is a French-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the largest university in Quebec and the second largest in Canada.
7. University of Calgary
- Founded: 1966
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023; 251-300
- Accreditation: The University of Calgary is accredited by the Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP).
- Financial aid: The University of Calgary offers a variety of financial aid programs to students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: The University of Calgary offers over 400 undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including arts, science, business, engineering, medicine, and law.
The University of Calgary is a public research university in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1966 and has over 33,000 students.
8. McMaster University
- Founded: 1887
- Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings 2024; 189
- Accreditation: Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP).
- Financial aid: McMaster offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: McMaster offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including arts, science, engineering, business, health sciences, and social sciences.
McMaster University is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1887 and has over 44,000 students.
9. Simon Fraser University
- Founded: 1965
- Location: Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings 2024; #318.
- Accreditation: The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).
- Financial aid: Simon Fraser University offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
- Courses: Simon Fraser University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, and health sciences.
Simon Fraser University is a public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the Greater Vancouver area, with three campuses in Burnaby, Surrey, and Vancouver.
10. Western University
- Founded: 1878
- Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings: 201-250 (2023)
- Accreditation: Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP)
- Financial aid: Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- Courses: Western offers over 400 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, and social sciences.
Western University is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1878 and is one of the largest universities in Canada.
11. University of Ottawa
- Founded: 1848
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Ranking: 132 in Best Global Universities (Times Higher Education)
- Accreditation: Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP)
- Courses: Over 400 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including law, medicine, business, engineering, science, and the arts.
The University of Ottawa is a public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest bilingual university in the world, offering programs in both English and French.
12. Laval University
- Founded: 1663
- Location: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023: 201-250
- Accreditation: Université Laval is accredited by the Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU).
- Financial aid: Université Laval offers a variety of financial aid programs for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: Université Laval offers over 300 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including business, engineering, law, medicine, and science.
Université Laval is a public research university in Quebec City, Canada. It is the oldest university in Canada and the largest French-language university in North America.
13. York University
- Founded: 1959
- Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Tuition fee: The tuition fee for international students at York University ranges from CAD$33,000 to CAD$40,000 per year, depending on the program.
- Ranking: York University is ranked 122nd in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2023. It is also ranked 48th in the world for arts and humanities by the same rankings.
- Accreditation: York University is accredited by the Canadian Association of Colleges and Universities (CAICUS).
- Financial aid: York University offers a variety of financial aid programs for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: York University offers over 600 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, and social sciences.
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the third-largest university in Canada by enrollment, with over 56,000 students.
14. Dalhousie University
- Founded: 1818
- Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings: 351-400 (2023)
- Accreditation: Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)
- Financial aid: Dalhousie offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: Dalhousie offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, sciences, engineering, business, medicine, and law.
Dalhousie University is a public research university in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the oldest university in Atlantic Canada and the 16th oldest university in Canada.
15. University of Manitoba
- Founded: 1877
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Tuition fee: Undergraduate; CAD$7,000 to CAD$15,000 per year.
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings 2024; #671-680
- Accreditation: The University of Manitoba is accredited by the Canadian Association of University Colleges and Universities (CAICUS).
- Financial aid: The University of Manitoba offers a variety of financial aid programs for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
Courses
The University of Manitoba offers over 90 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including:
- Arts and humanities
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Health Sciences
- Law
- Science
The University of Manitoba is a public research university located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the oldest university in Western Canada and one of the country’s top research institutions.
16. Queen’s University
- Founded: 1841
- Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023; 176
- Accreditation: Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)
- Financial aid: Queen’s University offers a variety of financial aid programs to help students pay for their education. These programs include scholarships, bursaries, loans, and grants.
- Courses: Queen’s University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, science, engineering, business, law, medicine, and education.
Queen’s University is a public research university in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1841 and is a member of the U15, a group of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities.
Here are some other things that make Queen’s University unique:
- It is a very selective university, with an acceptance rate of around 40%.
- It has a strong academic reputation, with many of its programs ranked among the best in Canada and the world.
- It is a vibrant campus community, with a diverse student body and a strong sense of school spirit.
17. University of Saskatchewan
- Founded: 1907
- Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Ranking: 15th in Canada (Maclean’s University Rankings 2023)
- Accreditation: Accredited by the Canadian Association of University Teachers
- Financial aid: Offers a variety of financial aid programs for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: Offers over 150 undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields, including agriculture, arts, education, engineering, health sciences, law, and sciences
18. University of Victoria
- Founded: 1903
- Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Ranking: QS World University Rankings: 551-600 (2023)
- Accreditation: It is also accredited by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).
- Financial aid: The University of Victoria offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: The University of Victoria offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including arts, sciences, business, engineering, and education.
The University of Victoria is a public research university located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1903 and has a current enrollment of over 22,000 students.
19. University of Guelph
- Founded: 1964
- Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings; 601-800 (2023)
- Accreditation: Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs.
- Financial aid: Government of Canada loans and grants, and University of Guelph scholarships and bursaries
The University of Guelph is a public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College.
20. Carleton University
- Founded: 1942
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Ranking: Times Higher Education World University Rankings; 401-500
- Accreditation: Canadian Association of University Business Schools and Programs (CAUSBP).
- Financial aid: Carleton University offers a variety of financial aid options for students, including scholarships, bursaries, and loans.
- Courses: Carleton University offers over 65 undergraduate and graduate programs in various disciplines, including business, engineering, law, science, and the arts.
Carleton University is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1942 as Carleton College and became a university in 1957.
FAQs on the Best Colleges in Canada for International Students
Are English language proficiency tests required for admission?
Yes, most colleges in Canada require proof of English language proficiency. Commonly accepted tests include IELTS and TOEFL. Be sure to check the admission requirements on the college's official website.
Are there any colleges in Canada that offer programs in French for international students?
Yes, several colleges in Canada offer programs in French, particularly in the province of Quebec. These programs are often available to both French-speaking and non-French-speaking international students.
Can I stay in Canada after graduation?
Canada offers various immigration pathways for international students to stay and work in the country after graduation, such as the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP).
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Conclusion
Many Canadian colleges offer scholarships and financial aid to international students. You can check the official websites of the colleges for specific scholarship opportunities.
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