Canadian universities are some of the best in the world in terms of learning, research, cultural and development opportunities.
Students from all parts of the world go to Canada year after year to enroll, learn, conduct research, and find career opportunities at some of the top universities in Canada.
Some students cite Canada’s diversity and multiculturalism as some of the reasons for selecting Canadian instead of British, Australian, or American universities.
Others chose to apply to Canadian universities because of their affordability, excellence, and employment opportunities after graduation.
If you are interested in studying in Canada, it’s important to gather information and facts about all types of universities in this country.
Here is a summary of the best small, medium, and large universities in Canada.
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St Francis Xavier University
This small university located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia (Northeast Canada) is ranked as one of the top universities in Canada among primarily undergraduate universities by Maclean’s – one of the leading publications in Canada.
St. Francis Xavier is home to more than 5,120 students who come from many parts of Canada and other countries. The university is well known for its quality programs in arts, science, business, and information systems.
However, most students choose to go there because of its small campus atmosphere, small classes, one-on-one faculty-student interaction, community service, and research opportunities.
St. Francis Xavier offers approximately 33 academic programs ranging from Anthropology to Economics to Human Kinetics.
Some of the most popular majors include Business, Information Systems, Nursing and Aquatic Resources.
St. Francis Xavier Admissions
Admission requirements generally include a high school diploma or its equivalent with courses in English, Mathematics, and other academic subjects.
U.S. high school graduates must have completed 16 academic subjects including four English courses.
International students whose native language is not English and who have not attended school in an English-speaking country must submit TOEFL scores (90 IBT and no lower than 20 in each band) or IELTS scores (6.5 overall and no lower than 6.0 in each band).
St. Francis Xavier Tuition and General Fees
- Canadian Students: $10,943 Canadian Dollars (CAD) per academic year (approximately $8,592 USD)
- International Students: $21,068 CAD academic year (approximately $16,543 USD)
Scholarships are available for Canadian and international students who possess excellent grades (85% or greater), a history of community work, leadership, and dedication to others.
Website: https://www.stfx.ca
Admissions: https://www.stfx.ca/admissions/requirements
University of Guelph
Located in Ontario and one hour west of Toronto, the University of Guelph offers excellent academic, research, and international opportunities without sacrificing the friendliness and comfort of a small community.
The university is home to 29,507 undergraduate and graduate students and 1,700 international students from over 130 countries.
Rated by Maclean’s as the #4 comprehensive university in Canada, the University of Guelph offers a variety of academic programs in arts, science, commerce, technology, engineering, architecture, veterinary medicine, and other fields.
Many programs offer co-op opportunities that allow students to apply their academic knowledge in practical industry work.
Because of the university’s commitment to internationalism, study abroad programs abound including exchange programs with universities in Australia, England, France, India, Latin America, South Africa, the USA, and other countries.
University of Guelph Admissions
A secondary school graduation certificate, high school diploma or equivalent is necessary for undergraduate admission. Successful applicants will possess excellent grades and additional supporting documents.
Students are encouraged to submit International Baccalaureate diplomas, Advanced Placement examinations, SAT scores, or Advanced Level examinations.
Students whose native language is not English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting scores from a testing entity such as IELTS, TOEFL, MELAB, CAEL, or by enrolling in the university’s ESL program.
Certain minimum requirements apply to citizens of specific countries. Consult the admissions website for further information.
Graduate admission requirements depend on the specific graduate program. Minimum requirements include an undergraduate degree or equivalent degree (four-year degree) from a college or university.
Certain programs may require specific tests such as the GMAT for the Master in Business Administration program. Consult the graduate program website for further information.
University of Guelph Tuition Costs
Tuition costs vary per academic program. The following estimates indicate a range of total tuition costs per semester:
- Undergraduate Canadian Students: $7,391 – $10,541 CAD / academic semester
- Undergraduate International Students: $30,390 – $42,422 CAD / academic semester
- Graduate Canadian Students: $2,330 – $8,333 CAD / academic semester
- Graduate International Students: $4,558 – 9,3333 CAD / academic semester
Scholarships are available to Canadian and International students. Merit-based awards range from $700 to $50,000 CAD with over $42.7 million in scholarships available to University of Guelph students.
Successful applicants will have excellent academic records, high test scores (if applicable), demonstrated leadership ability, volunteerism, as well as letters of reference.
Website: https://www.uoguelph.ca/
Undergraduate Admissions: https://admission.uoguelph.ca/
Graduate Admissions: https://www.uoguelph.ca/graduatestudies/gsmail/index.html
University of Toronto
Known as the largest university in Canada, the University of Toronto educates over 95,000 students including approximately 24,691 international students from 164 countries and regions.
It was recently ranked #17 in Global Universities by U.S. News due to its commitment to research, discovery, and the diverse amount of learning opportunities it provides to its large student body.
The university is known for breakthrough research achievements such as the development of the first electronic heart pacemaker and the development of the chemical laser, and for having 6 Nobel Prize-winning graduates.
With over 700 academic programs, students can choose to major in a variety of fields ranging from Aboriginal Studies to Zoology or choose to pursue a professional degree in law, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and dentistry.
University of Toronto Admissions
A secondary school graduation certificate, high school diploma or equivalent is necessary for undergraduate admission. Successful applicants will generally be in the top third of their graduating class.
Students are encouraged to submit International Baccalaureate diplomas, Advanced Placement examinations, SAT Reasoning and SAT II scores, or Advanced Level examinations.
Certain minimum requirements apply to citizens of specific countries. Consult the admissions website for further information.
Students whose native language is not English are required to provide evidence of English proficiency by submitting scores from a testing entity such as IELTS, TOEFL, MELAB, CAEL or by enrolling in the university’s ESL program.
Graduate admission requirements depend on the specific graduate program. Minimum requirements include an undergraduate degree or equivalent degree (four-year degree) from a college or university.
Certain programs may require specific tests such as the GMAT for the Master in Business Administration program. Consult the graduate program website for further information.
University of Toronto Tuition Costs
Tuition costs vary per academic program. The following costs indicate a range of tuition costs for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- Undergraduate Canadian Students: $6,100 – $14,180 CAD
- Undergraduate International Students: $37,680 – $60,440 CAD
- Graduate Canadian Students: $6,210 – $46,270 CAD
- Graduate International Students: $24,960 – $67,160 CAD
Scholarships are available to Canadian and International students. The University of Toronto selects outstanding students for undergraduate and graduate awards.
Undergraduate awards for top applicants have a value of $20,000 CAD. Successful applicants will have excellent academic records, high test scores (if applicable) as well as letters of reference.
Website: https://www.utoronto.ca/
Admissions: https://future.utoronto.ca/apply/
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Denisse Romero
Denisse is a global education and communications consultant, as well as the main person behind MacQuil. As an international mentor and frequent traveler, she enjoys sharing information to help anyone travel, study or work abroad.
Denisse holds a Master's in Management from GWU, a Master's in Education from Harvard University and an Executive Coaching Certificate from the University of Cambridge.
