Top 10 Colleges in Canada for International Students in 2024



In an era of global education, selecting the right university especially from the top colleges in Canada for international students is crucial for a transformative academic experience. Canada is recognized as a premier destination for international students, offering a unique blend of high-quality education, cultural diversity, and a welcoming environment. Let’s discover the educational opportunities that await you in top-rated universities in Canada.


Why Canada is a great place to study for International Students


Canada, which is one of the top study-abroad destinations, is on the pathway to becoming the world’s best global ed destination for international students. With best-in-class universities and top-quality education offered, Canada has now become the dream destination for higher education.

Universities in Canada are popular for the facilities offered, infrastructure, quality of education, and also for providing highly remunerated jobs right after the completion of the course.

Canada is also popular for providing affordable education for international students at the top colleges with the best-in-class research facilities. Universities in Canada are relatively affordable when compared to institutions in countries like the UK, New Zealand, the US, and Australia. Some other key reasons to study in top-rated universities in Canada are as follows:

  • According to QS World University Rankings 2024, 11 universities in Canada are among the top 250 universities in the world
  • If your focus is on research, there is no better country to go to than Canada as the Government of Canada has been actively investing in research activities that will be of benefit to society.
  • In comparison to other study destinations like the USA, the process of obtaining student visas is much easier and straightforward in Canada as the country focuses on attracting international students.
  • The cost of education and living in Canada is generally lower than in other countries. In case you are an international student on a budget, Canada can be the ideal study destination for you.
  • It is easier to get permanent residency in Canada (which can be obtained within 5 years), thanks to its immigration policies prioritising skilled workers and international graduates.
  • The 2023 Global Peace Index report ranks Canada as the 11th most peaceful country in the world.

How much does it cost to study in Canada?


From top-rated colleges in Canada to attractive musical and dance events, this country has a lot to offer international students. There will always be some event or the other happening around the clock, and students will have access to most of these events.

When you think of the cost of studying in an international destination like Canada, you should also think of other expenses that you will have to meet along with the major one, which is the tuition fees. While pursuing education in top-rated colleges in Canada you will have to consider the accommodation cost, study permit/visa cost, other living expenses, transportation, and cost of fun activities.

Tuition fees will be your primary expenditure while studying in top colleges in Canada. Tuition fees in Canada largely depend on the type of college/university and the kind of course selected by the student. Studying arts, liberal arts, and humanities are the cheapest options in Canada. At the same time, studying engineering, medicine, and business-related courses will be a little expensive in the top universities and educational institutions of Canada. On average, an international student will have to pay around CAD 13,000 and CAD 35,000 a year as tuition fees.

Studying a business course or MBA course in Canada can be really expensive; the annual tuition fees to study for an MBA in a top university can go above CAD 42,000.

Your expenditure on tuition fees depends on the type of qualification and institution you opt for. To cover this, you will need approximately CAD 13,000 and CAD 35,000 a year.

The next important factor that the student will have to take into consideration will be the accommodation expenses, almost all the universities in Canada offer on-campus accommodation for students, and this will cost cheaper than staying outside in an apartment. On-campus accommodation will range from CAD 8,000 to CAD 10,000, and living in an apartment outside will cost around CAD 700 per month as rent.

The living expenses include all the other expenses like books and supplies, communication, grocery and even social activities. CAD 15,000 is the approximate living expense in Canada.

What are the top 10 colleges in Canada for International Students?


Canada’s top Universities are as follows:

Name of the University Canada Rank Global Rank
University of Toronto 1 21
McGill University 2 30
University of British Columbia 3 34
University of Alberta 4 111
University of Waterloo 5 112
Western University 6 114
Université de Montréal 7 141
University of Calgary 8 182
McMaster University 9 189
University of Ottawa 10 203

Besides these, some other best colleges include Centennial College, Queen’s University, George Brown College, University of Manitoba, Seneca College among others. The admission requirements are competitive and international students can opt for graduate courses, postgraduate diplomas, short-term courses and so on.

University of Toronto


Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is one of the largest public universities in Canada. The University of Toronto is popular for its path-breaking research outcomes and the education system is top notch.Home to around 97,066 students across various academic disciplines, the University of Toronto is home to more than 27,000 international students ( which is around 21% of the university’s student population ) from 170 countries.

Presently there are 2,082 Indian students pursuing a degree and postgraduate courses in the university, and India ranks 2nd among the countries representing the maximum number of international students.

Why good to study here?

As one of Canada’s top universities, the University of Toronto offers quality education in 980 disciplines at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The university is also popular for its good international acceptance rate, which is more than 40% in 2022. University offers 700 undergraduate programs and more than 200 graduate programs, and the most popular courses are MBA, Medicine, and Architecture.

Fees

The average tuition fee at the University of Toronto will be around CAD 45,690 per year, and this includes tuition fees and also material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • Statement of purpose
  • IELTS score of 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT score of 100
  • A minimum score of 570/800 on the GMAT, but a competitive score is higher than 600/800
  • Essays/SOP
  • Financial documents
  • Transcripts for all secondary and post-secondary studies

Courses offered

  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Biology and Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
  • Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
  • Cell Biology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Health & Medicine
  • Engineering
  • Information Technology (IT) & Computer Science
  • Business Management
  • Economics
  • Nursing
  • Media & Journalism

McGill University


McGill University is one of the most reputed and popular colleges in Canada. It is also the 7th oldest university in Canada, with a legacy of a few of the best alumni and top call educational track records. Presently the university is home to more than 40,000 students, and 31% of these are international students from over 150 countries.68% of the students are pursuing an undergraduate course, and more than 32% are pursuing graduate programs.

The university is also famous for its good acceptance rate of 38% at the undergraduate level and offers more than 400 undergraduate and 90 graduate and Ph.D. programs. The university also has an acceptance rate of 29.2% for graduate programs making it one of the good colleges in Canada for international students.

Why good to study here?

Scholarship opportunities, research outcomes, campus life, and alumni achievements are a few things that make the university stand out from the crowd. There are many scholarship opportunities available for students in need and also for students who have sound academic careers. The university offers best-in-class facilities for students with a special focus on a green environment. The university has produced 12 Nobel laureates and 145 Rhodes scholars to date. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are part of the McGill University recruiters.

The university is ranked 51 among the best Global Universities by U.S. News and 31 in the Q.S. ranking.McGill University outperforms Canada’s other two top-ranking universities in terms of research, and they offer opportunities for students to do path-breaking research across disciplines.

Fees

The average tuition fee at McGill University in Quebec will be around CAD 35,000 per year, and this includes tuition fees and also material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • IELTS or TOEFL
  • Additional requirements such as a personal statement, CV, letters of reference, and application summary
  • Overall average and prerequisite subject requirements are normally between 75% to the 85%
  • 4.00 GPA, or equivalent unweighted average over the last two years of full-time studies
  • A minimum score of 730 on each SAT test
  • Minimum composite score of 33 on the ACT test

Courses offered

University offers more than 400 programs in U.G. courses, and these are the disciplines that the courses are offered:

  • Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • Arts
  • Dentistry and Healthcare
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Computer science
  • Law
  • Management
  • Medicine
  • Music
  • Science
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Energy and Fuels
  • Engineering
  • Geosciences

University of British Columbia


The University of British Columbia is a popular and reputed research university in Vancouver and the whole of Canada. They are popular for the quality of education, best teaching-learning practices, and also for research facilities available on campus. Currently, the university is home to students from more than 162 countries and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1, which is unique to the particular university.

The University of British Columbia is ranked amongst the world’s top 20 public universities, and this achievement was awarded based on the quality of education and research outcomes.

Why good to study here?

The University of British Columbia is one of the top colleges in Canada and has two campuses, one in Vancouver and the other one in Kelowna. The main campus is located in Vancouver on 400 acres of land, and the university works with 16 faculties, 18 schools, and 2 colleges to offer the best quality education. More than 27% of the population of the university is international students, and at present, the university has a student strength of 57,000 students.

The University of British Columbia is ranked 47 in the QS world university ranking and 37 in the World university ranking. A degree from the University of British Columbia is considered to be highly valuable as this helps the student get the best career opportunity. The University of British Columbia is considered an educational institution that works towards the holistic education of the student.

Fees

The average tuition fee at The University of British Columbia will be around CAD 38,900 per year, and this includes tuition fees and also material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • IELTS: 6.5 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.0
  • Additional requirements such as a personal statement, CV, letters of reference, and application summary
  • PET, TOEFL, and TOEFL iBT are a few other accepted proficiency tests
  • Completion of grade 12 with the necessary marks is the basic requirement for undergraduate courses.

Courses offered

Following are the most popular courses offered at the university :

  • Faculty of Applied Science
  • Faculty of Forestry
  • Interprofessional Continuing Education.
  • Master of Business Administration.
  • Master of Community and Regional Planning.
  • Master of Engineering Leadership.
  • Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management.

Following are the most popular schools at The University of British Columbia

  • School of Journalism
  • School of Music
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Vancouver School of Economics

University of Alberta


Established in 1908, the university of Alberta has grown to be on the list of top 5 universities in Canada. The university has 5 campuses and offers quality education for international students in all these 5 campuses and 18 faculties. This public research university offers more than 200 undergraduate programs and 500 graduate programs. The University of Alberta’s graduates ranked in 2nd position in Canada for employment rate.

Why is it good to study here?

The University of Alberta is popular for its programs in Engineering, Business, and Education. Presently they have a student strength of over 40,000 students from over 156 countries. Out of this, 80% of the students are pursuing an undergraduate degree, and the rest 20% are pursuing a graduate degree.

They offer more than 200 courses at the undergraduate level and more than 500 courses at the graduate level. They have a long list of notable alumni which includes Margaret Atwood, Joe Clark, and Beverly McLachlin.

Fees

The average tuition fee at the University of Alberta will be around CAD 20,000 per year, and this includes tuition fees and also material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • Complete a test of English Language Proficiency and earn the minimum score required by the university
  • Previous Education in English as recognized by the University of Alberta
  • Complete the university’s Bridging Program
  • The minimum admission average to be accepted varies depending on the Faculty and program
  • ELTS: 6 or above, internet TOEFL iBT 90 or above

Courses offered

  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Nursing
  • Agricultural sciences
  • Environmental Science and Engineering
  • Mining and Mineral Engineering
  • Instruments Science and Technology
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Business Administration
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Earth Sciences

University of Waterloo


The University of Waterloo is a popular public university in Canada that is ranked as the most innovative university according to the Maclean 2022 ranking. Presently there are 42,000 students who are part of the university, and 10% of these are international students. Waterloo is a member of U15, the research-intensive university grouping of Canada. The University of Waterloo is best known for its cooperative education (co-op) programs, which enable students to combine their education with relevant work experience.

Why is it good to study here?

As of one of the best universities in Canada, the University of Waterloo is known for its research grants and public and private research funding. Presently the university has funding of 247.7 million in multiple areas of research. University offers around 100 undergraduate degrees and 200 graduate programs for students from all around the world.

96% of the co-op graduates of the University of Waterloo have secured jobs within 6 months of graduation, and the program has generated over 7,500 jobs and revenue worth 2.3 billion CAD. The University offers academic programs which are administered by six faculties and ten schools, which are all faculty-driven. The university was established in the year of 1957

Fees

The average tuition fee to study at the University of Waterloo will be around CAD 30,000 per year. This includes tuition fees and material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • IELTS
  • Additional requirements such as a personal statement, CV, letters of reference, and application summary
  • First or second-division standing (minimum 50% and above)
  • IELTS score of 6.5
  • A minimum average of 80% is required for application eligibility

Courses offered

  • Biology and Biochemistry
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Computer Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Economics and Business

Western University


Founded in 1878, Western University in Ontario, Canada is among the top research-intensive universities in Canada which offers expert knowledge and world-class facilities across various disciplines. The university, which ranks 114 in the QS World University Rankings 2024, contributes to the social, health, economic, and cultural developments in Canada and the world

Why is it good to study here?

Western University is ranked amongst the top 1% of institutions for higher education around the world. According to the Times Higher Education rankings, the university grabs the 9th spot in its Impact Rankings 2023.

The university is the founding of U15 which is a group of the most recognised research universities in Canada. It has a great international alumni network with over 362,000 alumni across 160 countries in the world

Fees

Your tuition fees will depend on the program you are opting for. However, the year 1 tuition fees for an international student at Western University are estimated to be around $45,000 to $61,000.

Eligibility Criteria

If you are interested in applying for a graduate program at Western, you must possess a four-year undergraduate degree from a university or institute. You must also secure a 70% average in all subjects taken in the last two full-time years of an undergraduate program. Equivalent qualifications will be considered based on the quality of discipline or profession.

If you are applying for Doctoral programs, you must possess a master’s degree or equivalent from a recognised university or college with a 70% average. Additionally, you should also submit proof of research potential.

International students should also provide proof of their language proficiency.

  • TOEFL iBT – minimum acceptable score is 86 with no individual score less than 20
  • TOEFL PdT – minimum acceptable score is 65 with no individual score less than 20
  • IELTS – minimum acceptable score is 6.5
  • Duolingo English Test- minimum score of 115

Courses offered

Western University is known for its appeal to students in a diverse range of disciplines, including Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.

University of Montreal


Founded in 1878, the University of Montreal is a Canadian non-private research institution of higher education. They are one of the largest research institutions, with an enrolment of 70,000 students. The university is stretched across Quebec and has over sixty departments and thirteen faculties with two affiliated schools.

There are more than 10,000 international students who are part of the university, and 7000 students are permanent residents of the country. The university is also part of the U15 Canadian universities, which focuses on research outcomes and research developments.

Why good to study here?

As one of the most popular colleges in Canada, the University of Montreal has a total of 465 units and departments of research and is currently ranked third on the list of the best 50 research institutions. The University of Montréal offers a world-class education in almost all fields of study, and this university is also a melting pot of culture when it comes to diversity and the presence of international students. Life science, medical science, and other science-related courses are ranked under the top 100 in the world.

Fees

The average tuition fee to study at the University of Montréal (UdeM) will be around CAD 14,000 per year. This includes tuition fees and material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses. This is also one of the lowest when compared with many other universities in Canada.

Eligibility

  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 or 85% for U.G. programs
  • Minimum GPA of 3.3 or 88% for P.G. programs
  • For most of the programs, a TOEFL of 85 or IELTS score of 6.5, or a TOEIC score of 601 is required.
  • Good GRE score

Courses offered

A few well-known programs for international students at the University of Montreal are as follows:

  • Arts & Music
  • Law
  • Life science
  • Medicine
  • Computer science
  • Communication
  • Economy and Politics

University of Calgary


Established in 1966, the University of Clergy is one of the most popular research universities in Canada. This Canadian college has a student population of 33,000 students, of which about 26,000 students are pursuing undergraduate programs.

Presently international students account for more than 10% of the undergraduate population of the university and 25% of the graduate population of the university. There are students from over 155 countries part of this prestigious university. The university presently has 5 big campuses and a consolidated budget of CAD 1.3 billion.

Why is it good to study here?

The university offers more than 250 programs on all five campuses and offers more than 110 programs at the undergraduate level alone. The university is also popular for its certificate program courses, and there are 70 certificate courses offered by the university. The University of Calgary has been ranked 10th position in Canada and 235th position globally by the QS World University Rankings 2022.

Fees

The average tuition fee to study at the University of Calgary will be around CAD 14,000 per year. This includes tuition fees and material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • 12 graduation, or equivalent, and the completion of five courses at the 30 level (or equivalent)
  • IELTS
  • Additional requirements such as a personal statement, CV, letters of reference, and application summary
  • IELTS score of 6.0

Courses offered

  • Economics and Business
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Endocrinology and Metabolism.
  • Energy and Fuels
  • Environment/Ecology
  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Geosciences

McMaster University


Established in 1887, McMaster University is a popular research university that is among the top three research universities in Canada. Located in Hamilton, Ontario, the university offers over 100 doctoral and Master’s level programs across disciplines.

The university has a total of 17 facilities for undergraduate programs and 11 faculties for graduate programs. The university also offers more than 100-degree programs. Presently there are 32,11 students pursuing undergraduate courses in the university, and out of these, 16% are international students.

Why is it good to study here?

Programs like engineering, psychology, and other science courses are the most popular programs offered, and these programs outsmart the other programs by path-breaking research outcomes. This makes it one of the best universities in Canada Bertram Brockhouse, James Orbinski, and Donna Strickland are a few of the most famous alumni of McMaster university. According to QS world university rankings, 2023, McMaster University is ranked 152 in the world and 6 in Canada.

Fees

The average tuition fee to study at McMaster University will be around CAD 22,000 per year. This includes tuition fees and material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • IELTS or TOEFL
  • Additional requirements such as a personal statement, CV, letters of reference, and application summary
  • IELTS score of 6.5
  • TOEFL iBT score of 100
  • A minimum average of 80% is required for application eligibility

Courses offered

  • Engineering and technology
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Business economics
  • Business and management
  • Psychology
  • Geography
  • Physical sciences
  • Arts and humanities
  • Life sciences

University of Ottawa


Established in 1848, the University of Ottawa is one of the oldest public research universities located in Ottawa, Canada. It is also a bilingual university where the medium of instruction is both English and French. The university has an acceptance rate of 12%, which is less than many other top universities in Canada. This university is listed among the top 10 research universities in Canada and ranked 237th in the world university ranking.

Why is it good to study here?

The university has three campuses in Canada, and the main campus covers over 100 acres of area. Presently there are more than 80,000 students who pursue undergraduate and graduate programs at the university, and almost 22% of these are international students. The university also has a student-teacher ratio of 25:1.

Fees

The average tuition fee at the University of Ottawa will be around CAD 25,000 per year, and this includes tuition fees and also material charges, but this doesn’t include housing or other expenses.

Eligibility

  • Higher Secondary School Certificate with a Minimum average of75%
  • IELTS with an Overall 6.5 or above
  • TOEFL iBT with an Overall 86 or above
  • PTE with an Overall 60
  • CAE: C1

Courses offered

  • Mass Communication & Media
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • IT & Software
  • Medicine & Health Sciences
  • Teaching & Education
  • Law
  • Nursing
  • Engineering

Few other popular colleges in Canada for international students apart from the top 10 are as follows:

  • Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Ryerson University
  • Fanshawe College
  • University of Victoria
  • Dalhousie university
  • Carleton University
  • University of Windsor
  • Concordia University
  • York University

Let’s get you into top courses with no stress


Now that we have discussed the top 10 universities in Canada for international students, here’s a look at how you can apply seamlessly to these courses. Applying for the best courses is literally a touch away with the T.C. Global web application or mobile app.

Explore courses and start your journey here.

Getting Started

To move forward with us, download our app or visit tcglobal.com and sign in to create an account on our student platform! 🚀 Once you’re logged in to your platform, onboard with us by giving us some initial information! ✅

Once you’ve done this, visit Calendly.com/tcglobal to pick a Relationships team closest to you and choose a slot that works well for you for an e-meet with our team 🤙🏻🥳

Let’s shape your future together 🌍😊

You May Also Like



Date added
12.02.2024

Filed under:

Global Ed

Subscribe!

No spam, just your favourite topics.

Choose Insight topics that you are interested in to subscribe for your personalized newsletter.

A world
of possibilities awaits.
Join the movement.
Find your perfect university,
in one of 40 countries all over the world
Prepare for the future,
whether at university, business or in employment
Secure your future,
through STEM courses
Connect with leading international companies
and unlock the potential of your team
Fill in the form, so we can contact
you and start our journey together.