Universities and Colleges in Canada - Ranking, Courses & Cost

Home to around 600,000 Indian students, Canada is one of the hottest study abroad destination for international students, housing some of the best universities in the world, with the likes of University of Toronto, University of British Columbia & McGill University all ranking among the top 50 universities in the world. Canada is known for offering a high standard of living, a diverse and inclusive environment, affordable education & a higher ROI, thus, it comes as no surprise why most Indian students are usually so eager to pack their bags.

Here’s all you need to know about Studying in Canada

Latest Update:

May 21, 2025: The Canadian Government, as part of its stricter immigration policy, has imposed a significant cut to study permits being issued to international students, with the number of visas issued to Indian students reducing to almost a third in the first quarter of 2025, than how it was last year. As per the latest data made available by the Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the total permits issued to Indian students between January-March 2025 has come down to 30,640 as compared to the 44,295 permits that were issued during this period, last year, leading to a significant dip of 31%. 

This is not the first time Canada has made an attempt at reducing the number of international student admissions, as it announced an 35% cut for the same last year in January as a response to the surge in Housing Crisis problems, it encountered back then.

Check the detailed information on Canada's Housing Crisis

Moving to Canada for studies? Know what is Culture Shock and tips to reduce homesickness

Universities in Canada: Highlights

Canada is known for offering high-quality education and research opportunities. It offers around 175 universities and colleges for international students to choose from. Given below is a brief highlight about universities in Canada. 

Parameter	Statistics
No. of universities in Canada	175
Tuition fees of universities in Canada	INR 10 L - INR 40 L+
Top streams in Canada	Business, IT & Computer Science, Media, Engineering and Health & Medicine.
English language exams required	IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo
Entrance exams required	GMAT, GRE
Top Uni in Canada	University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Alberta

Why Study in Canada?

Each year thousands of international students from all over the world come to study at various Canadian universities. Canada offers various scholarships and work opportunities to help you with your education. Top universities in Canada are known globally for their high-quality education and research. A few of the reasons to study in Canada include the presence of world-class universities, cultural diversity, affordable education, vibrant campus life, etc. As per the QS World University Rankings 2025, the three best universities in Canada are in the top 50 universities in the world. 

Student Visa Fee in Canada

Student visa Canada is a document issued by Canadian immigration authorities that serves as permission for foreign students to study in Canada. International students cannot study in Canada without getting a valid study permit. Canada student visa fees are CAD 150 (INR 9,295). Canadian Visa Applications are available both online and offline.

Important Update on Canada Student Visa

The Canadian Government announced the ending of Student Direct Stream (SDS program). This announcement of policy change is took effect immediately. SDS Canada is a fast-track student visa program introduced in 2018 to make the Canada Student Visa process quick and smooth. This announcement will affect students who are planning to study in Canada in future. For more details check Canada Ends Fast-Track Study Visa Program

Check the detailed information on Canada's Housing Crisis here

Top Universities in Canada

Canada is home to some of the most highly-ranked and top-rated universities of the world. Here we have given a list of top universities in Canada. 

University	Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2025	QS World Ranking 2025
University of Toronto	#1	#25
University of British Columbia	#2	#38
McGill University	#3	#29
University of Alberta	#4	#96
McMaster University	#5	#176
University of Waterloo	#6	#115
University of Montreal	#7	#159
Western University	#8	#120
University of Ottawa	#9	#189
University of Calgary	#10	#198

Here’s a piece of detailed information about Top Universities in Canada

Note: Shiksha Popularity Rankings are subject to change with time.

Best Engineering Universities in Canada

Canada has some of the best universities/colleges in the world for engineering. Here we have listed some of the top colleges in Canada for Engineering based on QS World University Subject Rankings 2025.

University	QS Engineering & Technology 2025
University of Toronto	#17
University of British Columbia	#31
McGill University	#45
University of Waterloo	#47
University of Alberta	#112
University of Montreal	#133
University of Calgary	#192
Queen’s University at Kingston	#207
McMaster University	#227
Western University	#257

Best Universities in Canada for Business & Management

Canada is known for its high-quality education and top-graded Business and Management schools. Here we have listed some of the top colleges in Canada for Business and Management based on the QS World University Subject Rankings 2025:

University	QS Subject Ranking 2025 - Business and Management
University of Toronto	#33
University of British Columbia	#49
McGill University	#60
Western University	#86
University of Montreal	#108
University of Alberta	#149
Queen’s University at Kingston	#151-200
York University	#151-200
University of Calgary	#251-300

Top Cities to Study in Universities in Canada

Canada has hundreds of universities spread across Canada. British Columbia and Quebec have the largest number of universities. Toronto is home to the 'University of Toronto' the most prestigious and the top universities in Canada.  Here we have given the number of universities in each city.

State	Count of Universities
Ontario	60
British Columbia	44
Alberta	24
Quebec	13
Manitoba	9
Saskatchewan	8
Nova Scotia	7

Top Courses to Study in Canada

 The demanding courses to study in Canada are Engineering, Healthcare & Medicine, Business Management, Law, HR Management, Architecture, etc. Below is a list of the top colleges in Canada offering various courses. 

Top Courses	Count of Universities
UG Diploma	98
BBA	94
BSc	84
BA	83
BTech	82
UG Certificate	71
MS	61
PG Ceriticate	58
MBA/PGDM	56

Admissions Requirements for International Students in Canada

International students applying for Canadian universities need to meet both the course-specific and general admission requirements. The admission requirements will vary from university to university. Here we have given the general admission requirements for international students applying for Canadian universities.

• Completed application form
• Academic transcripts of class 12
• Bachelor’s degree (for master courses)
• GRE/GMAT
• English Language proficiency
• Resume
• Work Experience
• Must be enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Must provide proof of financial ability to pay your tuition fees, living expenses & that of any other visiting family member
• Obey the law, & have no past criminal record
• Must be in good health & clear a medical exam (if asked)
• Prove to relevant authorities that you will leave the country, post the expiry of your student visa 

Entrance Exams Accepted by Universities in Canada

International students must meet the minimum requirements of Canada universities in globally accepted entrance exams. Top Universities in Canada may ask to submit scores of GRE and GMAT including English language proficiency for their postgraduate courses. 

Entrance Exam	Count of Universities
GRE	33
GMAT	34

English Language Requirements by Universities in Canada

Canada is an English-speaking country, and universities in Canada require international students to prove their proficiency in the English language. Here we have given some English language exams accepted by Canadian universities.

English Language Exams	Count of Universities
IELTS	175
TOEFL	170
PTE	143
Duolingo	123

Cost of Studying in Canada

The cost of studying in Canada will include the tuition fees and accommodation costs. On average, students need INR 30 Lakh - INR 40 Lakh to study in Canada. However, the starting tuition fee can be below around INR 10 lakh. The cost of living and tuition fee will depend on various factors such as program and location accommodation.

Tuition Fees in Canadian Universities

The tuition fees for international students at public universities in Canada may vary from domestic students. Also, the tuition fees for international students will depend on the type of course and level of study.

First-Year Tuition Fee Range	Count of Universities
Max INR 10 L	122
Max INR 20 L	169
Max INR 30 L	175
Max INR 40 L	175
INR 40 L+	13

Did you know? Studies in Canada just became more affordable than ever before. 

Check out the video below to know more:

 Cost of Living in Canada

The cost of living in Canada will depend on the type of accommodation and location of your accommodation. Here is a requirement for a minimum bank balance for a Canada student visa. As per Numbeo, an Indian student requires around INR 88,000 to INR 1.71 L per month for living expenses. 

Scholarships in Canada

Top universities in Canada offer several scholarships to international students. Some scholarships are given by the university itself, meanwhile, some are given by external funding agencies. Here we have given some of the most popular scholarships given by top universities in Canada.

University Name	Name of Scholarship
University of Manitoba	International Undergraduate Student Bursary International Undergraduate Student Scholarship
University of Toronto	Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program – Bachelors in Engineering Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program – BA in Architecture
York University	Presidential International Scholarship of Excellence The Goldberg Leadership Award of Excellence

Work Permit After Graduation

Post Graduate Work Permit in Canada or PGWP Canada or Post-CanadianGraduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows international students, who graduated from designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada, to get a valid open work permit and gain work experience in Canada.

Part-time Work Options in Canada

As per the rules of IRCC, international students can work up to 24 hours a week on the Canadian student visa. They can work an unlimited number of hours if they are on a break scheduled by your DLI, such as winter and summer holidays, or a reading week. The typical part-time jobs in Canada include; Customer service, Cook, Clerk, Teacher, Web Designer, Dog walker, etc. 

Average Salary in Canada

As per Statistics Canada reports, the weekly salary in Canada is CAD 1,290 (Around INR 80 K). As per Glassdoor.com, the average salary in Canada ranges average salary in Canada is CAD 40 K - CAD 73K (INR 24,54,000 to INR 44,78,550) per year. The fast-growing industries in Canada are Technology, Agriculture, Healthcare, and Real Estate. 

High-Paying Jobs in Canada	Average Annual Salary in CAD	Average Annual Salary in INR
Physician	CAD 202,689	INR 1.5 Cr
Anesthesiologist	CAD 212,643	INR 1.3 Cr
Surgeon	CAD 240,877	INR 1.25 Cr
Psychiatrist	CAD 155,337	INR 96 L
Software engineering manager	CAD 144,258	INR 89.4 L
Chief marketing officer	CAD 141,496	INR 87.7 L
Cardiologist	CAD 102,545	INR 63.5 L
Orthodontist	CAD 73,409	INR 45.5 L

Akash Gaur05-23-2025 13:38