Canada’s top universities hold strong in global rankings, led by University of Toronto

The University of Toronto has retained its position as the top-ranked university in Canada, according to a report by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. The rankings assess universities worldwide based on 18 performance indicators grouped into five categories: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement.

The 2025 rankings highlight Canada’s continued presence in the global academic landscape, with three institutions placing in the top 50 worldwide. The University of Toronto ranked 21st globally, followed by the University of British Columbia at 41st and McGill University at 45th. McMaster University and the University of Alberta both ranked 116th in the global list.


The University of Toronto maintained its leading position due to consistent performance across all five ranking categories. Its strong global research output and international reputation contributed to its high global standing. The University of British Columbia and McGill University followed closely, each demonstrating strengths in research and international collaboration.


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McMaster University and the University of Alberta, both tied at fourth nationally and 116th globally, received perfect scores in the industry engagement category. This score reflects their strong ties with industry partners and effective transfer of research into practical applications.

Université de Montréal ranked sixth in Canada and performed well in research and international outlook. The University of Waterloo, known for its co-op programs and innovation-focused approach, placed seventh. The University of Ottawa, Canada’s largest bilingual university, was ranked eighth nationally, as per THE World Rankings 2025.

The University of Calgary and Western University shared the ninth position. Both institutions showed stable performance compared to last year’s rankings.

The 2025 rankings show only minor changes among Canada’s top universities, with McGill University being the only institution in the top three to improve its global rank. Overall, Canadian universities maintained strong positions in global higher education, reflecting ongoing investment in research, teaching quality, and international engagement.

The University of Calgary and Western University shared the ninth position, both institutions showed stable performance compared to last year’s rankings. The 2025 rankings show only minor changes among Canada’s top universities, with McGill University being the only institution in the top three to improve its global rankings. Overall, Canadian universities maintained maintained strong positions in global higher education, reflecting ongoing investment in research, teaching quality and international engagement.