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 in some of the best universities in this country. 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 selecting Canada as your education destination, 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.

St Francis Xavier University

This small university located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia (Northeast Canada) is ranked as the #1 university in Canada among primarily undergraduate universities by Maclean’s – one of the leading publications in Canada. St. Francis Xavier is home to more than 4,200 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, but 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.

Admission

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 (236 on the computer-based test and 580 on the paper-based test are required).

Tuition and General Fees*

Canadian Students: $6,800 Canadian Dollars (CAD) / academic year (approximately $5,783 USD)

International Students: $13,289 CAD / academic year (approximately $11,300 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.

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 16,000 undergraduate students and 1,964 graduate students including international students from over 100 countries.

Rated by Maclean’s as the #1 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, USA and other countries.

Admission

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. 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.

Tuition Costs**

Tuition costs vary per academic program. The following estimates indicate a rough average of total tuition costs per semester.

Undergraduate Canadian Students: $2500 CAD / academic semester

Undergraduate International Students: $7500 CAD / academic semester

Graduate Canadian Students: $2,087 CAD / academic semester

Graduate International Students: $4,448 CAD / academic semester

Scholarships are available to Canadian and International students. Merit-based scholarships range from $500 to $6,000 CAD while need-based scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,000 CAD. Successful applicants will have excellent academic records, high test scores (if applicable) as well as letters of reference.

University of Toronto

Known as the largest university in Canada, the University of Toronto educates over 70,000 students including approximately 62,000 full-time students and 6,000 international students. It was recently ranked as the top university in Canada – in the category of doctoral universities by Maclean’s – due to its commitment to research and discovery and the learning opportunities it provides to its large student body. The university is known for break-through 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 300 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.

Admission

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.

Tuition Costs**

Tuition costs vary per academic program. The following costs indicate minimum and maximum tuition costs for the 2006-2007 academic year. For example, the cost for Canadian students in a bachelor’s degree program from the faculty of arts and sciences entering in 2006 is $4,373 CAD per academic year, while the cost for Canadian students in the bachelor’s in Pharmacy program entering in 2006 is $10,283 CAD per academic year. At the graduate level, the cost for the Master of Laws and the Master of Music programs is established at $5,660 CAD for Canadian students, while the MBA program has a cost of $37,839 CAD per academic year for international students.

Undergraduate

Domestic 4,373 – 10,283

International 16,800 – 21,000

Graduate

Domestic $5,660 – $27,000

International $12,600 – $37,839

Scholarships are available to Canadian and International students. The University of Toronto selects outstanding students for undergraduate and graduate awards. Undergraduate admission awards have a value of $5,000. Successful applicants will have excellent academic records, high test scores (if applicable) as well as letters of reference.

* Costs do not include housing and living expenses
** Costs do not include university fees, housing or living expenses

By: Denisse Romero