You’ve already seen ICCC’s top picks: Toronto, UBC, McGill, McMaster, Waterloo, and Calgary. But Canada places 30 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and several more are strong choices for Nepali students. Here are 8 more top universities in Canada, with real rankings, real strengths, and what each one is known for.
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Quick Answer: 8 More Top-Ranked Canadian Universities
University QS World Rank 2027 City Best Known For University of Alberta 96 Edmonton, AB Engineering, energy research Western University 142 London, ON Business (Ivey), medicine Université de Montréal 162 Montreal, QC French-language programs, health science Queen’s University 179 Kingston, ON Business (Smith), engineering, law University of Ottawa 228 Ottawa, ON Bilingual programs, law, public affairs Dalhousie University 298 Halifax, NS International faculty, marine science Simon Fraser University ~310 Burnaby, BC Co-op education, innovation, sustainability University of Saskatchewan 411 Saskatoon, SK Agriculture, engineering
Source: QS World University Rankings 2027, released June 2026.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is Canada’s fourth-ranked school in 2027, at spot 96 globally. It jumped 16 places in a recent QS cycle, one of the biggest climbs among Canadian schools.
The university runs five campuses and enrolls over 44,000 students from 156 countries. It scores especially well on its ratio of international faculty, a sign of a genuinely global teaching staff.
Popular programs: Engineering, energy systems, medicine. Good fit for: Students who want a top-100 world ranking without Toronto or Vancouver’s cost of living.
Western University
Western sits in London, Ontario, a smaller city with a strong campus-town feel. It holds a national reputation for two programs: the Ivey Business School and its medical school.
Western offers a traditional undergraduate experience, with residence life, sports, and a wide range of arts, science, and health science programs.
Popular programs: Business, medicine, social science. Good fit for: Students who want a strong business degree outside a major metro area.
Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal is a French-language university founded in 1878. It runs more than 650 programs across two affiliated schools and offers financial aid through work programs, loans, bursaries, and grants.
Most programs teach in French, so this school suits students with strong French skills or those willing to study French intensively before enrolling. Its alumni include former United Technologies CEO Louis R. Chenevert.
Popular programs: Health sciences, law, engineering. Good fit for: French-speaking or French-learning students who want a francophone academic environment.
Queen’s University
Queen’s, in Kingston, Ontario, ranks highly for its Smith School of Business and its faculty of engineering. It is one of Canada’s oldest universities and keeps a tight-knit campus community, smaller than Toronto or UBC.
Popular programs: Business, engineering, law. Good fit for: Students who want a smaller, close-knit campus with strong employer connections.
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is the world’s largest bilingual university. Students can take courses in English, French, or both, which gives graduates a real edge in Canada’s federal job market, since Ottawa is the capital.
Popular programs: Law, public affairs, health sciences. Good fit for: Students who want government, policy, or bilingual career paths.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie ranks 298th in the world for 2027 and sits 12th among Canada’s 30 ranked universities. It ranks first in Canada for international faculty, and 89th in the world on that same measure.
Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie is the top-ranked university in Atlantic Canada and is known for marine and ocean science research.
Popular programs: Marine science, medicine, law. Good fit for: Students who want a coastal city and a genuinely international faculty.
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University (SFU) sits in Burnaby, British Columbia, with extra campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. Maclean’s has ranked SFU Canada’s top comprehensive university for over a decade.
SFU built its reputation on co-op education and interdisciplinary research. It runs strong programs in business, computing science, and the arts, and it holds a solid national sustainability record.
Popular programs: Business, computing science, criminology. Good fit for: Students who want a Vancouver-area school with strong work-integrated learning, as an alternative to UBC.
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan ranks 411th in the world for 2027 and 16th in Canada. It is a member of the U15, Canada’s group of leading research universities, and it sits ahead of Laval and Manitoba on this year’s list.
Popular programs: Agriculture, engineering, veterinary medicine. Good fit for: Students interested in agriculture or a lower cost of living in a mid-sized Canadian city.
Other Canadian Universities Worth a Look
A few more schools regularly show up in student shortlists, even outside the QS top 200: York University and Concordia University for business and arts programs in Toronto and Montreal, the University of Victoria for a smaller coastal campus, and Université Laval for French-language studies in Quebec City. Ask your ICCC counsellor if one of these fits your program and budget better than a top-ranked pick.
Why Look Beyond the Top 6?
A lower QS rank does not mean a lower-quality degree. It often means:
- Lower tuition and living costs than Toronto or Vancouver.
- Higher acceptance rates, which matter if your academic profile sits below the top-tier cutoffs.
- Smaller class sizes and more direct access to professors.
- Strong regional job markets: Ottawa for government work, Halifax for marine industries, Saskatoon for agriculture.
All of these schools still qualify for the same Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and immigration pathways as Canada’s top-ranked schools, as long as the program is eligible.
How to Choose Between These Universities
- Match the program, not just the rank. A 300-ranked school with a strong marine science department can beat a 100-ranked school with a weak one for your specific goal.
- Check the language of instruction. Université de Montréal and Université Laval teach mainly in French.
- Compare tuition and city cost of living. Halifax and Saskatoon cost less to live in than Ottawa or Montreal.
- Look at co-op availability. SFU and Waterloo lead Canada on paid work terms built into the degree.
- Confirm your English test score meets the bar. Most of these schools ask for an IELTS overall band of 6.5, with no band below 6.0.
Frequently Asked Question
Are there good Canadian universities besides Toronto, UBC, and McGill?
Yes. The University of Alberta, Western University, Queen’s University, and the University of Ottawa all rank in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and offer strong programs at a lower cost of living than Toronto or Vancouver.
Which Canadian university ranks just outside the world’s top 100?
The University of Alberta ranks 96th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, just inside the global top 100, followed by Western University at 142nd.
Is the University of Alberta good for international students?
Yes. The University of Alberta enrolls over 44,000 students from 156 countries and scores especially well for its ratio of international faculty, a sign of a genuinely global academic environment.
What is Western University known for?
Western University is known for its Ivey Business School and its medical school. It ranks 142nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
Is Université de Montréal a good option for English-speaking students?
Not usually as a first choice. Most programs at Université de Montréal teach in French, so it suits students with strong French skills or those ready to study French intensively before enrolling.
Which Canadian university is strongest for co-op education after Waterloo?
Simon Fraser University holds one of Canada’s strongest co-op and work-integrated learning reputations outside Waterloo, alongside solid programs in business and computing science.
Is Dalhousie University a good choice for Nepali students?
Dalhousie ranks 298th in the world for 2027 and holds Canada’s top spot for international faculty. It suits Nepali students who want a coastal city, strong marine science programs, and a genuinely international faculty.
What is Queen’s University known for?
Queen’s University is known for its Smith School of Business and its faculty of engineering. It offers a smaller, close-knit campus compared to Toronto or UBC.
Is the University of Ottawa bilingual?
Yes. The University of Ottawa is the world’s largest bilingual university. Students can study in English, French, or both, which helps graduates who want to work in Canada’s federal government.
Should I pick a top-20 Canadian university or a mid-ranked one?
It depends on your program, budget, and academic profile. A mid-ranked university with a strong department in your field, lower tuition, and a higher acceptance rate can be a better fit than a top-20 school overall.