Canada is famous for its beautiful landscape, friendly people, and socially diverse and inclusive society, providing an ideal environment for tourists from other countries. These characteristics help the country consistently rank among the top five most popular countries for international students. It also hosts some of the best research-intensive universities in the world that welcome students from various countries regardless of religion, race, social status, or gender preference.
Therefore, it remains one of the best countries for students seeking a degree in humanities. Most of the top-ranking universities in Canada are eager to attract outstanding students globally to maintain excellence and diversity in their respective campuses. That is why they offer numerous scholarship opportunities to subsidize tuition fees, living costs, and other study-related expenses.
In this article, we will look at the best humanities schools in Canada!
Top Schools Offering Humanities Programs in Canada
1. University of Toronto
The University of Toronto opened in 1827 and is Canada’s most prominent and highest-ranking public institution. It takes pride in its diversity, which is the driving force behind its overall success. It welcomes people from various backgrounds and allows them to learn and contribute to local and global societies.
In addition, U of T is a leading humanities school in Canada with over 1,000 study programs to cater to its highly diverse student population of over 95,000—more than 25% of which come from over 160 countries. Prospective students may select from many Bachelor of Arts degree programs under humanities spread among the university’s three campuses: Mississauga, Scarborough, and St. George.
They may choose from disciplines that range from ancient to contemporary studies of art, history, language, literature, culture, philosophy, and more. The university also has 40 master’s programs relevant to the humanities. Some allow students to select a Master of Arts or a Master of Science degree. Depending on their specialization, fresh bachelor’s degree graduates can also directly enter a five-year Ph.D. research program.
2. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia, opened in 1915, is a top-ranking public institution and a leading humanities school in Canada. In a little over 100 years, it has solidified its status as one of the top three universities in the country and the top 50 worldwide. In addition, it has produced many notable alums, including eight Nobel Prize awardees, three Canadian prime ministers, and numerous Olympic athletes.
UBC’s excellent reputation attracts an increasing number of international students every year. At present, it hosts almost 70,000 students, a quarter of whom hail from nearly 150 countries. Its students are spread between the university’s two main campuses: Okanagan and Vancouver.
The institution’s two campuses offer various arts, humanities, and social sciences programs. The Okanagan campus hosts the Department of History and Sociology, where interested students may pursue a Bachelor of Sustainability in Environmental Humanities. Under the same department, students may pursue a two-year Master of Arts or a four-year Ph.D. in Digital Arts and Humanities.
3. University of Alberta
The University of Alberta, founded in 1908, is one of Canada’s leading research universities and an excellent humanities institution. It has one campus in Camrose and four in Edmonton, offering over 700 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 40,000 highly diverse students from 156 countries.
U of A has over 50 undergraduate programs under the Faculty of Arts, where students can focus on a particular humanities study area, such as history, philosophy, or sociology. Meanwhile, those who still need to decide what discipline to focus on may take the Undeclared Program, which allows them to explore various interdisciplinary courses under fine arts, humanities, languages other than English, and math or science. They can then decide on their major later.
The university also offers a Master of Arts in Digital Humanities program, which combines digital technology and liberal arts. Students can select their area of specialization from a wide range of humanities courses, including art, music, history, sociology, religion, and more.
4. McGill University
McGill University, opened in 1821, is among Canada’s best humanities universities. It has since made many contributions to the world, including some of the best discoveries and innovations. The institution has also produced several globally renowned and influential alums who take active roles in various fields, such as public service, media, business, sports, and sciences.
Its Faculty of Arts includes numerous departments, faculties, institutes, and schools that offer various humanities and social sciences programs. The undergraduate liberal arts program provides students with broad knowledge in the humanities. While they can learn about a wide range of topics, liberal arts students can choose among three study areas: literature and the arts, history and culture and society, or philosophy and religion.
Moreover, McGill University also offers graduate programs in history and classics. Students may select from various Master of Arts specializations and later pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree in their chosen field.
5. McMaster University
McMaster University, founded in 1887 in Toronto, Canada, is a public research-intensive university and a recognized institution for humanities that ranks among the finest nationally and globally. Its long history has yielded notable alums, including four Nobel laureates, government officials, and business leaders. It currently hosts over 37,500 students, of which 17% come from roughly 120 other countries.
The university’s Bachelor of Arts degree lasts three years, while its Single Honors degree lasts four years. Humanities I students can select from various study areas in their first year to gauge their learning interests and goals. In their second year, they must choose a major or focus on two majors equally to earn a Combined Honors degree.
The Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University also offers several master’s and Ph.D. programs that offer specialist courses to help students focus on or conduct research on their area of interest. In addition, the faculty has a career and experience team that assists students in gaining employment upon graduation.
FAQs: Humanities in Canada
Which Degree is Best for Humanities Students?
If you are looking to sharpen your skills in a widely accepted language, consider pursuing a course in Humanities! Completing a degree in humanities is an excellent step to starting your career if you seek it in fields like literature, philosophy, linguistics, history, and cultural studies. Understanding the different options is crucial in determining your study path. We have not listed humanities courses on our website, but you’re welcome to explore other open courses from various top institutions around the world.
Coming to Canada to study the humanities is a great way to gain more knowledge, understand other cultures, and develop different ideas related to this field. With its stunning environment and renowned universities, students can experience a learning journey like no other. Consider the institutions above if you’re ready to pursue a humanities program in Canada!
We hope this article about the best universities to study humanities in Canada was helpful. To learn more information on this, you can check out our Canada Page and the Canada Programs for International Students!
