Public universities are an important option for international students in Canada. Many Canadian public universities welcome international applicants, offer dedicated international student services, and provide scholarships or financial aid options.
Still, we urge you to consider these higher education institutions, as many are recognized for strong academics, research, student support, and international communities. This article highlights top public universities in Canada, so let’s get into it.
Top Public Universities in Canada
1. University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is one of Canada’s most recognizable public research universities. Founded by royal charter in 1827, U of T is now a large research university with more than 100,000 students across its campuses.
This public university offers a wide range of programs across the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and professional fields. International applicants can explore U of T’s admission and scholarship options, including the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, which covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence support for four years for selected first-entry undergraduate students.
One student’s journey: Faizan enrolled in a bachelor’s in Computer Science at the University of Toronto after earning four A*s at A level and eight A*s at GCSE. He says academic performance was the main strength of his application, with extracurricular activities, certifications, recommendations, and research into the university through counselors and alumni adding support rather than replacing the academic foundation. His awards included the University of Toronto International Scholar Award worth CAD 100,000 over four years and a CAD 7,500 University of Toronto Scholar Award. View More University of Toronto recipients →
2. McGill University
McGill University is a public university founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821. It is recognized internationally for teaching and research and welcomes students from Canada and around the world.
McGill offers programs across many academic fields, including science, engineering, management, medicine, and the humanities. It is ranked 30th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2027. The university also offers international student support through its International Student Services office, and McGill’s official history highlights innovations connected to the university, including the artificial blood cell and Plexiglas.
Yeganeh Habibi’s path to McGill University: Yeganeh Habibi moved from a chemistry bachelor’s at the University of Tehran into a PhD in Chemistry at McGill University, where she researches enzyme dynamics in natural-product biosynthesis. For the Vanier and FRQNT competitions, she built on academic performance, research, leadership, and community-building, sought feedback from mentors and previous recipients, and says publications and a coherent personal narrative strengthened her applications. Her funding includes the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and FRQNT support. View More McGill University recipients →
3. University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university established in 1908, with its two principal campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. UBC enrolls more than 72,000 students across the two campuses and supports undergraduate, graduate, and professional education through a broad range of faculties and schools.
UBC has an extensive research profile spanning the health and life sciences, engineering, computer science, forestry, environmental studies, business, and the humanities and social sciences. The university reports more than 10,000 research projects supported by approximately CAD 936 million in research funding, alongside substantial research collaboration with industry, government, and nonprofit organizations.
One student’s journey: Tahsan Samin entered the University of British Columbia for a combined major in Computer Science and Statistics after earning 41/45 in the IB, a 1470 SAT score, and an IELTS score of 8.5. His application paired those academics with leadership and community activities, recommendations, and extensive research through counselors, university fairs, and student communities, ultimately resulting in the fully funded Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award. His story emphasizes that the application was stronger because the academic record and extracurricular record supported the same broader profile rather than functioning as isolated achievements. View More University of British Columbia recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at University of British Columbia: Russo Chechelashvili: after completing her UBC bachelor’s, pursued a Harvard master’s and later became Founder and Director of Watershed Consortium in London; Alanna (Yuyang) Lu: after her UBC bachelor’s in International Relations, pursued a master’s in Nonprofit Management at Columbia University; Marcela Gomez: after her UBC bachelor’s in International Relations, pursued a master’s in International Development at Sciences Po.
4. University of Alberta
The University of Alberta was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Edmonton, with additional campuses including Augustana Campus in Camrose and the francophone Campus Saint-Jean. The university has more than 46,000 students from 150-plus countries and offers hundreds of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through 17 faculties.
The university has particularly established research strengths in artificial intelligence, health and life sciences, agriculture and food, engineering, and energy. Its research environment includes more than 100 Canada Research Chairs and hundreds of laboratories, while major institutes support work in areas such as virology, diabetes, machine learning, and other interdisciplinary fields.
Anparasy’s path to the University of Alberta: Anparasy continued from a University of Alberta master’s in Medical Sciences into a PhD in Medical Sciences at the University of Alberta, with research interests in artificial intelligence and medical imaging. The application involved IELTS, an online application, supporting documents, and departmental evaluation; Anparasy attributes the result to careful preparation, a first-class academic record, and relevant professional and teaching experience. The PhD is supported by a fully funded Graduate Research Assistantship Fellowship, with additional Alberta awards also listed in the story. View More University of Alberta recipients →
5.. University of Calgary
The University of Calgary became an independent university in 1966 after developing from the University of Alberta’s Calgary campus. Located primarily in Calgary, Alberta, it now enrolls more than 38,000 students and offers more than 250 programs through 14 faculties.
UCalgary’s research portfolio is particularly notable in health and life sciences, engineering, energy, digital technologies, and research related to sustainable cities and communities. Its 2024–2027 Research and Innovation Plan organizes interdisciplinary work around Healthy Cities, Digital Worlds, Health and Life, Energy Futures, and the cross-cutting theme of Democracy, Justice, and Sustainability.
Kugbeme Isumonah’s path to the University of Calgary: Kugbeme Isumonah is pursuing a PhD in Sociology at the University of Calgary after a master’s in sociology from Oklahoma State University. He says his record of academic success, communication skills, and recommendation letters from faculty who knew his work helped distinguish his application; he also reported GRE 310 and TOEFL 113. His support includes a President’s Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship worth CAD 12,000 annually for four years plus about CAD 28,000 per year in graduate and research assistantship funding. View More University of Calgary recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at University of Calgary: Dr. Yiota Gregoriou: after completing a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry at Calgary, moved on to Fulbright-funded research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the United States.
6. University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa traces its history to the College of Bytown, founded in 1848, and is located in Canada’s capital. It is the world’s largest English-French bilingual university and enrolled nearly 50,000 students in fall 2025 across 10 faculties covering fields including arts, engineering, health sciences, law, management, medicine, science, and social sciences.
Its location and academic structure support notable work in health and medical research, public policy, law and social justice, science, engineering, and the social sciences. The university reported CAD 419 million in research grants and contracts for 2025 and is connected to several hospital-based research institutes, giving researchers access to a broader clinical and health-sciences network.
7. York University
York University is a large teaching and research university in Toronto and one of Canada’s notable public universities. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs across many fields, and York International provides support for international students before and during their studies.
International applicants can apply through York’s admissions process and track official communications through the university’s online systems. After receiving an offer, students who need authorization to study in Canada should follow the current Canadian study permit requirements.
A recipient’s path: Hemish Ahuja is pursuing an Honours BSc in Physics with a Computer Science minor at York University, where his work ranges from quantum-gravity corrections to black-hole shadows to tests of fundamental symmetries. He advises applicants to build a genuine intellectual narrative rather than a checklist of activities, connecting their interests, motivations, and intended contribution to the field. His bachelor’s is fully funded through York’s International Presidential Scholarship of Excellence, and his story also lists the CAD 10,000 York Science Scholars Award. View More York University recipients →
8. University of Waterloo
The main campus of the University of Waterloo covers about 1,000 acres. It is an excellent place for students who want a large campus, a diverse student community, and access to strong academic and career-focused opportunities.
Waterloo is especially known for co-operative education and work-integrated learning. It offers more than 100 undergraduate programs, including options in computer science, engineering, and business-related fields. International students can review admissions, scholarship, and study permit information through the university’s official student support pages.
9. Queen’s University
Queen’s University is located in Kingston, Ontario. Established in 1841, Queen’s University is a research-intensive institution with a broad academic community. International students are supported through services such as the Queen’s University International Centre.
Queen’s offers undergraduate and graduate programs across a wide range of academic areas, including business, health sciences, engineering, arts, and science. Students can visit the university’s official admissions and program pages to confirm the requirements for their intended degree. International and U.S. students can also review Queen’s financial aid options.
10. Western University
Western University is a research-intensive public university in London, Ontario. It brings together more than 42,000 students from 134 countries and offers more than 450 combinations of majors, minors, and specializations, along with 160 master’s and doctoral programs.
The university is known for research, student experience, and academic options in areas such as business, medical sciences, engineering, and the sciences. International Student Services at Western provides advising, programs, and resources for international students throughout their studies.
FAQs: Studying in Canada’s Public Universities
Can International Students Enroll in Canadian Public Universities?
Yes, international students can enroll in public universities in Canada. Canada remains a popular study destination because of its universities, diverse communities, and international student support services. International students can apply to York University, the University of Waterloo, and many more Canadian universities.
After receiving an offer of admission, most international students need a Canadian study permit before studying in Canada. Current Government of Canada guidance states that applicants generally need documents such as a letter of acceptance, proof of identity, proof of financial support, and, in most cases, a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Requirements can change, so students should always confirm the latest rules through the official Canadian government website.
Here, we end the article about top public universities in Canada for international students. Please remember that not all universities have the same starting semesters, deadlines, or admissions requirements, so visit the links in the text for more information. That said, the above list can be a useful starting point if you are looking for a strong public institution in Canada.
Hopefully, this article about top public universities in Canada for international students was informative and helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
