Canada has a publicly funded health care system administered primarily by its provinces and territories. The country also has many universities offering graduate study in public health and related areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and population health.
Fortunately, we are here to make your decision-making process easier with this article.
As such, we will discuss top Canadian universities with established public health programs. While these are just a few of the many universities in Canada offering health-related graduate education, we hope this article gives you some ideas about where to begin your public health studies.
Top Schools Offering Public Health Programs in Canada
1. McMaster University
Located in Hamilton, McMaster University has more than 37,000 students. It is one of the universities in Ontario offering graduate public health education. McMaster is ranked 174th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
McMaster’s Faculty of Health Sciences offers a generalist Master of Public Health program with thesis and practicum tracks. The practicum track normally takes 16 months, while the thesis track generally takes 20 to 24 months. The curriculum provides training in public and population health science, policy analysis, research methodology, and related subjects.
McMaster also offers an active campus community. The university reports that students can choose from more than 300 student-led clubs, in addition to athletic and other extracurricular activities.
2. University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is the largest English-French bilingual university in the world and offers programs in both official languages. It is ranked 228th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
The School of Epidemiology and Public Health offers a full-time, 16-month Master of Public Health with a practicum and capstone project. Students can choose concentrations in public health practice, public health policy, or global health. The school also offers master’s and doctoral training in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research, as well as a graduate diploma in Population Health Risk Assessment and Management.
The Ottawa-Gatineau region also offers many places to explore. These include the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and the Canadian Museum of History across the Ottawa River in Gatineau.
3. University of Toronto
Located in Canada’s most populous city, the University of Toronto is one of the country’s leading research universities. It is also a major option for students comparing public health programs in Toronto. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 place the university first in Canada and 21st worldwide.
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health offers several graduate options, including Master of Public Health fields, an MSc in Biostatistics, an MHSc in Bioethics, PhD fields, and a Doctor of Public Health. Its doctoral offerings include fields such as biostatistics, epidemiology, occupational and environmental health, and social and behavioral health sciences.
While studying at the university, students can also explore Toronto. The city is home to attractions such as the CN Tower, the Toronto Zoo, and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
4. University of Montreal
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Degree/s Offered: Master’s, PhD
Université de Montréal is the largest French-language university in the Americas. The university reports 46,820 students at UdeM itself and more than 71,000 when its affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal, are included. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, Université de Montréal is ranked 150th worldwide.
The School of Public Health offers graduate programs covering public health, health services administration, bioethics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health technology assessment, and biostatistics. Professional master’s pathways generally include a practicum or directed project, while research pathways require a thesis. The school also offers doctorates in public health and bioethics.
The university has a substantial international community. Université de Montréal reports that more than 9,800 international students attend the institution each year.
5. McGill University
McGill University is located in Montreal and enrolled 40,531 students in fall 2025. It is known for its research activity and health sciences programs. McGill is ranked 30th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027.
McGill’s Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health offers a two-year, non-thesis Master of Science in Public Health. The program includes training in epidemiology, statistical methods, program planning and evaluation, and research design. Students must also complete a practicum lasting at least 14 weeks in a supervised research or public health practice setting. The department separately offers related doctoral programs in areas such as epidemiology and biostatistics.
The universities discussed above are just a few of the institutions in Canada offering public health education. International tuition and living costs vary by university, program, and location. You can read more about the cost of studying in Canada and explore fully funded scholarships that may help cover tuition and other study expenses.
We hope this article on universities for public health in Canada was helpful. If you are interested, visit our Study in Canada and Available Courses for International Students!
