Canada's Universities

Opening doors to your future

A university education in Canada opens the door to a world of possibilities. Every year, more than one million Canadian and foreign students attend either full- or part-time studies in any one of the country's more than 90 universities. They take a wide range of programs for a diversity of reasons. Most are undergraduate students taking their first step towards an exciting career. Many are enrolled in continuing education programs to further their career prospects or to embark on a new career direction. Others are taking post-graduate programs, including master's and doctorates.

Whatever the reason, these students are making a smart decision. A Canadian university education is an unlimited resource that can put graduates on the road to a bright future.

A Diversity of Locations
Canada's universities are found all around the country. From the shores of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, to the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada's locales are as distinct as the universities that call them home. In terms of land mass, Canada is the second-largest country on earth with an area of nearly 10 million sq. kilometres. From the tip of Newfoundland to the Pacific Ocean at British Columbia, Canada is more than 7,300 kilometres coast-to-coast. As a result of this geographic splendour, Canada's people and places are distinct, each with their own culture and qualities.

Universities are dotted throughout this extensive terrain. They can be found in communities both large and small - in cities, towns and rural areas - and offer a variety of programming that is often specifically suited to the geographic region that they occupy.

A Diversity of Programing
Canada's economy, location and abundance of resources and opportunities are reflected in the country's university programming. Canada's natural resources and geographic location have made the country a major player in the global economy. Accordingly, programming at Canadian universities reflects the many businesses that make Canada a global trading power. As the global economy becomes increasingly geared towards research and the development of new technologies, Canadian universities have followed suit, making Canada one of the largest research and new technology providers in the world.

As Canada's dominance in fields such as research, automotive, manufacturing, geology, forestry, urban development and engineering, amongst others, continues to set benchmarks for global achievement, Canadian university graduates are in high demand all over the world for their knowledge and expertise.

Canada's Universities are Recognized
According to the Times Higher Education magazine ranking of the world's top 200 universities for 2008, 12 Canadian universities can count themselves among the best in the world. Considering there are approximately 10,000 universities on earth, making the top 200 is quite a feat. The universities of Toronto, British Columbia, Alberta, Montreal, Waterloo, Western Ontario, and Calgary, as well as Dalhousie, McGill, McMaster, Queen's and Simon Fraser were named to the list.

In order to qualify for consideration, universities were measured by a series of criteria that included peer evaluations, faculty citations (research quality), graduate employability, proportion of international students and teaching quality.

Further Education
A university degree from a Canadian institution can do more for you than just provide you with a great career. An accreditation from a recognized university can put you on the path to even more education. Canada's graduate and post-graduate schools rank among the top in the world, and many of Canada's universities offer continuing education programming that allows working professionals to update and acquire new skills. To accommodate working professionals, many universities also offer the option of online and distance learning. This commitment to lifelong learning continuously opens new doors for students and working professionals to make themselves indispensable to employers all over the world.