1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

Most International Canadian Universities

Most International Canadian Universities

May 20th, 2019

University is the best time to grow in all aspects of life. It’s a time of change, challenging your beliefs, and experiencing life as a more independent person for the first time, for many of us.

When deciding where to study, the international aspect of a university is a factor in one way or another. It may be because we want to know if there will be other students from our home country, or maybe we just want to know what kind of community we will be able to find. Regardless, the benefits of “international” education are endless. Almost a year ago, in March 2018, Times Higher Education made a list of the 200 most international universities in the world. Seven on this list were Canadian universities, all of them among the first hundred.

In this context, speaking of an international university doesn’t refer only to the number of international students. It’s more about how international students and staff work on respectable research and other projects together. This ranking takes into account the ratio of international versus domestic students, international students versus staff, and the collaborations that ensue. It’s not just that there are international students, but that they are an active part of the university’s academic achievements. Times Higher Education really takes into account how said research is cited, so how it has influenced the field and other aspects of the learning environment. 

The seven universities on this list are: 

-    University of British Columbia (24th)

-    McGill University (34th)

-    University of Alberta (40th)

-    University of Montreal (44th)

-    University of Toronto (50th)

-    McMaster University (54th)

-    University of Waterloo (60th)

The first six of these are also among the Top 200 on their World University Rankings list of 2018. But this made me wonder, do these portray themselves as “International”? And, in what ways can they show this through their websites alone? For that purpose, I looked into the first three’s websites.

University of British Columbia

From the start, UBC promises prospective students “academic faculties and research facilities globally recognized for their influence and impact.” This university also prides itself in its diverse cultural, recreational and social activities. It explains that the way each person will experience “student life” in UBC will depend on how each individual student decides to build and create it, which honestly applies to any big university. This also implies there is less “separation” from the university’s eyes between what the experience should be like for international or domestic students. The opportunities will be there as long as the student is open to taking them. 

UBC prioritizes “international engagement,” and the current areas they are focusing on are China, India, and Europe. Their strategic plan is available on their website, but they make it clear that while this is the current area of focus, they expect it to change within three to five years as they keep moving on to other areas as possible. 

As for the international student experience, they offer a guide that answers questions concerning: immigration, health insurance, taxes, help with academics, managing money, campus safety, diversity and equity resources, among others. Their International Student  Advisors are also all Regulated Citizenship and Immigration Consultants. 

McGill University

One of the first things McGill Universities is proud to tell prospective students is that not only do they have students from over 150 countries, but also their student body “is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country.”

McGill states it is committed to fostering “the very best,” and says it has won more national and international awards than other Canadian universities. The average grades of the students they admit to McGill are also the highest from other universities in Canada, but don’t let that intimidate you. International students make up 31.3 percent of the student population. 

To make the transition a little smoother, McGill has a Buddy Program that they promote on their International Student Services section. This system has been connecting new international students to current students for 31 years now. This “buddy” can help the incoming student by showing them around campus, Montreal, talk about housing and possible neighborhoods, or simply have a friendly face as soon as they arrive. 

University of Alberta

UAlberta has 7000 international students from over 130 countries. This university takes pride for their high rank on international employability as well so their grads will have the best chances of getting a job in Canada.

One of the main reasons that UAlberta gives students to apply, besides its high rankings, is that it is an internationally regarded research institution. Moreover, its international efforts focus on promoting education abroad as well as well-founded global partnerships. UAlberta considers international students “an integral part of [the] university. They enrich the classrooms with different perspectives.”

Overall, trying to categorize universities according to how international they are can be quite subjective. While this is how Times Higher Education thinks of “international,” others may prefer a more student-focused approach rather than an academic approach. What sorts of clubs are popular for students in this university? What kinds of cultural activities get attention? How do current international and domestic students feel about their community?

Based on these questions alone, perhaps the list would change so don’t let lists and rankings be a limitation. Consider them, look beyond, and then decide.

Follow us:
Written by

Wendy Tafur

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the article titled HOW DO I GET AN EDUCATION & TRAINING DEGREE IN THE USA?
HOW DO I GET AN EDUCATION & TRAINING DEGREE IN THE USA?
Main image for the article titled HOW DO I GET A LAW DEGREE IN THE USA?
HOW DO I GET A LAW DEGREE IN THE USA?
Main image for the article titled READ STUDY IN THE USA'S NEW VIETNAMESE MAGAZINE
READ STUDY IN THE USA'S NEW VIETNAMESE MAGAZINE
Main image for the article titled READ STUDY IN THE USA'S NEW PORTUGUESE MAGAZINE
READ STUDY IN THE USA'S NEW PORTUGUESE MAGAZINE

Lihat Sekolah-sekolah Ini

Rice University Intensive English Program

Rice University

$1,000—$5,000 Session

English Programs Online Summer
Contact
University of Dayton

University of Dayton

$50,000—$60,000 Year

Secondary/Boarding Bachelor Degree Masters
Contact
University of West Georgia

University of West Georgia

$15,000—$20,000 Year

Masters Bachelor Degree
Contact

Related Stories

Moving to the USA? Tips for Finding an Apartment and How to Settle in Quickly and Easily

Main image for the article titled Moving to the USA? Tips for Finding an Apartment and How to Settle in Quickly and Easily
Understanding the F-1, J-1 and M-1 Visas

Main image for the article titled Understanding the F-1, J-1 and M-1 Visas
STEM OPT: How to work in the USA for three years with an F-1 visa

Main image for the article titled STEM OPT: How to work in the USA for three years with an F-1 visa
How to Study Law in the USA

Main image for the article titled How to Study Law in the USA

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for Renters Insurance

Renters Insurance

SURE offers hassle-free renters insurance that'll protect your clothes, furniture, and even yourself from unexpected damages and injuries. The SURE team will get you set up with a free quote and the correct coverage that you need!

Read more
Partner service logo for Healthcare in the U.S. can be expensive. Make sure you have a good insurance plan.

Healthcare in the U.S. can be expensive. Make sure you have a good...

Study-USA HealthCare™ offers medical coverage to international students for as low as $1.12 USD per day. Get your free quote and enroll today!

Read more
Partner service logo for STUDENT.com

STUDENT.com

STUDENT.com is the world’s leading marketplace for international student housing, helping students find their perfect home abroad. We have the widest and most carefully selected range of rooms that were built and are managed specifically for students...

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

StudyUSA did help me a lot. Because they always try their best to answer my questions and give me great suggestions. Also, they always concern me and ask me about my application. They are the best.

Yuanju Lai Taiwan

Study in the USA helped me apply to the University of Wyoming and in my journey towards studying in the USA. They guided me in writing essays, preparing for my SAT exams, interview tips, getting my visa...

Nischal Khanal Nepal

I read the information found on StudyUSA.com and it helped me understand the process of applying in the USA. I have also talked to a StudyUSA counselor and she helped me with the things I struggle with like my essay for college application. StudyUSA give me the information I needed.

Anais Gardere Haiti

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    العربيـة English Español Français Bahasa Indonesia 日本語 한국어 Português Русский ภาษาไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 简体中文 繁體中文

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2022 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.