or
Looking to list your Masters courses? Log in here.

Canada is among one of the most popular study abroad destinations and welcomes almost 320,000 international students a year. But which universities in Canada are the best for international students?
We’ve compared the International Outlook scores, one of the criteria of the Times Higher Education rankings, from 2023 to give you five best Canadian international universities for international students. According to Times Higher Education, this score is based on a university’s proportion of international students, staff and research that involves international collaboration.
At the very top of the list, with a score of 94.8 out of 100, is University of British Columbia. Around 30% of Masters students at the Vancouver campus and 22% of all students at the Okanagan campus are international. The university works with over 300 universities worldwide, including UC Berkeley, Imperial College of London and Seoul National University to help facilitate student exchanges through initiatives like Go Global.
With a score of 92, Simon Fraser University is not very far behind! It’s three campuses welcome students from over 145 countries. It is a part of a number of international university networks such as the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) which encourage joint research projects and student exchanges. Simon Fraser is also involved in the National Collegiate Athletics Association of the United States of America and is its first international member!
With a score of 91, McGill University is third on the list. 30% of the university’s student body is international which is the highest proportion of any Canadian research university! McGill University facilitates and encourages international students to join them with a dedicated buddy programme which matches new students with current international students to help them settle in.
In fourth place is the University of Toronto. It has an International Outlook score of 89.7 and boasts of welcoming students from 160 countries who make up 15% of their student body. Students can take part in the Global Classroom Initiative which helps to fund students who want to study in Canada.
Last, but not least, is the University of Alberta, with a score of 89.2. Almost 40,000 international students call it their home-away-from-home. If you’re an international student you can choose to enrol onto one of their 360 Masters programmes or study a short-term programme, depending on your circumstances. The university welcomes more than 200 exchange students from around the world!
Search our course listings for a Canadian Masters and find the one for you!

Can you get funding to study a Masters degree in Canada? Our guide covers details of bursaries and scholarships for domestic and international students.
Read more
Explore Our Canada Masters student guides, including top universities, scholarships, and what it’s like to live and study there.
Read more
A quick guide to post-study work visas in top countries so you know where you can stay and work after graduation.
Read more
We take a look at how studying a Masters in the UK and in Canada compare.
Read more
Considering studying a Masters in Australia or Canada? Learn all about what Masters study is like in both countries using this in-depth guide.
Read more
Want to know how Masters study in Canada compares to Germany? We compare all aspects of Masters study in Canada and Germany to help you make a decision on where to take your postgraduate study!
Read more