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The Best Universities for Communication & Media Studies in Canada (2023)

Written by Vincent Hedman

Why Study Communication & Media Studies in Canada

There are many reasons why someone might want to study Communication & Media Studies at a university in Canada. Here are just a few:

  • Canadian universities consistently rank among the best worldwide offering students a comprehensive, in-depth study of communication and media theories, concepts and techniques. This ensures that graduates are equipped with cutting edge knowledge and practical skills.
  • Having a Masters Degree in Communication and Media Studies from Canada helps open greater job avenues not just within the country but globally due to the recognised value of Canadian education.
  • Masters programmes in Canada provide several opportunities for research projects particularly surrounding digital media, journalism, mass communications - often conducted collaboratively alongside faculty members on impactful topics providing students significant real-world learning experiences.
  • Numerous scholarships are available specifically targeting international students undertaking postgraduate studies enhancing accessibility aspect.

The Best Universities for Communication & Media Studies in Canada

The following tables gives the 10 top universities in Canada for Communication & Media Studies, according to global and local university rankings. It can show you which Canadian universities are amongst the best in the world - and help you compare institutions on an international level.

This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Each ranking system uses its own methodology, with different factors having more or less influence on a university's result.

Read our guide to know more about how you as an postgrad student can use these rankings to your advantage.


Top 10 Universities in Canada for Communication & Media Studies (Times Higher Education)
University Canada Rank Global Rank
University of Toronto 1 =26
University of British Columbia 2 32
McGill University 3 =42
University of Montreal 4 126-150
Simon Fraser University 5 126-150
University of Waterloo 6 126-150
University of Alberta 7 151-175
McMaster University 8 201-250
Western University 9 251-300
York University (Canada) 10 251-300
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the Times Higher Education rankings?

The Times Higher Education rankings are strong in academic focus and diverse teaching metrics, but do not include employer-specific metrics. Additionally, the rankings may not include all specialist institutions.


Top 10 Universities in Canada for Communication & Media Studies (QS)
University Canada Rank Global Rank
University of Toronto 1 33
University of British Columbia 2 47
McGill University 3 51-100
Concordia University 4 101-150
Simon Fraser University 5 101-150
University of Montreal 6 101-150
Carleton University 7 151-200
University of Ottawa 8 151-200
University of Quebec 9 151-200
York University (Canada) 10 151-200
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by QS World University Rankings. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the QS rankings?

The QS World University Rankings are designed to meet the needs of prospective students, with more weight given to student-centric metrics such as staff/student ratio, international recruitment and employer opinion. The rankings are balanced between qualitative and quantitative data, but give less weight to research than some other rankings.


Top 10 Universities in Canada for Communication & Media Studies (ARWU)
University Canada Rank Global Rank
University of Toronto 1 51-75
Concordia University 2 101-150
University of Montreal 3 101-150
University of Alberta 4 151-200
University of British Columbia 5 151-200
Western University 6 151-200
Carleton University 7 201-300
McGill University 8 201-300
Queen's University at Kingston 9 201-300
Ryerson University 10 201-300
This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their website for more information.

What should I know about the ARWU rankings?

The ARWU rankings reflect the presence of elite academics and the future academic success of graduates. However, they do not directly assess the quality of education at a university or take into account other aspects of university performance.


Last updated: 18 September 2023