Top 30 Best Engineering Schools in Canada, 2024

This article will enlighten you on Canada’s best engineering schools and rankings from world-renowned platforms like QS world ranking. It will also answer your questions like schools that have the best engineering programs in Canada.

It is an undeniable fact that engineers are a significant part of building society. Canada is a beauty that now consists of world-class infrastructure, which comprises new factories, cities, roads, schools, and more. 

These are all engineering and engineering education works highly reputable in the city of a maple leaf (Canada). These significant societal impacts are part of why we want to discuss the best engineering schools in Canada. 

This article promises to be exciting and to answer many of your questions about studying engineering in Canada. Let us dive in.

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Top 30 Best Engineering Schools in Canada – Based on US News & World Report’s Global Universities Rankings

The following are the top 30 best international universities for engineering in Canada. This ranking is based on US News & World Report’s ranking of universities reputation and research in the field.

#1. University of Toronto

• Located in Toronto, Canada.
• Ranked as number 54 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 17 in Best Global Universities
• Enrollment of about 74,502 candidates. 

#2. University of Waterloo

• Located in Waterloo, Canada.
• Ranked as number 57 in the best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 210 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 32,804 candidates.

#3. University of British Columbia

• Located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
• Ranked as number 63 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 31 In Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 55,359 candidates.

#4. University of Alberta

• Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• Ranked as number 73 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 138 in Best Global Universities.

#5. McGill University

• Located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Ranked as number 93 in Best Universities for Engineering. 
• Ranks number 51 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 31,578 candidates.

#6. University of Montreal

• Located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Ranked as number 172 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 140 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 36,774 candidates.

#7. Concordia University

• Located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Ranked as number 180 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 670 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 34,710 candidates.

#8. University of Calgary

• Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• Ranked as number 222 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 174 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 31,863.

#9. University of Ontario Institute Technology

• Located in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 231 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 1,098 In Best Global Universities.

#10. University of Ottawa

• Located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 273 In Best Universities for Engineering. 
• Ranks number 192 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 35,140.

#11. McMaster University

• Located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 298 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 133 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 25,285.

#12. University of Victoria

• Located in Victoria, BC, Canada.
• Ranks as number 308 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 301 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 21,317.

#13. Ryerson University

• Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 312 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 965 in Best Global Universities.

#14. Western University

• Located in London, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranks as number 321 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 287 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 29,865

#15. University of Manitoba

• Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
• Ranked as number 386 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 390 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 28,786 candidates. 

#16. Queen’s University

• Located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 383 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 419 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 24,354 candidates. 

#17. York University

• Located in Toronto, Ontario.
• Ranked as number 403 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 432 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 49,354 candidates. 

#18. Université du Québec à Montréal

• Located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Ranked as number 415 in Best Universities for Engineering
• Ranks number 651 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 32,990 candidates. 

#19. Carleton University

• Located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 425 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 471 in Best Global Universities.

#20. Laval University

• Located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
• Ranked as number 446 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 361 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 28,855 candidates. 

#21. Ecole de Technologie Supérieure – Canada

• Located in Montreal, Canada.
• Ranks as number 459 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 1,298 in Best Global Universities.

#22. Dalhousie University

• Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
• Ranked as number 498 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 325 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 15,651.

#23. University of Saskatchewan

• Located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Ranked as number 513 in Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 538 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 17,973 candidates.

#24. University of Guelph

• Located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
• Ranked as number 574 In Best Universities for Engineering
• Ranks number 483 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 22,384 candidates.

#25. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN)

• Located in St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Ranked as number 578 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 703 in Best Global Universities. 

#26. University of Regina

• Located in Regina, Canada.
• Ranked as number 578 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 902 in Best Global University.

#27. University of New Brunswick

• Located in Fredericton, Canada.
• Ranked as number 959 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 959 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 8,570 candidates.

#28. University of Windsor

• Located in Windsor, Canada.
• Ranked as number 650 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 1,049 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 8,570 candidates.

#29. University of Sherbrooke

• Located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
• Ranked as number 664 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 763 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 8,570 candidates.

#30. Simon Fraser University

• Located in Burnaby, BC, Canada.
• Ranked as number 719 In Best Universities for Engineering.
• Ranks number 306 in Best Global Universities.
• Enrollment of about 26,778 candidates.

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Top 10 Best Engineering Schools in Canada, 2021 – Based on QS World University Rankings

#1. University of Toronto (Toronto, ON)

One more time, the University of Toronto takes first place! This year, U of T, as the school, fondly called and made it first as the most reputable University in Canada. It is one of the Universities in Canada that ranks exceptionally high in terms of its research output. 

It has about 73,000 students on record. It was founded in 1827 and was acknowledged as one of the leading institutions for learning, research, and innovation.

The Applied Sciences and Engineering Faculty is large, having about 8,200 students enrolled in the graduate and undergraduate programs in 16 campuses across the province of Ontario.

Undergraduates choose to go after a study program in one of eight core study areas, such as Electrical engineering, Industrial engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mineral Engineering, and Computer Engineering. 

The Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering also offers aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Systems Engineering, and other unique specializations. Students choose ingenious concentrations in research and professional degrees at the graduate level and a joint program in Engineering Education, among others. 

Of course, realistically, Toronto is a city-state within Canada, with finance and industry and a diverse and broad population in a dynamic city. That’s slightly too multicultural to be precisely mid-western. 

But one of Canada’s best universities for nearly two centuries is the U of T (as Canadians call it). It has the biggest research budget in Canada. It has educated four prime ministers and a handful of international leaders and 10 Nobel Laureates, 4 Governor Generals, and 3 Turing Award winners.  

The University of Toronto is divided into 11 colleges, and it was formerly controlled by the Church of England, a relationship that is yet noticed in the history of the University’s Trinity College. The University also has campuses in Scarborough and Mississauga. 

In its engineering faculty as well, talent and money have always been invested. In wanting to be Canada’s leader in innovation and education, the University of Toronto makes no bones about it. If that is the kind of competitive spirit that appeals to you, engineering at U of T might be your best bet as it is fondly described.  

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#2. University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is regarded as a worldwide center for teaching and research. It has consistently secured its place among the 40 top universities in the world.

Having approximately 52,970 students on record, British Columbia university has an increased research output, and it ranks number 51 according to QS World University Rankings in 2018. 

UBC has the most significant percentage of international students with students from 162 countries worldwide. Twenty-one specialized programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels are allowed in the applied science faculty of this University. 

Graduate studies include programs for industry professionals seeking to expand their experience and programs for individuals longing to pursue research careers.

As a top research university, UBC is usually praised for the range, strength, and impact of its research efforts, with very noticeable researchers claiming the spotlight in areas such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, Digitech, and much more. 

The University also excels in Geography subjects, Mineral and Mining Engineering subjects, and sports subjects.

The University of British Columbia can be found in Vancouver, and it has a view that faces the sea with a beautiful park behind it. It was no doubt that UBC would come as top 6 in a survey, and it is ranked as number two with a combined ranking as number 51 in engineering globally. 

It has been one of Canada’s most renowned universities for some time now, with top-level programs and a research budget of $600 million yearly. Part of this budget above is used annually to funds 8,000 research programs. 

If you consider investing in students, the University of British Columbia embodies Canada’s national laboratory for nuclear and particle physics, and it is known as the home to the world’s biggest particle accelerator.

The school’s alumni boast of 65 Olympians, 8 Nobel laureates, and 71 Rhodes scholars, 

It is also home to Western Canada’s largest engineering school and engineering co-op program, which works hand in hand with industry.

If you have very serious intentions to pursue an engineering career, then UBC is one of the best schools to attend. You want to include a Statement of Purpose (SOP) letter in your admission application to UBC as their programs/courses are very competitive.

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#3. McGill University (Montreal, QC)

Just Like the University of Montreal, McGill is in an adorable leafy portion on the Mount Royal climb, and it is located very close to any kind of entertainment you could think about. 

It is also in a city that has Canada’s best bagels by far. Having approximately 29 102 students on record, the University is very high in research output.  

This University is one of the best English-instruction universities in Quebec; McGill University has acquired its position among the top three Canadian universities in 2020. 

McGill University ranks as part of the top five reputable Canadian universities, and it took the first place as Canada’s best medical/doctoral universities. McGill’s fees are slightly lower than those for schools like the University of Toronto, even concerning international students. 

 In McGill’s Engineering Faculty, nine undergraduate programs are offered, in addition to graduate degrees and diplomas in eight study areas. Research has a vital role in the Faculty, and students are advised to get hands-on experience with different summer programs and co-op placements. 

Research facilities are impressive, and it ranks number 71 for engineering. Be assured that classes are in English, though living in Montreal means knowing how to get by in French. It remains of the most popular Universities in Canada with the highest percentage of students that have completed their Ph.D.

There is also a strong focus on ingeniousness with a faculty strictly dedicated to stimulating technologically based innovation and entrepreneurship.

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#4. University of Waterloo (Waterloo, ON)

The University of Waterloo is recognized as one of the best in terms of technology innovation in Canada. It has helped design the future of its students from 120 countries with its programs. It has a total of 36,626 students on record. The University is known for its very high research output. 

Ranked amidst the top 50 engineering schools globally is the University of Waterloo. In Canada, The School brags the largest engineering school, with over 9,500 students enrolled in 2016. Recall we said the ordering of schools – whether you’re third or fourth – is somewhat subjective? 

However, Waterloo and McGill are tied with global rankings across different surveys at number 79 for Waterloo and number 71 for McGill, respectively. 

Therefore, Waterloo could have easily come in 3rd, but they are in the fourth spot this year. The construction of Waterloo was planned and made with practical and technological perspectives in mind. 

The aforementioned is the University that helped pioneer the co-op program in Canada, where you study a term and work a period. In a study program like engineering, that’s a huge plus. 

The University of Waterloo is the school that’s given us some significant people like: 

• David Cheriton, who teaches computer science at Stanford and was an early investor in Google – yes, he is a billionaire now;
• Mike Lazaridis, who helped found Research in Motion, the company behind Blackberry; 
• Others include tech entrepreneur Steven Woods; and Kevin O’Leary of Softkey, Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank fame, among other notable alumni. 

The University of Waterloo is a school for people who get things done. Moreover, it could easily be in the top 3. 

The University is prominent on research and right now has international partners over $64 million. Through a large variety of co-op programs alternating with in-class education, up to two years of paid work experience before the undergraduate students might gain graduation. 

Graduate students have numerous opportunities to partner with local businesses to develop projects, and all students have access to the largest student design center in North America.

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#5. University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Located in Edmonton’s city is the University of Alberta, from Quebec to the Rockies’ foothills. Yea, Edmonton is not so close to Canada’s most magnificent mountain range as Calgary is. Still, it’s a reasonably smooth drive to get to Jasper from Edmonton, and you pass through the absolutely lovely countryside before you even hit the foothills.  

The University has 31,928 students, and, like other top-ranked universities, it has a very high research output. It is the second University in the province of Alberta to appear in this year’s QS ranking. More than 400 programs in 18 faculties are allowed at the University of Alberta, and the Faculty of Engineering alone has about 4,000 undergraduate and about 1,400 graduate students.

As well as Canada’s second-largest Engineering Co-op Program, the Faculty provides 21 engineering programs. International students consist of almost 17% of the undergraduate population and nearly 39% of graduate students. 

The University of Alberta is recognized as one of the Universities in Canada that has contributed much to its province’s economic growth. 

The University of Alberta boasts Canada’s National Institute for Nanotechnology, a treasure for any school looking to have a presence in technology and engineering. So if engineering does not work out for you, there is certainly some other course that will reason being that the school has more than 400 programs across 18 faculties.

Another plus is that it has good connections to Alberta’s energy sector. Ranking 115th worldwide in engineering, this is the right choice for anyone who wants a career in engineering.

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#6. University of Montreal (Montreal, QC)

Located in Montreal’s famous student city in Quebec’s French-speaking province is the Université de Montréal or UdeM for short. It is one of Canada’s most affordable universities with less than $2,000 (USD) average school fees. More than 650 undergraduate and graduate programs are offered to French-speaking students by the University. 

With a composite ranking in engineering that puts it at #127 globally, it is ranked number 6 in our rankings for Canada’s best engineering school. Of course, most of your classes will be in French, so it’s only a choice for francophones, although it provides vast French language assistance for its students that need to improve their French language skills. With a total of 36,386 students on record, It has a very high research output. The school ranks as “World’s Best Student City 2017”.

UdeM’s engineering school is also called Polytechnique Montréal, and it offers students education in chemical, electrical, computer, and other fields of engineering. About 2,000 international students attend the school and gain from the world-class education and internship opportunities it offers. 

The UdeM also ranks highly in Medicine and Pharmaceutical studies and is associated with the Ecole Polytechnique. Montreal is a beautiful city with relatively affordable rents and many bars and cafes for students to hang out within. 

However, it’s best to understand what the bartender is asking you. So, if you are willing to brush up on your French, this may be the right choice.

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#7. McMaster University

McMaster University stands based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It has 25,404 students on it. The University is ranked number eight among other global rankings in the QS subject rankings as a study destination for engineering and technology this year. McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering is vast!! 

 Mcmaster is home to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which is made up of seven world-class core departments and an extensive engineering array.

The Faculty of Engineering is so large that it is broken into two schools — the School of Engineering Practice and Technology (W Booth) and the McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering. 

The University has offered ground-breaking engineering education and experiences to its students for more than a century. 

Both schools’ main aim is to provide students with research-based, student-centered learning to aid in different careers. 

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#8. Queen’s University

One of the oldest public research universities in Canada is Queen’s University. It is located in the city of Kingston in Ontario and was found in 1841. Queen’s University is known for its vibrant student life, outstanding programming and research, and its old-world architecture. 

The school is also known for its uncommon teaching and research as its Faculty of Engineering, and Applied Science boasts an employment rate of 94% within two years of graduating for its Engineering graduates. 

Students from over 100 countries globally are attracted to Queen’s University, and in the graduate student community, international students make up 25%. 

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#9. The University of Western Ontario

Located in London’s e suburban city in Ontario’s province is the University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University. It is one of Canada’s best research universities in neuroscience, health sciences, wind engineering, and lots more.

Undergraduates at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, also known as Western University, are offered nine study programs with an “Accelerated Master’s Program.”

This program enables students to complete graduate courses, and at the same time, meet the prerequisite for a bachelor’s degree. 

The above implies that in just one year after completing a bachelor’s in Waterloo, students can complete a master of Engineering science degree. 

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#10. University of Calgary

Located in Calgary’s city is the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary, Alberta’s “engineering capital of Canada.”

The Faculty are offering eight undergraduate degree programs and 24 graduate programs. Students have the choice to go after extremely distinctive concentrations in subjects like Mechatronics, Petroleum Engineering, chemical engineering, and the choice to minor in these fields of study is also offered. 

Bringing in more international students is the school focus, and its goal is to bring in more female students and have a faculty that exceeds the national average. In Western Canada, the school vaunts the largest internship program of its kind. 

Below is a tweet from Scott Galloway (uber-cool clinical professor of marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business)

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Best Engineering Schools in Canada to Study Mechanical Engineering 

Among other engineering branches, Mechanical Engineering is one program that many students consider as worth it. There are quite a number of strong educational institutions in Canada (colleges/universities) that offer mechanical engineering.

Three noteworthy ones (all located in Ontario, one of the provinces in Canada with more schools) are:

York University, Ontario

The University boasts of top-notch and world-class learning facilities. This University is based in the northern part of Toronto, one of the world’s most renowned cities.

York University is the third largest public University in Canada. It has 11 faculties and offers 5000 courses. It is no wonder many people consider this school as one of the best engineering schools in Canada.

University of Ottawa, Ontario

The University of Ottawa offers about 500 concentration, with mechanical engineering inclusive. 

The school boasts of over 140 postgraduate programs and its capability to help its graduates find job opportunities after their study program.  

Western University, Ontario

This school has roughly 400 programs to specialize in, and part of these programs include health sciences and engineering. This school is an excellent option for students who look to graduate with two certificates in a short time.

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FAQs on the Best Engineering Schools in Canada

Is Canada good for engineering?

There has been an increase in the number of international students that enroll to study engineering in Canada, among other study programs the country has to offer.

Part of this increase is because of the wide-scale investment in the countries international education policy. 

Canada is an excellent choice for any individual who intends to pursue a degree in engineering. 

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How many years does it take to become an engineer in Canada?

The title (BE or B. Eng.), which is also called Bachelor of Engineering, is an educational degree given to students who pursue undergraduate studies in engineering programs. 

Generally, it takes a 3-4 years duration to graduate a bachelor of engineering (B. Eng)

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Which engineering has the highest salary?

Below is a list of engineering programs that have the highest pay after school

• Petroleum Engineer
• Aerospace Engineer.
• Computer Hardware Engineer.
• Nuclear Engineer.
• Systems Engineer. 
• Chemical Engineer. 
• Big Data Engineer
• Electrical Engineer. 
• Biomedical Engineer.
• Environmental Engineer.

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Which engineering is most in demand?

Below is a list of engineering that is in demand after graduation.

• Project Engineer
• Electrical Engineering
• Data Science & Machine Learning
• Automation & Robotics Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer
• Mining Engineer
• Civil Engineering
• Alternative Energy Engineer.

READ ALSO: Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada

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What engineering is the hardest?

Below are the Engineering Majors that are considered the hardest based on survey by students.

• Architectural Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Electrical Engineering. 
• Chemical Engineering.
• Aerospace Engineering
• Environmental Engineering

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