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With skyrocketing application numbers, high admission standards, and acceptance rates, securing admission to your dream university in Canada gets incredibly competitive. With around 3,60,000 international students in Canada as of 2023, the eligibility criteria and intake requirements for the leading institutions can certainly get stringent.
If you have been wondering about which is the hardest university to get into Canada, this guide is here to provide a complete list of these elite universities that boast a low acceptance rate which makes admissions highly selective.
| University | Location | Acceptance Rate |
| University of Alberta | Edmonton, AB | 58% |
| McGill University | Montreal, QC | 38% |
| University of Toronto | Toronto, ON | 43% |
| University of Waterloo | Waterloo, ON | 53% |
| Western University | London, ON | 58% |
| York University | Toronto, ON | 27% |
| Queen’s University | Kingston, ON | 42% |
| University of British Columbia | Vancouver, BC | 54% |
| University of Ottawa | Ottawa, ON | 42% |
| University of Montreal | Montreal, QC | 57% |
List Of 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into Canada
Let’s take a closer look at these top 10 hardest Canadian universities to get into to help you prepare your applications or choose which schools and programmes you plan to apply for. While these universities are highly renowned for their academic excellence, securing admission here is relatively competitive.
1. University Of Toronto:
With an acceptance rate of 43%, gaining admission to the University of Toronto is no easy task. Although its acceptance rate may seem relatively high compared to some elite US institutions, the University of Toronto is renowned for its academic curriculum that challenges even the brightest students.
As the nation’s largest university with over 84,000 students, competition for admission at the University of Toronto is understandably fierce.
| University Of Toronto | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Test Score Requirements |
| M.Sc | 43,680 | TOEFL- 73, IELTS- 7 |
| M.B.A | 68,880 | TOEFL- 93, IELTS- 8 |
| M.Fin | 45,630 | TOEFL- 93, IELTS- 7 |
2. York University:
If you are on the search for the hardest university to get into Canada, York University is certainly one of those with an acceptance rate as low as 27%. As one of Canada’s largest universities with over 55,000 students, York boasts a wide array of faculties offering programmes spanning numerous subjects – from health sciences to law.
Its film, law, and business schools are particularly prestigious, ranked among the nation’s best and garnering widespread international recognition.
| York University | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.S | 32,416 | TOEFL- 91, IELTS- 7 |
| M.B.A | 58,928 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7 |
| Masters in Human Resource Management | 49,876 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7.5 |
3. Western University (University of Western Ontario)
With an acceptance rate of 58%, Western University is highly selective. It maintains the highest national entrance averages for first-year students at just over 90%, indicating intense competition for admission. Globally recognised as one of Canada’s most esteemed research universities, Western has solidified its place among the country’s most distinguished academic institutions.
4. McGill University:
Nestled in Montreal, Quebec, McGill University boasts a selective admission process with a low acceptance rate of 38%. Established in 1821, it comprises two campuses in the city and offers over 300 programmes across various levels majorly in the arts, medicine, management, and engineering disciplines. Though located in a French-speaking province, most classes at McGill are conducted in English, with only a few optional French courses available. For international students, proficiency in French is a prerequisite solely for the university’s law programme.
| McGill University | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.S | 19,728 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 6.5 |
| M.B.A | 50,000 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7 |
| Masters of Management Analytics (M.Mgmt) | 49,876 | TOEFL- 86, IELTS- 6.5 |
5. Queen’s University:
Founded in 1841 by a royal mandate from Queen Victoria, Queen’s University is a public research institution situated in Kingston, Ontario. It boasts a competitive selection criteria with an acceptance rate of 42%. With an enrollment of approximately 23,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programmes, it prides itself on an extensive library system. Queen’s houses one of Canada’s largest collections of books and archives, spanning six libraries on campus. The university has also invested significantly in modernising its resources, providing students access to a vast digital collection of e-books and online materials.
6. University Of Alberta:
The University of Alberta is truly the hardest university to get into Canada with an acceptance rate of 58%. A powerhouse in research and innovation, the University of Alberta calls Edmonton home. Despite the region’s harsh weather conditions, this esteemed institution attracts over 30,000 students from more than 100 countries across its four Edmonton campuses.
The university places a major emphasis on agricultural and developmental studies. Its strong research initiatives have further solidified the University of Alberta’s reputation as one of Canada’s most research-focused universities.
| University of Alberta | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.S | 11,220 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7 |
| M.B.A | 32,565 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7 |
| M.Eng | 20,144 | TOEFL- 93, IELTS- 6.5 |
7. University Of Waterloo:
Often known as the “MIT of Canada,” the University of Waterloo maintains an incredibly selective admission process with an acceptance rate of just 53% and an average admitted GPA of 3.7. Internationally renowned for its academic excellence, Waterloo offers esteemed programmes across business, engineering, health, humanities, environmental studies, and sciences.
| University of Waterloo | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.S | 41,688 | TOEFL- 90, IELTS- 7 |
| M.Math | 23,088 | TOEFL- 90, IELTS- 7 |
| M.Arch | 37,590 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7.5 |
8. University Of British Columbia:
Securing admission to the University of British Columbia is competitive, with an acceptance rate of 54%. UBC’s Bachelor of Commerce programme is renowned as one of the most competitive undergraduate business degrees in Canada. As British Columbia’s oldest university, UBC consistently ranks among the top three institutions nationwide.
| University of British Columbia | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.S | 7,920 | TOEFL- 90, IELTS- 6.5 |
| M.B.A | 30,090 | TOEFL- 90, IELTS- 6.5 |
| M.Eng | 39,264 | TOEFL- 90, IELTS- 6.5 |
9. University Of Ottawa:
Unique for being the largest English-French bilingual university in the world, the University of Ottawa offers programmes taught in both languages. It features an acceptance of 42%. Situated in Ottawa, Ontario, its exceptional academic quality attracts students globally. With over 40,000 students, including over 15% international, the university provides comprehensive studies across law, medicine, social sciences, management, and more.
| University of Ottawa | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.C.S ( Master of Computer Science) | 21,004 | TOEFL- 86, IELTS- 6.5 |
| M.B.A | 23,577 | TOEFL- 100, IELTS- 7 |
| Master of Law (L.L.M) | 20,000 | TOEFL- 80, IELTS- 6.5 |
10. University Of Montreal:
Known as the “Harvard of Canada,” the University of Montreal maintains a relatively higher acceptance rate of 57%. Gaining admission to this prestigious institution is an immensely competitive and selective process, especially for students outside of Quebec. As a large public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, the university boasts an extensive academic portfolio of over 600 programmes, including more than 70 doctoral offerings.
| University Of Montreal | ||
| Popular Courses | Average Fees Per Year (CAD) | Acceptable Test Scores |
| M.C.S ( Master of Computer Science) | 17,708 | TOEFL- 85, IELTS- 6.5 |
| M.B.A | 17,708 | TOEFL- 85, IELTS- 6.5 |
| M.Eng | 17,708 | TOEFL- 85, IELTS- 6.5 |
Thus, if you are on the go for the hardest university to get into Canada that boasts excellent quality of education and thriving career opportunities, this list serves the purpose. While the universities highlighted in this blog post present low acceptance rates and high admission standards, their diverse programmes and world-class facilities truly justify this.
FAQs
1. What is the hardest university to get into in Canada?
The University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Alberta, and University of Waterloo among others are the hardest universities to get admission in Canada.
2. Which Canadian universities have the lowest acceptance rates?
Some leading Canadian universities with the lowest acceptance rates include York University (27%), McGill University (38%), and the University of Waterloo (53%).
3. Are Canadian universities hard to get into?
Canadian universities can be very competitive, but the difficulty of getting in will generally depend on the university and your chosen programme.
4. Which degree is most popular in Canada?
Business Studies and Finance, Hotel Management, Engineering, Art and Design, Health, Media Studies and Computer Science are the some of best programmes in Canada.
5. What is the hardest major to get into in Canada?
The Bachelor of Commerce programme at the University of British Columbia, the Mechanical Engineering programme at McGill University, and the Smith Bachelor of Commerce programme at Queen’s University are the hardest courses to get admission in Canada.
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