A trendy study destination for international students, Canada offers a high quality of life, spectacular landscapes and an excellent education system. But which cities are best for students? As the world’s second-largest country, you have plenty of choice when it comes to the location. However, this might feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve chosen to explore Canada’s top student cities using the QS Best Student Cities 2024 rankings to help you refine your search and find out where you might want to live, work and study in Canada.
Montreal
Consistently ranking within the top 20 best student cities (number 13 in 2024) in the world (QS Best Student Cities), Montreal is known for being bilingual (English and French), multicultural and friendly, with an excellent arts and culture scene. Located within the province of Quebec in the central south-east of Canada, Montreal is the second largest city in the country. You won’t be surprised to hear that the city's population is just over 1.8 million people.
With comparably low living costs and a busy calendar of events, festivals and activities, it's little wonder that Montreal is such a popular choice for students. You can enjoy events catering for music, arts, religion, culture and food. Some of the most popular include the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs comedy festival. If you love the outdoors, Montreal also has over 2,000 acres of parks, giving you a break from the bustling atmosphere of the city streets.
Plus, Montreal is particularly diverse, with 23 per cent of the population originating from outside the country. 55 per cent of the population is bilingual, speaking both English and French (Statistics Canada). This multiculturalism makes Montreal a great place for international students looking to feel accepted and welcomed into a new community.
Do you know which degrees are most popular for international students in Canada?
Toronto
The largest city in Canada, Toronto has a cosmopolitan, friendly and multicultural feel. Experience all four seasons throughout the year, from hot summer days on the beach to snow-filled winters perfect for skiing and tobogganing. Toronto regularly ranks as one of the world’s best student cities (QS Best Student Cities) and was rated number 11 globally for 2024. The city offers a wide range of entertainment to suit every individual, such as festivals, food markets, shopping, art galleries, museums and sporting events.
Toronto also strikes the perfect balance between lively and peaceful with many areas of outstanding natural beauty. Home to several nature reserves, Lake Ontario and the world-renowned Niagara Falls, Toronto has it all. The city was also voted the sixth safest in the world (World Population Review 2024), which should calm any nerves you have about moving to a new place on your own.
If you’re interested in Toronto for your studies, check out the following Toronto-based institutions:
- George Brown College
- Centennial College
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- University of Guelph-Humber
- University of Toronto
Want to know why Canada is such a popular study destination?
Vancouver
Also known as Hollywood North, Vancouver has made a name for itself in TV and film production, following the likes of Los Angeles and New York. It is also one of the cleanest cities in the world and the birthplace of the environmental charity, Greenpeace. Vancouver is another international Canadian city, with people from all over the world making up its population of 650,000. This includes communities from the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America. As with the other cities mentioned here, Vancouver is an incredibly welcoming place for international students as a result.
An inclusive attitude is also championed by the universities, which offer free transport for international students. This is a huge money saver to help with budgeting in Canada, enabling students to move around the city for free. You might also be interested to know that international students receive access to affordable healthcare in British Columbia with a monthly fee of CAD 75 per month.
Based in British Columbia on the west coast of Canada, Vancouver is home to both mountains and beaches. So, if you want city life, long stretches of coastline and a mild climate, Vancouver should be high on your list. If you’re craving some snow, you can head up to the Rockies for hiking trails and skiing holidays.
Want to browse universities in Vancouver/British Columbia?
- LaSalle College Vancouver
- University of Canada West
- Capilano University
- University of Northern British Columbia
- Langara College
Find out more about the top universities in Canada.
Ottawa
The capital of Canada, Ottawa is a dynamic, diverse and youthful city with a vibrant culture. The Rideau Canal runs right through the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which, in the winter, transforms into one of the longest ice-skating rinks in the world. Just over 900,000 people call the city home, and it holds the distinction of having more engineers, scientists and PhD graduates per capita than any other Canadian city (Ottawa.ca).
Ottawa is based in Ontario, bordering Quebec and just a two-hour drive from Montreal. The USA is also ideally located just an hour south of the city by car. What’s more, Ottawa offers a high quality of life and a relatively low cost of living. The city ranks as the 18th most livable in the world (Mercer 2023) based on crime, housing, healthcare and education.
This student-centric city is dominated by two large universities, University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Ottawa is rated 57th by QS for the most student-friendly cities in the world. Plus, Ottawa is renowned for its tech industry, which attracts many international students interested in finding a graduate job in the fields of computer science, IT and technology.
Now that you are more familiar with some of the best student cities in Canada, you may want to continue your research into studying there. We can help with our guide to understanding the Canadian higher education system, understanding Canadian grading, and how to apply to study in Canada.
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