Do you have an eye for design? Have you always been fascinated by the built environment and how people interact with it? This could mean that a degree in architecture might suit you. Knowing what subject you want to study is one thing, but where is another. With this in mind, we place Canada under the microscope and take you through the top architecture schools in the country. One of these universities could be the perfect backdrop for you to study architecture in Canada.
University of Toronto
Frequently topping the charts of Canada’s best institutions, it’s little surprise to find the University of Toronto as the top university to study architecture in Canada according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. It also ranks 39th in the world for the subject (QS). The university is home to the renowned John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.
The faculty offers 13 programmes of study, including architectural degrees at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. This includes a specialist degree in landscape architecture and qualifications that place sustainability at the core of the curriculum, such as the Master of Forest Conservation.
The faculty commits to interdisciplinary teaching and research. This approach aims to address the key challenges faced by society in the contemporary world. If you choose to study at the University of Toronto, you’ll join 23,000 international students from countries as diverse as Iran and Taiwan. Plus you'll live in one of the best student cities in the world, Toronto.
Find out what makes studying in Canada unique.
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) has the enviable reputation of being named one of the best places to study architecture in Canada. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 puts the university in the number two spot for the subject and at number 43 globally.
The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture offers several master’s degrees in the field, including:
- Master of Landscape Architecture
- Master of Urban Design
- Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture
With over a century of history, the university has seen its fair share of interesting developments, people and events. For example, the Vancouver campus boasts the world’s tallest wood building spanning 17 floors. The university has also served as the backdrop for many famous films, including X-Men, Fantastic Four and Battlestar Galactica.
UBC has over 66,000 students studying at the university of which one-third are international from 166 countries. Plus, studying in Vancouver means you’ll be in a city with a world-renowned reputation for a high quality of life and a city with a high liveability ranking. The city is ranked in the top 20 worldwide for students by the QS Best Student Cities 2025.
Find out more about other top universities in Canada.
McGill University
If you want to study to become an architect in Canada, then McGill University should certainly be on your list of potential institutions. The university placed third in Canada and within the world’s top 100 for the subject in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The university is ranked third in Canada and within the top 50 globally by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
The Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture is located on the main campus of the university in Montreal, which is a top 10 QS student city for 2025. The architecture school is named after world-renowned architect Peter Guo-hua Fu, who is an alumnus of the school and made a CAD 12 million donation to support the study of architecture at the university. Programmes on offer at the school include:
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Professional Master of Architecture
- PhD in Architecture
There are also several scholarships and awards available for aspiring students, including entrance scholarships and in-course awards. The university also hosts a vibrant international student community, with over 30 per cent of all students coming from overseas.
Find out more about some of the other funding and scholarship options available to international students in Canada.
University of Montreal
Another of Montreal’s universities on the list of the best places to study architecture in Canada is the University of Montreal. It’s little wonder as Montreal is a UNESCO city of design and famed for its architectural vistas. The university sits in sixth place on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 overall and 125th globally. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, the university ranks in Canada’s top 10 for architecture.
The university is known for its international outlook, with over 10,000 registered international students and a student community of just under 45,000 across 600 programmes. The School of Architecture at the university offers programmes certified by the Canadian Certification Council of Architecture (CCAC), one of only 11 universities with this accreditation in Canada. The school also actively looks to incorporate international culture and architecture into the curriculum and research activities.
Check out some of the other universities where you can study architecture in Canada:
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Centennial College
- Fanshawe College
- Carleton University
- Mohawk College
- University of Alberta
Discover how you can apply to study in Canada.
Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University is a top five university for architecture in Canada and in the world’s top 200 as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The university is also known for its co-op programmes, which are integrated into their qualifications. This allows students to gain invaluable professional experience while undertaking their degrees.
The Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science offers an undergraduate qualification in architectural science and a master’s degree in architecture. The latter helps students to work towards a professional architectural license while developing dynamic and exciting design solutions. The degree also covers sustainable design, technology and global society.
Now that you are on top of the best institutions for architecture in Canada, it’s time to find out how much it costs to study in Canada, understand the Canadian grading system and explore higher education in Canada.
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