Canada hosts over one million international students each year who attend one of the 155 universities in the country. Canada is renowned for the quality of its higher education, placed fourth globally by IDP for the strength of its higher education. This makes Canada an ideal study destination for studying veterinary science. We’re here to help you make sense of which universities rate the best for this degree, what you’ll study and what you can expect.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is ranked in the top five best universities in Canada by the QS World University Rankings 2025 (QS). The institution is in the number one spot for veterinary science teaching as per Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 by subject (THE). Both QS and THE rank the university in the top 150 institutions globally. Located in Edmonton, the university is spread over five campuses, offering 200 undergraduate programmes and over 500 postgraduate programmes.
The university is a Canadian top-five institution for research and received over CAD 620 million in research funding in 2023. It’s also a dynamic and multicultural institution, with students from over 156 countries making up the 40,000-strong community. There’s also plenty to do, with 425 student clubs and a city with a population of one million people to explore.
If you chose to study veterinary science at the University of Alberta, you’d be at a university with the second-highest rating for graduate employment in Canada. An essential part of the veterinary science qualifications at the university is the pre-veterinary courses that prepare you for your professional degree.
Your studies can include pursuing a degree in animal science, animal health or agriculture. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge to further your professional studies at one of the dedicated veterinary science institutions in Alberta, including the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Calgary Veterinary College.
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University of Montreal
The University of Montreal, or Université de Montréal as it is also known, enjoys the enviable number three position for veterinary science in Canada by THE. In addition, the institution is ranked in the global top 200 by QS and within the top four universities in Canada for research. Located in Montreal, the university is a bilingual institution providing instruction in both English and French. The university has a student population of just under 70,000, with 28 per cent of students pursuing postgraduate studies. You won’t be alone as an international student either, with 11,000 students from around the world being part of the student community.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is a teaching and research unit based in the heart of Quebec in Saint-Hyacinthe. The faculty offers degrees across all levels and has a thriving professional degree programme, with over 400 students pursuing a doctoral programme. There is a sharp focus on preparing students for clinical practice and professional accreditation.
Discover more about what you can expect when studying veterinary science.
University of Calgary
Another of Alberta’s top universities is the University of Calgary. The institution claims a top 250 world university ranking, as per THE and QS. According to the QS World University Rankings by subject 2024, the university has the third-best veterinary science qualifications in Canada. 34,000 students call the university their home away from home, with about 10 per cent coming from an international background. The institution has approximately 29,000 undergraduate students and about 7,600 postgraduate students.
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was established in 2005 to produce skilled veterinary graduates. These skills are taught using a curriculum centred on applied research and innovative methodology. The university also has CVMA/AVMA Council on Education accreditation, which is the body that endorses Canadian and American veterinary institutions. The university only accepts international students with a bachelor’s degree in a related STEM subject or field. You’ll also need an IELTS score of 7.0 to be accepted into the programme.
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University of Guelph
Guelph is a city in the Canadian state of Ontario, not too far from Toronto. It is the home of the University of Guelph, which holds the distinction of the number one spot on the QS World University Rankings by subject 2024 for veterinary science in Canada. THE rates the university at number two for the subject. The institution is also rated in the top 500 universities globally by both QS and THE.
The university has a vibrant and diverse student community of over 29,000, with 1,700 international students from 130 countries. There is also an active alumni community of 185,000 across the globe. Seven colleges are spread across three campuses, with the Ontario Veterinary College being the oldest in Canada and the USA. The qualifications you can pursue include a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Master of Biomedical Science, Master of Science in Clinical Studies, and even an MSc in Pathobiology, to name a few.
Gaining entry into a graduate programme requires the equivalent of a 2:1 bachelor’s degree or an undergraduate degree with an average above 70 per cent in a related subject. There are some prerequisite modules or subjects you will need to have taken to qualify for the DVM degree, including:
- Statistics
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biological science
Remember to check all entry requirements for international students with the university. You can also ask about any scholarships and funding that may be available.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of your study options for veterinary science in Canada. You can also review some other universities in Canada, discover what makes Canada unique, and how to apply to study in Canada.
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