72 Best universities for Literature in Canada

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 2.01M citations received by 103K academic papers made by 72 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Toronto

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Literature

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

3. McGill University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

4. University of Alberta

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

5. York University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#46 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

6. Western University

Ontario | London

For Literature

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

7. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#53 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

8. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Literature

#60 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

9. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#61 in North America

#113 in the World

Founded: 1957

10. University of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#62 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

11. McMaster University

Ontario | Hamilton

For Literature

#65 in North America

#124 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

12. University of Ottawa

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#76 in North America

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

13. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#81 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

14. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#92 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

15. University of Victoria

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#94 in North America

#205 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

16. Laval University

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Literature

#102 in North America

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

17. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#107 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

18. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#112 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

19. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#116 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

20. University of Guelph

Ontario | Guelph

For Literature

#120 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

21. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#127 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1969

22. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Literature

#136 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,953
Founded: 1907

23. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#142 in North America

#371 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

24. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John's

For Literature

#152 in North America

#403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

25. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#162 in North America

#440 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

26. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Literature

#183 in North America

#514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 1964

27. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Literature

#189 in North America

#537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 16,092
Founded: 1857

28. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#192 in North America

#548 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

29. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Literature

#203 in North America

#590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

30. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#229 in North America

#693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 32,036
Founded: 1785

31. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#246 in North America

#771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1871

32. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Literature

#268 in North America

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1963

33. University of Sherbrooke

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#273 in North America

#865 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

34. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Literature

#274 in North America

#870 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1967

35. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#318 in North America

#1015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

36. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Literature

#321 in North America

#1027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 9,323
Founded: 1960

37. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Literature

#361 in North America

#1169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1853

38. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Literature

#364 in North America

#1172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

39. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Literature

#390 in North America

#1279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 28,609
Founded: 1990

40. Royal Military College of Canada

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#408 in North America

#1355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

41. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#415 in North America

#1379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 7,281
Founded: 1802

42. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Literature

#425 in North America

#1417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1969

43. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Literature

#447 in North America

#1477 in the World

Founded: 2002

44. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#473 in North America

#1592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 4,050
Founded: 1873

45. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Literature

#475 in North America

#1596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1838

46. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Literature

#481 in North America

#1627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 4,336
Founded: 1969

47. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#486 in North America

#1651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 2,756
Founded: 1843

48. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Literature

#500 in North America

#1706 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 72,100
Founded: 1839

49. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#542 in North America

#1894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

50. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#546 in North America

#1906 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

51. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Literature

#550 in North America

#1920 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1899

52. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Literature

#567 in North America

#1976 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1969

53. St. Thomas University - Canada

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#577 in North America

#2016 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1910

54. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Literature

#591 in North America

#2085 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

55. Trinity Western University

British Columbia | Langley

For Literature

#603 in North America

#2127 in the World

Enrollment: 7,475
Founded: 1986

56. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Literature

#616 in North America

#2191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1864

57. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#621 in North America

#2221 in the World

Founded: 1910

58. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Literature

#638 in North America

#2299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1974

59. University of the Fraser Valley

British Columbia | Abbotsford

For Literature

#706 in North America

#2586 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

60. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Literature

#741 in North America

#2714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

61. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#750 in North America

#2752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

62. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Literature

#782 in North America

#2905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1969

63. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Literature

#784 in North America

#2911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1969

64. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#802 in North America

#3000 in the World

Founded: 1995

65. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Literature

#821 in North America

#3061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1981

66. OCAD University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#823 in North America

#3064 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 4,827
Founded: 1876

67. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia | Surrey

For Literature

#887 in North America

#3371 in the World

Founded: 1981

68. Quest University Canada

British Columbia | Squamish

For Literature

#900 in North America

#3452 in the World

Enrollment: 420
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 2007

69. Algoma University

Ontario | Sault Ste. Marie

For Literature

#924 in North America

#3547 in the World

Enrollment: 1,600
Founded: 2008

70. University of King's College

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#925 in North America

#3557 in the World

Founded: 1789

71. Concordia University of Edmonton

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#968 in North America

#3776 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1921

72. Capilano University

British Columbia | North Vancouver

For Literature

#1053 in North America

#4259 in the World

Founded: 1968

The best cities to study Literature in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Edmonton.