72 Best universities for Literature in Canada

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 2.13M citations received by 106K 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: 102,431
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Literature

#18 in North America

#24 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

#40 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

5. York University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#46 in North America

#82 in the World

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

6. Western University

Ontario | London

For Literature

#49 in North America

#93 in the World

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

7. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#53 in North America

#98 in the World

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

8. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#60 in North America

#114 in the World

Founded: 1957

9. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Literature

#61 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

10. University of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#62 in North America

#116 in the World

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

11. McMaster University

Ontario | Hamilton

For Literature

#64 in North America

#124 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

12. University of Ottawa

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#75 in North America

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

13. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#81 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

14. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#92 in North America

#196 in the World

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

15. University of Victoria

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#94 in North America

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

16. Laval University

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Literature

#103 in North America

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

17. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#108 in North America

#253 in the World

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

18. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#112 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

19. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#114 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

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

21. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#126 in North America

#321 in the World

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

22. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Literature

#135 in North America

#362 in the World

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

23. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#141 in North America

#373 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

#412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

25. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#164 in North America

#452 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

26. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Literature

#182 in North America

#510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 1964

27. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Literature

#187 in North America

#543 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

#553 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

29. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Literature

#198 in North America

#585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

30. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#230 in North America

#707 in the World

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

31. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#247 in North America

#787 in the World

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

32. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Literature

#264 in North America

#839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1963

33. University of Sherbrooke

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#267 in North America

#848 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

34. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Literature

#273 in North America

#881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1967

35. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#315 in North America

#1015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

36. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Literature

#321 in North America

#1044 in the World

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

37. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Literature

#359 in North America

#1177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

38. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Literature

#363 in North America

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1853

39. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Literature

#385 in North America

#1284 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

#1377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

41. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Literature

#416 in North America

#1399 in the World

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

42. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#417 in North America

#1401 in the World

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

43. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Literature

#446 in North America

#1491 in the World

Founded: 2002

44. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#468 in North America

#1611 in the World

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

45. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#475 in North America

#1628 in the World

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

46. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Literature

#476 in North America

#1632 in the World

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

47. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Literature

#479 in North America

#1638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1838

48. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Literature

#501 in North America

#1747 in the World

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

49. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#535 in North America

#1889 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

50. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#536 in North America

#1891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

51. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Literature

#546 in North America

#1942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1899

52. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Literature

#568 in North America

#2021 in the World

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

53. St. Thomas University - Canada

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#575 in North America

#2044 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1910

54. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Literature

#578 in North America

#2059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

55. Trinity Western University

British Columbia | Langley

For Literature

#603 in North America

#2180 in the World

Enrollment: 7,475
Founded: 1986

56. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Literature

#604 in North America

#2185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1864

57. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#622 in North America

#2256 in the World

Founded: 1910

58. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Literature

#631 in North America

#2315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1974

59. University of the Fraser Valley

British Columbia | Abbotsford

For Literature

#700 in North America

#2612 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

60. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Literature

#740 in North America

#2753 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

61. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#745 in North America

#2767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

62. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Literature

#755 in North America

#2833 in the World

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

63. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#774 in North America

#2919 in the World

Founded: 1995

64. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Literature

#783 in North America

#2960 in the World

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

65. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Literature

#785 in North America

#2968 in the World

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

66. OCAD University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#812 in North America

#3077 in the World

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

67. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia | Surrey

For Literature

#883 in North America

#3413 in the World

Founded: 1981

68. Quest University Canada

British Columbia | Squamish

For Literature

#890 in North America

#3464 in the World

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

69. Algoma University

Ontario | Sault Ste. Marie

For Literature

#917 in North America

#3576 in the World

Enrollment: 1,600
Founded: 2008

70. University of King's College

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#919 in North America

#3582 in the World

Founded: 1789

71. Concordia University of Edmonton

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#958 in North America

#3772 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1921

72. Capilano University

British Columbia | North Vancouver

For Literature

#1050 in North America

#4296 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.