69 Best universities for Literature in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 1.38M citations received by 87.2K academic papers made by 69 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

#1 in North America

#3 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Literature

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

3. McGill University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

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

4. University of Alberta

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

5. York University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#46 in North America

#81 in the World

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

6. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#52 in North America

#94 in the World

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

7. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#60 in North America

#107 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

8. McMaster University

Ontario | Hamilton

For Literature

#62 in North America

#110 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

9. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Literature

#64 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

10. Western University

Ontario | London

For Literature

#66 in North America

#115 in the World

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

11. University of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#70 in North America

#125 in the World

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

12. University of Ottawa

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#78 in North America

#151 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

13. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#83 in North America

#161 in the World

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

14. University of Victoria

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#94 in North America

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

15. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#101 in North America

#219 in the World

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

16. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#109 in North America

#248 in the World

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

17. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#110 in North America

#251 in the World

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

18. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#120 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

19. University of Guelph

Ontario | Guelph

For Literature

#123 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

20. Laval University

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Literature

#124 in North America

#289 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

21. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Literature

#129 in North America

#334 in the World

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

22. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John's

For Literature

#144 in North America

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

23. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#147 in North America

#387 in the World

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

24. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#173 in North America

#471 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

25. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Literature

#181 in North America

#503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Enrollment: 18,824
Founded: 1964

26. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Literature

#188 in North America

#523 in the World

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

27. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#195 in North America

#546 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

28. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Literature

#199 in North America

#563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

29. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#207 in North America

#597 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

30. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#225 in North America

#650 in the World

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

31. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#250 in North America

#742 in the World

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

32. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Literature

#269 in North America

#797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 8,059
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1967

33. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Literature

#272 in North America

#802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1963

34. University of Sherbrooke

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#275 in North America

#819 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

35. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#291 in North America

#886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

36. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Literature

#299 in North America

#915 in the World

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

37. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Literature

#347 in North America

#1070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1853

38. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Literature

#368 in North America

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

39. Royal Military College of Canada

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#385 in North America

#1228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

40. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Literature

#404 in North America

#1301 in the World

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

41. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#418 in North America

#1340 in the World

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

42. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Literature

#426 in North America

#1369 in the World

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

43. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#441 in North America

#1416 in the World

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

44. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Literature

#445 in North America

#1423 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1838

45. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Literature

#454 in North America

#1457 in the World

Founded: 2002

46. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#461 in North America

#1475 in the World

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

47. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Literature

#483 in North America

#1560 in the World

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

48. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#500 in North America

#1615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

49. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Literature

#518 in North America

#1680 in the World

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

50. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Literature

#519 in North America

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1899

51. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Literature

#536 in North America

#1757 in the World

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

52. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#581 in North America

#1933 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1971

53. Trinity Western University

British Columbia | Langley

For Literature

#591 in North America

#1975 in the World

Enrollment: 7,475
Founded: 1986

54. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Literature

#595 in North America

#1999 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

55. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Literature

#608 in North America

#2046 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1864

56. St. Thomas University - Canada

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#620 in North America

#2101 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1910

57. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#655 in North America

#2268 in the World

Enrollment: 12,577
Founded: 1910

58. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#673 in North America

#2354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

59. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Literature

#688 in North America

#2419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1974

60. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Literature

#722 in North America

#2542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 4,838
Founded: 1992

61. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Literature

#760 in North America

#2686 in the World

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

62. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#765 in North America

#2699 in the World

Founded: 1995

63. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Literature

#791 in North America

#2790 in the World

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

64. University of the Fraser Valley

British Columbia | Abbotsford

For Literature

#799 in North America

#2821 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

65. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Literature

#822 in North America

#2979 in the World

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

66. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia | Surrey

For Literature

#877 in North America

#3206 in the World

Founded: 1981

67. OCAD University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#900 in North America

#3303 in the World

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

68. Algoma University

Ontario | Sault Ste. Marie

For Literature

#925 in North America

#3441 in the World

Enrollment: 1,600
Founded: 2008

69. Concordia University of Edmonton

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#927 in North America

#3446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1921

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