69 Best universities for Literature in Canada

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 77.2M citations received by 2.86M 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

#2 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Enrollment: 95,055
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Literature

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 59,659
Founded: 1908

3. McGill University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 40,036
Founded: 1821

4. University of Alberta

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 1908

5. York University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#45 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

6. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#47 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

7. Western University

Ontario | London

For Literature

#56 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 27,300
Founded: 1878

8. McMaster University

Ontario | Hamilton

For Literature

#58 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 30,117
Founded: 1887

9. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#59 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

10. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Literature

#61 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 1965

11. University of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#67 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 45,360
Founded: 1878

12. University of Ottawa

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#72 in North America

#137 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

13. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#83 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

14. University of Victoria

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#87 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 20,492
Founded: 1963

15. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Literature

#101 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 27,823
Founded: 1942

16. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#102 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 18,500
Founded: 1818

17. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#107 in North America

#235 in the World

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

18. University of Guelph

Ontario | Guelph

For Literature

#111 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

19. Laval University

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Literature

#112 in North America

#250 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

20. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Literature

#126 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 20,953
Founded: 1907

21. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#129 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1974

22. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John's

For Literature

#130 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 1925

23. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Literature

#164 in North America

#447 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

24. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#169 in North America

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1969

25. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Literature

#178 in North America

#492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Enrollment: 16,092
Founded: 1857

26. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Literature

#183 in North America

#507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 18,824
Founded: 1964

27. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Literature

#186 in North America

#523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 1911

28. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#196 in North America

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

29. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#207 in North America

#595 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

30. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#217 in North America

#624 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 1785

31. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Literature

#231 in North America

#672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,000
Founded: 1871

32. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Literature

#258 in North America

#783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1963

33. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Literature

#276 in North America

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 8,059
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1967

34. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Literature

#287 in North America

#861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 9,323
Founded: 1960

35. University of Sherbrooke

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#293 in North America

#884 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

36. University of Quebec

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Literature

#296 in North America

#890 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1968

37. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#309 in North America

#930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

38. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Literature

#333 in North America

#1020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1853

39. Royal Military College of Canada

Ontario | Kingston

For Literature

#354 in North America

#1102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

40. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Literature

#363 in North America

#1133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1965

41. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Literature

#380 in North America

#1222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1990

42. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#422 in North America

#1364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Enrollment: 7,281
Founded: 1802

43. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Literature

#431 in North America

#1389 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Founded: 1838

44. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Literature

#447 in North America

#1429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 2002

45. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Literature

#448 in North America

#1430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1969

46. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Literature

#449 in North America

#1431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 4,050
Founded: 1873

47. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Literature

#469 in North America

#1540 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1839

48. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Literature

#510 in North America

#1655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

49. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Literature

#530 in North America

#1719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Founded: 1899

50. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Literature

#537 in North America

#1749 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 4,336
Founded: 1969

51. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Literature

#543 in North America

#1771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1969

52. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Literature

#566 in North America

#1845 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 2,756
Founded: 1843

53. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#571 in North America

#1867 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1971

54. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Literature

#607 in North America

#2006 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1864

55. St. Thomas University - Canada

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Literature

#614 in North America

#2038 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1910

56. Trinity Western University

British Columbia | Langley

For Literature

#618 in North America

#2064 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 4,000
Founded: 1986

57. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Literature

#621 in North America

#2080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

58. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Literature

#628 in North America

#2121 in the World

Enrollment: 12,577
Founded: 1910

59. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Literature

#653 in North America

#2255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 3,500
Founded: 1974

60. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Literature

#717 in North America

#2480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 4,838
Founded: 1992

61. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Literature

#719 in North America

#2482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

62. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Literature

#758 in North America

#2639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1981

63. University of the Fraser Valley

British Columbia | Abbotsford

For Literature

#787 in North America

#2752 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

64. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Literature

#799 in North America

#2801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1969

65. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Literature

#802 in North America

#2807 in the World

Founded: 1995

66. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Literature

#820 in North America

#2894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 1969

67. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia | Surrey

For Literature

#865 in North America

#3130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1981

68. Algoma University

Ontario | Sault Ste. Marie

For Literature

#913 in North America

#3400 in the World

Enrollment: 1,600
Founded: 2008

69. OCAD University

Ontario | Toronto

For Literature

#930 in North America

#3570 in the World

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

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