76 Best universities for Development Studies 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 Development Studies. A graph of 7.25M citations received by 235K academic papers made by 76 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.

1. University of Toronto

Ontario | Toronto

For Development Studies

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Development Studies

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

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

3. McMaster University

Ontario | Hamilton

For Development Studies

#33 in North America

#45 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

4. University of Alberta

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#40 in North America

#55 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

5. McGill University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#41 in North America

#56 in the World

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

6. University of Ottawa

Ontario | Ottawa

For Development Studies

#44 in North America

#65 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

7. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Development Studies

#49 in North America

#78 in the World

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

8. Western University

Ontario | London

For Development Studies

#51 in North America

#82 in the World

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

9. York University

Ontario | Toronto

For Development Studies

#75 in North America

#129 in the World

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

10. University of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#86 in North America

#147 in the World

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

11. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Development Studies

#88 in North America

#150 in the World

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

12. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Development Studies

#90 in North America

#152 in the World

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

13. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Development Studies

#103 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

14. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Development Studies

#104 in North America

#198 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Development Studies

#106 in North America

#205 in the World

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

16. University of Victoria

British Columbia | Victoria

For Development Studies

#115 in North America

#233 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

17. Laval University

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Development Studies

#116 in North America

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

18. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Development Studies

#134 in North America

#285 in the World

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

19. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Development Studies

#136 in North America

#288 in the World

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

20. University of Guelph

Ontario | Guelph

For Development Studies

#152 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

21. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Development Studies

#169 in North America

#394 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

22. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#184 in North America

#445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

23. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John's

For Development Studies

#187 in North America

#456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

24. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#188 in North America

#464 in the World

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

25. University of Sherbrooke

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Development Studies

#214 in North America

#567 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

26. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Development Studies

#215 in North America

#571 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

27. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Development Studies

#222 in North America

#617 in the World

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

28. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Development Studies

#229 in North America

#638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 1964

29. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Development Studies

#238 in North America

#686 in the World

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

30. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Development Studies

#261 in North America

#810 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

31. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#273 in North America

#876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

32. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Development Studies

#278 in North America

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

33. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Development Studies

#304 in North America

#991 in the World

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

34. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Development Studies

#316 in North America

#1025 in the World

Founded: 2002

35. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#343 in North America

#1158 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

36. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Development Studies

#370 in North America

#1272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1967

37. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Development Studies

#381 in North America

#1319 in the World

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

38. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Development Studies

#388 in North America

#1338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1963

39. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Development Studies

#392 in North America

#1357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1853

40. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Development Studies

#401 in North America

#1401 in the World

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

41. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Development Studies

#447 in North America

#1613 in the World

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

42. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Development Studies

#448 in North America

#1617 in the World

Founded: 1910

43. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Development Studies

#468 in North America

#1709 in the World

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

44. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Development Studies

#477 in North America

#1749 in the World

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

45. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Development Studies

#478 in North America

#1755 in the World

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

46. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Development Studies

#503 in North America

#1853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

47. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Development Studies

#542 in North America

#2034 in the World

Founded: 1995

48. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Development Studies

#569 in North America

#2138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

49. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Development Studies

#571 in North America

#2143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1838

50. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Development Studies

#575 in North America

#2160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1899

51. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Development Studies

#593 in North America

#2237 in the World

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

52. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Development Studies

#599 in North America

#2279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1864

53. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#601 in North America

#2303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

54. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Development Studies

#616 in North America

#2393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1974

55. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#635 in North America

#2499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

56. Quest University Canada

British Columbia | Squamish

For Development Studies

#648 in North America

#2564 in the World

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

57. Royal Military College of Canada

Ontario | Kingston

For Development Studies

#670 in North America

#2683 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

58. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#672 in North America

#2685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

59. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Development Studies

#710 in North America

#2847 in the World

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

60. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Development Studies

#715 in North America

#2873 in the World

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

61. University of the Fraser Valley

British Columbia | Abbotsford

For Development Studies

#729 in North America

#2959 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

62. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Development Studies

#737 in North America

#3005 in the World

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

63. Trinity Western University

British Columbia | Langley

For Development Studies

#742 in North America

#3029 in the World

Enrollment: 7,475
Founded: 1986

64. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Development Studies

#795 in North America

#3259 in the World

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

65. National School of Public Administration

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Development Studies

#807 in North America

#3315 in the World

Founded: 1969

66. University of Quebec

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Development Studies

#846 in North America

#3508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1968

67. St. Thomas University - Canada

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Development Studies

#862 in North America

#3555 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1910

68. University of Quebec, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

Quebec State | Rouyn-Noranda

For Development Studies

#863 in North America

#3563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1970

69. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Development Studies

#867 in North America

#3573 in the World

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

70. British Columbia Institute of Technology

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Development Studies

#953 in North America

#3986 in the World

Founded: 1960

71. Algoma University

Ontario | Sault Ste. Marie

For Development Studies

#1015 in North America

#4240 in the World

Enrollment: 1,600
Founded: 2008

72. Concordia University of Edmonton

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#1050 in North America

#4397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1921

73. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia | Surrey

For Development Studies

#1068 in North America

#4493 in the World

Founded: 1981

74. OCAD University

Ontario | Toronto

For Development Studies

#1115 in North America

#4719 in the World

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

75. University of Saint-Boniface

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Development Studies

#1153 in North America

#4869 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1818

76. Capilano University

British Columbia | North Vancouver

For Development Studies

#1158 in North America

#4886 in the World

Founded: 1968

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

Economics subfields in Canada

Actuarial Science32

Agricultural Economics27

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics59

Environmental Economics34

International Economics34

International Relations and Diplomacy35

International Trade39

Investment Banking and Stock trading40

Political Economy48