76 Best universities for Development Studies 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 Development Studies. A graph of 6.82M citations received by 228K 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: 27,651
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Development Studies

#19 in North America

#22 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

#45 in North America

#65 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

7. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Development Studies

#50 in North America

#80 in the World

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

8. Western University

Ontario | London

For Development Studies

#52 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

#128 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

#145 in the World

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

11. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Development Studies

#89 in North America

#150 in the World

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

12. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Development Studies

#91 in North America

#154 in the World

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

13. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Development Studies

#102 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

14. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Development Studies

#104 in North America

#195 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Development Studies

#105 in North America

#200 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

#117 in North America

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

18. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Development Studies

#135 in North America

#282 in the World

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

19. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Development Studies

#137 in North America

#288 in the World

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

20. University of Guelph

Ontario | Guelph

For Development Studies

#152 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

21. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Development Studies

#173 in North America

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

22. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#185 in North America

#439 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

#454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

24. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#188 in North America

#461 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

#566 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

26. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Development Studies

#215 in North America

#569 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

27. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Development Studies

#224 in North America

#610 in the World

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

28. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Development Studies

#231 in North America

#638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 1964

29. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Development Studies

#239 in North America

#677 in the World

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

30. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Development Studies

#267 in North America

#813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

31. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#272 in North America

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

32. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Development Studies

#282 in North America

#900 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

33. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Development Studies

#306 in North America

#976 in the World

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

34. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Development Studies

#321 in North America

#1021 in the World

Founded: 2002

35. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#343 in North America

#1133 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

36. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Development Studies

#369 in North America

#1251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1967

37. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Development Studies

#381 in North America

#1293 in the World

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

38. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Development Studies

#385 in North America

#1304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1963

39. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Development Studies

#392 in North America

#1327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1853

40. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Development Studies

#404 in North America

#1379 in the World

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

41. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Development Studies

#452 in North America

#1606 in the World

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

42. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Development Studies

#460 in North America

#1632 in the World

Founded: 1910

43. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Development Studies

#470 in North America

#1677 in the World

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

44. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Development Studies

#483 in North America

#1740 in the World

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

45. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Development Studies

#485 in North America

#1750 in the World

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

46. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Development Studies

#511 in North America

#1868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

47. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Development Studies

#545 in North America

#2031 in the World

Founded: 1995

48. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Development Studies

#569 in North America

#2099 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1838

49. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Development Studies

#578 in North America

#2123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

50. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Development Studies

#594 in North America

#2186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1899

51. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Development Studies

#600 in North America

#2233 in the World

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

52. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Development Studies

#602 in North America

#2239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1864

53. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Development Studies

#622 in North America

#2382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1974

54. Quest University Canada

British Columbia | Squamish

For Development Studies

#625 in North America

#2386 in the World

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

55. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Development Studies

#633 in North America

#2420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

56. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#642 in North America

#2467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

57. Royal Military College of Canada

Ontario | Kingston

For Development Studies

#669 in North America

#2617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

58. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#691 in North America

#2702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

59. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Development Studies

#708 in North America

#2782 in the World

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

60. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Development Studies

#721 in North America

#2847 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

#2915 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

62. Trinity Western University

British Columbia | Langley

For Development Studies

#749 in North America

#3014 in the World

Enrollment: 7,475
Founded: 1986

63. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Development Studies

#757 in North America

#3035 in the World

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

64. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Development Studies

#798 in North America

#3206 in the World

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

65. National School of Public Administration

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Development Studies

#820 in North America

#3328 in the World

Founded: 1969

66. University of Quebec

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Development Studies

#840 in North America

#3412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1968

67. University of Quebec, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

Quebec State | Rouyn-Noranda

For Development Studies

#867 in North America

#3542 in the World

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

68. St. Thomas University - Canada

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Development Studies

#868 in North America

#3547 in the World

Enrollment: 2,000
Founded: 1910

69. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Development Studies

#878 in North America

#3575 in the World

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

70. British Columbia Institute of Technology

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Development Studies

#947 in North America

#3901 in the World

Founded: 1960

71. Algoma University

Ontario | Sault Ste. Marie

For Development Studies

#1042 in North America

#4311 in the World

Enrollment: 1,600
Founded: 2008

72. Concordia University of Edmonton

Alberta | Edmonton

For Development Studies

#1063 in North America

#4413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1921

73. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

British Columbia | Surrey

For Development Studies

#1076 in North America

#4478 in the World

Founded: 1981

74. OCAD University

Ontario | Toronto

For Development Studies

#1131 in North America

#4743 in the World

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

75. Capilano University

British Columbia | North Vancouver

For Development Studies

#1165 in North America

#4864 in the World

Founded: 1968

76. University of Saint-Boniface

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Development Studies

#1168 in North America

#4876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1818

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 Economics57

Environmental Economics34

International Economics34

International Relations and Diplomacy35

International Trade39

Investment Banking and Stock trading40

Political Economy47