67 Best universities for Optical Engineering 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 12.3M citations received by 371K academic papers made by 67 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 Optical Engineering

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

2. University of British Columbia

British Columbia | Vancouver

For Optical Engineering

#35 in North America

#66 in the World

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

3. McGill University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#38 in North America

#75 in the World

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

4. University of Alberta

Alberta | Edmonton

For Optical Engineering

#47 in North America

#108 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

5. University of Waterloo

Ontario | Waterloo

For Optical Engineering

#49 in North America

#115 in the World

Founded: 1957

6. McMaster University

Ontario | Hamilton

For Optical Engineering

#61 in North America

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

7. University of Calgary

Alberta | Calgary

For Optical Engineering

#68 in North America

#191 in the World

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

8. Western University

Ontario | London

For Optical Engineering

#74 in North America

#204 in the World

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

9. University of Ottawa

Ontario | Ottawa

For Optical Engineering

#76 in North America

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

10. Laval University

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Optical Engineering

#82 in North America

#252 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

11. University of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#86 in North America

#264 in the World

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

12. Queen's University

Ontario | Kingston

For Optical Engineering

#88 in North America

#272 in the World

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

13. University of Manitoba

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Optical Engineering

#106 in North America

#338 in the World

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

14. Simon Fraser University

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Optical Engineering

#107 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

15. Dalhousie University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Optical Engineering

#108 in North America

#342 in the World

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

16. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#110 in North America

#350 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

17. University of Victoria

British Columbia | Victoria

For Optical Engineering

#122 in North America

#409 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

18. University of Sherbrooke

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Optical Engineering

#125 in North America

#443 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1954

19. Carleton University

Ontario | Ottawa

For Optical Engineering

#129 in North America

#456 in the World

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

20. University of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan | Saskatoon

For Optical Engineering

#132 in North America

#466 in the World

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

21. Concordia University

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#134 in North America

#473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1974

22. University of Guelph

Ontario | Guelph

For Optical Engineering

#137 in North America

#500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

23. York University

Ontario | Toronto

For Optical Engineering

#152 in North America

#552 in the World

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

24. Ryerson University

Ontario | Toronto

For Optical Engineering

#178 in North America

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 38,950
Founded: 1948

25. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador | St. John's

For Optical Engineering

#185 in North America

#694 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

26. University of New Brunswick

New Brunswick | Fredericton

For Optical Engineering

#195 in North America

#790 in the World

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

27. University of Quebec in Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#200 in North America

#814 in the World

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

28. University of Windsor

Ontario | Windsor

For Optical Engineering

#203 in North America

#836 in the World

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

29. Royal Military College of Canada

Ontario | Kingston

For Optical Engineering

#240 in North America

#1067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1876

30. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#253 in North America

#1207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 1974

31. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

Quebec State | Trois-Rivieres

For Optical Engineering

#269 in North America

#1342 in the World

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

32. Brock University

Ontario | St. Catharines

For Optical Engineering

#277 in North America

#1396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 1964

33. University of Regina

Saskatchewan | Regina

For Optical Engineering

#279 in North America

#1401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1911

34. Wilfrid Laurier University

Ontario | Waterloo

For Optical Engineering

#284 in North America

#1443 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

35. Lakehead University

Ontario | Thunder Bay

For Optical Engineering

#291 in North America

#1505 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1965

36. University of Lethbridge

Alberta | Lethbridge

For Optical Engineering

#311 in North America

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1967

37. Ontario Tech University

Ontario | Oshawa

For Optical Engineering

#316 in North America

#1712 in the World

Founded: 2002

38. Laurentian University

Ontario | Greater Sudbury

For Optical Engineering

#321 in North America

#1740 in the World

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

39. University of Winnipeg

Manitoba | Winnipeg

For Optical Engineering

#341 in North America

#1868 in the World

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

40. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

Quebec State | Chicoutimi

For Optical Engineering

#347 in North America

#1913 in the World

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

41. Trent University

Ontario | Peterborough

For Optical Engineering

#354 in North America

#2010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1963

42. HEC Montreal

Quebec State | Montreal

For Optical Engineering

#363 in North America

#2070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1907

43. University of Quebec in Outaouais

Quebec State | Gatineau

For Optical Engineering

#368 in North America

#2110 in the World

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

44. University of Moncton

New Brunswick | Moncton

For Optical Engineering

#371 in North America

#2124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1864

45. Saint Mary's University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Optical Engineering

#383 in North America

#2222 in the World

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

46. University of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island | Charlottetown

For Optical Engineering

#410 in North America

#2388 in the World

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

47. St. Francis Xavier University

Nova Scotia | Antigonish

For Optical Engineering

#411 in North America

#2391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Founded: 1853

48. University of Quebec in Rimouski

Quebec State | Rimouski

For Optical Engineering

#449 in North America

#2614 in the World

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

49. Brandon University

Manitoba | Brandon

For Optical Engineering

#475 in North America

#2731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1899

50. University of Quebec

Quebec State | Quebec City

For Optical Engineering

#482 in North America

#2763 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Founded: 1968

51. University of Northern British Columbia

British Columbia | Prince George

For Optical Engineering

#488 in North America

#2810 in the World

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

52. Acadia University

Nova Scotia | Wolfville

For Optical Engineering

#490 in North America

#2814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1838

53. Mount Allison University

New Brunswick | Sackville

For Optical Engineering

#495 in North America

#2855 in the World

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

54. University of Quebec, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

Quebec State | Rouyn-Noranda

For Optical Engineering

#544 in North America

#3111 in the World

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

55. Bishop's University

Quebec State | Sherbrooke

For Optical Engineering

#645 in North America

#3603 in the World

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

56. Cape Breton University

Nova Scotia | Sydney

For Optical Engineering

#654 in North America

#3639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 1974

57. Quest University Canada

British Columbia | Squamish

For Optical Engineering

#691 in North America

#3803 in the World

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

58. Mount Saint Vincent University

Nova Scotia | Halifax

For Optical Engineering

#729 in North America

#3946 in the World

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

59. Nipissing University

Ontario | North Bay

For Optical Engineering

#757 in North America

#4074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

60. MacEwan University

Alberta | Edmonton

For Optical Engineering

#761 in North America

#4102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1971

61. Thompson Rivers University

British Columbia | Kamloops

For Optical Engineering

#764 in North America

#4114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1970

62. British Columbia Institute of Technology

British Columbia | Burnaby

For Optical Engineering

#766 in North America

#4119 in the World

Founded: 1960

63. Mount Royal University

Alberta | Calgary

For Optical Engineering

#827 in North America

#4386 in the World

Founded: 1910

64. University of the Fraser Valley

British Columbia | Abbotsford

For Optical Engineering

#890 in North America

#4629 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1974

65. Vancouver Island University

British Columbia | Nanaimo

For Optical Engineering

#901 in North America

#4666 in the World

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

66. Royal Roads University

British Columbia | Victoria

For Optical Engineering

#987 in North America

#4956 in the World

Founded: 1995

67. Kings University in Canada

Alberta | Edmonton

For Optical Engineering

#1009 in North America

#5051 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1979

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