Maple News reports that Canada continues to shine on the global education stage, with three of its universities landing in the top 40 of the 2025 QS World University Rankings — a recognition sustained for the second consecutive year.
The QS World University Rankings, published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), evaluates over 1,500 universities worldwide based on a diverse set of indicators. These include academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, research citations, sustainability, internationalization, and graduate employment outcomes. Notably, QS is the only global ranking system that measures both employability and sustainability performance.
Leading the Canadian cohort is the University of Toronto (UofT), ranked 25th globally for 2025. Although UofT dropped slightly from its 21st position last year, it remains the highest-ranked university in the country. It garnered an exceptional score of 99.7 in academic reputation, a near-perfect 96.9 for both employer reputation and international faculty presence, and a flawless 100 for sustainability, highlighting its growing commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Joining UofT in the top 40 are the University of British Columbia (UBC) and McGill University — comprehensive details from QS confirm that these institutions continue to be international hubs for research and academic excellence. Together, these top three schools are based in Canada’s most popular provinces for newcomers: Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. This alignment underscores the close relationship between world-class education and Canada’s leading immigration destinations.
Moreover, eight of Canada’s top ten universities, according to QS 2025 rankings, are located in these three provinces — the exception being the University of Alberta. This regional concentration of academic excellence mirrors settlement trends of international students and immigrants who seek both educational and professional opportunities.
As Canada maintains its reputation for academic distinction, international students and potential immigrants have more reason to consider the country not just for higher education, but also for long-term career prospects and a high quality of life.
Maple News will continue to monitor shifts in global education rankings and what they mean for immigrant and student communities.