“Arts,” Humanities and Social Sciences: What Are We Talking About?
A search for Canadian universities in “arts” can lead to very different types of programmes. In Times Higher Education’s (THE) Arts and Humanities ranking, the subject area includes languages, literature, history and philosophy, as well as architecture and artistic practices. It therefore does not refer only to fine arts.
Before comparing institutions, define your plans as precisely as possible. Do you want to study a historical period, analyse social inequalities or explore digital tools applied to culture? Are you looking for an undergraduate programme or a research-based master’s degree?
Your answers determine which table to consult and what questions to ask universities. An institution that is visible in a broad subject area does not necessarily offer the courses, methods or supervision that best match your interests.
Choosing the Right Subject Ranking
QS publishes rankings for broad subject areas, including Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences and Management, as well as for more specific disciplines. THE uses its own groupings, including Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences. Law, psychology, education, and Business and Economics appear in other THE tables.
| Your search | Starting point | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| History, languages or philosophy | The Arts and Humanities table, followed by a relevant subject ranking where one exists | A broad subject result is not an individual ranking for each discipline |
| Social sciences | THE’s Social Sciences tables or QS’s Social Sciences and Management tables | Their scopes are not identical |
| Law, psychology or education | The THE table for the subject area you are looking for | These subject areas do not appear in THE’s Social Sciences table |
| Interdisciplinary project | The relevant subject areas, then the programme calendar | The programme title does not necessarily correspond to a ranking category |
To compare results, use the same publisher, edition and scope. A result in arts and humanities cannot be converted into a ranking in history; an institutional result also does not automatically rank a particular major, minor or campus.
This guide does not reproduce Canadian rankings. The institutions presented below are examples of pathways to explore, not the top institutions in a reconstructed ranking.
Understanding What QS and THE Measure
QS uses five indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, the h-index and the international research network. Weightings vary by subject area, and not all indicators are necessarily used in every ranking.
THE uses 18 indicators grouped into five pillars. Its subject tables also have their own parameters. These methodological choices explain why two rankings should not be read as interchangeable measures of the “best” university.
The indicators do not directly describe the content of each course, assessments or supervision for a thesis. Use them to explore possibilities, then consult university calendars and research descriptions to assess how well they match your plans.
Timing matters too. The QS 2026 subject edition was published on March 25, 2026, but that does not mean all its data were collected that year. For THE, publication thresholds for the 2026 edition cover the 2020-2024 period; this window should not be attributed to all ranking data.
Moving from a Subject Area to Study Content
In history, literature or philosophy, start with your interests: periods, languages, regions of the world or theoretical questions. Then look for corresponding courses in university calendars. A broad range of offerings can be interesting without covering the specific topic you want to explore in depth.
In the social sciences, consider the emphasis on the methods that interest you. Would you rather conduct interviews, analyse data, study archives or develop theoretical ideas? Two programmes with similar titles may organize these learning experiences differently.
For an interdisciplinary project, find out how the subject areas are connected: complementary courses, a capstone activity, a project or a thesis. Also check prerequisites and any conditions for enrolling in the courses that interest you.
Finally, separate your essential criteria from your preferences. A specialization, language of instruction or final project format may matter more to your decision than a difference in visibility between two institutions.
Universities and Programmes
The following examples come from the programme references provided to StudyCanada. They illustrate different interests and formats; they are neither an exhaustive list nor a ranking. Their presence in these references does not confirm that applications are open or establish the conditions that will apply for your intake.
Toronto: A Minor in Digital Humanities
At the University of Toronto, the Digital Humanities Minor (Arts Program) combines critical reflection on digital technology with technical skills. The academic calendar specifies 4.0 credits, including a capstone activity.
This is an undergraduate minor, not a standalone degree. To assess it, consider how it fits with your main programme and the prerequisites for the courses you are considering. The credits indicated are the university’s credits; no ECTS equivalency is provided here.
McGill: Gender and Social Justice
At McGill University, the Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies Major Concentration (B.A.) takes an interdisciplinary approach to questions of gender, sexuality and feminism within a social justice framework.
To determine whether this major fits your plans, examine its perspectives and complementary courses, as well as its place in the bachelor’s degree you are considering. A broad subject ranking does not, on its own, describe these choices.
Western: Visual Arts and Justice
At Western University, the Minor in Social and Environmental Justice in the Visual Arts offers another undergraduate option at the intersection of visual arts and social and environmental justice issues.
If this combination interests you, consult the programme requirements and find out how it can fit into your degree. Do not assume that its title tells you the precise course content or whether applications are open.
Compare Programme Formats Before Choosing
The examples above show why you should compare a programme’s level and structure before comparing institutions.
| Option | Format indicated | Question to explore |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto: digital humanities | Undergraduate minor; 4.0 credits and a capstone activity | How can it fit into your main programme? |
| McGill: gender and social justice | Undergraduate major in a B.A. | Which courses and perspectives match your plans? |
| Western: social and environmental justice in the visual arts | Undergraduate minor | What are its requirements and combination options? |
At the undergraduate level, look at the overall progression: introductory courses, methods, options, and the place of the major or minor within the degree. For a master’s degree, start instead with the expected work: do you want to take courses, complete a project or write a thesis? Then check the requirements for each programme and, where applicable, the available supervision options.
For each option, write a few lines about what you hope to learn and produce. This will give you a personal criterion to complement the institution’s reputation.
Language, Budget and Application
Once you have a preliminary shortlist, check the language of instruction, language requirements, campus, activity format, required documents and deadlines for each programme. Consult the documents for your intended intake: a programme reference does not replace the admission requirements in effect at the time.
Next, build a budget based on your level of study and status, whether Canadian or international. Distinguish tuition, mandatory fees and living expenses, noting the period covered by each amount. Statistics Canada publishes tuition tables for 2026-2027 that are organized, among other things, by level, subject area and status; they provide a basis for comparison but do not replace the fee rate that applies to your programme and circumstances.
If you still have a question—for example, about how a minor fits into a degree or about thesis supervision—ask the relevant university office before preparing your application. The university pages used for the examples were consulted on November 5, 2026; requirements may change.
Check Immigration Requirements Separately
If you need to apply for a study permit, consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s instructions based on your situation. Documents listed by IRCC include, among others, a letter of acceptance, identity documents and proof of funds. A provincial or territorial attestation letter is required in most cases, with some exceptions.
Since January 1, 2026, this letter has not been required, in particular, for an application for a degree-granting master’s or doctoral programme at an eligible public institution. Requirements that apply in Quebec should also be checked, as should any other required documents. This information is general: admission does not guarantee that you will obtain a permit.
For your final decision, bring your options together in a personal table: discipline, level, campus, courses, methods, admission requirements and budget. If you include a ranking result, note its publisher, edition and exact subject area, and retain any ties or published ranges. The strongest choice is one you can explain in terms of a specific programme and concrete conditions, not just a position in a ranking.