International Universities in Canada: Comparing Enrolment, Countries and Services

Read the numbers before comparing

A university may welcome many international students without them representing a particularly high proportion of its enrolment. The number indicates the size of this community; the percentage indicates its share of all students. The number of countries and territories represented offers another perspective, this time a geographic one.

Before comparing two figures, check their date and scope. Do they cover one campus or the entire university? One incoming class or a full year? Do the institutions count the same categories of students? An institution-wide average does not necessarily describe your future class and, by itself, does not measure the quality of the welcome.

Four official reference points, not a ranking

The data below illustrate different ways of presenting international presence. They are neither a ranking nor an exhaustive list of Canadian universities to consider.

At Toronto, the rate is obtained by dividing 27,897 by 103,140. At McGill, the 27% figure is displayed directly. Their similarity is not enough to establish equality in a harmonized ranking.

For UBC, we use the number rather than an overall rate: the report summary indicates 25%, while its detailed analysis indicates 24%. For Laval, we do not divide the annual number of international students by a total enrolment figure from another period. The absence of a rate in these rows therefore does not mean that international presence is lower there.

Countries represented: an indicator to interpret

Toronto says it welcomes international students from 176 countries and territories. However, the period covered by this figure is not explicitly specified. UBC says its international students hold citizenship from more than 150 countries and territories in 2025-2026.

These two descriptions do not necessarily measure the same thing: origin and citizenship are not always identical. It would therefore be misleading to use these figures as scores in a ranking.

A total number of countries also does not tell you how students are distributed among these origins, or whom you will meet. To connect the statistic to your everyday life, consider what you are looking for: intercultural activities, an association connected to a language, or opportunities to interact with people from different backgrounds? Citizenship does not sum up a person’s language or experience.

Campus and level of study: look beyond the average

At UBC Okanagan, international students represent 17% of total enrolment in 2025-2026. The report indicates 15% at the undergraduate level and 41% at the graduate level for this same campus. These proportions should not be attributed to the Vancouver campus or to UBC as a whole.

Nor do they predict the composition of a class or laboratory. However, they show why it is useful to ask for data corresponding to the campus and level of study you are considering, where such data are available.

In your comparison, set out a row for each campus that interests you. Then check where your chosen program is offered and which services are available there: an average for the whole university does not answer these questions.

What international services should you look for?

A strong international presence does not, by itself, tell you how to get help. Here are four examples of services to consider based on your needs:

• McGill University: The New Student Buddy Program connects new students with trained mentors. It is for Canadian and international students, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Université Laval: Its matching program is intended for new international students enrolled in a regular program or an exchange. Matching depends, among other things, on availability.
• The University of British Columbia: Information about advising for international students is provided separately for Vancouver and Okanagan. At Okanagan, the page mentions, among other things, virtual appointments reserved for students on that campus.
• University of Toronto: Student Life describes a range of collaborative services that includes workshops and presentations on transition, intercultural issues, immigration and UHIP insurance. This page does not guarantee an individual appointment.

Before making a service a deciding factor, check who it is for, whether registration is required and what format is offered. Mentoring with another student, a group workshop and an advising appointment do not address the same questions. The pages describe the services, but do not make it possible to rank their effectiveness or participant satisfaction.

Universities and programs

StudyCanada profiles let you continue exploring the four institutions featured here:

• McGill University
• University of Toronto
• The University of British Columbia
• Université Laval

For each program you are considering, check with the university to confirm its content, language of instruction, prerequisites and application procedures. Then compare the campus and services that correspond to that program, rather than the institution’s overall image. A university profile does not confirm a program’s current admission requirements.

Budget and permits: separate processes

Build your budget according to your program, campus and circumstances: applicable tuition fees, additional fees, housing, insurance and transportation. Also ask what housing assistance includes. A welcome service does not automatically mean that a room will be reserved for you.

For international students to whom the requirements apply, admission and authorization to study are separate. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a study permit application generally includes a letter of acceptance and, in most cases, a provincial or territorial attestation letter. Exemptions exist.

In Quebec, for a program lasting more than 6 months, the general framework provides for a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for studies and a study permit, subject to exemptions. When a provincial or territorial attestation letter is required, the CAQ issuance attestation serves as that letter: you do not need to request an additional provincial letter. The CAQ and the federal study permit are nevertheless two separate authorizations.

This general information was verified on November 5, 2026. Consult IRCC and, for Quebec, the provincial authorities to confirm the requirements that apply to your circumstances. Admission does not guarantee that you will obtain a permit.

Prepare your shortlist

For each campus on your shortlist, write down your answers to these questions:

1. Does the program’s content, language and prerequisites match your plans?
2. Which campus will you attend, and what do the available statistics cover?
3. Which services meet your needs, and how can you access them?
4. Have you checked the costs, housing and insurance for your situation?
5. Where can you confirm the admission requirements and, if necessary, the authorizations to study?

An unanswered question is something to ask the institution, rather than something to assume. Then rank the criteria according to your priorities: accessible mentoring may matter more to you than a high percentage; for someone else, the program content or the city may come first. The most useful choice is the one whose data and practical conditions you understand.