From coast to coast, Canada has phenomenal universities known for not only their highly recognized academics but also their unique student cultures and campus life. If you’re considering studying abroad, Canada has fantastic options to further your academic career and enjoy every moment of it!
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia Vancouver campus is large to say the least. With 400 hectares of land, it’s surrounded by forests on three sides and ocean on the fourth. The campus is also filled with maple trees making an autumn walk to class the perfect scenic stroll. UBC is also home to an award-winning botanical garden, making it the perfect place to destress after the exam season. Aside from the vast amount of outdoor study space, there are plenty of spaces to get work done such as the Koerner Library; a large glass structure designed to be shaped like an open book, it’s the heart of the campus.
UBC has Canada’s largest residence with 12,500 students living in the 14 residence buildings. It’s a great community of hardworking students that also have the opportunity to enjoy all Vancouver has to offer as the commute to downtown is only 30 minutes away. As with any large university with a great reputation, the international student population is around 16,000, so it’s easy to find a piece of home while simultaneously exploring different cultures. UBC also has the Okanagan campus located in Kelowna, BC. It has a much smaller population which harbors a close-knit community. The weather in the West Coast is also quite mild, so if you’re afraid of the cold Canadian winters, this is your safe haven! Get to know what’s around the campus too and enjoy some fun day trips around the city bound to be filled with tasty food, great shopping and some beautiful nature trails.
McGill University
Established in 1821, McGill’s downtown campus has both modern and historical appeal that its students are able to take advantage of. The convenient location allows students to enjoy both the campus and the surrounding downtown scenery, in particular the sights from the Montreal mountain top.
There are plenty of ways to get climatized to the new environment including various faculty games, bar crawls, and club events! In the early fall and late spring, there is the popular Open Air Pub that takes place in the lower field where students enjoy the sunshine, cheap drinks, and great local artists. There are also various student pubs right on campus.
There’s plenty of student housing to choose from that varies from stunning historical buildings to more modern hotel housing. Many students find themselves getting housing near campus as well, and upper years tend to move into different parts of the city. The MacDonald campus on the other end of Montreal boasts 647 hectares of well-cultivated land that students can go apple picking at in the fall!
Much like the student housing, the various libraries also let students find the perfect place to study. Whether it’s stained glass and old wooden floors, well lit modern study spaces, or nearby cafes, there’s somewhere for everyone to find themselves comfortable. To top it off, Montreal is voted as one of Canada’s best student cities!
University of Toronto
Aside from its well-merited academic reputation, UofT is also known for its campus filled with stunning Romanesque architecture spread over Toronto. There’s also plenty of green space for study breaks! Taking advantage of the student amenities is key, as student services are always there to help and going to the athletic centre is a great way to destress after a hard day of studying. UofT is divided into colleges, each of which has a reputation of its own. The colleges have resources such as counselling, academic aid, bursaries and scholarships, and orientation activities specific to them.
Residence life is a huge aspect but UofT is also known as a commuter school, so many students from surrounding areas will be traveling to school on a regular basis. That being said, if you choose to live off campus it’s important to check the nearby transit as you’ll be spending lots of time on the Toronto transit system. The large class sizes can be intimidating and the academics are rigorous, but the school culture allows for people of all backgrounds to find a place to feel comfortable and at home within the university.
Western University
Western has a reputation for having a great sense of community and school pride. Since London, Ontario is much smaller than most university cities, students tend to be closer to the Western community.
The campus itself is spread across 453 hectares of land with around 30,000 students, so given the smaller size of the school, you’ll get to know your peers quite quickly. Western’s student social life is famous as a large aspect of the university experience. It’s a supportive school in comparison to more large scale universities, and it’s easy to get in touch with your professors and teaching assistants to get your questions answered.
Western has a ‘sophing’ program where the second years mentor incoming students which further builds that sense of community. It’s also quite a sporty school with lots of athletic opportunities. Aside from varsity teams, there’s intramural leagues and a general sense of wellness and recreation is promoted in the school culture.
Queen’s University
Queen’s University has an architectural appeal similar to that of the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow; both of which it was modeled after. Founded in 1841, the university is even older than Canada as an official country! The grand limestone structures, such as the Douglas Library, truly encompass the historical beauty of the university. Located in Kingston, Ontario, Queen’s is a great university to experience the Canadian seasons in all their glory. With Lake Ontario just steps away, students find themselves enjoying not only the campus but the nature of the surrounding area as well.
Similar to Western’s culture, team spirit is inherent within Queen’sl. That being said, the rivalry between Western and Queen’s is quite infamous. The campus life is also based on a community tradition. With 17 residential buildings varying from single spaces to quadruple rooming, getting climatized to the surroundings and new people is quick and easy. Queen’s is also known for its many exchange programs and it’s common practice for many of the students to take some time abroad during their studies.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia; a stunning seaside city filled with Canadian maritime history. The weather there is also quite moderate, so if you’re worried about the harsh Canadian climate this is a safe choice.
It’s a research-intensive school with over 180 degrees offered which means study opportunities are abundant. Dalhousie boasts a large international student population for its size, which makes the culture quite diverse. The faculty and students truly reflect a friendly Canadian attitude and it’s easy to find a balance between academics and social experiences here.
Each residence also has its unique reputation depending on what kind of student lifestyle you wish to lead. Filled with studious individuals and professors willing to get to know their students, Dalhousie university is a great place to make academic connections and grow like-minded friendships.
Every university in Canada will have its advantages and disadvantages of its campus life. What’s most important is finding the right atmosphere and balance for you as a unique individual to make sure your university experience is everything you want it to be!