Top 10 Universities in Canada for Life Science Degrees in 2024
Keep scrolling to see the full list of the best Canadian universities for studying life sciences.
| Canada Rank (2024) | World Rank (2024) | University | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | University of Toronto | Toronto |
| 2 | =33 | University of British Columbia | Vancouver |
| 3 | =44 | McGill University | Montreal |
| =4 | 101–125 | University of Alberta | Edmonton |
| =4 | 101–125 | McMaster University | Hamilton |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Guelph | Guelph |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Montreal | Montreal |
| =8 | 176–200 | Université Laval | Quebec City |
| =8 | 176–200 | University of Ottawa | Ottawa |
| =10 | 201–250 | University of Calgary | Calgary |
| =10 | 201–250 | Dalhousie University | Halifax |
Canada also has a long tradition of scientific excellence. Notable figures include Kirsty Duncan, who was part of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and went on to become Canada’s first Science Minister, and Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin as a treatment for diabetes.
A unique feature of many Canadian universities is the major/minor system, letting you combine life sciences with other subjects—giving you both flexibility and depth in your academic path.
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=4. McMaster University
Founded in 1887, McMaster University is based in Hamilton, Ontario, with its main campus set on 121 hectares near the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The university is named after William McMaster, a Canadian senator and banker who donated C$900,000 to establish it.
McMaster is highly research-focused, especially in health sciences. One example is the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, which has transformed sections of human skin into blood cells to help with the shortage in blood donations.
The science programmes at McMaster are wide-ranging—from earth sciences to biomedical engineering and chemical biology. The honours integrated science (iSci) programme stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, bringing together chemistry, earth science, life science, math, and physics.
Students can also take part in applied placements, research opportunities, and undergraduate internships through the Faculty of Science.
McMaster has a diverse student and faculty population from almost 100 countries and maintains over 70 international exchange agreements with top universities globally.
=4. University of Alberta
Established in 1908, the University of Alberta is a public research institution in Edmonton, right on the edge of the North Saskatchewan River valley.
The South Campus is geared towards agricultural research, while the Augustana Campus offers a more rural, residential setting focused on liberal arts and sciences.
Its alumni include one Nobel Laureate, four Supreme Court justices, and 75 Rhodes Scholars. Over time, alumni have launched more than 70,000 organisations, with about a third focused on cultural, environmental, social, or non-profit work.
The University of Alberta also helped establish the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island, which supports marine and biological research.
The university offers a Bachelor of Science (General) degree with various life science specializations, along with joint degree options like a BSc with a minor in business or education.
Most courses are taught in English, though many are also available in French through Faculté Saint-Jean.
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McGill University
Founded in 1821, McGill University sits on Mount Royal in Montreal, with a second campus in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, about 30 km away.
It boasts more Nobel laureates (12) and Rhodes Scholars (147) than any other Canadian school.
McGill also has the country’s largest per-student endowment, so students can access plenty of scholarships and research funding.
Researchers here have made some groundbreaking discoveries—from artificial cells to web search engines and charge-coupled devices.
McGill’s life sciences major spans biological and agricultural sciences, and includes core courses in animal, plant, cell, and molecular biology. Students can specialize in pure or applied life sciences, with small class sizes, hands-on lab and field work, plus internship and research opportunities.
Although Montreal is a French-speaking city, classes at McGill are taught in English.
2. University of British Columbia
Established in 1908, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is British Columbia’s oldest university. The Vancouver campus hosts 12 faculties, while the Kelowna campus has another seven.
UBC is also one of the five institutions that co-founded the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on Vancouver Island—a year-round facility for students and researchers in biology, ecology, and oceanography.
UBC’s biology programme is broad, offering one major, two combined majors, eight honours, and three combined honours tracks.
Life sciences are run through UBC’s botany department—one of the largest in North America—and its zoology department, which specializes in developmental biology, animal physiology, ecology, and evolution.
1. University of Toronto
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is Ontario’s oldest university.
It’s not just Canada’s top-ranked university for life sciences, but also ranks as the best university in Canada overall.
Known for excellence in science, it brings in the highest annual research funding in the field across Canadian institutions.
You can choose a specialist programme (where one subject is your focus), a double major, or a major with two minors. This allows flexibility in how you study various areas in life sciences—from ecology and evolutionary biology to neurobiology, conservation, and animal physiology.
The university also offers field courses in places like the New World tropics, Algonquin Park, and its own Koffler Scientific Reserve, which are often part of the life sciences curriculum.
More Top Canadian Universities for Life Science Degrees in 2024
Click any university to see its full World University Rankings 2024 results:
| Canada Rank (2024) | World Rank (2024) | University | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | University of Toronto | Toronto |
| 2 | =33 | University of British Columbia | Vancouver |
| 3 | =44 | McGill University | Montreal |
| =4 | 101–125 | University of Alberta | Edmonton |
| =4 | 101–125 | McMaster University | Hamilton |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Guelph | Guelph |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Montreal | Montreal |
| =8 | 176–200 | Université Laval | Quebec City |
| =8 | 176–200 | University of Ottawa | Ottawa |
| =10 | 201–250 | University of Calgary | Calgary |
| =10 | 201–250 | Dalhousie University | Halifax |
| =12 | 251–300 | University of Saskatchewan | Saskatoon |
| =12 | 251–300 | Simon Fraser University | Burnaby |
| =14 | 301–400 | Carleton University | Ottawa |
| =14 | 301–400 | University of Manitoba | Winnipeg |
| =14 | 301–400 | Université du Québec | Quebec City |
| =14 | 301–400 | Queen’s University | Kingston |
| =14 | 301–400 | University of Victoria | Victoria |