Top 10 Oldest Universities in Canada

Jul 17, 2022 | 5 min read

Do you know which are some of the oldest higher education institutions in Canada? Continue reading to explore the top 10 oldest universities in Canada and look into their admission requirements.

As an international student planning to study in Canada, you might be interested in knowing about some of the oldest universities in Canada. You will be surprised to know that these Canadian universities have been in operation for almost 2 centuries! Let us take a look at some of the oldest institutions in Canada that are still regarded as world-class academic institutions.

List of Top 10 Oldest Universities in Canada

Canada is home to some of the finest and oldest higher education institutions in the world. Here is the list of the top 10 oldest universities in Canada:

Laval University
University of Toronto
The University of King’s College
McGill University
University of New Brunswick
The University of Western Ontario
University of Manitoba
Saint Mary’s University
Dalhousie University
University of St.Boniface

Laval University

One of the oldest universities in Canada, Laval University was established by the issue of a royal charter in 1663. Located in Quebec, it is one of the premier research centers in the country, with four Canada Excellence Research Chairs and a team of researchers dedicated to advancing projects like Crispr, cancer screening, and the ebola vaccine.

There are more than 500 undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered by Laval University. With its beautiful campus and world-class facilities, the university provides a unique campus experience to students around the world. Take a look at the admission requirements of Laval University:

Academic transcripts and certificates
Statement of purpose
English and French language proficiency proof
- TOEFL: 79
- IELTS: 6.5
- PTE: 59
Letter of recommendation
A valid passport and visa
Proof of financial support

Read More: Laval University

University of Toronto

Ranked #26 in QS World University Rankings 2022, the University of Toronto is one of the top universities in Canada. Being one of Canada’s oldest universities, it was established as Kings College through a royal charter in 1827.

More than 700 undergraduate and 200 postgraduate programs are offered by the University of Toronto in a wide variety of subject areas. Along with academics, the university offers its students a rich campus life, with over 1,000 student organizations and groups that cater to their interests. Given below are the eligibility requirements to apply for the University of Toronto:

Academic transcripts
English language proficiency test scores
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 100
GRE/GMAT scores (for business courses)
Two letters of recommendation (for MS)
CV/Resume (if applicable)
Statement of Purpose/Essay

Read More: University of Toronto

The University of King’s College

Established in Nova Scotia in 1789, the University of King's College is one of the oldest universities in Canada. The University of King's College and Dalhousie University has a joint academic partnership, which also gives students access to their joint resources. Furthermore, this gives you the opportunity to choose from over 2500 courses, more than 60 degrees, and a range of exchange programs. To apply to the University of King’s College, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

Official Transcripts
SAT/ACT Scores
Statement of Purpose
Portfolio (Graduate Admissions)
2 Letters of Recommendations (Graduate Admissions)
English proficiency scores
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 90
Proof of Identity
Bank Statements

McGill University

Located in Montreal, McGill University is one of the oldest Canadian universities, established in 1821. It ranks #27 in QS World University Rankings 2022. The university offers a broad range of bachelor’s, master’s, certificate, and diploma programs in a number of subject areas, including science, music, education, law, arts, engineering, dentistry, etc. Here are the admission requirements to apply for McGill University:

Official transcripts
English proficiency test scores

IELTS: 6.5
TOEFL: 90

Letters of recommendation
Valid passport
GMAT/GRE (if applicable)
Statement of Purpose
CV/Resume

Read More: McGill University

University of New Brunswick

Established in 1785, the University of New Brunswick offers a wide range of world-class academic programs. There are more than 75 study programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These programs are available in 60+ disciplines, including engineering, health, arts, science, education, law, nursing, etc. Check out the eligibility requirements of the University of New Brunswick:

Academic transcripts
English proficiency test score

IELTS: 6.5
TOEFL: 85

Letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose
Financial documentation
Current resume
Acceptance letter
Proof of financial support

Read More: University of New Brunswick

The University of Western Ontario

Western University, also known as the University of Western Ontario, is one of the oldest universities in Canada. This university was founded in 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth as the Western University of London, Ontario. Initially, there were only four faculties- Arts, Medicine, Divinity, and Law.

At the undergraduate level, over 500 programs at the Western University. At the same time, around 160 postgraduate and doctoral courses are offered by the university. According to QS Rankings 2022, Western University ranks #170 in the world. To apply to the University of Western Ontario, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

Completed application
Academic transcripts and certificates
Letter of recommendation
Resume/CV
Copy of passport
Proof of English language proficiency
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL: 83
Bank statement
Letter of acceptance

Read More: The University of Western Ontario

University of Manitoba

Founded in 1877, the University of Manitoba is the only research-oriented university in the province of Manitoba. Over 100 different programs are offered by the university across multiple colleges and faculties. In addition, it has a strong alumni network of 1,45,000 students spread over 140 countries around the globe. As per the QS Rankings 2022, the university ranks between #601-650 globally. Here are some of the eligibility requirements of the University of Manitoba:

High school records
Official transcripts
Letter of Recommendation
Study permit
School report form
Teacher evaluation
English proficiency test scores

IELTS: 6.5
TOEFL: 86

Proof of financial availability
CV
Work Experience proof (if applicable)
GRE/ GMAT scores (if required)

Read More: University of Manitoba

Saint Mary’s University

Situated in Nova Scotia, Saint Mary’s University is another institution on the list of oldest universities in Canada. According to Maclean’s magazine 2022, the university ranked #4 in Canada. St. Mary's University provides undergraduate and graduate-level degrees in fields like engineering, science, business, liberal arts, and environmental studies.

The university attracts students from more than 100 different countries around the globe. Moreover, students are offered theoretical and practical exposure through the university's skilled and expert faculty. To secure a seat at Saint Mary’s University, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements given below:

Application Form
Official Transcripts
English Proficiency Test Scores

TOEFL: 80
IELTS: 6.5

Valid Passport
Statement of Purpose
Acceptance Letter
Proof of Financial Ability
Proof of English Language Proficiency
GRE/GMAT scores
Letter of Recommendation

Read More: Saint Mary’s University

Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University was founded in 1818 and is located in Nova Scotia. Students at the university learn through interactive classes, work-integrated classes, and research-oriented courses. In addition, more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs are offered by Dalhousie University. The university provides world-class facilities to students, including over 400 clubs, societies, and communities. The admission requirements of Dalhousie University are listed as follows:

Transcripts
Acceptance letter
GRE/GMAT scores
Resume
Letter of reference
Statement of purpose
Financial proof
English proficiency
- IELTS: 7.0
- TOEFL: 90
Passport

Read More: Dalhousie University

University of St.Boniface

The University of St.Boniface is one of the oldest French-spoken universities in Canada. With its affiliation with the University of Manitoba, the college offers a range of academic programs to students around the world. The university provides world-class facilities and resources to cater to the interests of students around the world. Given below are the admission requirements of the University of St. Boniface: