42 Best Public Universities in Ontario for International Students

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Ontario, is one of the states in Canada you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, you can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it. In addition, studying in Ontario can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture.

There are 44 universities you can find in Ontario, and 42 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes Ontario a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in Ontario, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

Rank University Location
1 University of Toronto Toronto, Canada
2 University of Waterloo Waterloo, Canada
3 McMaster University Hamilton, Canada
4 University of Ottawa Ottawa, Canada
5 University of Guelph Guelph, Canada
6 Carleton University Ottawa, Canada
7 University of Windsor Windsor, Canada
8 Toronto Metropolitan University Toronto, Canada
9 Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Canada
10 Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Canada
11 Brock University St. Catharines, Canada
12 Ontario Tech University Oshawa, Canada
13 Trent University Peterborough, Canada
14 York University Toronto, Canada
15 Laurentian University Sudbury, Canada
16 Western University – Canada London, CA, Canada
17 OCAD University Toronto, Canada
18 Nipissing University North Bay, Canada
19 Royal Military College of Canada Kingston, Canada
20 Algoma University Sault Ste. Marie, Canada
21 Queen’s University Kingston, Canada
22 Université de Hearst Hearst, Canada
23 Centennial College Toronto, Canada
24 Brescia University College London, CA, Canada
25 Loyalist College Belleville, Canada
26 Lambton College Sarnia, Canada
27 Canadore College North Bay, Canada
28 Georgian College Barrie, Canada
29 Fleming College Peterborough, Canada
30 Niagara College Welland, Canada
31 Université de l’Ontario français Toronto, Canada
32 Mohawk College Hamilton, Canada
33 Conestoga College Kitchener, Canada
34 George Brown College Toronto, Canada
35 Algonquin College Ottawa, Canada
36 Humber College Toronto, Canada
37 Durham College Oshawa, Canada
38 Cambrian College Sudbury, Canada
39 University of Sudbury Sudbury, Canada
40 St. Lawrence College Kingston, Canada
41 Fanshawe College London, CA, Canada
42 Confederation College Thunder Bay, Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in Ontario?

Absolutely! International students in public universities in Ontario can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in Ontario charge up to 67,200 CAD for bachelor’s and 83,200 CAD for master’s studies.


I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in Ontario. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.