Best universities for psychology in Canada 2026
Discover the best psychology schools in Canada featuring 30 universities across Canada. The Canada ranking is derived from the Times Higher Education University Rankings by Subject 2026: Psychology, released in January 2026.
The list is based on a comprehensive assessment that scores top universities in Canada in psychology in areas such as teaching, research and international outlook for studying psychology. The methodology is designed by Times Higher Education’s in-house data team, and it is trusted by students, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders worldwide.
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Top universities in Canada for psychology 2026
| Canada Psychology Rank 2026 | Global Psychology Rank 2026 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
| 1 | 13 | University of Toronto | 81.7 | 82.9 | 95.8 | 69.6 | 70.8 | 89.6 |
| 2 | 20 | University of British Columbia | 78.1 | 71.4 | 88.2 | 74.1 | 67.4 | 91.2 |
| 3 | 27 | McGill University | 73.7 | 71.8 | 76.6 | 69.8 | 75.9 | 87.3 |
| 4 | 94 | Western University | 57.5 | 39.7 | 51.8 | 65.7 | 100 | 80.4 |
| 5 | 101–125 | McMaster University | 55.3–56.9 | 39.6 | 49.3 | 65.6 | 88.8 | 76.6 |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Alberta | 52.6–55.2 | 39.7 | 42.6 | 65 | 81.9 | 80.5 |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Calgary | 52.6–55.2 | 33.7 | 41.7 | 70.8 | 72.5 | 71.4 |
| =6 | 126–150 | University of Waterloo | 52.6–55.2 | 35.5 | 42.6 | 69.6 | 83.6 | 73.2 |
| =6 | 126–150 | Université de Montréal | 52.6–55.2 | 32 | 52.4 | 63.3 | 75.2 | 67.5 |
| =6 | 126–150 | York University | 52.6–55.2 | 34 | 42.4 | 71.2 | 94.5 | 79.3 |
| 11 | 151–175 | Simon Fraser University | 49.7–52.1 | 32.9 | 32.7 | 72.3 | 86.1 | 76.9 |
| =12 | 176–200 | Dalhousie University | 48.4–49.6 | 27.4 | 31.8 | 70.1 | 69.3 | 80 |
| =12 | 176–200 | Queen’s University | 48.4–49.6 | 34.6 | 34.7 | 63.7 | 88.8 | 68.7 |
| =12 | 176–200 | Université Laval | 48.4–49.6 | 35.5 | 39.3 | 60.6 | 92.7 | 45.5 |
| =12 | 176–200 | Université du Québec | 48.4–49.6 | 52.1 | 34.8 | 56 | 54.4 | 45.4 |
| =16 | 201–250 | Carleton University | 45.3–48.3 | 24.7 | 24 | 72.1 | 66.8 | 62.7 |
| =16 | 201–250 | Concordia University | 45.3–48.3 | 31.1 | 23.3 | 68.7 | 72.3 | 75.8 |
| =16 | 201–250 | University of Ottawa | 45.3–48.3 | 28.5 | 34.7 | 68.3 | 68.5 | 60 |
| =16 | 201–250 | University of Regina | 45.3–48.3 | 17.3 | 18.4 | 94.1 | 44.2 | 50.7 |
| 20 | 251–300 | University of Victoria | 42.8–45.2 | 22.6 | 28.7 | 64.5 | 67.5 | 73 |
| =21 | 301–400 | Toronto Metropolitan University | 38.3–42.6 | 22.9 | 24.1 | 62.3 | 74.5 | 65.4 |
| =21 | 301–400 | University of Guelph | 38.3–42.6 | 29.5 | 25.8 | 55.7 | 53.9 | 43.6 |
| =21 | 301–400 | University of Saskatchewan | 38.3–42.6 | 21.8 | 19.1 | 60.6 | 61.8 | 49.5 |
| =21 | 301–400 | University of Windsor | 38.3–42.6 | 22.1 | 22 | 62.4 | 51.4 | 74.7 |
| =25 | 401–500 | Brock University | 33.6–38.2 | 24.4 | 19.9 | 57.7 | 42 | 50.2 |
| =25 | 401–500 | Memorial University of Newfoundland | 33.6–38.2 | 19.5 | 15.5 | 52.5 | 46.5 | 57.3 |
| =25 | 401–500 | University of Lethbridge | 33.6–38.2 | 13 | 17.1 | 55.6 | 70.3 | 67 |
| =28 | 501–600 | Lakehead University | 28.2–33.5 | 22.7 | 16.9 | 41.3 | 34.6 | 35.9 |
| =28 | 501–600 | Ontario Tech University | 28.2–33.5 | 18.4 | 18.2 | 51.8 | 25.4 | 47.4 |
| =28 | 501–600 | University of New Brunswick UNB | 28.2–33.5 | 17.8 | 15.1 | 45.1 | 33 | 45.1 |
| =28 | 501–600 | Wilfrid Laurier University | 28.2–33.5 | 14.8 | 12.2 | 54.4 | 67.3 | 57.3 |
Key insights into the top schools for psychology in Canada
- The University of Toronto is the top university in Canada for a psychology degree.
- Some 31 universities in Canada are featured in the table for the best universities for physchology in Canada.
- The University of British Columbia scores particularly highly for research environment and international outlook.
- Western University in Ontario receives a perfect score for its links to industry.
- The Psychology table evaluates schools and colleges across several narrower disciplines: Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Sport Psychology, Business Psychology and Animal Psychology.
Choosing the Right University in Canada for Psychology
Canada is a popular study destination for international students because of the number of high-quality universities and lower tuition fees compared with other anglophone countries.
The benefits of studying psychology in Canada include access to some of the world’s best research institutions, reasonable living costs and the opportunity to experience life in a multicultural society.
As for post-degree prospects, psychologists are in high demand in Canada, and are also among the highest paid workers in the country in 2020. For international students, there are also multiple options for staying and working in the country after graduating.
When selecting a university for psychology in Canada, rankings can provide a helpful benchmark for assessing academic strength and how well a university prepares you for a future career.
The Times Higher Education Subject Rankings: Psychology assess universities using five core pillars:
- Research environment
- Teaching quality
- Research quality
- Industry collaboration
- International outlook
These indicators give students and families reliable insights into how institutions perform across critical areas of education and innovation.
The table for the best universities for psychology in Canada was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings: Psychology. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.

