10 of the Best Canadian Universities for Graduate Employability in 2019

10 of the Best Canadian Universities for Graduate Employability in 2019

Belkis Megraoui

Updated January 16, 2020 Updated January 16

The results of the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019 are out now, and continue to demonstrate that Canadian universities are some of the highest-ranking institutions for graduate employability. The ranking aims to highlight some of the world’s leading universities, based on a methodology which examines employment rates, alumni outcomes, employer reputations, partnerships with employers (which assesses partnerships linked to both employment and research), and more.  

Read on to discover the best Canadian universities for graduate employability in 2019, counting down from 10th to first place.

=10. Carleton University

Ranked 301-500 in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings this year, Carleton University is located in capital city Ottawa and is active in promoting its students’ employability, with many opportunities to take part in co-op programs, volunteer work in the community, and other on-and-off campus work experiences.

It receives its highest score for the alumni outcomes indicator at 163rd in the world, with an alumni which includes three Nobel Laureates and many other notable figures in politics, entertainment, business, journalism and more.

Seven more Canadian universities are ranked 301-500 for graduate employability this year: Concordia University, Dalhousie University, Simon Fraser University, University of Guelph, University of Ottawa, University of Victoria and York University.  

=8. University of Calgary

The University of Calgary holds its position in the graduate employability rankings from last year, sitting in the 151-160 range. It boasts an impressive score for the partnerships with employers indicator, which is higher than that of a few of the universities ranked further up in the index, including Université de Montréal, Queen’s University, and even the University of British Columbia.

=8. Université de Montréal

Next in our look at the best Canadian universities for graduate employability is the French-speaking Université de Montréal, also ranked in the 151-160 range for graduate employability. Its highest score sits under the partnerships with employers category, which is around five scores higher than that of Queen’s University.

7. Western University

One of Canada’s top research universities, with more than 60 percent of its research papers involving international collaborations, Western University sits in the 141-150 range for the graduate employability factor, with the alumni outcomes indicator displaying its highest score, which also surpasses that of both McMaster University and the University of Alberta. 

6. Queen’s University

As a member of the prestigious U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, Queen’s University is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions, and climbed around 10 spots to now secure a place in the 101-110 range of this year’s Graduate Employability Rankings. It boasts an alumni outcomes score higher than both that of McMaster University and the University of Alberta.

5. McMaster University

With the third-highest scores in Canada for the partnerships with employers and graduate employment rate indicators, McMaster University has risen from the 101-110 range to grab 93rd place in the graduate employability rankings in 2019. It is the only Canadian host site of a United Nations University, and is one of the three best Canadian universities for research according to the QS World University Rankings ® 2019.

4. University of Alberta

Famed for its varying degrees of excellence across all fields of study including the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business and engineering, the University of Alberta is also a strong holder of a world-class employability reputation and has climbed an impressive seven places, now ranking 87th in the world for this indicator, whilst achieving the highest score for graduate employment rate of all the Canadian universities listed.

3. University of British Columbia

Renowned for its academic excellence and high employer reputation, the University of British Columbia claims 38th place in the graduate employability ranking. With an impressive score for employer reputation, the university comes second highest in the country for this indicator after the University of Toronto.

Amongst the University of British Columbia’s strongest subjects are geography, mineral and mining engineering and sports-related subjects, as ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

2. University of Waterloo

Coming 25th in the world for graduate employability, the University of Waterloo boasts particularly remarkable scores for its partnerships with employers and graduate employment rate, both in the global top 40.

Named as Canada’s most innovative university for 26 years in a row according to a survey by Maclean's magazine, the university offers undergraduates the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, which provides them with the opportunity to combine study with work. Students are given the chance to attain valuable work experience with notable worldwide companies such as Amazon, Google and Facebook.

1. University of Toronto

The University of Toronto continues to lead the way among the best Canadian universities for graduate employability, coming 12th in the world, having gone up three places from last year. It ranks higher than any other Canadian university for both the alumni outcomes indicator, as well as for its partnerships with employers.

Some of the University of Toronto’s most noteworthy alumni include four Canadian prime ministers, and other notable figures such as actor Donald Sutherland and Canada’s first female astronaut and first neurologist in space, Roberta Bondar.

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This article was originally published in September 2018 . It was last updated in January 2020

Written by

A former content writer for TopUniversities.com, Belkis published a range of articles for students and graduates across the globe. She has a zeal for history and a natural flair for the arts and sports. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in English Language & Communication with Journalism from the University of Hertfordshire and is a native speaker of the Arabic language.

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