Canada ranks among top five best countries globally for higher education
Those contemplating getting higher education should probably look into universities in Canada.
Canada outranks many on MeasuresHE’s list of the 100 best countries for research and higher education.
The academic analytics company recently revealed its Country 100 ranking, which evaluates national higher education systems around the world.
“We go beyond simple publication counts to reveal the true strength of academic ecosystems in the modern research landscape,” reads the report.
It ranks each country based on seven key factors: research (which is weighted the most heavily), global standing, openness, academic integrity, demographics and investment, international integration, and sustainability.
Canada took the fifth spot in the ranking, with an overall score of 87.8 out of 100. It scored the highest in academic integrity with perfect marks and global standing (94.8 out of 100).
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According to the report, countries with academic integrity “penalize metric manipulation and reward organic, ethical growth” in higher education. Countries with a high global standing assess “peak systemic capability and global reputation through a nation’s flagship institutions.”
Canada’s weakest subjects were openness, with a score of 77.3, and sustainability, scoring 80.6. Openness is a country’s ability to evaluate “research accessibility and the system’s ability to translate knowledge into innovation.” Sustainability “quantifies contribution to global challenges through the lens of the [United Nations Sustainable Development Group].”
The True North follows closely behind Sweden (fourth place) and the United States (third place). Although the U.S. ranked slightly higher, Canada still beat its score for academic integrity, international integration, and research.
The United Kingdom leads the pack with a score of 92.9, followed by the Netherlands with a score of 89.6.
According to MeasuresHE, the ranking is based on data that was analyzed between 2020 and 2024. Countries had to meet the following baseline requirements:
- Produced at least 4,000 relevant research works within the five-year window.
- Works must be produced by a recognized higher education institution within the country or territory.
- Sufficient demographic and investment data are available through UNESCO or the UN to enable accurate normalization.
Check out the full report online.