One of Canada’s best engineering programs

UBC comes out on top. Find out why.

Coming out at the top of the list

In Maclean’s University Rankings 2024, UBC Engineering took second place for the best engineering program in Canada.

But what does this mean for you as a student? Do these or other rankings really mean anything when it comes to your actual experience as a UBC Engineering student?

Remember: a number is a number. Behind every ranking are countless variables that went into the final calculation. That’s why it’s worth taking a look at the criteria that different ranking organizations use – because like any other kind of assessment, each organization uses its own rubric to rate universities.

How universities are ranked – and where UBC ranks among them

Maclean’s does its ranking by looking at how many students win national academic awards, student-faculty ratios, faculty success in securing research grants, how a university allocates its resources (i.e., to research, libraries and students) and how faculty at other universities – as well as business people – rate the university in terms of quality, innovation and leadership.

Maclean's Ranking

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are based on five measures, including teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry outcomes. They also conduct impact rankings, which is a measure of how a university is contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

For example, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 place UBC:

40^th globally and second in Canada
48^th globally for engineering and technology
19^th in impact rankings overall (this is a measure of how the university is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals).

The Ranking

And in 2024, UBC was once again ranked within the top universities in the world in the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject, coming in:

34^th globally and third in Canada
25^th globally in Engineering & Technology

QS World University Ranking

What rankings mean for you

We at UBC are proud of these results because they recognize the exciting and important impact we are having through our education and research.

For you as a student, UBC’s consistently high rankings let you know that this is a university where great things are happening. When you choose to study at UBC Engineering, you are learning from professors who are successful year after year in securing funding for innovative research. They will be sharing this research with you in their classes and there may be opportunities to join their labs as part of an undergraduate research experience.

You’ll also be graduating from a university whose name is recognized the world over. That can help open doors – to new academic opportunities, jobs and friendships.

Research In Action

Make your own ranking criteria

While a university’s national and international ranking can help you narrow down the list of where you might like to study, it’s only one element among many to consider. You might want to create your own personalized university ranking system that looks at the criteria most meaningful to you and your personal and professional goals.

The following questions are a good starting point:

Does the university offer a foundation year so you can make a more informed decision about the engineering specialization you want to pursue?
What engineering specializations are offered?
What opportunities are there to get involved with student clubs and design teams?
Does the program offer work experience?
What do current students have to say?
What kinds of projects do students work on as undergraduates?

Join us and be part of something great!

UBC Engineering students are part of an exciting learning and research environment that attracts the world’s best and is recognized the world over. When you join us, you are also contributing to our global reputation through your contributions as a student, member of a design team, researcher in a lab, paid employee in a co-op work term and all-around innovator.

Apply Now