40 Best PhD Programs in Canada

40 PhD courses are taught at 19 universities in Canada — most run 4–6 years. The list starts with courses at University of Toronto, Scarborough, Sauder School of Business and University of British Columbia.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

Reset

Universities 19 Programs 40 Scholarships 0

25PhD / Doctorate

#65 in Canada Canada

Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainable Design Engineering

University of Prince Edward Island — The Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainable Design Engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island offers an in-depth exploration of sustainable design practices and pr...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Engineering

View program → About the university

26PhD / Doctorate

#65 in Canada Canada

Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medicine

University of Prince Edward Island — The Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Prince Edward Island is an advanced program designed for those seeking to make significant contributi...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

27PhD / Doctorate

#65 in Canada Canada

Educational Studies (PhD)

University of Prince Edward Island — Program OverviewThe PhD in Educational Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island is designed for individuals who wish to engage deeply in the field of education t...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Education

View program → About the university

28PhD / Doctorate

#65 in Canada Canada

Engineering (PhD)

University of Prince Edward Island — Course OverviewThe PhD in Engineering at the University of Prince Edward Island is designed for those looking to conduct advanced research and contribute to innovation wi...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Engineering

View program → About the university

29PhD / Doctorate

#65 in Canada Canada

Environmental Sciences (PhD)

University of Prince Edward Island — The PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of Prince Edward Island offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding complex environmental issues and develop...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Agriculture & Environment

View program → About the university

30PhD / Doctorate

#69 in Canada Canada

Education Studies

Acadia University — The PhD in Education Studies at Acadia University offers an in-depth exploration of educational theories, practices, and policies, preparing students to contribute to the...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Education

View program → About the university

31PhD / Doctorate

#70 in Canada Canada

Ph.D. in Educational Studies

St. Francis Xavier University — The Ph.D. in Educational Studies at St. Francis Xavier University is designed for those who aspire to become leaders in education, contributing to research, policy, and i...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Curriculum & Instruction

View program → About the university

32PhD / Doctorate

#88 in Canada Canada

PhD in Educational Studies

Mount Saint Vincent University

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Education

View program → About the university

33PhD / Doctorate

#91 in Canada Canada

Education (PhD)

Nipissing University

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

OnlineMode

FallIntake

Education

View program → About the university

34PhD / Doctorate

#92 in Canada Canada

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Clinical Psychology Profile

Bishop's University

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

35PhD / Doctorate

#95 in Canada Canada

Doctor of Business Administration

Royal Roads University — The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Royal Roads University is designed for experienced professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of business concepts...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

BlendedMode

January 4, 2027Intake

Business & Management

View program → About the university

36PhD / Doctorate

#97 in Canada Canada

Ph.D. de recherche interdisciplinaire en enjeux sociaux contemporains

St. Paul University — Le doctorat en recherche interdisciplinaire en enjeux sociaux contemporains à l'Université Saint-Paul explore une variété de questions sociales pertinentes en utilisant d...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

37PhD / Doctorate

#97 in Canada Canada

Ph.D. de recherche interdisciplinaire en enjeux sociaux contemporains

St. Paul University

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

38PhD / Doctorate

#97 in Canada Canada

Ph.D. en innovation sociale

St. Paul University — The Ph.D. en innovation sociale at St. Paul University offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary approach to social innovation, focusing on the development of new ideas and...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

39PhD / Doctorate

#97 in Canada Canada

Ph.D. en innovation sociale

St. Paul University

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

40PhD / Doctorate

#109 in Canada Canada

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology

Concordia University College of Alberta

PhD / DoctorateLevel

5 YearDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Medicine & Health Sciences

View program → About the university

Programs at other levels

Bachelor's Programs Diploma Programs Foundation Programs Master's Programs Professional Programs

Popular collections

Bachelor's Programs Business & Management Programs Diploma Programs Social Sciences & Psychology Programs Bachelor's Social Sciences & Psychology Programs Medicine & Health Sciences Programs Engineering Programs Bachelor's Business & Management Programs Education Programs Computer Science & IT Programs

How these courses are ranked

6 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #29 (University of Toronto, Scarborough) to #465 (Concordia University); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Toronto, Scarborough has the largest research record in this group, with 59,684,471 citations and an h-index of 1,794.

Levels, lengths and start dates

The most common subjects are Education (8), Medicine & Health Sciences (8), Business & Management (5) and Social Sciences & Psychology (4). The usual length is 4–6 years and 5 Year. 92% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (97% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (3% of courses with a stated intake). University of Prince Edward Island offers the widest choice, with 6 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for PhD in Canada?

University of Toronto, Scarborough (QS World #29), Sauder School of Business (QS World #40) and University of British Columbia (QS World #40) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How long does a PhD course take in Canada?

Most listed courses run 4–6 years, with 5 Year the next most common.

When do PhD courses start in Canada?

Fall is the main intake — 97% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study PhD online with a university in Canada?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most PhD courses in Canada?

University of Prince Edward Island, with 6, ahead of Wilfrid Laurier University (5).

Get your destination country university & scholarship updates

New scholarships, application deadlines and admission guides — a couple of emails a month, no spam.