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29 Best Public Music & Performing Arts Universities in Canada

University of Toronto tops our list of 29 Public Music & Performing Arts universities in Canada at #29 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. University of Toronto, Scarborough (QS World #29) and McGill University (QS World #32) complete the top three. The universities on this list offer 82 matching courses between them.

29 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
4Ranked
UD Université de Montréal logo
QS World #141 #12 in Canada Canada
#141 QS World University Rankings 2024
#12 in Canada

Music & Performing Arts at other levels

How these universities are ranked

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

Public, private and where they are

The split is 29 public to 0 private institutions. By location, Ontario (1) and Quebec (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is McGill University, founded in 1821. University of Toronto is the largest, with 97,000 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 62 bachelor's, 11 diploma, 5 professional and 3 master's. Within the subject, the largest areas are Music & Performing Arts (66), Music (6), Theatre & Drama (4) and Performing Arts (3). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 99% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (99% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (92% of courses with a stated intake). University of Lethbridge offers the widest choice, with 7 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 2 of these universities. McGill University is the least expensive at USD 37,000 a year and University of Toronto the most at USD 45,000; the middle of the range is about USD 45,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Canada for Public Music & Performing Arts?

University of Toronto (QS World #29), University of Toronto, Scarborough (QS World #29) and McGill University (QS World #32) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Music & Performing Arts in Canada?

Of those with published fees, McGill University is the least expensive at about USD 37,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Public Music & Performing Arts in Canada?

29 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Music & Performing Arts course take in Canada?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Public Music & Performing Arts courses start in Canada?

Fall is the main intake — 99% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Public Music & Performing Arts online with a university in Canada?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

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