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21 Best Public Sports & Recreation Universities in Canada

Of the 21 Public Sports & Recreation universities in Canada, University of British Columbia ranks highest at #40 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Western Ontario (QS World #151) and University of Calgary (QS World #211). Across the whole list there are 51 courses to choose from.

21 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
7Ranked
BU Brock University logo
#38 in Canada Canada
#38 in Canada · by research impact
943,854 citations · h-index 304

Sports & Recreation at other levels

How these universities are ranked

6 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #40 (University of British Columbia) to #358 (University of Victoria); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of British Columbia is cited most (32,977,394 citations).

Public, private and where they are

21 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, British Columbia (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of British Columbia, founded in 1908. University of British Columbia is the largest, with 60,000 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 30 bachelor's, 10 diploma, 4 master's and 1 professional. Within the subject, the largest areas are Sports & Recreation (45), Recreation Management (3), Exercise Science (2) and Coaching Science (1). The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 90% are full-time and 2 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (92% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (82% of courses with a stated intake). Brock University offers the widest choice, with 10 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public Sports & Recreation in Canada?

University of British Columbia (QS World #40), University of Western Ontario (QS World #151) and University of Calgary (QS World #211) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many public universities offer Public Sports & Recreation in Canada?

21 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Sports & Recreation course take in Canada?

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

When do Public Sports & Recreation courses start in Canada?

Fall is the main intake — 92% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Public Sports & Recreation online with a university in Canada?

2 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most Public Sports & Recreation courses in Canada?

Brock University, with 10, ahead of University of Calgary (7).

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