Address: 99 University Avenue, K7L 3N6 Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Engineering, Business, Health Sciences
Founded in 1841, Queen’s University is one of Canada’s oldest degree-granting institutions. It is a public research university known for its strong school spirit, student life, and programs in arts, science, engineering, and business.
Queen’s is known for school spirit as much as for research. The university was founded in 1841 by royal charter in Kingston, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario, and has about 31,000 students and 5,000 staff. Its limestone buildings are clustered around the main campus on University Avenue, and almost everyone lives within walking distance of lectures. Student traditions such as the tricolour colours, the Homecoming weekend and the Engineering Society’s independent culture are taken seriously.
Engineering, business, health sciences and the arts are the largest areas. The Smith School of Business is a leading business school in Canada, and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science has a strong reputation in applied programmes. Arthur B. McDonald shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, which established that neutrinos change type, and he continued to work at Queen’s. Shirley Tilghman, who later led Princeton University, graduated from the university.
Research has particular strength in particle astrophysics, with Queen’s involved in the underground laboratory SNOLAB near Sudbury, as well as in cancer research, materials science and public policy. Partnerships with industry and with the regional health institutions support applied work. The university belongs to the U15 group of Canadian research universities.
Teaching is in English. Domestic tuition is moderate, while international undergraduate fees are higher. Admission is based on grades and, for many programmes, supplementary applications such as personal statements. The university offers several international exchange programmes and a large first-year residence system.
Kingston is a small city of about 130,000 people about halfway between Toronto and Montreal, with a historic centre, lower rents than the big cities and a student population that makes up a large share of the residents. About 160,000 people have graduated from Queen’s, and its alumni network is known for being unusually loyal.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Graduate Diploma, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Member of U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities. Partnerships with industry and healthcare institutions. Strong international exchange programs.
Research:
Research strengths in particle astrophysics (SNOLAB involvement), cancer research, materials science, public policy, and mental health.
Strong sense of community and student experience, excellent reputation for undergraduate education, beautiful historic campus in Kingston.
Cons
Less diverse student body compared to some larger city universities, Kingston is a smaller city, some older facilities.
Best For
Students seeking a high-quality undergraduate experience with strong school spirit and community, in a historic university setting, with good programs in engineering, business, and arts/sciences.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of chemistry, physics and life sciences can consider University of Toronto, and it also offers certificate, diploma and graduate certificate programmes, and is far larger, with about 97,500 students against roughly 31,000 here.
A good alternative in the same country is McGill University, which likewise covers physics, life sciences and data analytics; it also offers graduate certificate programmes and covers ecology and sustainability as well.
Both schools build their programmes around chemistry, life sciences and data analytics, and University of Ottawa is the one to compare first within the country, since it also offers certificate and diploma programmes and covers optics as well.
Also strong in physics, life sciences and data analytics, McMaster University makes a sensible second look at home; it covers materials as well, and is slightly larger, at about 37,500 students against roughly 31,000 here.
Université de Montréal takes a similar route through chemistry, physics and life sciences, and it also offers certificate and diploma programmes and covers bioinformatics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
On content, University of California, Berkeley in the United States and this institution are close, as both teach chemistry, physics and life sciences; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral, graduate diploma and mba programmes.
On content, National University of Singapore in Singapore and this institution are close, as both teach chemistry, physics and life sciences; it is also a public institution and does not run the graduate diploma programmes found here.
Abroad, University of Wisconsin, Madison (the United States) covers chemistry, life sciences and data analytics in a comparable way, and it does not run the graduate diploma programmes found here and covers agriculture as well.
Students considering a move abroad can look at University of Auckland in New Zealand, where chemistry, physics and life sciences also form the core, and it is slightly larger, at about 39,183 students against roughly 31,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Beyond national borders, University of Glasgow stands out as a comparable school for chemistry, physics and life sciences; it covers mathematics as well, and is slightly larger, at about 36,000 students against roughly 31,000 here.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is Queen's University?
The main campus is at 99 University Avenue in Kingston, Ontario, on Lake Ontario.
How large is it?
About 31,000 students and 5,000 staff.
When was it founded?
In 1841 by royal charter, making it one of the oldest degree-granting institutions in Canada.
What is Queen's known for?
Engineering, business, health sciences, the arts and a distinctive student culture and school spirit.
What language is used for teaching?
English.
How much does tuition cost?
Domestic tuition is moderate and international undergraduate fees are higher. Check the current schedule for your programme.
What research areas stand out?
Particle astrophysics through SNOLAB, cancer research, materials science and public policy.
Which Nobel laureate is linked to Queen's?
Arthur B. McDonald shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory and worked at Queen's.
Is admission competitive?
Yes. Admission is based on grades, and many programmes also require supplementary applications.
What is Kingston like?
A small historic city halfway between Toronto and Montreal, with a large student population and lower rents than the big cities.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
