Western University

Western University is one of Canada's leading institutions, located in London, Ontario. It is a founding member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, and combines a large, research-intensive academic environment with an extensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate study options.

Western is home to more than 42,000 students, including over 5,400 international students representing 134 countries globally. The university delivers its curriculum through 12 academic faculties and schools, covering areas including arts and humanities, business, education, engineering, health sciences, law, medicine and dentistry, music, science and social science. Western offers more than 450 combinations of undergraduate majors, minors and specialisations, alongside around 160 graduate programmes and collaborative specialisations.

Students at Western are also encouraged to gain professional experience beyond the classroom. The university states that all students have access to internships, co-ops, and work placements, and its graduates join a worldwide alumni community of more than 380,000 people distributed across 160 countries worldwide.

Western University's main campus combines historic and modern architecture with extensive green space. Located in the city of London in southwestern Ontario, students can access a range of cultural, entertainment and outdoor opportunities alongside their studies, as well as taking part in over 200 clubs and student associations, where they can play sports, learn new skills, develop interests, and meet like-minded individuals.

As one of Canada's major research-intensive universities, Western University's internationally renowned teaching is shaped by its culture of academic inquiry. In the 2026 Center for World University Rankings, Western placed within the top 1 per cent of universities worldwide, reflecting its performance across areas including education, faculty, research and graduate employability.

Students are taught within an academic community of more than 1,400 full-time faculty members. Western also has 70 active Canada Research Chairs, whose work spans disciplines from public health and philosophy to engineering and sustainability. This research strength feeds into teaching across the university, giving students exposure to academics engaged in leading work into some of the most current topics in world research.

Western also performs strongly across individual disciplines. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, 34 Western subjects ranked within the top 10 in Canada, while 40 subjects were placed among the top 400 worldwide.

Teaching is complemented by practical experience. International study, industry projects, and internships are available across numerous undergraduate and graduate programmes.

Together, Western's research profile, academic breadth and emphasis on applied learning provide students with a strong environment for developing specialist knowledge and practical skills.

Study programs are organised across 12 faculties and schools, spanning arts and humanities, business, education, engineering, health sciences, information and media studies, law, medicine and dentistry, music, science and social science, alongside the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students can therefore access both traditional academic subjects and professionally focused areas within one research-intensive university.

At undergraduate level, Western uses a flexible modular degree structure. Students can build degrees using honours specialisations, specialisations, majors and minors, allowing subjects to be combined in different ways. The university offers more than 450 combinations of undergraduate majors, minors and specialisations, giving students considerable scope to shape their studies around their interests and career goals.

Graduate study is coordinated through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Western offers around 160 graduate degree programmes and collaborative specialisations, including interdisciplinary options that draw on expertise from different academic areas.

Western also has two affiliated university colleges: Huron University and King's University College. These institutions provide additional undergraduate study options and their own academic communities while maintaining connections with Western. Across the wider university, students can also access professional programmes in areas such as business, engineering, law, medicine and dentistry.

Admission requirements at Western University vary by level of study, programme and an applicant's previous curriculum. Undergraduate applications are assessed using overall academic performance, achievement in required subjects, and English language proficiency. International applicants are recommended to check Western's specific requirements before applying.

Students whose first language is not English may need to provide evidence of proficiency. For 2026 undergraduate admission, accepted options include IELTS Academic, with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and at least 6.0 in each section, as well as TOEFL, CAEL, PTE Academic, Cambridge English and Duolingo. Western may also grant exemptions in certain circumstances, while applicants whose English scores fall slightly below the standard may be considered for its English Boost pathway.

For graduate study, requirements are set both by Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and individual programmes. The general minimum for a master's degree is a recognised bachelor's degree comparable to a four-year Canadian degree, normally with at least a B- average across the two most recent full-time years of study. Doctoral applicants normally require a master's degree or equivalent and evidence of research potential. Individual programmes may set higher academic, English-language or subject-specific requirements.

Students at Western University spend much of their time living and learning on the university's stunning, 480-hectare campus in the city of London, Ontario. It is the perfect environment for learning, with a mix of gothic and modern architecture set among large expanses of open spaces and hills.

Western's campus, which has won several honours for its natural beauty and quality, sits alongside the Thames River and is located in the north of the city. Offering both style and substance, it houses a comprehensive array of services and facilities to suit all needs.

The campus enables the university's reputation as a world-leading research institution through its state-of-the-art classrooms, breakout learning spaces, laboratories, and computer facilities. In addition, it boasts the fourth-largest library collection in Canada, and provides digital access to millions of electronic publications and more than 700 bibliographic databases. Multiple on-campus library locations allow students to supplement their face-to-face teaching with quiet study in modern, private study spaces.

Well-being is a priority at Western and the university recently completed a CAD 20 million renovation to house all health and wellness services under one roof. The campus is also home to a number of arts and athletics facilities, including the McIntosh Gallery, the Paul Davenport Theatre, and a CAD 35 million student recreation facility. This recreation centre contains a fitness centre, swimming pools, courts and a wide array of classes.

Residences

Western offers a top-quality residential experience to its students and is consistently ranked among the top for best residence experience in Canadian large universities (Maclean's University Rankings). The university offers twelve first-year residences, which are tailored to one of three residence styles. These are: traditional, suite-style and hybrid-style, allowing every student to select a living arrangement that suits their lifestyle and finances.

Western University recognizes that exceptional academic achievement requires strong institutional and financial support for its students, in order for them to realize their full potential. As a result, the university offers a range of financial awards and scholarships.

Three International President's Entrance Scholarships valued at CAD 100,000 each are awarded to exceptional international students each year through the National Scholarship Program. These awards recognize general excellence in the university's student body, and are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and innovative approaches to their learning journey.

Western also offers guaranteed admission scholarships for high-achieving high school students entering the university. These include:

• Welcome to Canada Admission Scholarships, worth CAD 10,000
• Western Scholarship of Excellence, which includes 250 scholarships of CAD 8,000 each for students with the highest high school admission average scores
• Western Scholarships of Distinction and the Western Admission Scholarships which range in value between CAD 2,500 and 3,500 and are available for students with final admission averages over a certain minimum

The university also offers a robust array of donor-sponsored scholarships and other financial support options to ensure that every student has the best chance of completing their studies without difficulty. These options include bursaries and an international student work study program offering part-time employment on campus.

Western University has strengthened its position as a global leader in sustainability, placing 12th worldwide and 3rd in Canada in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings. The rankings assess universities against the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), measuring performance in research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

Western moved up two places from 2025 and ranked in the top 1 per cent of more than 1,600 universities worldwide. It achieved a score of 95.9 out of 100 and placed in the global top 50 for more than half of the SDGs. Particular strengths included Zero Hunger, where Western ranked 4th worldwide, and No Poverty and Life Below Water, where it placed 8th. The university also offers more than 2,700 courses connected to the UN SDGs and has launched a new Climate and Sustainability Strategy focused on long-term environmental stewardship.

Sustainability is also being advanced through student innovation. Engineering student Chathura Fernando is developing a portable waste-to-energy system through his company, FDO Energy. Supported by Western Engineering and the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, the project aims to convert landfill waste into energy while using filtration technology to minimise harmful emissions. The venture has also gained recognition in student competitions.