All Posts Tagged With: "macleans university rankings"

For some students, four years of undergrad is too much

Photo by Cole Garside

From the 21st Maclean’s University Rankings—on newsstands now. Story by Richard Warnica.

Shawn Alavi, who graduated from McMaster University in 2006, was 21 when he landed his first engineering job. Today, at 26, he’s a certified engineer—a P.Eng. in the jargon—with years of professional experience, money in the bank and a settled career. “Getting out of school earlier meant I was able to clear my debts earlier,” he says. “Now I’m just saving for my future, deciding on my next step.”

In engineering, Alavi found a profession that allowed him to enter the workforce after just four years of school and to achieve his professional certification through paid experience. “I’ve been working for almost five years now,” he says. “I’ve been able to get my life on track a little quicker than most.”

Continue reading The fast track

McGill, Simon Fraser and Mount Allison on top again in 2011

For the seventh year in a row, McGill University is ranked first in the Medical Doctoral category in the Maclean’s University Rankings, once again beating one-time king, the University of Toronto. Toronto, second again this year, has placed first in the category 12 times over the past 21 years. In third is the University of British Columbia. Queen’s is fourth. The University of Alberta is fifth.

So what’s given McGill such an edge? For one thing, McGill’s students win more national awards than Toronto’s. Another big factor is its student-faculty ratio. Toronto places dead last in the category (15), while McGill is fifth. On top of that, McGill dedicates more of its budget to scholarships and bursaries than any other school in the category. Toronto’s big advantage is its library collections—U of T trounces McGill in all four library-related categories. In the annual reputational survey, McGill has a slight edge too, achieving first place once again. But Toronto is catching up, having improved two positions since last year, from fourth to second. Two other Medical Doctoral universities improved by two spots on the reputational survey: Dalhousie University and the University of Sherbrooke.

In the Comprehensive Category, Simon Fraser University (1), the University of Victoria (2), the University of Waterloo (3), the University of Guelph (4), and Memorial University (5) all maintain their top-five positions. The biggest news in this category is that Brock University, Wilfrid Laurier University and Ryerson University all make their debuts, albeit in the bottom half. The three schools were moved into the Comprehensive category this year after recognizing both growth in their populations and increased graduate school offerings. Laurier has the highest debut—eleventh—on the strength of its reputation (7), faculty awards (5) and medical/science grants (4). In the reputational survey, Waterloo placed first among Comprehensive schools—as it does most years—while Simon Fraser, Guelph, Victoria and Ryerson rounded-out the top five.

In the Primarily Undergraduate category, the University of Prince Edward Island showed the biggest change, thanks in part to a strong showing in student awards, vaulting past Trent, St. Francis Xavier and Bishop’s to tie for fourth place with Lethbridge. It is bested only by Mount Allison University, Acadia University and the University of Northern British Columbia, which came first, second and third, respectively, in 2011. Mount A’s achievement is particularly impressive: it’s the fifteenth time that the Sackville, N.B. school has taken the top honour—a record number of wins. The University of Moncton also deserves commendation. Moncton moved up to fifteenth position, with the strongest showing on student/faculty ratio and an improved score on the reputational survey.

Maclean’s considers 14 numerical indicators of the quality of students, faculty, libraries and finances to rank 49 universities. Each is placed in one of three categories to recognize differences in levels of research funding, offerings, and the range of graduate programs. This year, three schools (Ryerson, Laurier and Brock) were moved into the Comprehensive category. For our complete 21st annual rankings, plus Canada’s best higher education journalism, pick up your copy of the 2011 Maclean’s University Rankings issue on newsstands Oct. 27. Here are the results:

Medical Doctoral universities offer a broad range of Ph.D. programs and have medical schools.

* Indicates a tie

Comprehensive universities have a significant degree of research activity and a wide range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional degrees.

* Indicates a tie

Primarily Undergraduate universities are largely focused on undergraduate education with relatively fewer graduate programs and graduate students.

* Indicates a tie

Want to know more about how we rank? Read Measuring excellence.

Schools in Quebec, British Columbia and New Brunswick top our evaluation of university excellence

With this year’s rankings, Maclean’s continues the mandate it established in 1991: to provide essential information in a comprehensive package to help students choose the university that best suits their needs. The annual rankings assess Canadian universities on a diverse range of factors, from spending on student services, scholarships and libraries, to student/faculty ratios and faculty success in obtaining national research grants. Maclean’s surveys universities with a focus on the undergraduate experience, and an intent to offer an overview of the quality of instruction and services available to students at public universities across the country.

Maclean’s places universities in one of three categories, recognizing the differences in types of institutions, levels of research funding, the diversity of offerings, and the range of graduate and professional programs. Primarily Undergraduate universities, as the name suggests, are largely focused on undergraduate education, with relatively few graduate programs. Those in the Comprehensive category have a significant degree of research activity and a wide range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional degrees. Medical Doctoral universities offer a broad range of Ph.D. programs and research; as well, all universities in this category have medical schools, which sets them apart in terms of the size of research grants.

In each category, Maclean’s ranks the institutions on performance indicators in six broad areas, allocating a weight to each indicator. Primarily Undergraduate and Comprehensive universities are ranked on 13 performance measures; Medical Doctoral universities are ranked on 14. Figures include data from all federated and affiliated institutions. The magazine does not rank schools with fewer than 1,000 full-time students, those that are restrictive due to a religious or specialized mission, newly designated universities or those that are not members of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC).

For the fifth year in a row, McGill has taken the top spot in the Medical Doctoral category. On a per capita basis, McGill’s faculty perform strongly in winning awards and research grants. A first-place finish on student awards and the reputational survey boosted the school’s overall score.

For Medical Doctoral results, click to enlarge.

In the Comprehensive category, Simon Fraser finished first for the second year in a row. Once again, an outstanding showing in winning student and faculty awards, as well as research grants, contributed to a top-notch score. In addition, SFU scored highly on library spending, particularly in spending on acquisitions.

For Comprehensive results, click to enlarge.

For the third year running, Mount Allison took the top position in the Primarily Undergraduate category. On a per capita basis, Mount A students win more awards than any of their peers at other institutions, and the faculty follow closely behind, coming in second on the awards indicator. Placing well on operating budget expenditures per student, spending on the library, number of library volumes per student and the reputational survey all contributed to a winning score.

For Primarily Undergraduate results, click to enlarge.

This year, a new university was ranked in the Primarily Undergraduate category. The University of Ontario Institute of Technology, founded in 2003 in Oshawa, made a strong debut, placing 12th out of 22 institutions. Strength in research funding—UOIT placed first in obtaining social sciences and humanities grants and fourth in medical/science grants—as well as a first-place finish on funding student services and library acquisitions contributed to a strong score.

Next: How are the rankings decided?

Figuring it out: Tuition rates vary considerably across Canada

In his teachings, the Greek philosopher Epictetus proclaimed: “Only the educated are free.” Unfortunately, an education isn’t. On average, undergraduate tuition fees across Canada increased by 3.6 per cent this year, the same percentage jump as last year. Ontario had the highest increase at five per cent, the maximum allowed by the provincial government, while British Columbia had the lowest increase at two per cent. Despite a 4.2 per cent increase, students at Quebec universities still pay among the lowest tuition in the country—as long as they are residents of the province. Meanwhile, Manitoba and Saskatchewan ended tuition freezes with increases of 4.3 per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively.

Tuition fees in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador remained unchanged, while in Nova Scotia, fees actually decreased by 3.1 per cent. Thanks to the implementation of the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary Trust in March 2008, fees for residents of the province will remain frozen until 2011. International students, who generally pay considerably higher tuition than Canadian students, saw their fees rise 7.1 per cent for an average fee of $15,674.

When it comes to compulsory fees, undergraduate students across the country are paying 6.8 per cent more on average this year, with Alberta students facing an enormous 31.1 per cent increase.

—Sally Brown

All fees in the accompanying chart are for undergraduate arts and science programs as of September 2009. The names of several universities appear twice:

Quebec institutions where out-of-province fees apply, and universities where there are different fees for arts programs and science programs.

Compulsory ancillary fees can vary according to program, or in the case of UBC and UNB, by campus location: students at UBC Okanagan campus pay $125 less than students at the main Vancouver campus; students at UNB Saint John pay $61 more than those at UNB Fredericton. UOIT’s fees include the cost of a laptop. Ancillary fees include student health plan fees. If students are covered by another insurance plan, they can opt out of most health plans, which range in cost from $52 to $386.

*Tuition at Nova Scotia universities is reduced for residents of the province.
Out-of-province students must pay $1,022 more than the tuition fees listed here.

A university’s reputation is critical as competition for top students and researchers can be fierce. A solid reputation also helps attract corporate partners and donors. Survey respondents held a positive view of their alma maters with 85.6 per cent rating their institution as good or very good. In your opinion, how good is the university’s [...]

A university’s reputation is critical as competition for top students and researchers can be fierce. A solid reputation also helps attract corporate partners and donors. Survey respondents held a positive view of their alma maters with 85.6 per cent rating their institution as good or very good.

In your opinion, how good is the university’s reputation? (Click chart to enlarge.)

Source: B.C. University Survey of Graduates from Masters and Doctorate Programs

Ninety-four per cent of grads indicated that the skills and knowledge acquired during their graduate studies were very or somewhat useful in their jobs, with doctoral grads reporting the higher percentages. The survey asked questions about such specific high-level skills as conducting research and pursuing new ideas. These skills, utilized to a high degree by [...]

Ninety-four per cent of grads indicated that the skills and knowledge acquired during their graduate studies were very or somewhat useful in their jobs, with doctoral grads reporting the higher percentages. The survey asked questions about such specific high-level skills as conducting research and pursuing new ideas. These skills, utilized to a high degree by masters and in particular doctoral graduates, indicate that the jobs they hold require the creation of knowledge, innovation and independent thinking.

Usefulness of knowledge, skills and abilities acquired during graduate education in work (Click chart to enlarge.)

Skills used in job (to a great extent/some extent):

Source: B.C. University Survey of Graduates from Masters and Doctorate Programs

Student-faculty interaction is crucial at the graduate level, and the choice of a supervisor is one of the most important decisions graduates make before embarking on their program. Supervisors help students focus their research and devise their thesis, inform students about current research in their field, and provide opportunities to conduct research and publish papers. [...]

Student-faculty interaction is crucial at the graduate level, and the choice of a supervisor is one of the most important decisions graduates make before embarking on their program. Supervisors help students focus their research and devise their thesis, inform students about current research in their field, and provide opportunities to conduct research and publish papers. Eighty-seven per cent of respondents stated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the quality of interaction with their supervisor.

Satisfaction with quality of interaction with supervisor (Click on chart to enlarge.)

Source: B.C. University Survey of Graduates from Masters and Doctorate Programs

While respondents expressed a high level of satisfaction with the education received (92.9 per cent), only 73.3 per cent would choose the same program again. Results varied by program area, and once again, graduates in the fine and performing arts were the least satisfied with only 44.4 per cent indicating they would choose the same [...]

While respondents expressed a high level of satisfaction with the education received (92.9 per cent), only 73.3 per cent would choose the same program again. Results varied by program area, and once again, graduates in the fine and performing arts were the least satisfied with only 44.4 per cent indicating they would choose the same program again. Meanwhile, 74.5 per cent of grads in professional programs would repeat the experience.

Would respondent select the same program again (Click chart to enlarge.)

Source: B.C. University Survey of Graduates from Masters and Doctorate Programs

Maclean’s evaluation of overall academic excellence at universities across the country

Now in its 18th year of ranking, Maclean’s continues its mandate to provide basic, essential information in a comprehensive package to help students choose the university that best suits their needs. The annual rankings assess Canadian universities on a diverse range of factors, from spending on student services and scholarships and bursaries, to funding for libraries and faculty success in obtaining national research grants. Maclean’s surveys universities with a focus on the undergraduate experience, and an intent to offer an overview of the quality of instruction and services available to students at public universities across the country.

Maclean’s places universities in one of three categories, recognizing the differences in types of institutions, levels of research funding, the diversity of offerings, and the range of graduate and professional programs. Primarily Undergraduate universities are largely focused on undergraduate education, with relatively few graduate programs. Those in the Comprehensive category have a significant amount of research activity and a wide range of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional degrees. Medical Doctoral universities offer a broad range of Ph.D. programs and research. In addition, all universities in this category have medical schools, which sets them apart in terms of the size of research grants.

In each category, Maclean’s ranks the institutions on a range of factors—or performance indicators—in six broad areas (weightings are in parentheses). Primarily Undergraduate and Comprehensive universities are ranked on 13 performance measures; Medical Doctoral universities are ranked on 14. Figures include data from all federated and affiliated institutions. The magazine does not rank schools with fewer than 1,000 full-time students or those that are restrictive due to a religious or specialized mission.

The ranking process begins in the spring when thousands of reputational surveys are sent to university officials, high-school principals and guidance counsellors, heads of organizations, CEOs and corporate recruiters across the country, asking for their views on quality and innovation at Canadian universities. During the course of the summer, Maclean’s collects information on dozens of student and faculty awards from 44 administering agencies.

The Maclean’s rankings are based on the most recent and publicly available data. Student and faculty numbers are obtained from Statistics Canada, as are data for all five financial indicators—operating budget, spending on student services, scholarships and bursaries, library expenses and acquisitions—as well as total research income. For the social sciences and humanities research grants indicator and the medical/science research grants indicator, data for fiscal year 2007-2008 are received directly from the three major federal granting agencies: the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Natural Sc Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The Canadian Association of Research Libraries and its regional counterparts provide figures used for the library holdings indicators. Financial and library figures are for the fiscal year 2006-2007; student and faculty numbers are for 2005-2006.