#546 in the world · QS 2027

University of Guelph

Ontario's agriculture and veterinary powerhouse, grown into a broad research university with co-op across its programs.

Guelph, Ontario, Canada Public research university Founded 1964 Official website

See my chances at U of G Admissions office

Students: 30,040
Tuition: CA$44,552; From · 2026-27
Founded: 1964
QS World Ranking: #546; 2027 edition

About U of G

The University of Guelph was established in 1964, but its roots go back more than 150 years to three founding colleges: the Ontario Agricultural College (1874), the Macdonald Institute (1903) and the Ontario Veterinary College (1922). Those origins still shape it: agriculture, food, animal and veterinary science remain core strengths, and the university reports receiving more annual research funding than any other Canadian university without a medical school.

Today about 30,000 students study at the main campus, about an hour's drive west of Toronto, across eight colleges that cover the physical and life sciences, engineering, business, arts, social sciences, and agricultural and veterinary sciences. The 412-hectare campus includes a 165-hectare arboretum and a research park, and the university also runs the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto and the Ridgetown Campus in southwestern Ontario.

Guelph suits students who want science with real-world application, whether that is Bio-Medical Science, Animal Biology, co-op engineering or the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Admission is competitive in the most popular programs, with estimated cut-offs in the high 80s to low 90s for Bio-Medical Science and Animal Biology, and more accessible elsewhere. The residence system is one of the largest in Ontario, and international students starting in 2027 are guaranteed housing for their whole degree.

Rerum cognoscere causas

“To learn the reasons of realities” — university motto

Why students choose U of G

The Ontario Veterinary College and Ontario Agricultural College make Guelph a natural first choice for animal, food and agricultural science.

All engineering programs are co-op admission only, and co-op students can earn $500 to $2,500 a week on work terms, according to the university.

International students receive a guaranteed President's International Entrance Scholarship of $32,500 to $42,500 over four years, based on their admission average, with no separate application.

More than 5,000 students live on campus in 16 residence communities, and international students starting in 2027 are guaranteed university housing for the length of their studies.

Admissions

Fall 2027 entry

Selectivity

Guelph does not publish an overall acceptance rate. It publishes estimated cut-off ranges by program, based on previous cycles, and says early-cycle cut-offs usually exceed them: for example 86-92% for Bio-Medical Science and Animal Biology, 84-89% for engineering and 75-80% for the general BA.

Testing No admissions tests for most programs. Canadian DVM applicants submit a Casper score.

Grades Admission average is the top six completed 4U/M courses (or equivalent), including required courses. Early in the cycle, a combination of completed or in-progress 4U/M and completed 3U/M courses is used.

Typical entry requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (estimated cut-off ranges)	Six 4U/M courses including ENG4U: Bio-Medical Science and Animal Biology 86-92%; Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence 85-90%; Engineering (co-op only) 84-89%; Computer Science and Software Engineering 82-87%; Commerce and Psychology 80-86%; BSc General and Human Kinetics 80-85%; BA General 75-80%
Co-op programs	Normally a minimum admission average of 80%; applicants not admitted to co-op are considered for the regular program
International curricula	A secondary school certificate that would admit you to a recognised university at home, plus the program prerequisites; country-specific requirements are listed by Guelph (e.g. Bangladesh HSC with first division, Brazil Ensino Medio with 7.5 plus Vestibular)
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 89 IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6; TOEFL iBT 89 with no section below 21 (from 21 January 2026, a score of 4.5 with no section below 4.0 on the new scale); Duolingo 110; PTE 60 with no component below 60; CAEL 70; Cambridge C1/C2 176. Scores must be under two years old.

Deadlines

Application deadline (students in Canadian high schools) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months

January 15, 2027

Guelph continues to consider applications received after this date.
President's and Lincoln Alexander Chancellor's Scholarships Non-binding In ~4 months

January 22, 2027

Application deadline for these $42,500 scholarships.
Student Profile Form and SIF-D Non-binding In ~6 months

April 1, 2027

Optional forms; April 15 is the deadline for scholarships and bursaries that require an application.
High school students studying outside Canada Non-binding In ~7 months

May 15, 2027

Final deadline for fall 2027; submit documents by February 1 for early admission and by May 22 at the latest.

Dates are from Guelph's 2026-27 dates and deadlines page for fall 2027 entry. Offers go out in rounds from November to May, and you must accept by June 1, 2027.

How to apply

Apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). You can optionally add a Student Profile Form (SPF), which may be considered if your May average falls within 5% of the final cut-off. Landscape Architecture and Turfgrass Management need a Background Information Form, and DVM has its own process.

What admissions looks for

A competitive admission average in your top six 4U/M courses, including the program's required subjects; cut-offs are set by the size and strength of the applicant pool.
ENG4U for every degree, plus program prerequisites such as the sciences and mathematics for BSc and engineering programs.
Leadership and citizenship shown in the optional Student Profile Form, which can matter if you are within 5% of the cut-off.
For Landscape Architecture, a Background Information Form; for co-op, a minimum admission average normally of 80%.

Tips for applying to U of G

1 Submit the Student Profile Form by April 1: it is optional, but it is the only way your activities and circumstances are considered if you land just below a cut-off.
2 Aim above the estimated range early in the cycle, because Guelph says early cut-offs typically exceed the published ranges.
3 If you are aiming for the $42,500 President's or Lincoln Alexander Chancellor's Scholarship, apply by January 22, 2027.
4 International students should send documents by February 1 to be considered for early admission.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in CAD

Ontario residents, full-time tuition 2026-27 (published per semester; annual = fall + winter): Arts and Science programs $6,213, Computing $8,681, Commerce $10,565, Engineering $11,512. Non-Ontario Canadians pay $7,774 to $14,404 Tuition CA$6,213 – CA$11,512

+ minimum residence room ($7,900) plus lowest meal plan ($5,500) for two semesters, from ouinfo; rooms run to $11,196 and meal plans to $7,600 CA$13,400 ≈ from CA$19,613 per year

International students, 2026 cohort full-time tuition (per semester x 2): Arts and Science programs $44,552, Commerce $54,393, Computing $56,007, Engineering $62,951; DVM is higher. Rates for the 2027 cohort are not yet published, and Guelph guarantees later increases will not exceed 5% a year Tuition CA$44,552 – CA$62,951

+ minimum residence room ($7,900) plus lowest meal plan ($5,500) for two semesters, from ouinfo; rooms run to $11,196 and meal plans to $7,600 CA$13,400 ≈ from CA$57,952 per year

Tuition Minimum residence room ($7,900) plus lowest meal plan ($5,500) for two semesters, from OUInfo; rooms run to $11,196 and meal plans to $7,600

Financial aid

International students get a guaranteed President's International Entrance Scholarship based on their admission average ($32,500 for 70-84.9% up to $42,500 for 95%+, over four years, renewable with an 80% average). Domestic students can apply for the $42,500 President's and Lincoln Alexander Chancellor's Scholarships, and receive automatic entrance scholarships of $1,000 to $2,000 for averages of 90% or more; 550 Registrar's Entrance Bursaries of $4,000 are need-based.

$32,500 to $42,500 over four years, automatic
President's International Entrance Scholarship: 550 awards of $4,000
Registrar's Entrance Bursaries: Future increases capped at 5% a year
Tuition fee guarantee (international)

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters (fall, winter, summer)

Bio-Medical Science (BSc)

One of Guelph's most competitive programs, with an estimated cut-off of 86-92%.

Animal Biology (BSc)

Draws on the Ontario Veterinary College and animal biosciences departments; estimated cut-off 86-92%.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Offered by the Ontario Veterinary College, founded in 1922 and one of Guelph's three founding colleges.

Engineering (BEng, co-op only)

Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Mechatronics and Water Resources Engineering, all admitted as co-op.

Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence

A new degree with an estimated cut-off of 85-90%.

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

A professional design degree with its own Background Information Form and offers released in March and April.

Research

Guelph says it receives more annual research funding than any other Canadian university without a medical school, more than $182 million.
The Ontario Agricultural College and Ontario Veterinary College anchor research in food, agriculture, animal health and the environment.
The main campus includes a 165-hectare arboretum and a 12-hectare research park.

Schools & faculties

College of Arts
College of Biological Science
College of Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences
College of Engineering
College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Veterinary College

Student life

Guelph is a residential campus: more than 5,000 students live in 16 residence communities, with room types from quads and doubles to suites and townhouses, and academic clusters and themed living-learning communities. Most residence buildings require a meal plan. The Gryphons play in red, gold and black, and the university lists 20 varsity teams, 22 sports clubs, 17 intramurals and more than 300 student clubs. More than 4,000 part-time jobs are available on campus, and over 100 study abroad programs run in 34 countries.

Guelph Gryphons varsity athletics, with 20 varsity teams.
More than 300 student clubs and organisations.
More than 100 study abroad programs in 34 countries.
A 165-hectare arboretum on campus.

Housing. International students starting in 2027 are guaranteed university housing for their whole degree, and out-of-province first-years paying domestic fees are guaranteed first-year residence, if they accept their offer, apply to residence and pay the $750 deposit by June 1, 2027.

Location

Guelph is a city of about 165,500 people, roughly an hour's drive west of Toronto. The main campus is large and green, with its own arboretum and research park, and the university has more than 4,000 part-time jobs on campus. Toronto is close enough for weekend trips, while the Guelph-Humber campus gives the university a presence in the city itself.

Nearest airport: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

Notable alumni

RB
Roberta Bondar

Canada's first female astronaut; BSc in zoology and agriculture (1968)
OC
Olivia Chow

Mayor of Toronto; Honours BA in fine art (1979)
JK
John Kenneth Galbraith

Economist; BSc in Agriculture from the Ontario Agricultural College (1931)
TB
Tim Bray

Software developer and entrepreneur; BSc in mathematics and computer science (1981)
CC
Cassie Campbell

Canadian women's ice hockey star and broadcaster; played hockey for the University of Guelph
LH
Liz Howard

Poet and 2016 Griffin Poetry Prize winner; MFA in Creative Writing

Frequently asked questions

What average do you need to get into the University of Guelph?

It depends on the program. Guelph's estimated cut-offs range from 75-80% for the general BA to 80-86% for Commerce and Psychology, 84-89% for engineering and 86-92% for Bio-Medical Science and Animal Biology.

When is the University of Guelph application deadline for fall 2027?

January 15, 2027 for students in Canadian high schools, although later applications are still considered. High school students outside Canada can apply until May 15, 2027.

How much is Guelph tuition for international students?

For the 2026 cohort, full-time international tuition is about $44,552 a year in arts and science, $54,393 in Commerce, $56,007 in Computing and $62,951 in Engineering. Guelph guarantees later increases will not exceed 5% a year.

Does Guelph give scholarships to international students?

Yes. Every admitted international student gets a President's International Entrance Scholarship worth $32,500 to $42,500 over four years, depending on their admission average, with no application needed.

What IELTS score does the University of Guelph require?

IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 89 with no section below 21.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.