York University

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

York University (commonly referred to as YorkU) is Canada’s third-largest university, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and social impact. With approximately 55,000 students and 11 faculties and an expanding international presence, York University is among the top-ranked universities in Canada.

History

York University was established in 1959 by the York University Act of the Ontario Legislature at a time of booming enrollment for Canadian universities. York seized the role of a modern university in Canada’s largest city, instituting a progressive curriculum in disciplines such as women’s studies, the environment, and global health. By 1980, York enrolled over 25,000 students, vastly exceeding projections with programs in education, engineering, and medicine. Over the years, York grew into one of Canada’s most prominent universities, establishing itself as a major center for research, professional studies, and liberal arts education with expansions like the bilingual Glendon Campus and the new Markham Campus.

CURRENT OPERATIONS

York’s main Keele Campus is located in northwestern Toronto and serves as the university’s academic and administrative hub. The bilingual Glendon Campus, located in midtown Toronto, focuses on liberal arts and public affairs with a special emphasis on French-language education. In 2024, York opened its new Markham Campus, offering high-demand programs in digital technologies, business, and engineering with a strong focus on work-integrated learning.

York also operates Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica, dedicated to sustainability research and experiential education, and offers international programming through partnerships in countries like the UK and China.

The university is home to 11 faculties, including the Schulich School of Business, Osgoode Hall Law School, Faculty of Science, and Lassonde School of Engineering. It offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and serves approximately 55,000 students, including around 10,000 international students from over 170 countries, making it one of the most diverse institutions in Canada.

York U is widely recognized for its interdisciplinary research across fields such as climate change, fine arts, film studies, inclusive AI, and public policy. In the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, York ranked 38th globally and #1 in Canada for its performance on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for Quality Education.

The current President and Vice-Chancellor is Rhonda Lenton, who assumed the role in 2017 and has led major institutional initiatives, including the launch of the Markham Campus and the development of the university’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Strategy. The Chancellor, as of 2023, is Kathleen Taylor, the first woman to serve as Chair of the Board at the Royal Bank of Canada.

York’s motto is “Tentanda Via”—Latin for “The way must be tried”—reflecting the university’s commitment to innovation, access, and pushing academic boundaries. The university colours are red and white, and the mascot is a lion named Yeo.

CAMPUSES AND ACADEMIC OFFERINGS

Keele Campus (Main Campus – North York, Toronto)

Keele Campus offers a vibrant and welcoming, large-scale campus experience for over 52,000 students, as well as faculty, staff, partners and the surrounding community. United by a shared ambition to promote and work towards positive change, our campus provides a unique opportunity to engage with diverse cultures and perspectives. As a thriving community hub, the Keele Campus experience is enhanced by its proximity and access to economic and cultural centres throughout the GTA and surrounding communities. With ten unique Faculties, a range of purposeful cutting-edge research and innovation opportunities and state-of-the-art academic, arts, technology, and athletic facilities, Keele Campus is a meeting place for a network of micro-communities. This campus offers unparalleled opportunities and experiences to curate your own education, scholarship, personal growth and contribution to positive action.

Glendon Campus (Midtown Toronto)

Located in the dynamic, urban landscape of midtown Toronto, Glendon offers an intimate and welcoming environment on its picturesque, ivy-lined campus. With a focus on bilingual and trilingual programming, Glendon reflects Canada’s cultural diversity while offering a window into the rest of the world. Small classes combined with flexible learning paths provide a uniquely community-driven university experience. Being part of a thriving international network makes Glendon a rewarding experience for those looking for a warm campus environment with large-scale impact. Through experience, academics, research, and scholarship, Glendon is a champion of the powerful connections that lead to positive change.

**Markham Campus (downtown Markham)**

Markham Campus embeds York University in the heart of one of the most diverse and dynamic urban communities in the province and country. Reflecting the local economy, academic programs and research revolve around the core themes of technology and entrepreneurship and how they are driving innovation across all areas of knowledge and society.

Challenging the traditions of what a university campus can offer, Markham Campus acts as a unique meeting place for students to interact directly with employers, start-up companies, and community partners from across the region.

Markham Campus’s structure is designed to facilitate flexible movement and collaboration between practices and Faculties. This fluidity works to promote unexpected connections between the many individuals that access our campus and work together to create positive change.

School of Medicine (Opening to students in 2028)

Las Nubes EcoCampus (Costa Rica)

Located in the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor in Southern Costa Rica, the Las Nubes EcoCampus sits on 414 acres of land that includes the Lillian Meighen Wright Centre landmark building, the Casita Azul community library, and several conservation areas, including the Las Nubes Biological Reserve.

Schools of Excellence

Schulich School of Business Located in the heart of the Financial District in the Ernst & Young Tower, this centre offers Schulich School of Business MBA students the chance to complete classes while they work. Schulich is ranked among the best in the world and #1 in Canada.

Osgoode Hall Law School

Right at Yonge and Dundas, Osgoode Professional Development is a world leader in law school life-long learning for lawyers, paralegals, professionals, firms and organizations.

Lassonde School of Engineering

Innovative programs in software, civil, and space engineering.

Faculty of Science, Faculty of Health, and Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LAPS)

Offering diverse interdisciplinary programs. Third and fourth-year School of Administrative Studies students in York’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LAPS) are now able to take their Bachelor of Commerce courses at IBM Headquarters in Markham.

YORK UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

RESEARCH AND GLOBAL IMPACT

York University is recognized internationally for its research and leadership in:

York is ranked #1 in Canada for its work toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for Quality Education. Through partnerships in the UK, China and more, York fosters a globally engaged learning community.