UM in Canada’s top six in TIME’s World University Rankings

UM continues to be recognized as a leading research-intensive university

Fort Garry campus from above, showing trees, a walking path, and mid-century buildings.
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UM Fort Garry campus
UM Fort Garry campus
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The University of Manitoba has been ranked among the top six universities in Canada in TIME’s 2026 World’s Top Universities list, earning a global ranking of 136.

The result places UM in the top tier of Canadian institutions and among leading universities worldwide. This reflects our university’s strength in research, teaching excellence, and global engagement.

While rankings are only one way to assess a university’s impact, they offer useful insight into how institutions compare internationally — and why UM continues to be recognized as a leading research-intensive university in Canada. 

How the TIME ranking works

TIME’s global university ranking focuses on three broad areas:

  1.  Academic capacity and performance 
    This includes measures related to teaching, learning environment, and scholarly excellence.
  2. Innovation and economic impact 
    Research output, influence, and citations play a significant role, reflecting how university research contributes to global knowledge and real-world solutions. 
    UM is an indispensable driver of economic growth and development for our province and to the well-being of communities in Manitoba, as well as the people of Canada and the world.
  3. Global engagement 
    This considers a university’s ability to attract international students and collaborate globally — an important indicator of global relevance.

Together, these factors aim to capture not just size or prestige, but impact and influence on a global scale. 

Where UM continues to stand out

Across multiple national and international rankings, the University of Manitoba consistently performs strongly in areas that matter deeply to our mission, including:

Food science and technology 

UM ranked 2nd in Canada and 45th globally in Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

Health and life sciences 

Disciplines including dentistry, biological sciences, nursing, pharmacy, and human biological sciences consistently place among Canada’s top ten, reflecting UM’s leadership in health research and professional education.

Agriculture, environment, and sustainability 

UM ranks strongly in agricultural and environmental sciences, building on Manitoba’s strengths and contributing to global food security and climate solutions.

Global impact and sustainability 

In the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, UM ranks 6th in Canada for both Good Health and Wellbeing, and Climate Action, highlighting research and partnerships aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Overall research performance 

UM has been recognized as a growth leader on the Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities 2025 list after receiving $246M in sponsored research income in 2024.  

Taken together, these results underscore UM’s role as a research-intensive university with national and global reach, particularly in areas that address real-world challenges.

Students outside in fall
UM students walking to classes at our Fort Garry campus

Why this matters

Being ranked among the top six universities in Canada helps strengthen our visibility and reputation which supports recruitment, partnerships, and international collaboration.

More importantly, these rankings reflect the collective work of UM’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and the impact of research and education that is rooted in Manitoba and relevant to the world.

As the University of Manitoba looks toward its 150th anniversary in 2027 — global recognition like this serves as both a point of pride and a reminder of the shared effort behind UM’s success. 

Boilerplate: Creating knowledge

UM is home to researchers who respond to emerging issues and lead innovation in our province and around the world. Creating knowledge that matters is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.