University of Victoria Rises in National Research Rankings for 2024

The University of Victoria (UVic) has been recognized as one of Canada’s top research universities, securing the 18th position in the latest rankings released by Research Infosource Inc. for 2024. This marks an improvement of two spots from the previous year, highlighting UVic’s growing reputation in academic research.

A significant factor contributing to this ranking is UVic’s sponsored research income, reported at $168,000 in 2024. This represents a remarkable increase of 20.3 percent compared to fiscal 2023. Sponsored research income encompasses all external funding received to support research activities, demonstrating the university’s successful efforts in attracting financial resources for innovative projects.

Leading in Faculty Research Intensity

In addition to its overall ranking, UVic excelled in the category of faculty research intensity, achieving the highest score among comprehensive universities with an impressive $215,900 per faculty member. The increase in research income per faculty position reflects a national trend, as overall faculty research intensity across Canada rose by 2.9 percent from the previous year.

According to Research Infosource Inc., total government funding for research in Canada increased to $6.21 billion, up 3 percent from fiscal 2023. Non-government funding saw even greater growth, rising by 7.8 percent to $3.85 billion. This overall increase in funding underscores the expanding landscape for research across the country.

Competitive Landscape Among Canadian Universities

At the top of the rankings, the University of Toronto continues to hold the number one position, followed by Université de Montréal and McGill University. Within British Columbia, the University of British Columbia ranked fourth, a drop of two positions from the previous year. UVic’s placement at 18 is closely followed by Simon Fraser University at 19, which fell one spot, and the University of Northern British Columbia at 39.

The advancements made by UVic in research funding and intensity reflect the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation. With its steady climb in the rankings, UVic continues to solidify its status as a leading research university in Canada, fostering an environment where groundbreaking research can thrive.