Not to be confused with the British institution University of York. York University (French: Université York) is a public research university based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1959, it has grown into one of Canada’s largest universities and is commonly ranked as the country’s third-largest by total student enrolment. The institution serves a broad mix of domestic and international students and combines teaching, research and community engagement across many disciplines.

Structure and campuses

York is organized into multiple faculties and schools, offering undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. Prominent units include the Schulich School of Business and Osgoode Hall Law School. The university’s principal site is the Keele Campus—often referred to as the main campus—while Glendon Campus provides a bilingual liberal arts setting. Facilities across campuses include libraries, research centres, studios and laboratories that support both academic study and applied projects.

History and development

Created in the late 1950s to broaden access to higher education in the Toronto region, York expanded rapidly through the latter half of the 20th century. It added professional schools, research institutes and infrastructure to meet growing demand. Over decades of development the university transitioned from a regional college to a large urban research university with a diverse program portfolio and an increasingly global presence.

Academic profile and activities

York offers programs across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, fine arts, business, education and law. It places emphasis on interdisciplinary study, experiential learning and partnerships with industry, government and community organizations. Research strengths are distributed across social policy, legal studies, business innovation and creative practice; graduate studies, cooperative education and community-engaged projects are important parts of its academic mission. Student life includes many clubs, cultural groups and varsity teams that compete as the York Lions.

Notable facts and distinctions

  • Widely recognized for a large and diverse student population among Canadian universities.
  • Maintains a bilingual liberal arts campus at Glendon as well as numerous professional schools.
  • Home to major professional programs such as Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business.
  • Active in urban research and public-service partnerships within Toronto and across the province of Ontario.
  • Included among Canada’s significant public universities in academic and institutional profiles (see academic profiles).