Overview

Queen's University at Kingston, commonly referred to as Queen's University, is a public research institution situated in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1841, it is home to over 28,715 full-time students across its various campuses, including 4,000 international students from 101 countries. The university offers nearly 80 undergraduate programs and 125 graduate courses, supported by 24 research centres and institutes. 

Queen's was established by a Royal Charter issued by Queen Victoria in 1841 — making it one of Canada's oldest and most historically distinguished universities. The university's iconic neo-Gothic stone buildings overlooking Lake Ontario in Kingston — a beautifully preserved 18th-century city midway between Toronto and Ottawa — give it a campus atmosphere and collegiate tradition uniquely comparable to Oxford or Cambridge.

Queen's University is a U15 research university ranked #1 in Canada and #6 worldwide in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. It offers 235+ academic areas including Arts and Science, Health Sciences, Commerce/Business, Law, Medicine, and more. This university is known for its research in Cancer, Data Analytics, AI, Mental Health, Physics, and more. 

Queen's University has more than 4,000 international students from more than 120 countries. The university's acceptance rate in Canada is 89%, making admissions moderately selective. Queen's has more than 300 student clubs including cultural, coding, and sports clubs, giving students the opportunity to explore and connect outside the classroom. 

Arthur B. McDonald from Queen's University Kingston won the Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 2015 — for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass; he conducted this research at Queen's physics department using the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. There are two campuses: the main campus and the west campus. Queen's University's main campus is located on 100 acres on the southwestern edge of downtown Kingston. 

Queen's is particularly famous in Canada for its Smith School of Business — one of Canada's most prestigious business schools — and its Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) program, which is considered the most prestigious undergraduate business degree in Canada, often called "Canada's Harvard of Business."

Intakes

The application deadline for the fall entry begins in December and closes by February; the deadline for document submission is April. 

Fall Intake (September) — Primary and main intake; open to all undergraduate and graduate programs.

• UG application deadline (OUAC): January 15 (equal consideration round); document submission by March–April
• PG application deadlines: vary significantly by program; most between December 1 – March 1; apply early for competitive programs

Winter Intake (January) — Available for select graduate and online programs only.

Important for Indian Students:

• Application fee: CAD $110 (approximately ₹6,820) for most programs; paid online through the OUAC or Queen's graduate portal
• English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 overall / TOEFL iBT 88 / PTE 65 / Duolingo 120 for most programs; Smith School of Business programs may require higher
• Indian students must have an All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) or the Indian School Certificate (CISCE) for UG admission; minimum 75–85% depending on program 
• Canada Study Permit required; financial proof of CAD $20,635/year in living funds
• International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during holidays
• PGWP: Up to 3 years depending on program length; pathway to Ontario PR (OINP)
• Kingston is one of Canada's most affordable and beautiful university cities — significantly cheaper than Toronto or Ottawa

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. Confirm specific intake dates at queensu.ca.

Top Courses

Queen's University offers nearly 80 undergraduate programs and 125 graduate courses through 8 faculties: Faculty of Arts and Science, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Graduate Studies, Faculty of Law, Smith School of Business, and School of Policy Studies. 

Smith School of Business (AACSB Accredited — Canada's Most Prestigious Business School)

• BCom (Bachelor of Commerce) — Canada's most prestigious undergraduate business degree; highly competitive admission; co-op program available
• MBA (full-time, accelerated, and executive tracks) — average base salary CAD $74,924; 96% placement within 6 months
• Master of Science in Management (MSc/MMA) — English-taught; research-focused; very popular for Indian students
• Master of Business Analytics — English-taught
• Master of International Business — English-taught
• Master of Finance
• PhD in Business

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (FEAS)

• BScEng in Civil / Chemical / Electrical / Mechanical / Computer / Mining / Geological Engineering
• MEng in Computing (very popular for Indian students) / Mechanical / Civil / Electrical / Chemical Engineering
• MASc (thesis-based) in various Engineering disciplines
• MSc in Computing / Artificial Intelligence
• PhD in Engineering disciplines

Faculty of Health Sciences

• MBBS equivalent (MD — Doctor of Medicine — highly selective)
• BNSc (Bachelor of Nursing Sciences)
• BSc in Rehabilitation Sciences / Life Sciences
• MSc in Epidemiology / Cancer Research
• MSc in Occupational Therapy / Physical Therapy

Faculty of Arts and Science

• BA in Economics / Political Studies / Sociology / Psychology / Computer Science / Philosophy / History
• MSc in Computer Science — English-taught; growing program
• MA in Economics / Political Studies / History
• MA in Cultural Studies

Faculty of Law

• LLB / JD (Juris Doctor) — one of Canada's most respected law schools; 97.5% placement rate for Class of 2024
• LLM in Law — various specialisations

School of Policy Studies

• MPA (Master of Public Administration) — English-taught; direct connections to Ottawa's federal government
• MPP (Master of Public Policy) — English-taught

Cost of Studying at Queen's University at Kingston

Key funding opportunities include:

• International Admission Award — Financial aid given to first-year undergraduate students; the initial award is up to CAD $10,000 (approximately ₹6.2L) for the first year, increasing annually for up to 4 years; merit-based; automatically considered at admission — no separate application required 
• Arts and Science International Admission Award — Up to 4-year award; the initial award is USD $10,000 (approximately ₹8.3L) for the first year which increments by USD $5,000 every year; for outstanding international students entering the Faculty of Arts and Science 
• Major Admission Awards — For students demonstrating superior academic ability, creative and original thinking, involvement in school or community activities, and proven leadership; prestigious merit-based awards; separate application required; significant amounts 
• Automatic Admission Scholarships — Awarded automatically based on academic averages at time of admission; no separate application
• Smith School of Business MBA Scholarship — Merit-based partial tuition reduction for outstanding MBA applicants; awarded during admissions process based on academic record, GMAT scores, and professional experience
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships — Federal government; CAD $50,000/year (approximately ₹31L/year) for 3 years for PhD students; apply through Queen's graduate office
• NSERC / SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships — Federal research funding; CAD $17,500–$35,000/year for Master's and PhD; open to international students enrolled in Canada
• Queen's Graduate Awards — Internal awards for graduate students; automatically considered upon admission to research programs; contact the School of Graduate Studies for current values

Note: Indian students should ensure they apply by the Queen's application deadline — International Admission Awards are automatically considered with no separate form. For the Smith School MBA, apply early in Round 1 for maximum scholarship consideration.

Scholarships

For the 2025–2026 academic year, tuition fees for international students at Queen's University are approximately CAD $15,219.29 for a full academic year (3 terms) for some graduate programs. Undergraduate tuition fees are approximately CAD $56,961.65 per year. The MBA tuition for international students is approximately CAD $109,900 per year. 

Kingston's cost of living is CAD $17,000–$22,000 per year — more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver. Kingston is one of Canada's most beautiful and liveable university cities, with a compact downtown, stunning Lake Ontario waterfront, strong student community culture, and proximity to both Toronto (2.5 hours) and Ottawa (2 hours). Note: 1 CAD ≈ ₹62. 

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 CAD = ₹62. Queen's UG tuition is higher than many Canadian universities — reflecting the premium brand of its BCom and Engineering programs. However, Kingston's cost of living (CAD $17,000–$22,000/year) is significantly lower than Toronto or Vancouver. Please refer to Queen's official fees page (queensu.ca/registrar/tuition-fees) for the most current 2026–27 fee schedule.

Admissions

With an acceptance rate of approximately 42%, admission is moderately competitive for international students. Queen's University's acceptance rate range is 40–49%, making it averagely selective for international applicants. 

For Graduate (Master's / Doctoral) Programs:

• For admission to graduate programs, students typically need a bachelor's degree with a minimum aggregate score of 60–70%; competitive programs (Smith MBA, Computing, Law) typically require higher GPA 
• IELTS 6.5 overall / TOEFL iBT 88 / PTE 65 / Duolingo 120; Law programs require IELTS 7.0
• GMAT or GRE may be required for MBA and some business programs; average GMAT for MBA approximately 640+
• Statement of Purpose / Letter of Intent; CV / Résumé (MBA requires 3+ years professional experience)
• 2–3 Letters of Recommendation; Official academic transcripts; Application fee: CAD $110

For Undergraduate Programs:

• Indian students must have an All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) or the Indian School Certificate (CISCE); minimum 75–85% overall; BCom (Smith) and Engineering require 85%+ 
• IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 88 / PTE 65
• Apply via OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre); document submission by April
• Strong extracurricular and leadership profile valued for BCom and BHSc

Indian students can check Queen's specific admission requirements for their chosen program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements

Kingston's strategic location between Toronto and Ottawa — combined with Queen's extraordinary alumni loyalty and the "Queen's Network" (one of the most powerful in Canadian business) — gives graduates exceptional career access across Canada's financial services, energy, government, technology, and healthcare sectors.

Queen's University graduates show strong job market outcomes with high placement rates and competitive salaries. Law School: 97.5% of the Class of 2024 reported placements, with 97% securing articling or clerkship positions. Smith School of Business: 96% of graduates accepted offers within 6 months, with an average base salary of CAD $74,924. As per Undergraduate statistics, Queen's University placement rate is 95.3% six months after graduation. 

Jobs After Graduating from Queen's University

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 CAD = ₹62. The "Queen's Network" is widely regarded as the most loyal and active alumni network in Canadian business — Queen's BCom and MBA graduates have outsized representation at Bay Street investment banks, major law firms, and government agencies. Actual salaries vary by role, employer, location, and experience.

Queen's career support ecosystem includes:

• Career Services (Queen's University) — Comprehensive career support including one-on-one career advising, CV and cover letter clinics, mock interviews, employer presentations, career fairs, internship and co-op matching, and the MyCareer online portal for all enrolled students and recent graduates
• 95.3% Graduate Placement Rate — One of the strongest placement rates among Canadian research universities; driven by the Queen's Network and exceptional employer brand recognition
• The "Queen's Network" — Most Loyal Alumni Network in Canada — Queen's alumni actively hire fellow Queen's graduates at an extraordinary rate; Bay Street investment banks, major Canadian law firms, federal government agencies, and energy companies are disproportionately staffed by Queen's alumni
• Smith School of Business Corporate Connections — 96% of MBA graduates placed within 6 months at an average base salary of CAD $74,924; top recruiters include McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, TD Securities, RBC Capital Markets, Deloitte, and Accenture
• Queen's Law Placement Network — 97.5% of the Law Class of 2024 reported placements, with 97% securing articling or clerkship positions; one of the strongest law placement rates in Canada 
• Kingston to Ottawa Policy Pathway — Queen's School of Policy Studies (MPA/MPP) graduates have direct pipelines into Canada's Federal Government, the Privy Council, and Ottawa's policy think tanks — 2 hours from Kingston
• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) — Up to 3 Years — Queen's international graduates qualify for PGWP of up to 3 years; pathway to Ontario PR through OINP; Kingston's growing tech and innovation ecosystem provides local employment alongside Toronto and Ottawa opportunities

For personalised guidance on Queen's University admissions, connect with the experts at Polygon Campus today.