McMaster University has earned a spot in the top 100 universities worldwide for sustainability, ranking 93rd in the latest QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
The ranking places McMaster in the top 5 per cent of institutions worldwide for 2025.
“This result is an important global recognition for our university,” said McMaster President David Farrar.
“It not only reflects McMaster’s mission to advance societal health and well-being through our commitment to sustainability, but speaks to the real impact our students, faculty, staff and alumni are having in the world.”
The QS Sustainability rankings evaluate more than 1,700 universities based on three broad themes: environmental impact, social impact and governance.
The themes include key indicators such as environmental education and research, hiring practices, governance and graduate employability.
Recently, McMaster researchers shared their expertise in climate justice and sustainable healthcare at COP29. Harvest Systems, a startup co-founded by engineering professor Jim Cotton, was ranked among the top investible clean tech companies in Canada.
Environmental education ranks in Top 60 globally
McMaster’s performance was particularly strong in the category of environmental education, where it secured 56th place globally. This reflects the university’s commitment to offering courses across faculties that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More than 90 per cent of the undergraduate class of 2025 will have completed at least one course that address the SDGs.
McMaster also has a Sustainability Strategy, and planetary health and sustainability are priority areas in the University’s 2024-2029 Strategic Research Plan.
Among Canadian universities, McMaster ranked ninth, with the University of Toronto in first place globally and the University of British Columbia in fifth.
Earlier this year, McMaster ranked 30th globally in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings which is an important international benchmark for universities working toward the United Nations SDGs.