University of Sunderland vs University of British Columbia vs Simon Fraser University vs University Canada West - UCW vs McMaster University

Side-by-side comparison from 503 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: McMaster University (4.40)
University of Sunderland: wins 2/7 categories
University of British Columbia: wins 1/7 categories
Simon Fraser University: wins 0/7 categories
University Canada West - UCW: wins 1/7 categories
McMaster University: wins 3/7 categories
Thompson Rivers University - TRU: wins 0/7 categories
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - KPU: wins 0/7 categories
Comparing
Sunderland, The United Kingdom
4.20
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64 reviews
×
Best programme: Business and Management
Best programme: Arts
British Columbia, Canada
4.10
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70 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Administration
British Columbia, Canada
4.20
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45 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Administration
Hamilton, Canada
4.40
Top
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86 reviews
×
Best programme: Life Science
British Columbia, Canada
4.10
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29 reviews
×
Best programme: Masters in Business Administration
Best programme: Business and Marketing
Category ratings
Facilities
4.51
Win
4.22
3.90
4.26
4.23
3.64
4.11
Location
4.15
4.45
3.78
4.51
Win
4.14
3.96
4.22
Professors
4.43
Win
4.10
4.13
4.23
4.22
3.97
4.42
Internationality
4.24
4.35
4.21
4.36
4.49
Win
3.86
4.32
Student life
4.07
4.31
Win
3.54
4.16
4.15
3.86
3.94
Value
4.16
4.08
4.06
4.18
4.37
Win
3.97
4.00
Accommodation
3.75
3.86
3.69
3.35
4.08
Win
3.13
3.44
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Practical, real-world focused curriculum and skills
  • +Supportive and dedicated instructors and learning environment
  • +International exposure and English-taught programs
  • +Excellent academics and experienced faculty
  • +Valuable career preparation and practical learning
  • +Great campus resources and vibrant student life
  • +Engaging and challenging academic content
  • +Expert faculty and supportive guidance
  • +Diverse and valuable program options
  • +Practical, career-focused programs with experienced faculty
  • +Affordable tuition and internationally recognized certifications
  • +Diverse and well-structured learning environment
  • +Supportive and passionate professors
  • +Welcoming and diverse student community
  • +Engaging and versatile academic programs
  • +Small class sizes and dedicated professors
  • +Valuable, practical courses and personal growth opportunities
  • +Supportive, inclusive, and beautiful campus environment
  • +Practical, hands-on learning and real-world applications
  • +Supportive and approachable instructors with clear explanations
  • +Excellent facilities and opportunities for engagement
Cons
  • -Insufficient lecturers and feeling left behind in the course.
  • -Administrative and course selection issues are a significant frustration.
  • -Some professors and classes are subpar, with arbitrary grading.
  • -Social experiences outside of clubs can be disappointing.
  • -Poor course structure and teaching quality.
  • -Negative campus atmosphere and organizational problems.
  • -Biased and unsubtle course content outside of sciences.
  • -Administrative & management issues are a frequent complaint.
  • -Facilities are often described as outdated or in poor condition.
  • -Communication from the institution is perceived as lacking or unclear.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a constant source of frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of necessary resources hinder the learning experience.
  • -Communication and transparency from the institution are frequently lacking.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor parking.
  • -Inconsistent professor quality and basic course content for advanced studies.
  • -Overpriced housing in the surrounding area.
  • -Administrative and management issues cause frustration.
  • -Outdated facilities and equipment hinder learning.
  • -Lack of resources and support are common complaints.
Rating summary
What students say

Facilities and professors stand out as the university's strongest assets, receiving the highest marks. Student life and location also scored well, indicating positive experiences in these areas. Accommodation, however, received the lowest rating, suggesting room for improvement. Internationality and value were rated moderately, reflecting a generally positive but not exceptional standing.

This institution demonstrates a commendable performance across several key areas. Its strongest suit is location, achieving a high rating of 4.45. Student life and internationality also receive positive marks, both above 4.3. The weakest area identified is accommodation, with a rating of 3.86. Other aspects like facilities, professors, and value fall within a solid range, generally around the 4.0 to 4.2 mark.

This institution demonstrates a well-rounded performance, with particularly strong marks in **Internationality** (4.21) and **Professors** (4.13). **Value** (4.06) also received a commendable rating. Conversely, **Student Life** (3.54) stands out as an area with room for improvement, alongside **Accomodation** (3.69) and **Location** (3.78). Facilities (3.90) are rated moderately well.

This institution receives excellent marks in several key areas, particularly excelling in **Location** (4.51) and **Internationality** (4.36). **Facilities**, **Professors**, **Student Life**, and **Value** also score positively, all above 4.1. The primary area for improvement seems to be **Accomodation**, which received a significantly lower rating of 3.35 compared to the other metrics.

This university garners high marks in nearly all surveyed areas. Internationality stands out as its strongest category with a rating of 4.49, followed closely by Value at 4.37. While Facilities and Professors also score well (4.23 and 4.22 respectively), Accomodation represents the weakest area, receiving the lowest rating of 4.08. Overall, student life, location, and value contribute to a positive impression.

This institution demonstrates notable strengths in several areas, with Professors, Location, and Value all receiving very high marks. Student Life and Internationality are also rated positively. However, the university's Facilities and Accommodations are its weakest points, showing significantly lower scores compared to other evaluated aspects.

This institution demonstrates notable strengths in academic areas, with Professors receiving a high rating of 4.42 and Internationality also scoring well at 4.32. Facilities and Location are similarly well-regarded. Student Life and Accommodations, however, present areas for potential improvement, with ratings of 3.94 and 3.44 respectively. Overall value is rated at a solid 4.0.

Reviews summary
Highlights

With an average rating of 4.23/5 from 64 reviews, ~84% are positive, praising practical, UK-standard curricula and supportive lecturers. A single negative review (~1.6%) mentioned insufficient lecturers and unmet course expectations.

With ~83% positive reviews, students praise demanding academics, supportive resources, and career preparation. A small minority note challenges with course selection and professor engagement.

With an average rating of 4.07/5 from 70 reviews, approximately 80% are positive, highlighting academic rigor, knowledgeable professors, and valuable programs like co-op. Negative feedback is minimal (~1.4%).

With a high average rating of 4.16/5, ~84% of reviews are positive, highlighting practical programs, experienced professors, and a diverse environment. No negative feedback was provided.

Over 90% of feedback is positive, highlighting a strong academic foundation, supportive professors, and a vibrant, diverse community. A small percentage of feedback exists with no negative reviews.

With an average rating of 4.1/5 from 29 reviews, ~93% of feedback is positive, highlighting valuable courses, small class sizes, supportive professors, and personal growth opportunities. A small fraction (~7%) of negative comments cite issues with some basic courses and registration processes.

Most students find the university's practical, hands-on learning and supportive professors highly beneficial. Excellent facilities and career-focused courses are frequently praised. There is no reported negative feedback.

Rating distribution
5★
41%
38%
30%
31%
52%
28%
37%
4★
44%
50%
50%
53%
37%
62%
47%
3★
14%
12%
19%
16%
10%
3%
16%
2★
2%
1%
0%
0%
0%
7%
0%
1★
0%
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked

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Underwhelming

I was there as an exchange student from Europe, attending classes at Sauder Business School and the Mechanical Engineering Department. Studying at UBC is definitely a mixed bag in terms of the quality of education. I did have a few great professors who held wonderfully challenging and well-thought-out classes, making me feel that UBC punches above its weight in terms of educational quality. However, some other lectures were undoubtedly subpar. Grading seemed quite arbitrary at times (moving goalposts seems to be a recurring theme at UBC), and the lectures were not nearly as good as they should have been, in my opinion. It is quite fair to say that other exchange students and I were often shocked that UBC allows these courses to occur annually without making efforts to improve them. At UBC as a whole, less is expected from students than at my home university. I've seen people never show up to class and hold presentations that would never fly at my home uni. Professors seems to welcome all questions even if they are about things a fourth-year engineering student just months before graduation needs to know. I am not sure if UBC ensures that its graduates are adequately educated, and would definitely think twice if I was a recruiter and had to hire someone who attented there. From what I have seen, I would tentatively recommend Sauder Business School. For Mechanical Engineering (and probably also Electrical and Civil Engineering), UBC is simply too small, offering a lack of choices and not many lectures; usually, only introductory courses are offered for most topics. I recommend attending a more engineering/science-focused university, such as Waterloo or others in the US or Europe. It is quite astonishing how much money people pay to attend these subpar classes. Enjoyed having a beach on campus.

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A lot left to be desired

You can study and get a degree here, but the university in itself cares little about students and does very little to help when needed. Guidelines are very vague and facilities are not built for as many students as are accepted.

Combined Honors in Economics and Mathematics

Joining Mcmaster University is a wonderful experience. I personally have learned a lot. In addition, I really recommend and encourage students to join this school. University has a variety of courses.

my experience with the sociology program

Each professor that I have had so far was extremely encouraging and was often willing to go the extra step to make sure I understood the course content. The professors I could tell were very tenured and loved their roles. This helped me to foster even more of a passion for sociology, and I would highly recommend students take at least one course because the experience is quite interesting.

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