University of British Columbia vs University Canada West - UCW vs McMaster University vs Fleming College vs Lighthouse Labs

Side-by-side comparison from 333 verified student reviews. Scan one row at a time — winners are highlighted

Quick verdict
Higher overall rating: Douglas College New Westminster (4.50)
University of British Columbia: wins 1/7 categories
University Canada West - UCW: wins 1/7 categories
McMaster University: wins 3/7 categories
Fleming College: wins 0/7 categories
Lighthouse Labs: wins 0/7 categories
Douglas College New Westminster: wins 2/7 categories
Masters College and Seminary - MCS: wins 0/7 categories
Comparing
Best programme: Arts
British Columbia, Canada
4.20
Read more reviews
44 reviews
×
Best programme: Business Administration
Hamilton, Canada
4.40
Read more reviews
83 reviews
×
Best programme: Life Science
Peterborough, Canada
4.00
Read more reviews
11 reviews
×
Best programme: Computer Security and Investigations
Vancouver, Canada
Not rated
Read more reviews
0 reviews
×
New Westminster, Canada
4.50
Top
Read more reviews
8 reviews
×
Best programme: Accounting
Category ratings
Facilities
4.21
4.26
Win
4.22
3.55
Not rated
3.88
Not rated
Location
4.46
4.50
4.12
3.64
Not rated
4.71
Win
Not rated
Professors
4.10
4.23
4.22
3.55
Not rated
4.88
Win
Not rated
Internationality
4.34
4.35
4.48
Win
4.18
Not rated
4.38
Not rated
Student life
4.31
Win
4.17
4.16
3.40
Not rated
4.25
Not rated
Value
4.08
4.16
4.39
Win
3.64
Not rated
4.25
Not rated
Accommodation
3.85
3.31
4.10
Win
3.18
Not rated
3.13
Not rated
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • +Challenging academics and rewarding workload
  • +Excellent faculty and practical learning opportunities
  • +Vibrant campus, abundant resources, and supportive environment
  • +Practical, job-market relevant programs with experienced faculty
  • +Diverse environment fostering adaptability and confidence
  • +Affordable tuition and flexible scheduling
  • +Supportive and passionate professors
  • +Welcoming and diverse community with many involvement opportunities
  • +Excellent resources for career planning and development
  • +Relevant curriculum and practical skills development
  • +Supportive and knowledgeable instructors
  • +Flexible learning options and engaging campus events

Nothing to show

  • +Practical, career-oriented programs with industry software
  • +High-quality instructors and engaging, interactive learning environments
  • +Abundant student resources for academic success

Nothing to show

Cons
  • -Difficulty with course selection and academic support in large classes.
  • -Inconsistent professor quality and arbitrary grading practices.
  • -Challenges finding genuine connections and disappointing social scene outside of clubs.
  • -Administrative and management issues are a recurring problem.
  • -Outdated facilities and a lack of essential resources are frequently mentioned.
  • -Students express dissatisfaction with the quality of teaching and curriculum.
  • -Unresponsive and unhelpful administrative and management.
  • -Outdated and poorly maintained facilities.
  • -Lack of clarity and support in coursework and academic guidance.
  • -Outdated facilities and obsolete curriculum are significant concerns.
  • -Incompetent instructors and a lack of industry-relevant knowledge acquisition are major drawbacks.
  • -The college's reputation and value in the job market have significantly declined.

Nothing to show

  • -Students dislike the administrative and management issues.
  • -Outdated facilities and poor maintenance are frequently mentioned.
  • -The curriculum is often described as irrelevant or not engaging.

Nothing to show

Rating summary
What students say

Evaluations reveal a university excelling in several key aspects. The location garners the highest score, followed closely by internationality and student life, indicating a vibrant and globally connected environment. Professors and value also receive positive, albeit slightly lower, ratings. Conversely, accommodation presents the weakest area, suggesting room for improvement in student housing options. Facilities, while solid, are not a standout feature compared to other categories.

This university presents a generally positive profile, with its **location** standing out as the strongest area, achieving a perfect 4.5. **Internationality** and **facilities** also received high marks. Conversely, **accommodation** represents the weakest aspect, with a significantly lower rating. Other categories like professors, student life, and value fall within a respectable range, indicating a well-rounded but not perfect student experience.

With exceptional ratings in several categories, this university shines particularly brightly in **Internationality**, scoring a high 4.48. **Facilities** and **Professors** also received strong marks at 4.22. **Value** is another notable strength, with a rating of 4.39. The **Accomodation** area received the lowest, though still positive, rating of 4.10. Overall, the university demonstrates a well-rounded offering with a clear international focus.

This institution garners excellent marks for its international environment, standing out with a high rating for Internationality. The university also scores well in Location and Value. Conversely, Accomodation is its lowest-rated aspect. Facilities and Professors receive similar, moderate scores, while Student Life falls slightly below average.

Nothing to show

A consistently positive assessment emerges for this institution, with its **Professors** earning an exceptional 4.875. **Location** and **Internationality** also score highly, reflecting strengths in these aspects. Conversely, **Accomodation** presents the lowest score at 3.125, indicating an area for potential improvement, while **Facilities** are rated moderately. Student life and value perceptions are solid.

Nothing to show

Reviews summary
Highlights

Over 86% of reviews praise demanding yet rewarding academics, great study spaces, and excellent resources. A small minority (~1%) mentions course selection difficulties and the struggle to connect with people.

Overwhelmingly positive feedback (~100% of reviews) highlights practical, fast-paced programs and experienced professors. Students value academic and professional growth, strong analytical skills, and a diverse environment. No negative reviews were provided.

With 83 reviews, ~74% are positive, highlighting supportive and knowledgeable professors, a vibrant and diverse community with many clubs, and a welcoming campus. No negative feedback was recorded.

The college receives strong positive feedback (~74%) for its well-structured curriculum, relevant skills development, and dedicated staff. Some criticism (~18%) points to program quality and instructor consistency.

Nothing to show

With an average rating of 4.5/5, ~88% of reviews are positive, highlighting practical, career-oriented programs and experienced, helpful instructors. No negative feedback was provided.

Nothing to show

Rating distribution
5★
38%
32%
53%
64%
0%
63%
0%
4★
50%
52%
36%
9%
0%
25%
0%
3★
12%
16%
11%
9%
0%
13%
0%
2★
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1★
1%
0%
0%
18%
0%
0%
0%
Most useful review
Most liked
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.

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.

Fleming collage in Peterborough

Hello everyone, I was enrolled at Fleming College in Peterborough, and I strongly recommend choosing another option. The professors here are extremely strict—some lock their doors as soon as class starts, refusing to let students in even if they are just a minute late. There is little flexibility or understanding from the faculty, making the learning experience frustrating. If you’re an international student, I strongly advise you to stay away. Many international students, including myself, have experienced racism from both students and professors. The lack of support and inclusivity makes it even harder to adjust. I wish someone had warned me before enrolling—I regret choosing this college and feel like I wasted my money. If I could do it again, I would have gone to Humber or Sheridan instead, where students are treated with more respect and consideration. If you’re looking for a supportive and welcoming learning environment, I highly suggest looking elsewhere.

Nothing to show

Nothing to show

Nothing to show

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Review our Privacy Policy for more details.
Close