CANADA | 2025 TOP game SCHOOLS

2025 CANADA RANKING: WHAT ARE THE BEST GAME SCHOOLs?

MEGA - MIGS students talk to indie studios

MEGAMIGS (2019)

An attractive country

Canada is home to a thriving video game industry.

With nearly 30,000 people working there, Canada has become a major industry stronghold over the past 15 years. Montreal especially has a growing number of large and indie studios.

Over 200 studios and 50 schools examined in our rankings

As with the US ranking, Canada required the careful analysis of more than 2,000 alumni profiles from some 50 schools.

The result is a precise overview of their studies and their careers in more than 200 video game studios.

☆ TOP 5 CANADiAn Game Schools ☆

Mentioning a school ranked beyond the 5th place is a service we offer

TOP 5 STUDIOs

for hiring young talent in Canada

☆ game schools top 5 CANADA ☆

#1 Isart digital

Montreal, Quebec

250 total students
Private school
Tuition & fees (2024): Bachelor 13,550$CAD / year ; Master 13,950$CAD / year

ACADEMICS:

Master’s in Game Programming (4 years)
AEC (Attestation d'Étude Collégiale) in Game Programming
(2 years)
Bachelor’s in Tech Game Art (4 years)
AEC in Tech Game Art (2 years)
Master’s in Game Design (4 years)
AEC in Game Design (2 years)
Game Data Analyst (1 year)

GAME PROTOTYPES:

Solstice (2024) A cinematic 3D adventure game set in a frozen, ruined citadel.

Storm Breaker (2024) A platformer game set in a world threatened by a raging storm.

RECRUITMENT:

The main Isart Digital's recruiters since 2020 are:

Ubisoft Montréal
FLYOS
Studio XP
Gameloft Montreal
Breaking Walls
Metric Empire
Behaviour Interactive
Ubisoft Quebec City
Nvizzio Creations Inc.

The majority of Isart Digital Montréal alumni who graduated since 2020 hold creative roles in the video game industry. Artistic positions dominate with 48%. Among Game Artists, the most represented roles are 3D Artists (23%) and Character Artists (6%).
Game Designers account for a significant 40%, highlighting a strong focus on design. Technical roles total 9%, indicating a smaller but essential presence. Producers make up 3%.

This distribution reflects a marked specialization in artistic and creative fields.

#2 VFS, Vancouver Film School

Vancouver, British Columbia

1,000 students across eight campuses in Vancouver, BC. Campus of Shanghai-Vancouver Film School in Shanghai since 2014.
Private school founded in 1987
Tuition fee (2024/2025) : diploma in Game Design CA$49,750 (12 months)

The Vancouver Film School (VFS) introduced one of the first game design programs in North America in 2004. Offering one-year post-secondary education with over 1400 hours, these programs are both intensive and comprehensive.

ACADEMICS:

Among the 12 digital career-focused programs offered by VFS, one is specifically concentrated on Game Design, leading to a diploma in Game Design (one year).

GAME PROTOTYPES:

With around twenty video game projects published each year, VFS is among the most productive schools.

FA Nightshade (2024). A third-person shooter set in the year 2805, during an interplanetary war between the Republic of Nach and Galacta.

Meowmentum Mori (2024). An action-strategy game with gameplay centered on time and skill management in a whimsical and fantastical universe. Winner of the 15th Unity Awards for Best Student Project.

RECRUITMENT:

The main VFS's recruiters since 2020 are:

Electronic Arts (EA)
PurrfectPace Interactive
Next Level Games
The Coalition Studio
Sprung Studios - UX-UI Design
Gamejam Strike Team
SkyBox Labs
East Side Games

The distribution of Vancouver Film School (VFS) graduates in the video game industry since 2020 shows a strong presence of artistic roles, accounting for 48% of profiles. Among Game Artists, the most represented professions are 3D Artists (11%) and Visual Effects Artists (9%). Sound Designers make up an exceptionally high proportion at 21%, reflecting the school’s notable specialization in this area, almost equal to the share of Game Designers, which highlights a strong focus on design. Technical roles, such as Game Programmers, represent 9%.

This distribution underscores VFS's emphasis on creativity and sound design.

#3 école NAD-UQAC

Montreal, Quebec

400 total students
Public
Tuition & fees (2024): $20,272

The NAD-UQAC School, Ecole Nationale d'Art Numérique, de l'Animation et du Design, created in 1992 and affiliated with the UQAC, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, since 2008, offers four video game training courses focused on game design and game art.

ACADEMICS:

Bachelor's Degree in 3D Animation and Digital Design [90 credits]
Certificate in 3D Animation and Digital Design [30 credits]
Master's Degree in Art (Digital Design) [45 credits]
DESS, Postgraduate Diploma Specialized in Narrative Video Game Design [30 credits]

GAME PROTOTYPES:

D.R.E.A.M. : où les rêves entrent en scène (2024). Winner of the Best Creativity and Integration of the Theme Award at the Ubisoft Game Lab Competition 2024 in Montreal. Created by a team of eight students.

Hamstorm (2024). A puzzle game created in 15 weeks by 4 students.

RECRUITMENT:

The main NAD-UQAC recruiters since 2020 are:

Ubisoft Montréal
Behaviour Interactive
Haven Studios Inc
Motive Studio
Red Barrels
Ubisoft
DON'T NOD Montréal
Invoke Studios
Felix & Paul Studios

The distribution of NAD-UQAC School alumni in the video game industry since 2020 shows a strong dominance of artistic roles, representing 82% of profiles, including 6% Tech Artists. Within the Game Artists, the most represented positions are 3D Artists (23%) and Visual Effects Artists (17%). With 18%, Game Designers also account for a significant share, reflecting a clear interest in design.

#4 KPU Entertainment Arts / Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Surrey, British Columbia

20,000 total students
Public university
Tuition & fees (2025): Undergraduate programs: Between $6,593 and $10,988 CAD per year for international students. Entertainment Arts programs: Between $14,694.48 and $24,141.80 CAD per year, depending on the number of credits taken.

KPU Entertainment Arts is part of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), a public university founded in 1981. The Entertainment Arts program is located at the Civic Plaza campus in Surrey, BC, and specializes in preparing students for careers in animation, visual effects, and game design.

ACADEMICS:

Certificate

Foundation in Entertainment Arts

Diploma

Advanced 3D Animation and 3D Modelling
Advanced VFX (Virtual Production)
Advanced Game Development

GAME PROTOTYPES AND COMPETITIONS:

Spirit Forward (2024) A highly realistic 3D endless runner game set in a medieval castle. Created as part of the One Button Game Jam organized by the CEA, Centre for Entertainment Arts.

No Keys Harmed (2024) A 3D puzzle-adventure game set in a vibrant and original digital kingdom where keyboard keys come to life.

RECRUITMENT:

Main KPU's recruiters since 2020:

Electronic Arts (EA)
A Thinking Ape
The Cirqus
Total Albedo Studios
LBC Studios

The distribution of KPU alumni in the video game industry since 2020 shows a strong artistic orientation, with 49% of profiles in this field. Among Game Artists, the most represented roles are Visual Effects Artists (9%) and 3D Modelers (9%). Technical and design roles are well-balanced between Game Programmers (27%) and Game Designers (24%).

This distribution highlights KPU's ability to train creative and technical specialists well-suited to the industry's needs.

#5 Uqat, université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec

6,300 total students
Public
Tuition & fees (2025): Flat rate for international students: $669.87 per credit

ACADEMICS:

Bachelor's Degree in Video Game Creation
Bachelor's Degree in Digital Creation
Bachelor's Degree in 3D Creation
Master's Degree in Digital Creation
3D Creation Certificate
Certificate in Digital Creation

GAME PROTOTYPES:

Bolt'N'Punch (2024) An action game set in a chaotic food factory overrun by rebellious robots.

The Dream Factory (2024) A cooperative puzzle game set in a factory where the central reactor of the Imagination Infuser has exploded, blending dreams and nightmares.

RECRUITMENT:

The main UQAT's recruiters since 2020 are:

Ubisoft Montréal
Eidos-Montréal
Behaviour Interactive
Beenox
Ubisoft Saguenay
Ubisoft Quebec City
Lucid Tales
PTW

The distribution of UQAT graduates in the video game industry since 2020 highlights a primarily artistic focus, with 57% of profiles in this field. Among Game Artists, the most represented roles are 3D Artists (29%) and Visual Effects Artists (7%).

Design roles account for a significant share (34%), which is usefully complemented by technical positions (9%).

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