Western University

Western University, also known as the University of Western Ontario, is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada.

Western University, also known as the University of Western Ontario, was founded on March 7, 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth of the Anglican Diocese of Huron. It was originally established as a denominational school of the Church of England, but became non-denominational in 1908.

The university's first classes were held in 1881 at Huron College, which had been founded in 1863. The university initially offered programs in arts, divinity, law, and medicine. Over the years, new faculties and schools were added, and Western grew to become one of Canada's leading research universities.

In 1916, Western purchased its current campus from the Kingsmill family. The new campus was located on 455 hectares of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames River. The university began to move to its new campus in 1923, and the name of the university was officially changed to The University of Western Ontario in that same year.

Western continued to grow and expand throughout the 20th century. In the post-World War II era, the university experienced a period of rapid growth, and a number of new faculties and schools were added.

Western University is a proud and vibrant institution with a rich history. The university has played an important role in the development of Canada, and continues to be a leader in education and research.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2026, Western University is positioned as the #151 top university in the world, which makes it the #6 top university in Canada. The university's global rank decreased by 31 points from last year.