Arabic
If you’re asking which Canadian universities offer serious Arabic language programs, here is the direct answer: the University of Ottawa, McGill University, the University of Alberta, Carleton University, the University of Waterloo, the University of Windsor, and the University of British Columbia all have verified, active Arabic programs.
Each serves a different learner profile — from full degree-seeking students to professionals wanting a standalone credential.
What these programs share is a focus on Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) — the formal, written Arabic used in media, academia, and government. What most of them do not offer is Quranic Arabic or Tajweed instruction.
For Muslims in Canada whose goal is connecting with the Quran directly, university Arabic study is a supplement, not a replacement, for specialized Quranic instruction.
1. The University of Ottawa Offers the Most Complete Arabic Degree Program in Canada
The University of Ottawa’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers Arabic programs that go beyond language skills, providing learners with in-depth knowledge of Arabic culture, history, literature, philosophy, religion, and society.
The Honours BA Major in Arabic Language and Culture includes a mandatory immersion stay abroad at an Arabic-speaking university, where students are required to take at least twelve units of courses — and a mobility scholarship is available to help cover travel and accommodation costs.
That requirement separates Ottawa from virtually every other Canadian university Arabic program.
Our Arabic for Beginners Course is built specifically for learners whose goal is mastering Arabic from scratch.
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2. McGill University Runs Arabic Through Its Institute of Islamic Studies
McGill University offers Arabic language instruction through its Institute of Islamic Studies, spanning introductory through advanced levels — including a formal Minor Concentration in Arabic Language that can expand into the Major Concentration in World Islamic and Middle East Studies.
The Minor Concentration in Arabic Language provides students with training across listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Arabic, requiring 18 credits across three levels of language coursework.
McGill is also the only major Canadian university that pairs Arabic with Persian, Turkish, and Urdu instruction under the same Islamic Studies framework.
Our Quranic Arabic course in Canada at The Canadian Quran Academy is specifically designed to build this foundation — starting with Quranic vocabulary and root-word patterns so learners access meaning quickly, not after years of abstract grammar study.
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3. The University of Alberta Offers Structured Arabic Courses Including a Heritage Learner Track
The University of Alberta’s Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies offers Arabic language courses at multiple levels, including a dedicated heritage learner track for students who have been exposed to Arabic conversationally at home but lack formal literacy and grammar training.
This heritage track is significant. A large portion of Canada’s Arabic-speaking community — particularly in Edmonton and Calgary — has functional conversational Arabic but has never studied the language formally.
Alberta’s ARAB 113 course addresses this directly, rather than placing heritage speakers alongside complete beginners.
Who this suits: Alberta-based learners, particularly heritage speakers who want to add academic literacy to their spoken Arabic. Also available as open-enrollment courses.
Our observation at The Canadian Quran Academy: Heritage Arabic speakers often arrive with strong dialect vocabulary but significant gaps in Classical Arabic grammar — the same grammar that underpins Quranic Arabic.
Our Arabic Grammar Course is specifically structured for learners at this stage, bridging colloquial fluency with the formal structures needed to engage with Quranic text accurately.
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4. Carleton University Provides Intensive Arabic Language Classes in Ottawa
Arabic language classes at Carleton University teach both the language and culture of Arabic, a language spoken by more than 200 million people worldwide, with intensive classes available through the School of Linguistics and Language Studies.
Carleton’s program is housed within its linguistics department rather than an Islamic studies or Middle Eastern studies framework, which means the approach is more language-acquisition-focused.
For learners in Ottawa who want Arabic without the cultural-studies overlay, this is a practical option.
Read also: HOW TO LEARN ARABIC FOR QURAN IN CANADA?
5. The University of Waterloo Offers Arabic Language Diplomas for Non-Degree Learners
The University of Waterloo’s Arabic Language program focuses on Modern Standard Arabic — the variety used in news broadcasts, academic texts, legal documents, and formal speech — and offers two Language Diplomas, Arabic Language I and Arabic Language II, available to both enrolled degree students and non-degree or post-degree learners.
The diploma credential is what distinguishes Waterloo. It is one of the few Canadian universities where a working professional can pursue Arabic formally, earn a recognized credential, and do so without being enrolled in a full undergraduate program.
Our Conversational Arabic Course serves those who want functional spoken Arabic alongside their Quranic study.
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Read also: IS ARABIC WORTH LEARNING IN CANADA?
6. The University of Windsor Offers a Minor in Arabic Studies With Language and Culture Tracks
The Arabic Studies program at the University of Windsor leads to a Minor in Arabic Studies and is available in either a language-intensive or culture-intensive stream, covering Arabic language, literature, and culture.
The two-stream structure is practical. Students who primarily want language proficiency can focus there; those more interested in Arab world history and literature can weight their coursework accordingly. For a smaller university, Windsor’s program is well-designed.
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University programs are valuable for academic Arabic. But for Quranic Arabic, recitation, Tajweed, or flexible instruction that fits Canadian family and work schedules, The Canadian Quran Academy offers what university classrooms cannot.
- Qualified Arabic and Quran instructors — 1-on-1 personalized sessions
- Flexible morning, evening, and weekend scheduling across Canadian time zones
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- Arabic for Beginners Course, Arabic Grammar Course, Conversational Arabic Course, and Intensive Arabic Course
- Free trial lesson — no commitment required
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Canadian universities give you academic Arabic. The Canadian Quran Academy gives you Quranic Arabic — and the Tajweed to recite it correctly. Both have their place. Knowing which serves your actual goal is what matters most.
Every student who walks into a university Arabic class wanting to understand the Quran more deeply eventually realizes the same thing: MSA opens a door, but Quranic instruction is what brings you inside. The seven universities listed above are excellent institutions with verified programs worth exploring. And when you are ready for the Quran itself — the recitation, the rules, the direct connection to the words of Allah — that is where The Canadian Quran Academy begins.
For Muslim learners across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec in 2026, the most effective path is often both: build your MSA foundation at a university, and build your Quranic Arabic with qualified instructors who know exactly where to take you next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Learning Arabic at Canadian Universities
Which Canadian university has the best Arabic program overall?
The University of Ottawa offers the most complete Arabic degree in Canada, with a full Honours BA Major, minor option, and mandatory immersion stay in an Arabic-speaking country. McGill University is the strongest option for pairing Arabic with Islamic Studies. For Quranic or Classical Arabic specifically, UBC’s Ancient Mediterranean department provides the most Quran-adjacent curriculum among Canadian universities.
Can I learn Arabic at a Canadian university without being a full-time student?
Yes. The University of Waterloo offers Language Diploma credentials in Arabic available to non-degree and post-degree learners. The University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies also offers Arabic language courses for community learners without requiring full-time enrollment. This makes formal Arabic study accessible to working adults across Ontario.
Do Canadian university Arabic programs teach Quranic Arabic?
Most do not, as a primary focus. Canadian university programs teach Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), which shares grammatical roots with Quranic Arabic but differs in vocabulary and application. Only UBC’s Classical Arabic program explicitly references Quranic texts. For dedicated Quranic Arabic instruction — including vocabulary, grammar in the context of the Quran, and Tajweed — specialized online platforms are better suited than university classrooms.
Is university Arabic suitable for children or teenagers?
University programs are designed for adults at the undergraduate and post-secondary level. Children and teenagers learning Arabic are better served by programs designed for their age group. The Canadian Quran Academy’s Arabic Classes for Kids uses age-appropriate methods and pacing that university coursework simply does not offer.
How long does it take to learn Arabic at a Canadian university?
A Minor in Arabic at most Canadian universities requires two to three years of coursework. A full Major, as at the University of Ottawa, requires four years and includes an immersion stay abroad. For conversational or functional Arabic proficiency without a degree, learners pursuing the Waterloo diploma or equivalent continuing education courses typically reach intermediate proficiency in one to two years of consistent study.
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