York University

What York University does

York University is a public research-intensive university founded in 1959 in Toronto, Ontario, and is one of Canada's largest comprehensive universities by enrolment and footprint. It operates across three campuses in the Greater Toronto Area — Keele (the main campus), Glendon (a bilingual English-French campus), and Markham — and is organized into 11 faculties including Lassonde School of Engineering, Schulich School of Business, Osgoode Hall Law School, Glendon College, the Faculty of Health, and the School of Continuing Studies. A new School of Medicine is scheduled to open in 2028 in Vaughan. The university serves a large and diverse student body that includes over 10,000 international students, with programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and continuing education pathways.

The university operates specialized research infrastructure including the Climate Data-Driven Design (CD3) facility with full-scale industrial 3D concrete printing capability, and runs an innovation ecosystem anchored by YSpace, which delivers accelerator programs in agrifood, technology, and entrepreneurship. Documented research and product launches span psoriatic arthritis (PsA CARE Hub), CO2 capture, wildfire mitigation, dementia risk prediction, and BioSoC DNA basecalling, alongside new professional programs in Digital Construction Management and Sustainable Energy Systems. Other operational technologies include the GoodMaps LiDAR-based indoor navigation app at Glendon (launched with CNIB Foundation in 20+ languages), the eClass learning management system, Passport York authentication, and MyCreds digital micro-credentialing.

York's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a publicly funded Canadian university: tuition and academic fees from domestic and international students, recurring provincial (Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities) and federal operating grants, federal research grants from tri-council agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), municipal and regional contributions (notably C$25M from York Region for the School of Medicine), philanthropic gifts (e.g., C$4M from Krembil Foundation), and professional services revenue from accelerators and continuing studies. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer student recruitment via yorku.ca and futurestudents.yorku.ca, sales-led recruitment via advisors and international offices, channel partnerships (e.g., Chitkara University 2+2 pathway), and inbound industry partnerships through research services and YSpace. Primary customer segments are domestic undergraduate students, graduate students, international students, continuing-education professionals, and healthcare-sector partners for the forthcoming medical school.

Name

York University

Legal name

York University

Website

https://yorku.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

York University is a public research-intensive university in Toronto, Canada, operating three GTA campuses across 11 faculties and serving domestic and international undergraduate, graduate, and continuing-education students, with major expansion underway into medical education via a 2028 School of Medicine launch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban/Metropolitan Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAH), Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• University research
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Primary revenue stream from domestic and international student tuition across undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. International students represent over 10,000 of the student body.
2. Government Funding: Provincial and federal government grants for research, operations, and specific initiatives including Canada Research Chairs and infrastructure investments.
3. Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from federal agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), provincial ministries, and industry partners for specific research projects and facilities.
4. Municipal and Regional Contributions: York Region contributing $25 million to support the new School of Medicine infrastructure and program development.
5. Philanthropic Donations: Major gifts from foundations and donors including Krembil Foundation's nearly $4 million gift for psoriatic arthritis research hub.
6. Accelerator and Innovation Services: YSpace accelerator programs providing commercialization support, mentorship, and access to networks for startups, funded through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriDiversity Program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

York University delivers post-secondary education through undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies programs across 11 faculties at three Greater Toronto Area campuses. The university also conducts funded research, supports startup commercialization through the YSpace innovation hub and accelerator programs, and partners with industry and government on research initiatives and workforce upskilling. Revenue derives primarily from tuition, provincial and federal government funding, research grants, philanthropic donations, and accelerator services.

Product overview

York University is a comprehensive research university offering educational programs across multiple faculties. Its product portfolio consists primarily of academic programs and research initiatives rather than commercial technology products. Key offerings include YSpace innovation hubs and accelerators supporting startups, educational programs like the new Digital Construction Management and Sustainable Energy Systems master's degrees, research hubs such as the PsA CARE Hub for psoriatic arthritis, accessibility tools like GoodMaps indoor navigation, and micro-credential platforms through MyCreds partnerships. The university's technology offerings focus on research applications including DNA sequencing optimization, cognitive health analysis, and astronomical data processing rather than commercial product lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Digital Construction Management
• Master of Engineering in Sustainable Energy Systems First professional master's degree at the Lassonde School of Engineering; 12-month course-based program preparing graduates for energy sector leadership roles.
• Actuarial Science Bachelor of Arts Program York University's Actuarial Science BA program, fully accredited by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, making students eligible for the ACIA Capstone examination toward professional actuary credentials.
• YSpace Agrifood Business Accelerator York University's agrifood business accelerator supporting diverse food and beverage startups with commercialization support, mentorship, customer discovery, and global market expansion, funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
• YSpace Tech Accelerator York's technology startup accelerator supporting commercialization, fundraising readiness, customer discovery, and IP strategy for early-stage companies.
• PsA CARE Hub Psoriatic Arthritis Collaborative and Applied Research Excellence Hub dedicated to advancing understanding of psoriatic arthritis, supporting early career researchers, and developing innovative health solutions.
• CO2 Capture Technology Research Program Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) research and development program funded by the Government of Canada to advance CO2 capture technology.
• Wildfire Mitigation Research Program Research program evaluating wildfire mitigation efforts, identifying barriers local governments face, and developing strategies for scaling wildfire prevention measures.
• GoodMaps Indoor Navigation App Free smartphone app providing LiDAR-based indoor navigation across Glendon Campus with accessibility features for users with vision, hearing, and mobility limitations, available in 20+ languages.
• MyCreds Micro-Credential Pilot First-in-Canada micro-credential pilot recognizing professional expertise in Graduate Program Assistants operations, faculty supervisory skills, and graduate student mental health training through MyCreds digital credential infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most cohort participants on track to double revenues and sales velocity within a year through YSpace accelerator programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNIB FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2026Partnership enabled launch of GoodMaps indoor navigation app at Glendon Campus using LiDAR-based technology to improve accessibility for people with vision, hearing, and mobility challenges. App available in 20+ languages.
• Mississaugas of the Credit First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Memorandum of Understanding affirming commitment to building respectful, collaborative relationship through shared initiatives in education, research and community engagement on traditional territory where Keele Campus is located.
• YSpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork University's entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startup commercialization, fundraising readiness, customer discovery, and IP strategy. Programs include agrifood business accelerator (funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and tech accelerator. Supported 14 diverse startups in 2024 cohort with most on track to double revenues.
• GoodMapscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing LiDAR-based indoor navigation solution for Glendon Campus, enabling step-free routes, accessibility guidance, and real-time map updates in 20+ languages.
• Keep@DownsviewcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork University Libraries participating as 'Share Only Partner' in shared print repository partnership with University of Toronto, McMaster, University of Ottawa, Queen's, Western, and Memorial Universities. Supports preservation of low-use print collections.
• Aretek (formerly Printerra)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year research partnership with Markham-based construction startup developing 3D-printed concrete. York researchers at CD3 facility provided materials testing, performance monitoring, and regulatory support leading to approval for three-storey building at University of Windsor.
• Chitkara UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoU for 2+2 Computer Science pathway enabling Indian students to begin studies at Chitkara and transfer to York for final two years, reducing costs while providing exposure to Canadian academic standards.
• Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with YSpace for Co-Founder Connect event at Toronto Tech Week, addressing structural barriers to Black-led startups which received only 0.15% of Canadian VC funding in 2025.
• ECO CanadaminorOthersIndustry data provider cited for projected demand of over 171,000 energy-related environmental hires by 2033, informing development of new Master of Engineering in Sustainable Energy Systems program.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Toronto: Canada's largest research university and York's primary GTA peer, sharing Toronto-area student recruitment, tri-council research funding competition, and comparable comprehensive graduate/professional school portfolio. St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough campuses provide similar multi-campus GTA footprint.
• Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University): Downtown Toronto public university with a comparable career-oriented, comprehensive profile and significant international student population. Direct competitor for GTA-based domestic and international undergraduate applicants across many of the same faculties.
• McMaster University: Ontario public research university with strong health sciences, engineering, and business programs. Comparable scale, research-intensity, and tri-council funding profile; competes directly with York for Ontario applicants and graduate students.
• University of Waterloo: Ontario public research university with a leading co-op/experiential learning model and STEM emphasis that overlaps with York's Lassonde School of Engineering. Competes for engineering, computer science, and co-op students across Ontario and internationally.
• Western University (University of Western Ontario): Ontario comprehensive public research university with comparable full-service undergraduate and graduate portfolio including business, law, and engineering schools. Direct competitor in Maclean's medical-doctoral category and for Ontario-wide student recruitment.
• Queen's University: Ontario public research university with strong undergraduate focus and professional schools (Smith School of Business, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Health Sciences). Competes with York for high-quality Ontario applicants and professional school enrollment.
• Carleton University: Ottawa-based Ontario public comprehensive university with comparable size, program breadth (business, engineering, arts, science), and research profile. Competes with York for Ontario applicants and shares a similar public-comprehensive positioning.
• Wilfrid Laurier University: Ontario public university with a strong co-op business school (overlapping with York's Schulich) and growing science/engineering programs. Direct competitor for Ontario undergraduates, particularly in business and social sciences.

Broad incumbents

• University of British Columbia: Canada's largest research-intensive university with comprehensive professional schools and large international student body. Comparable to York in scale and program breadth, and competes for international student market share and tri-council research funding.
• McGill University: Canada's other flagship comprehensive research university with strong professional schools and large international enrollment. Comparable to York as a high-research, comprehensive institution competing for global student and faculty talent (explicitly referenced as McCall MacBain Scholarships administrator).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yorkuniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@YorkUniversityOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/yorkuniversityhome
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/york-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/yorkuniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@yorkuniversity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about York University