U of T is Canada's only top 20 entry in world university rankings

Canadian universities are slipping in a global ranking based on learning environment, research, innovation and other performance indicators.

Eight Canadian universities made the top 200 in the Times Higher Education ranking, and of those, only one — the University of Toronto — held its position at number 20.

Another, the University of Victoria, jumped into the top 200 at number 173.

The organization uses 13 criteria to evaluate and rank eligible universities.

Schools are excluded if they don't teach undergraduates, have too narrow a focus or if their research output was less than 1,000 articles between 2009 and 2013.

While American universities still dominate the list, they are also losing ground as Asia's leading universities continue their steady climb.

The other Canadian universities to crack the top 200 are the University of British Columbia (32), McGill (39), McMaster (94), the University of Montreal (113), the University of Alberta (124) and the University of Ottawa (188).