For the third year in a row, the University of Guelph received top marks among Canadian universities for its living and learning environment for international students, says a new survey.

U of G ranked No. 1 for overall learning, living and student support, and had the highest overall average in the 2013 International Student Barometer.

Conducted by the International Graduate Insight Group, it’s the largest annual survey of international university students in the world. The survey included numerous questions in four categories: learning, living, support and arrival. Schools were ranked “overall” in each category and in various subcategories for an average category score.

“I think it’s a credit to everyone at Guelph that we’re No. 1 for the third year in a row,” says Lynne Mitchell, director of the Centre for International Programs. “It reflects the commitment and hard work of the staff in our office and in the Office of Intercultural Affairs.”

The survey included more than 143,952 international students from 178 institutions in 13 countries, including six Canadian universities. About 425 of the international students who participated in the survey were from U of G, representing all seven colleges and levels of study. Guelph currently has 1,049 international students.

The survey was funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.