The Université du Québec à Chicoutimi sits in the heart of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region—a huge area of majestic lakes and forests. There are satellite campuses in Alma, Saint-Félicien, La Malbaie and Sept-Îles. UQAC has research centres in mineral resources, aluminum, sustainable health and boreal forests, as well as an ice-research facility. The school of digital arts, animation and design (NAD-UQAC) is located in Montreal. A business centre (CEE-UQAC) fosters the creation of companies and is home to a technology centre that supports, among other things, innovative projects in the field of video game design and information technology.

A program in natural product chemistry focuses on the study of plant-based products for therapeutic and cosmeceutical use. A degree in adventure and outdoor guiding trains students in areas including eco-tourism, leadership and outdoor safety. UQAC oversees the BALSAC project, a population database for Quebec dating back to the early 17th century.