Université de Montréal looms large on the mountain, and its influence on Quebec society can be seen in its impressive list of graduates. Filmmakers Denys Arcand and Jean-Marc Vallée and former prime minister Pierre Trudeau strode its halls, as did 12 premiers of Quebec who all graduated from U de M or one of its affiliated schools. “U de M helps students surpass and transform themselves, as well as the world around them,” says rector Daniel Jutras.

The university gained international recognition for its work on the science and ethics of artificial intelligence, led largely by professor Yoshua Bengio and his team at the machine-learning laboratory MILA. U de M offers more health-science disciplines than any other Canadian university, training optometrists, audiologists, veterinarians, pharmacists and physiotherapists. U de M is home to a school of public health and has reputable business and engineering schools, HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal.

The campus architecture is a mix of art deco buildings, windowless concrete monoliths from the 1970s and the slick glass-and-steel structures of recent years. The yellow-brick Pavillon Roger-Gaudry towers above campus, providing a landmark for students. The six-storey Science Complex on the new MIL campus is home to the chemistry, physics, geography and biological sciences departments. It features 190 research laboratories and an ultra-modern library. U de M’s Laval campus, accessible by the metro, offers bachelor, graduate and certificate programs.