Université Laval

Founded 1663 | Quebec City, QC

Université Laval—famous for its successful Rouge et Or football team—is a large, research-intensive institution in Quebec City. It hosts four Canada Excellence Research Chairs—in optics and photonics, Arctic climate change, cardiometabolic health and neurophotonics—as well as the Centre for Northern Studies. Laval’s law school and faculty of social sciences have produced some of Canada’s leading politicians, including former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Jean Chrétien, as well as former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard.

Entrepreneuriat Laval, a business incubator that helps students create personalized business plans, has contributed to the creation of more than 1,000 companies and raised more than $22 million in funding in the past five years. “At Université Laval, we redefine what it means to be a student and what it represents beyond graduation,” says rector Sophie D’Amours. “Our approach is centred around pedagogical innovation, supported and strengthened by an active and engaged community.”

The student body has approximately 8,000 international students from 120 countries, as well as non-francophones polishing their French-language skills at the École des langues vivantes. The university hosts around 220 student associations. Most of Laval’s nearly 40 buildings are connected by underground walkways—handy during winter—and eight kilometres of cycling lanes. Off-campus, students will find Quebec City is one of the most culturally rich spots in Canada. The town is known for its vibrant Winter Carnival and the historic Plains of Abraham.

Standout Programs

• Sustainable Land Development: Students learn to design strategies that consider fundamental aspects of land use planning and the needs of local communities.

• Quantitative Finance: While learning to use financial software and risk-management tools, students gain a comprehensive set of skills in disciplines including accounting, management and policy.

• Gender, Feminism and Society: This certificate program integrates history, sociology and gender studies while bridging the gap between theory and practice through community-focused placements.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$4,192 ($9,972 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: R score 21-30 · Science: R score 20-35 · Commerce: R score 24 · Engineering: R score 20-30

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 21,542 · Part-time: 11,104

Graduates: Full-time: 7,794 · Part-time: 4,346

International Students: First-year: 5.6% · Graduate: 34.7%

Male-Female Ratio: 40 to 60

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 1,520 (660 reserved for first-year students)

Residence Costs: Single room: $2,984

Cool Courses

• Contemporary Aboriginal Issues: This course spotlights the major issues affecting Indigenous communities today.

• Advanced Techniques in Artificial Intelligence: Explore AI innovation through research-based problem-solving.

Student Life on Campus

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