University of Montreal

Montreal, Canada
Website: www.umontreal.ca Founded: 1878 year Type of University:Public StudyQA ranking: 4377 pts. No. Students: 67000 Frgn. Students: 9000 No. Staff: 2650 Languages: English Phone: +15143437076 Fax: +15143435788
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Université de Montréal Residences (Montreal, Canada)
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About the Université de Montréal

The Université de Montréal is a public research university in Montreal,Quebec, Canada. The francophone institution comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique (School of Engineering) and HEC Montréal (School of Business). It offers more than 650 undergraduate programmes and graduate programmes, including 71 doctoral programmes. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings of 2014-2015 ranks the Université de Montréal at 113th place globally. The Université de Montréal made it to the 83rd position worldwide according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University rankings for 2014-2015 (undergraduate category).

The university has Quebec's largest sponsored research income and the third largest in Canada, allocating close to $524.1 million to research conducted in more than 150 research centres as of 2011. It is also part of the U15 universities. More than 55,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, making it the second-largest university in Canada in terms of student enrolment

  • Faculty of Arts and Science

  • Faculty of Continuing Education

  • Faculty of Dentistry

  • Faculty of Education

  • Faculty of Environmental Design

  • Faculty of Graduate Studies

  • Faculty of Law

  • Faculty of Medicine

  • Faculty of Music

  • Faculty of Nursing

  • Faculty of Pharmacy

  • Faculty of Theology and Religious Sciences

  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

  • Department of Kinesiology

  • School of Optometry

History of the Université de Montréal

Early years

As an institution, the university was first founded when the Université Laval in Quebec City founded a new branch in Montréal in 1878, which became known as the Université de Laval à Montréal. This initially went against the wishes of Montréal's prelate, who advocated an independent university in his city. Certain parts of the institution's educational facilities, such as those of theSéminaire de Québec and the Faculty of Medicine, founded as the Montreal School of Medicine and Surgery, had already been established in Montréal in 1876 and 1843 respectively. The Vatican granted the university some administrative autonomy in 1889, thus allowing it to choose its own professors and license its own diplomas. However it was not until 8 May 1919 that a papal charter from Pope Benedict XV granted full autonomy to the university. It thus became an independent Catholic university and adopted Université de Montréal as its name. Laval composed by Wilfrid Beaudry was dedicated to the students at Laval University and the Université de Montréal. The music for piano was published in Québec by J. Beaudry, circa 1906.

At the time of its creation, less than a hundred students were admitted to the university's three faculties, which at that time were located in Old Montreal. These were the faculty of theology (located at the Grand séminaire de Montréal), the faculty of law (hosted by the Society of Saint-Sulpice) and the faculty of medicine (at the Château Ramezay).

Graduate training based on German-inspired American models of specialized course work and completion of a research thesis was introduced and adopted. Most of Québec'ssecondary education establishments employed classic course methods of varying quality. This forced the university to open a preparatory school in 1887 to harmonize the education level of its students. Named the "Faculty of Arts", this school would remain in use until 1972 and was the predecessor of Québec's current CEGEP system. 

Founding by provincial charter

Although a branch of Laval University was planned as Montreal's first French-language university, it was not until 14 February 1920, that the first provincial charter founding the university was passed. The second provincial charter was passed in 1950. The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s (following the Quiet Revolution) was a response to popular pressure and the belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals as well as society.The third provincial charter, which was passed in 1967, defined the Université de Montréal as a public institution, dedicated to higher learning and research, in the administration of which students and teachers would have the right to participate.

Campus relocation

From 1876 to 1895, most university classes took place in the Grand séminaire de Montréal. From 1895 to 1942, it was housed in a building at the intersection of Saint-Denis and Sainte-Catherine streets in Montreal's eastern downtown Quartier Latin.

Unlike English-language universities in Montréal, such as McGill University, the university suffered a lack of funding for two major reasons: the relative poverty of the French Canadian population and the complications ensuing from its being managed remotely, from Quebec City. The downtown campus was hit by three different fires between 1919 and 1921, further complicating the university's already precarious finances and forcing it to spend much of its resources on repairing its own infrastructure.

By 1930, enough funds had been accumulated to start the construction of a new campus on the north west slope of Mount Royal, adopting new plans designed by Ernest Cormier. However, the financial crisis of the 1930s virtually suspended all ongoing construction Many speculated that the university would have to sell off its unfinished building projects in order to ensure its own survival. Not until 1939 did the provincial government directly intervene by injecting public funds. Campus construction subsequently resumed and the mountain campus was officially inaugurated on 3 June 1943. The Cote-des-Neiges site includes property expropriated from a residential development along Decelles Avenue, known as Northmount Heights.The university's former downtown facilities would later serve Montreal's second francophone university, the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

Nuclear research

In 1943, the university assisted the Western Allies by providing laboratory accommodations on its campus. Scientists there worked to develop a nuclear reactor, notably by conducting various heavy water experiments. The research was part of the larger Manhattan Project, which aimed to develop the first atomic bomb. Scientists here managed to produce the first atomic battery to work outside of the United States. One of the participating Québécois scientists, Pierre Demers, also discovered a series of radioactive elements issued from Neptunium.

Growth and expansion

Two distinct schools eventually became affiliated to the university. The first was the École Polytechnique, a school of engineering, which was founded in 1873 and became affiliated in 1887. The second was the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, or HEC, which was founded in 1907 and became part of the university in 1915. The first francophone school of architecture in Canada opened in 1907 at the École Polytechnique.

Between 1920 and 1925, seven new faculties were added to the initial three: Philosophy, Literature, Sciences, Veterinary medicine, Dental surgery, Pharmacy and Social sciences.Notably, the Faculty of Social sciences was founded in 1920 by Édouard Montpetit, the first laicto lead a faculty.He thereafter fulfilled the role of secretary-general until 1950.

In 1965, the appointment of the university's first secular rector, Roger Gaudry, paved the way for modernization. The university established the first adult education degree program offered by a French Canadian university in 1968. That year were inaugurated Lionel-Groulx and3200 Jean-Brillant buildings, the former being named after Quebec nationalist Lionel Groulx. The following year, the Louis Collin parking garage -which won a Governor General's medal in architecture in 1970 - was erected.

An important event that marked the university's history was the École Polytechnique massacre. On 6 December 1989, a gunman armed with a rifle entered the École Polytechnique building, killing 14 people, all of whom were women, before taking his own life.

Since 2002, the university has embarked on its largest construction projects since the late 1960s, with five new modern buildings planned for advanced research in pharmacology, engineering, aerospace, cancer studies and biotechnology.

Accreditation and Ranking of the Université de Montréal

1st in Quebec

UdeM and its affiliated schools (HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal) form Quebec's leading pole of higher education.

2nd in Canada

UdeM has the second largest student body in the country.

3rd in Canada

With research revenue exceeding half a billion dollars, UdeM is ranked third among all Canadian universities in terms of research activity and has been number one in Quebec since 2005.

113th in the world

UdeM is number 113 in the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2016) and is the only Canadian Francophone university to make the top 150 in the major international university rankings.

Types of Housing

University residences are reserved for regular full-time students. The number of rooms is very limited and there is no housing for couples (with or without children). For the fall session, the request form and flyer are available around mid February and registration begins on March 1. For the winter session, housing requests are put on a waiting list. Rent for a single room is around $380 a month and you will have to sign a lease. 

Room

A room in a private house is usually furnished. The rent includes heating, hot water, electricity and use of the kitchen. In general, the bathrooms and kitchen are shared with the other occupants. The rent is around $400/$500 a month, depending on the neighbourhood.

Apartment

The number of rooms varies (all rooms count as one, the bathroom counts as 1/2) but apartments always include a private kitchen and bathroom. Generally, apartments only have a stove and refrigerator and are unfurnished. The owner must indicate if heating costs are included in the rent. In addition to essential furniture, you must count on at least $250 for bedding, dishes and kitchen cutlery, which are not provided. Some apartments are furnished but they are generally smaller and relatively expensive.

Average monthly rent for an apartment near the UdeM: 

  • 1 1/2  (furnished or not)    450 $
  • 2 1/2 rooms (unfurnished) 600 $
  • 3 1/2 rooms (unfurnished) 700 $
  • 4 1/2 rooms (unfurnished) 850 $

Some additional charges have to be added to the rent, such as:

• Electricity – varies depending on consumption  - about 40 $ per month;

• Gaz (when applicable) for cooking product - about 25 $ per month;

• Heating - varies depending on consumption - about 100 $ per month during the winter months, from November to April – et 25 $ par mois de mai à octobre);

• Phone – residential line - about 70 $ installation fees. A 200 $ deposit may also be requested, which is refunded when customer departs.

Basic monthly subscription is about 25 $ per month (excluding long distance calls);

• Furniture: if the apartment is unfurnished, count 300 $ to 1 000 $ for the basics

Transportation

Public transport

The Montreal Transport Society – Société de transport de Montréal (STM) operates the metropolis’ subway and bus network, as well as many of the suburbs of the Montreal island. 
All the schedules and routes are available on the STM website (the tool “Tous azimuts”). To know the schedule of the upcoming buses passing, note the stop number closest to you and call 514-AUTOBUS (514 288-6287)

Tickets

The right of passage can be paid for by purchasing an Opus card, rechargeable according to your needs. For example, you may charge a monthly pass, a weekly pass or a series of single passes from the STM.
Students between the ages of 18 to 25, registered full-time can benefit from a reduced monthly fee. You must get the Opus card personalized with a photo. To do so, complete the application form of admission for the Opus card 
Have with you:
-ID card with picture 
-Registration certificate (on-line, on your Centre étudiant)
-Proof of residency in Montreal

Cabs or Taxis 

To take a cab, you may intercept one on the street or call a cab company to ask for a vehicle at a precise address. The fare, fixed by a meeter, is $3.45 at departure and $1.70 per kilometer + $0.63/ minute for any delay. 

Traveling Bus 

The Bus network is operated by various companies that provide daily transport inside Canada, as well as to the United States. The Central bus station – Station centrale d’autobus is the arrival point of most of the buses coming from Quebec, Canada and the USA.
Central bus station- Station centrale d’autobus: 505, blv. de Maisonneuve Est (metro Berri-UQAM)

Food

It is generally more economical to cook at home and bring your lunch to the UdeM than to go to a restaurant. The university cafeterias serve three meals a day for less than regular restaurants. At restaurants, it is good to leave a 10 to 15% tip, since the gratuity is not included.

Health

Health is an inescapable element of your quality of life. Here is information to help you better understand the care and services offered by the Quebecor health system.  General health care in Quebec is available in the following institutions:

  • Universities and cegeps students’ health services
  • Family medicine clinics
  • Community clinics or CLSC (Centre Local de Services Communautaires)
  • Family medicine clinics in hospitals

The services offered there are:

  • Physical exam
  • Diagnostic of health problems
  • Disease and injury treatment
  • Vaccination

Work-study program

This program provides grants to pay the salary of a foreign student working on campus, who doesn't hold a Canadian citizenship nor a permanent resident status. The student is however is responsible for his job search. The grants are paid at the end of the employment period. First come, first serve!

Québec society

Students who wish to become more familiar with Québec are invited to take the course entitled Introduction au Québec (QCF 1050), offered every year in the fall session by the Département d'études québécoises of the Faculté des arts et des sciences. The professors discuss one facet of Quebecer society from their particular field's perspective (history, demographics, political science, literature, art history, etc.). A second course, entitled Culture et société du Québec contemporain (Culture and society in contemporary Québec - QCF 1960), is offered in the summer in collaboration with the Faculté de l'éducation permanente. It is a three-week intensive course held at the end of July and beginning of August. 

Language Courses

Persons wishing to register in a language course (French, English or other) do not have to request a certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) or a Study Permit, if the total duration of the course is less than 6 months. If you intend to take language courses during two academic sessions, then you must apply for a CAQ and a Study Permit, even if the duration of each of the sessions is less than 6 months. All foreign students must subscribe to a health insurance plan offered by the Université de Montréal. No other health insurance policy will be accepted. The health insurance fee is subject to change.  Please note that unlike other programs, you must pay the tuition fees at the time you register for your courses. 

Auditor student

The university offers to students the possibility to follow certain courses as an auditor. The auditor student will not obtain a diploma or degree, but a certificate of achievement can be provided by Le Bureau du Registraire (Relevé de notes). It is mandatory to hold a legal status on Canadian territory during the whole length of the course in order to be authorized for registration (e.g. tourist visa of 6 months with official entrance stamp by the customs, study permit, etc.).

 

All international rankings place UdeM in the first percentile of the world’s best universities. It’s therefore not surprising that every year, Montréal attracts thousands of students from around the globe.

Studying at UdeM gives you the chance to experience Montréal, one of the world’s top ten university cities. This bilingual and multiethnic metropolis is known for its cultural diversity that combines North American innovation with irresistible European charm.

UdeM also offers world-class education in all fields of study and places great emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches. Here, you have everything you need for an enriching international experience that will open you to new horizons.

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