University Laval

About Laval University

Laval University (French: Université Laval) is a French-language public research university in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The University was founded by royal charter issued by Queen Victoria in 1852, with roots in the founding of the Séminaire de Québec in 1663 by François de Montmorency-Laval, making it the oldest centre of higher education in Canada and the first North American institution to offer higher education in French. The university is ranked among the top ten Canadian universities in terms of research funding.

The first institution of higher learning in America, open to the world and imbued with a culture of high standards, Université Laval contributes to the development of society by educating qualified and responsible individuals who become agents of change and by seeking and sharing knowledge in a stimulating environment of research and creation.

• Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences

  The Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences offers seven bachelor’s programs, six of which are the only French-language programs of their kind in North America. These include bachelor’s degrees in agronomy, agri-food economics and management, agroenvironmental engineering, food engineering, consumer sciences, and food technology, as well as nutrition.

  Graduates who wish to continue their studies can choose from nearly 20 master’s and PhD programs. With its Institute and 25 research centres, chairs, and groups, the Faculty is on the cutting edge of its fields. Its research projects and activities touch every aspect of the bio-food chain, from production and industrial processing to marketing and final consumption. The Faculty’s distinguished professors and ties with the agricultural, nutrition, and consumer sectors ensure a bright future for students.

  Faculty students receive an education that balances the scientific process, professional work, and human contact. The Faculty is well-known for its exciting student life: students can get involved in some 30 associations, clubs, and committees. Activities include the fully student-organized Semaine de l’agriculture, de l’alimentation et de la consommation (Agriculture, Food Sciences and Consumer Science Week), the largest event of its kind in Québec.

  The Faculty is very active internationally and hosts many foreign students. In return, it offers undergraduate and graduate students international internship opportunities through 35 cooperation agreements with schools and universities in countries including France, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Sweden, to name a few.

  Faculty graduates can look forward to some 200 potential careers and an excellent job placement rate ranging from 87.5% to 100% depending on the program. The farming and agri-food industry is among the largest in the province, employing one of every eight workers!

• Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences

  The Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences is known for its professors’ unwavering focus on French influences in North America and their extensive knowledge of this field, so vital to the dissemination of French and Québec culture.

  Faculty departments explore language, culture, and memory in all their dimensions, including archaeology, archival management, film, communication, ethnology, classical studies, history, art history, linguistics, literature, theatre, translation, journalism, museology, and public relations.

  Highly active in the Francophonie, the Faculty is resolutely global in its outlook and has incorporated the international profile into many of its programs. It also offers a bachelor’s degree in international studies and modern languages, as well as a graduate degree in international journalism. In addition, the Faculty hosts the vibrant School of Languages, where 11 languages are taught in addition to French.

  The Faculty’s thirty-odd research centres, chairs, and institutes, as well as the solid expertise of its professors attract numerous master’s and doctoral students.

• Faculty of Business Administration

  Université Laval’s Faculty of Business Administration (FSA Laval) is part of an elite international group of approximately 80 business schools—out of a world total of 12,000—accredited by both AACSB International and EQUIS. FSA Laval is home to 4,300 students, including 700 foreign students, and over 100 professors and lecturers.
  The faculty was founded in 1924, and now boasts 35,000 proud alumni in Canada and beyond. It is known for flexibility in every area, from scheduling to learning methods and to language of teaching.
  We also offer students a generous scholarship and financial aid program, state-of-the-art facilities, and the opportunity to gain valuable international work experience.

• Faculty of Dentistry

  The Faculty of Dentistry offers state-of-the-art theoretical and practical training for future dentists in an exceptional environment.

  Its four-year doctoral program in dentistry focuses extensively on the biomedical sciences essential to managing overall patient dental health and emphasizes practical training in modern clinics during internships.

  The Faculty also offers highly reputed specialty programs in oral and maxillofacial surgery, gerodontics, and periodontics, as well as complementary training in multidisciplinary dentistry. The master’s program also provides a solid foundation in clinical and basic and applied research.

  Faculty research activities cover many dental health issues, involve researchers from a number of disciplines and research centres, and receive substantial support from the internationally renowned Centre of excellence in dental ecology and biology. The Faculty also collaborates with specialists in Canada, the United States, South America, Europe, and Japan.

• Faculty of Education

  Université Laval’s Faculty of Education is one of the largest in Canada and the French-speaking world. In addition to awarding quality undergraduate and graduate diplomas, it boasts qualified professors in the main fields of education research.

  The Faculty provides teacher training at all levels, from preschool to college. Its programs cover all aspects of education, including remedial instruction, educational psychology, didactics, school management, measurement and evaluation, guidance counselling, and educational technology.

  The Faculty’s internship and practicum program – the only one of its kind in Québec – draws on a network of associated schools including 173 elementary and 55 high schools and an adult education centre serving the Capitale-Nationale–Chaudière-Appalaches region. This network reflects a tremendous level of cooperation among partners in the education community. On completing their studies, future elementary and high school teachers could not be better prepared, with a total of 700 classroom hours under their belt.

  The Faculty has adopted an international approach in recent years to help students broaden their vision of education and their teaching practice. Students in some programs now have the option of choosing the international profile or an international and intercultural internship

• Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics

  The Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics has trained thousands of forest engineers, engineers, land surveyors, and geographers who have shaped today’s society. Most occupy high ranking positions in Canada and abroad.

  The Faculty’s teaching and research mission dates back to the beginning of the last century. Today, it is the only school in Québec offering graduate and undergraduate training in forestry and geomatics. Not only does it enjoy an excellent reputation, it has the dual advantage of being a small faculty with a personal feel in a large university.

  Faculty graduates have many opportunities to contribute to the economic, social, and cultural development of our society, where the forest industry has long played a key role. Geomatics is an emerging science that is becoming essential to many areas of land use planning. Lastly, geography provides a multidisciplinary approach to environmental and human issues.

  The Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics is the largest in Canada, with research centres and networks covering many fields, from knowledge of the land and the social aspects of land use to the use of its resources (wood, non-wood, wildlife, etc.). Its many research groups include the Forest Biology Research Centre, the Wood Research Centre, the Geomatics Research Centre, the Centre for Northern Studies, the Hydrometeorology and Precision Agriculture Research Centre, the Carbon Flux Network (Fluxnet), and the Intensive Silviculture Network.

  The Faculty also boasts its own 6,600 hectare teaching and research forest: Montmorency Forest. A vast open-air lab for professors and students, it also serves as a meteorological station.

• Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

  The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has overall responsibility for graduate and post graduate studies. In close cooperation with the 17 other faculties, it supervises the quality of student supervision and oversees the evaluation of student research. Together with the program management teams, it also determines eligibility for University degrees and diplomas. In addition, it provides strategic intelligence on graduate programs and research training.

  The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Fellowship is an interfaculty and interdisciplinary forum for observation, discussion and leadership.

• Faculty of Law

  With its topnotch training and diverse fields of study, the Faculty of Law ranks as one of the best in Canada. In addition to a bachelor’s degree and certificate, it offers research-based master’s programs as well as professional master’s programs in notarial, business, international and transnational, environmental, sustainable development, and food safety law.

  Globalization has spurred the Faculty to create a research group on the international and transnational legal aspects of economic integration. A partner of the Institut québécois des hautes études internationales, the Faculty participates in the master’s program in international studies. It is also home to a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Law that provides students and researchers in a number of disciplines with an opportunity to explore the international legal implications of environmental and sustainable development issues.

  Law students have access to an impressive collection of legal texts that occupy an entire floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. The can call on specialized librarians for assistance and use the main legal databases.

• Faculty of Medicine

  Laval University's Faculty of Medicine is a unique interprofessional environment of 15 departments that supply academic programs, extensive network of training and research and passionate and dedicated staff.

• Faculty of Music

  Reflecting students’ diverse aspirations and tastes, the Faculty of Music offers programs in music education, musicology, as well as classical, jazz, and pop composition and interpretation.

  In a stimulating atmosphere, professors train topnotch musicians and educators who will contribute to society’s cultural and social development.

  A dynamic environment abuzz with all sorts of activities, the Faculty gives its students many opportunities to experience an artist’s life. Students gain performance experience with large and small ensembles (orchestra, concert band, vocal arts, stage band, etc.) and productions by the opera workshop. The Faculty also provides facilities in keeping with their ambitions, including two large concert halls, chamber music studios, a recording studio, and a computer music lab.

• Faculty of Nursing

  At the Faculty of Nursing, students acquire the knowledge, abilities, and attitudes they need to provide care to individuals and families experiencing health problems.

  Faculty programs emphasize all aspects of health: physical, mental, social, and environmental. This approach enables students to adapt their caregiving to the different clienteles they advise and treat. Other components include quality of care and service, ethics, leadership, and research. In addition to the regular curriculum, the Faculty has developed an undergraduate and graduate community health program, as well as a number of continuing education activities. Community institutions and hospitals greatly appreciate Laval students’ skills and their ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

  With an international outlook, the Faculty strongly encourages its students to take advantage of foreign study and cultural immersion opportunities during their program. Thanks to the ties it has forged with institutions in a number of countries, students can opt for the international profile or an international and intercultural internship.

• School of Pharmacy

  The School of Pharmacy was founded in 1924 and officially became a faculty of the university in 1997. The Faculty now offers ten graduate and undergraduate programs. In September 2011, the Faculty of Pharmacy began offering a four-year professional degree designed to develop the competencies needed to work as a pharmacist.

  Université Laval also offers a Master’s of Hospital Pharmacy, a Graduate Diploma in Community Pharmacy, and various short programs designed for practicing pharmacists as well as research-focused master’s and Ph.D. programs in such areas as pharmacogenetics, pharmacokinetics, molecular pharmacology, and pharmaco-epidemiology.
  The Faculty of Pharmacy gives students the opportunity to study abroad through the international student mobility program.

• Faculty of Philosophy

  With an interest in the fundamental questions facing humanity, the Faculty of Philosophy actively embraces all fields of basic philosophical inquiry. Its programs explore these questions from the point of view of leading figures and theoretical trends of our times and encourage ongoing dialog with the great authors and founding texts of the philosophical tradition, as well as contemporary philosophy.

  The Faculty’s skilled professors draw on a strong commitment to intellectual rigor to train philosophers who stand out for their analytical, critical, and conceptual skills, as well as their writing and speaking abilities. For this reason, private and public sector employers are increasingly calling on their talent.

  With a resolutely global outlook, the Faculty of Philosophy regularly hosts well-known professors and organizes conferences and international symposiums. Students benefit from these ties to foreign universities, particularly through the international profile.

• Faculty of Planning, Architecture, Arts and Design

  The Faculty of Planning, Architecture, Arts and Design comprises four schools combining a variety of disciplines that explore the way people perceive, build, and take possession of space. It is also home to the Planning and Development Research Centre (CRAD).

• Faculty of Science and Engineering

  The Faculty of Science and Engineering provides one of the most stimulating multidisciplinary environments in North America with its combination of pure science, applied science, and engineering. Its solid undergraduate programs are guided by labour market needs and adapted to the challenges facing our society which is why every program features mandatory or optional paid internships. Our relationships with industry leaders allows us to offer internships with some of the biggest companies from Québec and beyond.
  Graduate students have the opportunity to work in a highly stimulating environment. In addition to enjoying a wide selection of research areas, students can take advantage of the Faculty’s state-of-the-art facilities and join one of many research groups.
  And need we add that the student life in this Faculty is among the most exciting on campus? Numerous projects with a direct link to faculty programs give students an opportunity to round out their knowledge and take part in major competitions, including designing a Formula SAE Racecar, a concrete canoe, and a single-passenger ultra fuel-efficient vehicle (Alérion Supermileage). Students also host their own festival which they vie to find the most creative solutions to bold challenges.
  Studying in the Faculty of Science and Engineering means choosing an education focused on advancing the state of knowledge and preparing to help build the world of tomorrow.

• Faculty of Social Sciences

  The exciting and varied subjects taught in the Faculty of Social Sciences lead to analysis and understanding of human phenomena in all their complexity and diversity. In addition to its regular programs, the Faculty has added the innovative, interdisciplinary twist to certain programs, with options like a bachelor’s degree in economics and politics. Over the years, it has also developed its own specialties in areas like Native studies, gambling prevention and treatment, globalization and labour, and energy, environmental, and natural resource economics.

  The Faculty's 200 professors provide high quality instruction and ongoing supervision and guidance to some 4,000 students. Apart from solid intellectual development, students benefit from hands-on training, generally through internships. They are also strongly encouraged to spend time studying abroad, for example by adding the international profile to their academic program.

  Thirteen research centres and groups, as well as 10 research Chairs make the Faculty of Social Sciences a highly active setting ideal for understanding contemporary social issues. Student life is highly stimulating, thanks to the various student associations and groups. By the very nature of their field of study, students in the Faculty of Social Sciences are often involved in community initiatives and able to make a valuable contribution to societal debates.

• Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies

  The Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies provides a first-rate education in an intellectually stimulating environment. Rooted in the Christian tradition, it soon grew to encompass today’s varied religious currents.

  The Faculty offers undergraduate and graduate programs in theology and religious studies. Its students are introduced to the source texts of different religious traditions, their interpretation and their impact on culture and society. This creates an environment conducive to questioning of the current status of religions and their development, ethical issues, the range of spiritual experience, and more.

  The Faculty is among the most active in Canada with respect to research. Its influence extends well beyond Québec’s borders in fields including the history of ancient and contemporary Christianity, reflective theology, and practical theology. The Faculty journal Laval théologique et philosophique has enjoyed a worldwide reputation for over 60 years.

• Institute for Advanced International Studies

  Institute for Advanced International Studies (HEI) is a multidisciplinary centre for research and graduate studies and a key driver of international excellence at Université Laval.
  HEI’s mission is to contribute to the advancement of knowledge on international affairs through a multidisciplinary approach and help train the experts who will effect change on the major issues facing the world.
  HEI brings together researchers, professors, and students from a host of disciplines to participate in academic programs (master’s and Ph.D.) research (ten research groups), scholarly publications, and events. Some fifty activities are held every year reflecting different facets of international affairs, and HEI also publishes a leading scholarly journal, Études internationales. It is well known for its international summer school, dynamic student life, and vast network of alumni.

History of Laval University

The university began as the Séminaire de Québec, which was founded in 1663 by François de Montmorency-Laval, a member of the House of Laval and the first Bishop of New France.

During the French regime, the institution's role was to train priests for the towns of New France. After the Conquest of 1760, the British decided to expand training offered to liberal arts professions. At a time when French Canadians did not have access to higher education, Bishop Bourget of Montreal suggested expanding the Séminaire de Québec into the establishment of Université Laval. The Principal, M. Louis Casault, visited Europe to obtain a Royal charter, and studied the best university systems.

The Séminaire de Québec was granted a Royal Charter on December 8, 1852, by Queen Victoria, at the insistence of Lord Elgin, then governor-general, creating Université Laval with 'the rights and privileges of a university'. The charter was signed in 1852. Pope Benedict XV approved the scheme, and authorized the erection of chairs of theology and the conferring of degrees.

In 1878, the university opened a second campus in Montreal, which later became theUniversité de Montréal on May 8, 1919, by a writ of Pope Benedict XV. In 1971, a second charter vesting supreme authority in the Université Laval council was proclaimed.

Laval, a waltz by French-Canadian ragtime composer Wilfrid Beaudry, was dedicated to the students at Laval University and the University of Montreal. The music for piano was published in Québec by J. Beaudry, circa 1906.

Starting in 1925, the university moved out from Old Quebec because of the lack of space and the impossibility of erecting new buildings in this crowded part of the town. It settled in the then rural outskirt of Sainte-Foy, just west of the city center. The school of architecture returned to this heritage building (now affectionately referred to as Le Vieux Séminaire) in 1989.

The governance structure at Laval incorporates the powers of board and senate. The governance was modelled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906 which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate (faculty), responsible for academic policy, and a board of governors (citizens) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, was to provide a link between the 2 bodies and to perform institutional leadership.

In the early part of the 20th century, professional education expanded beyond the traditional fields of theology, law and medicine. Graduate training based on the German-inspired American model of specialized course work and the completion of a research thesis was introduced.

The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s responded to population pressure and the belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals and for society.

The establishment of Laval University by Royal Charter in 1852 was designated a National Historic Event in 1972 and plaqued in 1975.

Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation or Recognition - Ministre de l'Éducation, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, Québec

Year of first Accreditation - 1852

Rankings

• 201–300 - Academic Ranking of World Universities World
• 101-150 - Academic Ranking of World Universities Life Sciences
• 151–200 - Academic Ranking of World Universities Clinical Medicine
• 324 - QS World
• 201-250 - Times World
• 13 - Maclean's Medical/Doctoral
• 15 - QS National
• 8-13 - Times National

Student life at Laval University

A lively social and cultural scene for developing your talents

• Student radio (including CHYZ 94,3 FM)
• Several newspapers to keep you in touch with the university community (including Impact Campus)
• Performing arts competitions to reveal hidden talents
• A university improv group in search of new stars
• The theatre company Les Treize, a favourite for over 60 years
• The contemporary dance company Gestuel
• The Optica Photo Club, a gathering place for camera buffs for 50 years

Concerts, Shows and Exhibitions

• Resident string quartet
• Jazz ensemble
• Live concerts: piano, guitar, saxophone, song, etc.
• Exhibitions
• Fashion shows
• Student shows: music, theatre, variety, etc.

Intercollegiate Competitions

Several faculties participate in intercollegiate competitions that showcase their most talented students!

• MBA Games - Administration
• United Nations simulation – Human Sciences
• Arab League simulation – International studies, Law, Economics
• And more

International Development and Humanitarian Action

Join with other student members of these groups dedicated to providing assistance, exchanging expertise with developing countries, and promoting awareness of world issues. It's a great opportunity to put your new theoretical knowledge into practice while actively participating in humanitarian development.

• Lawyers Without Borders
• Engineers Without Borders
• Managers Without Borders

Why Choose UL?

First Rate Teaching, Top Notch Research

Thanks to its dynamic personnel, Université Laval has built an international reputation in many top fields. And our talented professors understand that the secret to student satisfaction lies in staying available and attentive to student needs. Students come here to build their future: Université Laval works hard to help them succeed!

Five Great Profiles and the Opportunity for Hands-on Learning

Most of our undergraduate programs include compulsory or optional internships. And you can choose from UL's five study profiles— International, Entrepreneurial, Sustainable development, Honours and Research— adding value to your degree and helping you make your mark in the world.

Distance learning courses and programs

With more than 70 online programs and 700 online courses you can study at Université Laval from anywhere in Quebec, in Canada or in the world. Enjoy the same quality of education and do your exams in a location near you. With distance learning, it’s so easy to manage your studies, work and personal life. Wherever you are, Université Laval is within your reach.

International Mobility

UL is recognized for its internships and study visits abroad, and offers language classes to help students get ready—a real plus for anyone who wants to gain valuable international experience as part of their education.

Unique French immersion

Located in Québec City, UL will immerse you in the ideal setting for you to improve your mastery of French and gain an additional asset to set you apart as you enter the job market.

A Vibrant Student Life

Possibilities for activities are almost endless: join a group that shares your interests, develop your artistic side, experience something new and different, or just have some fun. Discover student life at UL.

Financial Support

Students at Université Laval are fortunate to enjoy access to a wide array of funding sources to help them during their studies, includingscholarships and financial assistance, paid internships, mobility and employment programs, and more.

An Impressive Sports Complex and Rouge et Or Athletics

PEPS, the university sports complex, is the ideal place for athletes of all stripes. It's also where all 15 of Laval's elite-level Rouge et Or teams tirelessly train.

A Full Range of Services

The university makes every effort to make student like as easy as possible with campus services ranging from a medical clinic to a travel agency, and everything in between.

A Commitment to Sustainable Development

As a certified sustainable campus, Université Laval encourages a range of sustainable development initiatives. We also offer basic training in sustainable development to help all students become responsible, involved citizens.

A Beautiful Campus and Facilities

The Université Laval campus is an oasis of green in beautiful Québec City, with tree-lined walkways, wooded areas, playing fields, and even a garden. Our campus buildings reflect the latest technological developments, forward-thinking design, and the changing needs of our students.