Université du Québec à Chicoutimi brand identity

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Saguenay, Canada Founded 1969 World Rank #2047

Updated Sep 2026

Overview

Local Name: University of Québec at Chicoutimi
Acronyms: UQAC
Founded: 1969
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
World Rank: #2047
Rank in Canada: #35
Motto: Libre de voir plus loin
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi brand identity

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) is a French-language public university founded in 1969 in Chicoutimi, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, and part of the Université du Québec network, which UQAC describes as Canada's largest university network.

It welcomes more than 6,500 students a year, of whom more than 2,000 come from around fifty countries, and counts more than 70,000 graduates. UQAC offers more than 200 study programs across eight departments, from applied sciences, computer science and mathematics to education, health sciences, humanities and management, and reports 600 research contracts and grants.

Beyond the main Saguenay campus, it runs a university study centre in Sept-Îles — with study centres serving Alma, Saint-Félicien and Sept-Îles since 1971 — and the École NAD-UQAC in Montréal, founded in 1992, a school of digital arts, animation and design known for training 3D artists for film, television and video games. Teaching is in French: applicants whose mother tongue is not French must pass a recognized French proficiency test, and regular international students are enrolled in a French course in their first term.

Signature offerings include the Baccalauréat en intervention plein air (outdoor adventure intervention), engineering programs oriented to aluminium processing and northern aeronautics, and a computer science program with concentrations from defensive cybersecurity to virtual reality.

Location & Contact

Below are the location pin, postal details, and primary contact methods for Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. International applicants should account for postal mail processing time when sending physical documents.

Address: 555, Boulevard de l’Université
Postal Code: G7H 2B1
Phone: +1 (418) 545 5011
Fax: +1 (418) 545 5012
Social Media:

Academic Details

The basic academic profile of Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, including enrolment and faculty composition. Total student count fluctuates intake-to-intake; treat the figure as approximate rather than precise.

Academic Year: Three trimesters: automne (fall), hiver (winter, early January to late April) and été (summer). International students must enrol full-time in the fall and winter trimesters; students in research programs (master's with mémoire, doctorate) must also enrol full-time in summer.
Recognition: Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur, Québec
Admission Requirements: Admission bases are set per program: a Québec DEC with program-specific prerequisites, university studies, relevant work experience, or the 'études hors Québec' base — a diploma obtained after at least 13 years of schooling or the equivalent, failing which a structure d'accueil (qualifying pathway) may be imposed. All programs are taught in French: candidates whose mother tongue is not French must pass a French proficiency test recognized by UQAC (TCF or DELF/DALF, taken within the previous 24 months; required levels per UQAC's correspondence grid) and attach the result to their application, with exemptions for holders of a Québec DEC French exam pass, a degree from a francophone Canadian university, secondary schooling completed in French in Canada, or a French baccalauréat. Regular international students are automatically enrolled in a French course in their first term and must pass it. International applications open well in advance — for the Winter 2026 term, admissions opened February 1, 2025 and closed August 1, 2025. Admitted international students need a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a Canadian study permit, and must demonstrate financial capacity per the MIFI scale.
Total Students: 6,500
Student Enrollment: 6
Academic Staff Range: 700-799
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Universities Canada (UC) Association of Universities of the Canadian Francophonie (AUFC)

Academic Structures

The schools and colleges that constitute Université du Québec à Chicoutimi's academic body are organised below. Each often controls its own admissions criteria, scholarships, and programme entry standards.

Unit 9 items
  • Département de l'informatique et mathématique
  • Département des arts, lettres et du langage
  • Département des sciences appliquées
  • Département des sciences de l'éducation
  • Département des sciences de la santé
  • Département des sciences fondamentales
  • Département des sciences humaines et sociales
  • Département des sciences économiques et administratives
  • École NAD-UQAC

Programs Offered

Find a programme at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi by filter, or browse by degree level. Online and on-campus delivery modes differ in tuition, time commitment, and credential recognition — confirm which mode each programme runs in.

10 programmes on record. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Canada

Bachelor's Degree 6 programmes

Master's Degree 4 programmes

How to apply to Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

How to apply to Université du Québec à Chicoutimi — a five-step structure with notes on documents, channels, and timing for each phase.

  1. 1
    Research programmes at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

    Université du Québec à Chicoutimi's catalogue includes 10 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.

  2. 2
    Review admissions criteria

    Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for Université du Québec à Chicoutimi's admissions process.

  3. 3
    Gather supporting documents

    Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.

  4. 4
    Lodge your application

    Submit your completed application through Université du Québec à Chicoutimi's official website at www.uqac.ca. Most institutions use an online portal — register an account, complete the application form, and upload your prepared documents. Keep copies of all submissions and confirmation receipts.

  5. 5
    Confirm receipt and track progress

    Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. Reach the institution by phone at +1 (418) 545 5011. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.

Frequently Asked Questions about Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Common questions about Université du Québec à Chicoutimi answered concisely, with each answer grounded in the institution's published data.

When was Université du Québec à Chicoutimi founded?

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi was established in 1969 (approximately 57 years ago).

Where can I find Université du Québec à Chicoutimi?

The institution is located in Saguenay, Canada.

What is Université du Québec à Chicoutimi's control type?

It is a public higher-education institution.

How many students does Université du Québec à Chicoutimi have?

The institution has a student body of 6,000-6,999.

Where does Université du Québec à Chicoutimi stand in university rankings?

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi holds rank #2047 globally and #35 in Canada.

What is Université du Québec à Chicoutimi's academic structure?

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi has 9 academic units.

Is Université du Québec à Chicoutimi accredited?

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi is accredited by Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur, Québec.

Where can I learn more about Université du Québec à Chicoutimi?

The institution's website is www.uqac.ca.

Top-Ranked Universities in Canada

Looking for the strongest names in Canada? These are the highest-ranked institutions nationally — useful context for benchmarking Université du Québec à Chicoutimi against the country's most established universities. National benchmarks also signal the upper bound of academic prestige in Canada.

Members of Universities Canada (UC)

Member-only fellowships through Universities Canada (UC) are open to students at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and the universities below. These can be less competitive than open competitions because the applicant pool is narrower.

Faculties at nearby universities

Students considering Université du Québec à Chicoutimi often compare it against universities in the same region. Below are nearby institutions with comparable academic departments and student support structures, useful for cross-shortlisting.

Where Else to Study Computer Sciences

Industry advisory boards on Computer Sciences programmes signal employer engagement and curriculum currency. Check whether each Canada alternative to Université du Québec à Chicoutimi publishes its industry partners.

Universities Compared with Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

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