Université de Montréal: North America’s Foremost French-Language University

Perched on the northern slope of Mount Royal, overlooking one of North America’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities, the Université de Montréal (UdeM) stands as a beacon of Francophone scholarship and scientific innovation. Founded in 1878 as a satellite campus of Université Laval in Quebec City, the institution was originally known as Université Laval à Montréal. It gained full independence in 1920 and has since evolved into North America’s leading French-language university and one of the most distinguished research institutions in the French-speaking world. With a motto drawn from faith and knowledge—*Fide splendet et scientia* (“It shines by faith and knowledge”)—the university has remained true to its founding vision of advancing learning and serving society for nearly a century and a half.

Academic Excellence and Global Recognition

The Université de Montréal consistently ranks among the world’s premier institutions. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, it secured the 159th position globally, while the 2026 rankings saw it rise to 150th worldwide. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 placed UdeM at 150th globally. Among Canadian universities, it ranks fourth nationally according to QS. This sustained performance across major international rankings underscores UdeM’s standing as a global academic powerhouse. Buy fake diploma online.

A Research Powerhouse

Research excellence lies at the very heart of Université de Montréal’s identity. In the 2025 Research Infosource ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Research Universities, UdeM and its affiliated schools—Polytechnique Montréal (engineering) and HEC Montréal (business)—secured second place nationwide. For the 2023–2024 fiscal year, research income reached $775.4 million, representing a 9.3 per cent increase over the previous year. The university attracts over $700 million in research funding annually, making it one of the top three university research hubs in Canada. Revenue from industry partners totalled $104.1 million—the second highest in Canada—and these partnerships have grown by 18 per cent in a single year.

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UdeM’s research ecosystem is home to several internationally renowned institutes. Among them is Mila, the world’s leading university research centre for deep learning and artificial intelligence. The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) ranks among the most productive laboratories in its field. The university has also distinguished itself in AI publications, ranking second in Canada for cross-sector collaborations in artificial intelligence between 2019 and 2023, and placing among the top ten universities worldwide for AI research. In computer science, UdeM ranks 31st globally in the Times Higher Education world rankings.

A Global Community of Learners

With close to 70,000 students and 2,300 professors and researchers, the Université de Montréal is one of the largest university complexes in North America. Its 13 faculties and schools offer more than 600 programs across virtually every academic discipline. The university welcomes more than 9,800 international students each year, with one in four students being of non-Canadian origin. UdeM maintains partnerships with 500 universities in 65 countries and has an active global alumni network of 450,000 graduates.

A Campus of Distinction

The university’s main campus, located on the northern slope of Mount Royal, comprises more than 65 hectares of greenery. With approximately 40 buildings, including the landmark Roger Gaudry Pavilion visible from kilometres away, the campus is served by three metro stations. The campus is remarkable for its rich biodiversity and environmentally friendly resource management. Beyond the main campus, UdeM also operates regional campuses in Laval, Longueuil, Terrebonne, Saint-Hyacinthe, and Mauricie.

Exceptional Alumni and Lasting Impact

The list of UdeM’s distinguished graduates reads like a who’s who of Canadian and global leadership. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, one of Canada’s most celebrated prime ministers, is among its alumni. Louise Arbour served as Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and later as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Roger Guillemin was co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In computer science, UdeM boasts two A.M. Turing Award laureates—Yoshua Bengio (2018) and Gilles Brassard (2025)—an honour often described as the “Nobel Prize in computing”. Other notable alumni include astrophysicist Hubert Reeves, Oscar-winning filmmaker Denys Arcand, and Joanne Liu, former international president of Doctors Without Borders.

A City Like No Other

Montreal itself is an integral part of the UdeM experience. Consistently ranked among the top ten student cities in the world by Quacquarelli Symonds, and the best in North America since 2016, Montreal offers a safe, affordable, and festive environment. The university reflects the city it calls home: welcoming, inclusive, and deeply connected to its community.

From its founding in 1878 to its current status as a global leader in research and higher education, the Université de Montréal continues to shine—by faith, by knowledge, and by the remarkable contributions of its students, faculty, and alumni to the world.