About the university
Université de Montréal (UdeM) opened in 1878 as the Montreal campus of Université Laval and became independent in 1920. It is one of Canada's largest research universities and, with its affiliated schools HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal, teaches about 67,000 students.
UdeM is best known internationally for artificial intelligence. Its computer science department (DIRO) works closely with Mila, the Quebec AI institute, and offers a master's in computer science with options in machine learning and AI, and a graduate diploma (DESS) in machine learning run with Mila. It is also strong in health sciences, statistics and bioinformatics.
For Indian students the big question is French. UdeM is a French-language university and most courses are taught in French, though some graduate research departments create a bilingual environment. Fees are moderate for Canada and the automatic UdeM exemption scholarship can cut them sharply: up to $14,436 a year off bachelor's tuition and $11,334.60 off a course-based master's in 2026–2027.
The campus sits on Mount Royal in Montreal, a large, bilingual and diverse city with a busy tech and AI scene. Living costs are lower than in Toronto or Vancouver.
- Founded
- 1878, as the Montreal campus of Université Laval; independent since 1920
- Type
- Public, French-language research university, affiliated with HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal
- Total students
- 39,695 at the university itself (THE World University Rankings 2027 data); about 67,000 including its affiliated schools
- International students
- 24% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 17.2 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Intakes
- Autumn (late August/September) and winter (January); some programmes also start in summer (May)
- Language of teaching
- French; graduate research groups can be bilingual
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=162 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
132 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en informatique (Master's in Computer Science) – course-based or internship track
- Fee / year
- C$23,338
- Duration
- 45 credits; usually 3 to 4 terms full time
- Intakes
- Autumn 2027 (starts August); winter 2028. Machine learning option: autumn only
- English
- French needed to follow courses; TFI 785/990 or C1 (DALF or TEF) may be required if your studies were not in French
- Postgraduate
DESS en apprentissage automatique (Graduate Diploma in Machine Learning, with Mila)
- Fee / year
- C$23,338
- Duration
- 30 credits: two full-time terms plus an internship term
- Intakes
- Autumn 2027 (apply 1 August 2026 to 1 February 2027)
- English
- Course descriptions are in French; confirm the teaching language with the department
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en informatique avec mémoire (research master's in Computer Science)
- Fee / year
- C$21,349
- Duration
- 45 credits, with a thesis
- Intakes
- Autumn (apply by 1 February); winter (apply by 1 September)
- English
- French needed to follow courses; TFI 785/990 or C1 may be required. Mila supervisors must be secured before acceptance
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en informatique (Bachelor's in Computer Science)
- Fee / year
- C$30,773
- Duration
- 3 years full time (90 credits); co-op option with three work terms
- Intakes
- January 2027 (winter); autumn 2027
- English
- French at B2 or above in listening and reading on a recognised test
- Undergraduate
4-year Bachelor in Fundamental and Applied Sciences (preparatory pathway)
- Fee / year
- C$30,773
- Duration
- 4 years: a 30-credit first year of preparatory and discipline courses, then the chosen bachelor's
- Intakes
- Autumn; check the programme page for winter entry
- English
- TFI 605/990, or B2 in oral and written comprehension on another recognised French test
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en statistique (M.Sc. Statistics, General or Biostatistics option)
- Fee / year
- C$23,338
- Duration
- 45 credits; at least three terms full time, with a four-month internship in some tracks
- Intakes
- Autumn 2027 (starts August); winter 2028
- English
- Taught in French; check the programme page
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- C$23,338
- Duration
- 45 credits; research (thesis) or internship option
- Intakes
- Autumn; winter; summer
- English
- Taught in French; check the programme page
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en mathématiques et informatique (Bachelor's in Mathematics and Computer Science)
- Fee / year
- C$30,773
- Duration
- 3 years full time (longer through the 4-year pathway)
- Intakes
- Autumn; check the programme page for winter entry
- English
- French at B2 or above on a recognised test
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maîtrise en informatique (Master's in Computer Science) – course-based or internship track | 45 credits; usually 3 to 4 terms full time | C$23,338 | ≈ ₹15.6 lakh |
| DESS en apprentissage automatique (Graduate Diploma in Machine Learning, with Mila) | 30 credits: two full-time terms plus an internship term | C$23,338 | ≈ ₹15.6 lakh |
| Maîtrise en informatique avec mémoire (research master's in Computer Science) | 45 credits, with a thesis | C$21,349 | ≈ ₹14.3 lakh |
| Baccalauréat en informatique (Bachelor's in Computer Science) | 3 years full time (90 credits); co-op option with three work terms | C$30,773 | ≈ ₹20.6 lakh |
| 4-year Bachelor in Fundamental and Applied Sciences (preparatory pathway) | 4 years: a 30-credit first year of preparatory and discipline courses, then the chosen bachelor's | C$30,773 | ≈ ₹20.6 lakh |
| Maîtrise en statistique (M.Sc. Statistics, General or Biostatistics option) | 45 credits; at least three terms full time, with a four-month internship in some tracks | C$23,338 | ≈ ₹15.6 lakh |
| Master's in Bioinformatics | 45 credits; research (thesis) or internship option | C$23,338 | ≈ ₹15.6 lakh |
| Baccalauréat en mathématiques et informatique (Bachelor's in Mathematics and Computer Science) | 3 years full time (longer through the 4-year pathway) | C$30,773 | ≈ ₹20.6 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Université de Montréal with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's degree programmes
UdeM exemption scholarship for international students – bachelor's
Value: Level A: $14,436 a year; Level B: $6,879.60 a year (2026–2027, full time, 30 credits), deducted from tuition
Eligibility: International students (not French or francophone Belgian) admitted to a full bachelor's degree, with valid CAQ and study permit, enrolled full time. Awarded automatically on academic record; files below Level B get nothing.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's
UdeM exemption scholarship for international students – master's
Value: $15,916.05 a year for research master's; $11,334.60 a year for other master's (2026–2027)
Eligibility: International students (not French or francophone Belgian) admitted to a master's, enrolled full time with valid study permits. Assessed automatically after you apply.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Doctorate
UdeM exemption scholarship for international students – PhD
Value: Full waiver of the additional international tuition: $24,067.80 a year (three terms, 2026–2027)
Eligibility: International doctoral students enrolled full time with valid study permits.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Students who finished school outside Quebec (including Class 12 in India) usually enter through the 4-year Bachelor pathway, which adds a 30-credit first year of preparatory and subject courses.
- Selection is based on the excellence of your academic record; some applicants are asked to take admission tests, including a maths placement test.
- You must prove French: B2 or above in listening and reading for most bachelor's programmes, or TFI 605/990 for the 4-year pathway.
- International applicants pay a $1,000 deposit after accepting an offer; it is deducted from first-term tuition.
Postgraduate
- Master's in Computer Science: a B.Sc. in computer science or a related degree with at least 3.0 out of 4.3, and at least 40 credits in computer science and maths.
- Most master's applications for autumn 2027 are open from 1 August 2026 to 1 February 2027; DIRO lists 1 September for winter entry.
- You can usually apply without a research supervisor but must find one by the end of the first term. Mila supervisors must be secured before acceptance into the thesis master's.
- Allow 3 to 6 months for the university decision, the Quebec CAQ and the study permit.
Documents
- Valid passport and birth certificate
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets (bachelor's applicants)
- Transcripts for all university studies and degree certificates
- French test result (TFI, DELF/DALF or TEF) where required
- Two recommendation letters for some master's programmes
- Graduate application fee of $96.50 (as listed by DIRO)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| French (most programmes) | Bachelor's: B2 or above in listening and reading on a recognised test taken within 24 months. 4-year pathway: TFI 605/990 or B2. |
| French for graduate computer science | If your studies were not in French, the department may require TFI 785/990 or C1 (DALF or TEF); DALF B2 is not accepted. |
| English-friendly programmes | UdeM lists a small set of graduate programmes 'open to English-speaking students', mainly in research departments. Check each programme before applying. |
Accommodation and living costs
UdeM has its own student residences next to campus. Its student-life price list (updated June 2026) gives the typical costs below; rents rise closer to the university and downtown.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| UdeM residence roomAbout $1,800 per four-month term | C$450per month | ≈ ₹30,150 |
| Shared apartment (colocation) in Montreal | C$600–900per month | ≈ ₹40,200 – ₹60,300 |
| Apartment on your own | C$1,000–2,000per month | ≈ ₹67,000 – ₹1.3 lakh |
Campus and location
The main campus is on Mount Royal in Montreal, close to the Côte-des-Neiges and Outremont neighbourhoods.
- HEC Montréal (business) and Polytechnique Montréal (engineering) are affiliated schools on the same campus, with their own admissions.
- The computer science department (DIRO) works with Mila, the Quebec AI institute, on graduate teaching and research.
- The academic year has three 15-week terms: autumn (September–December), winter (January–April) and summer (May–August).
- Nearby neighbourhoods include Côte-des-Neiges, Outremont, Plateau-Mont-Royal and Villeray.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Montreal has a large AI, gaming and life-sciences sector, and UdeM's bachelor's in computer science offers a co-op option with three paid work terms. French greatly widens job options in Quebec. See our Canada guide for post-study work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Canada
Photo: aka Tman from Guelph.........Ontario, CANADA, CC BY 2.0 PublicUniversity of Toronto (official website, opens in a new tab)
Toronto, CanadaOften chosen for Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences, Engineering
Photo: CjayD, CC BY 2.0 PublicOften chosen for Life Sciences, Business & Management, Engineering
Photo: JFVoll, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicUniversity of Waterloo (official website, opens in a new tab)
Waterloo, CanadaOften chosen for Computer Science & IT, Engineering, Data Science & AI
Photo: Krylan22, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicUniversity of Windsor (official website, opens in a new tab)
Windsor, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Business & Management, Computer Science & IT
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0), CC0 PublicMcGill University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Montreal, CanadaOften chosen for Life Sciences, Engineering, Law
Photo: WinterforceMedia WinterE229, Public domain PublicUniversity of Alberta (official website, opens in a new tab)
Edmonton, CanadaOften chosen for Engineering, Data Science & AI, Life Sciences
FAQs
Can I study at Université de Montréal in English?
Mostly not. UdeM is a French-language university. Some graduate research departments are bilingual and list programmes as open to English-speaking students, but most courses are in French and many programmes ask for a French test.
How much will a master's cost?
For 2026–2027 a non-thesis master's costs $11,668.77 per full-time term and a thesis master's $10,674.30 per term. The automatic UdeM exemption scholarship then takes off $11,334.60 a year (course-based) or $15,916.05 a year (research).
Do I need to apply for the exemption scholarship?
No. UdeM assesses all eligible international applicants automatically and tells you by email after you accept your offer. French and francophone Belgian students are not eligible because they already pay lower rates.
I have Class 12 from India. Can I enter a bachelor's directly?
Usually you would enter the 4-year Bachelor in Fundamental and Applied Sciences, which adds a first year of preparatory courses before computer science, maths, bioinformatics and other science degrees.
What does housing cost?
A room in UdeM's residences is about $450 a month. A shared flat in Montreal is $600 to $900 a month, and a flat on your own $1,000 to $2,000.
Sources
- UdeM Registrar: Cost of studies 2026–2027 (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: Exemption scholarship for international students (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: Baccalauréat en informatique (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: Maîtrise en informatique (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: DESS en apprentissage automatique (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: Maîtrise en statistique (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: 4-year Bachelor in Fundamental and Applied Sciences (opens in a new tab)
- DIRO: Master's in Computer Science admission (opens in a new tab)
- DIRO: Master's in Bioinformatics (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Admissions: Programmes open to English-speaking students (opens in a new tab)
- UdeM Vie étudiante: Student housing price list (updated June 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: Origin and history (UdeM began as Laval's Montreal campus) (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Université de Montréal (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.umontreal.ca (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details