About the university
Université Laval in Quebec City grew out of the Séminaire de Québec, founded in 1663, and received a royal charter to award degrees in 1852. It calls itself the first French-language university in North America and has more than 42,500 students today.
Laval is a large research university and ranks among Canada's top ten for research funding. Its Faculté des sciences et de génie runs computer science, software, computer, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering degrees, and many programmes include paid internships.
The main point for Indian students is language. Most courses are taught in French, so you will need French or a plan to learn it. Laval runs a French Immersion Pathway for many science and engineering bachelor's degrees, which places you by your TCF score and adds French courses before or alongside your programme. In return, tuition is lower than at most English-language Canadian universities: about $28,233 a year for a bachelor's and $22,724 for a course-based master's in 2026–2027.
Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec and one of the oldest cities in North America. It is French-speaking, safe and cheaper to live in than Toronto or Vancouver, but winters are long and cold.
- Founded
- 1852, by royal charter; its roots go back to the Séminaire de Québec, founded in 1663
- Type
- Public research university, the first French-language university in North America
- Total students
- More than 42,500 (Université Laval); 30,580 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data
- International students
- 19% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 17.9 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Language of teaching
- Mostly French; non-francophone applicants usually take the TCF French test
- Intakes
- Autumn (September) and winter (January) for most programmes
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=526 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
301–325 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en informatique (Bachelor of Computer Science, B.Sc.A.)
- Fee / year
- C$28,233
- Duration
- About 3 years (90 credits), with two paid internships
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter)
- English
- Taught in French: TCF-TP at least 331/699 and 8/20 in written expression if your schooling was not in French
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en génie logiciel (Bachelor of Software Engineering)
- Fee / year
- C$28,233
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credits), with paid internships
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter)
- English
- Taught in French: non-francophones take the TCF and may need French courses first
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- C$22,724
- Duration
- 2 years (45 credits, including two internships)
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter)
- English
- Taught in French (written and spoken French essential); a few courses also run in English
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en génie informatique (Bachelor of Computer Engineering)
- Fee / year
- C$28,233
- Duration
- 4 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter) – check the programme page
- English
- Taught in French: non-francophones take the TCF and may need French courses first
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en génie électrique (Bachelor of Electrical Engineering)
- Fee / year
- C$28,233
- Duration
- 4 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter) – check the programme page
- English
- Taught in French: non-francophones take the TCF and may need French courses first
- Undergraduate
Baccalauréat en génie mécanique (Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering)
- Fee / year
- C$28,233
- Duration
- 4 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter) – check the programme page
- English
- Taught in French: non-francophones take the TCF and may need French courses first
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en administration des affaires – gestion internationale (MBA, International Management)
- Fee / year
- C$22,724
- Duration
- About 2 years full time (45 credits); can be completed in one year
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter); May (summer)
- English
- Trilingual programme: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79, plus TCF-TP 600/699 (14/20 in written expression) for non-francophones
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en informatique avec mémoire (research master's in Computer Science)
- Fee / year
- C$18,128
- Duration
- About 2 years (full time)
- Intakes
- September (autumn); January (winter) – check the programme page
- English
- Taught in French
Fees for international students
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 Laval with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's and master's (limited number); all regular doctoral students
Supplemental tuition fee exemption scholarships
Value: Exemption from the supplemental international fee, so you pay the same tuition as Quebec students
Eligibility: A limited number of international bachelor's and master's students, and all international students enrolled full time in a regular doctoral programme.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Research master's and doctorate
Citizens of the World scholarships
Value: $20,000 or $30,000
Eligibility: International students entering a research master's or doctorate. One stream rewards academic excellence, the other leadership and involvement.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - MBA (International Management)
FSA MBA admission scholarships
Value: Average $2,000, some up to $5,000; mobility scholarships of about $2,000
Eligibility: Admitted MBA students, as described on the programme page.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Laval asks international applicants for 13 years of pre-university schooling, or 12 years plus one year of higher education.
- Indian students with only Class 12 (12 years) are placed in a preparatory science pathway before or alongside the bachelor's for science and engineering programmes.
- Strong maths (and for engineering, physics and chemistry) results are expected; selection is based on the quality of your academic record.
- If your schooling was not in French you take the TCF; for Computer Science the minimum is 331/699 with 8/20 in written expression. Lower scores can lead to the French Immersion Pathway.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a relevant subject. The AI master's asks for at least 2.67 out of 4.33 or equivalent.
- The MBA in International Management asks for at least 3.22 out of 4.33 (2.8 to 3.21 may be considered) and a bachelor's outside business administration.
- Good written and spoken French is needed for most master's programmes.
- Master's applicants usually send a CV, a motivation letter and assessment reports (references).
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- Degree transcripts and certificate for master's applicants
- French test results (TCF, or DELF/TEF/TFI with a written component) if your schooling was not in French
- English test score for programmes that require one, such as the MBA
- CV, motivation letter and references where the programme asks for them
- Application fee (Laval's first-year budget lists $475 for it)
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) | Non-francophones take the TCF. Computer Science asks for TCF-TP 331/699 and 8/20 in written expression; lower scores lead to French courses through the French Immersion Pathway. |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 for the MBA in International Management (the MBA also needs TCF-TP 600/699) |
| TOEFL iBT | 79 for the MBA in International Management |
| English-taught options | Very few: most teaching is in French, though a few master's courses are also offered in English |
Accommodation and living costs
Laval's own budget for international students puts housing at $5,400 to $9,640 a year, covering a residence room or a shared off-campus flat. The figures below are from Laval's 2026–2027 fees and budgeting page.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Residence room or shared off-campus apartment | C$5,400–9,640per year | ≈ ₹3.6 lakh – ₹6.5 lakh |
| Groceries | C$6,160per year | ≈ ₹4.1 lakh |
| Health insurance (Université Laval group plan) | C$900per year | ≈ ₹60,300 |
| Study, health care and personal expenses | C$6,170per year | ≈ ₹4.1 lakh |
| One-time first-year costs (application, arrival, furniture, winter clothes, computer)Laval's maximum estimate | C$3,275one-off | ≈ ₹2.2 lakh |
Campus and location
The main campus is on the Sainte-Foy plateau in Quebec City, a centralised campus built from the 1950s onwards.
- Public transit in autumn and winter is included in tuition through the university transit pass.
- Many engineering and computer science degrees include paid internships of 12 to 15 weeks.
- French courses are available through the French Immersion Pathway for many science, engineering and social science bachelor's degrees.
- Quebec City is French-speaking, with long, snowy winters, so budget for winter clothing.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Many Laval bachelor's degrees in computing and engineering include paid internships, and French skills are a strong advantage in Quebec's job market. 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:
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FAQs
Can I study at Université Laval in English?
Mostly not. Laval says most of its courses are in French. A few master's courses run in English, and the MBA in International Management is trilingual, but you will still need French. The French Immersion Pathway helps beginners on many science and engineering bachelor's degrees.
How much are the fees for an Indian student?
For 2026–2027 Laval charges international students about $28,233 a year for a bachelor's (30 credits) and $22,724 a year for a course-based master's (24 credits). A research master's is about $18,128 a year.
Is Class 12 enough for a bachelor's at Laval?
Laval asks for 13 years of schooling. With 12 years you can still be admitted to science and engineering degrees, but you will take a preparatory science pathway first.
Are there scholarships that cut fees?
Yes. A limited number of international bachelor's and master's students receive supplemental fee exemption scholarships and pay the Quebec rate. All international students in regular doctoral programmes get this exemption.
What does it cost to live in Quebec City?
Laval's own budget is $5,400 to $9,640 a year for housing, $6,160 for groceries, $900 for health insurance and $6,170 for other expenses, for a total of about $46,900 to $51,100 a year including bachelor's tuition.
Sources
- Université Laval: Fees and budgeting (2026–2027) (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: International tuition, course-based master's, fall 2026–winter 2027 (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: Admission requirements (French) (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: French Immersion Pathway, science and engineering programmes (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: Baccalauréat en informatique (opens in a new tab)
- FSG Université Laval: Baccalauréat en génie logiciel (opens in a new tab)
- FSG Université Laval: Maîtrise en informatique – intelligence artificielle (opens in a new tab)
- FSG Université Laval: programme list (opens in a new tab)
- FSA Université Laval: MBA – International Management (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: Financial aid for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Université Laval: Origin and history (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Université Laval (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.ulaval.ca (opens in a new tab)
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