🎭Université du Québec à Montréal

Montreal, QC, Canada

Montreal's most urban and most affordable major university, known for political science, visual arts and an activism-minded student culture.

About UQAM

UQAM is Montreal's most accessibly priced major university, taught almost entirely in French, with a downtown campus woven directly into the city's Quartier Latin cultural district rather than a traditional enclosed quad. It's known for a research-active political science department, a solid ESG UQAM business faculty, and visual and media arts programmes closely tied to Montreal's creative industries, all set within a politically engaged, socially active student culture. GCC and SEA applicants need genuine working French proficiency well ahead of applying, plus Quebec's Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) alongside the federal study permit — but in return get Montreal's affordability with UQAM's own lower fees on top.

Why students choose it

  • Typically the most accessible fee band among Montreal's major French-language universities
  • Genuinely engaged, research-active reputations in political science and visual arts
  • A downtown campus woven directly into Montreal's cultural and creative Quartier Latin district

🎓 Free application support for UQAM

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to UQAM — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 26

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

<CA$25,000/yr

low tier for Canada — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, Montreal, QC

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or UQAM's financial aid office.

Many Canadian universities offer automatic entrance scholarships for international students based on high-school grades — often no separate application needed beyond the standard admission application.

  • University international entrance scholarships: e.g. University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, UBC's International Major Entrance Scholarship — merit-based, automatically considered for eligible applicants at many universities.
  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: Federally funded, but for doctoral/research study, not undergraduate admission.

Coverage ranges from a one-off award to full tuition for the most competitive automatic scholarships — check each university's international scholarships page for exact criteria.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Political Science

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Communication and Media Studies

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Visual Arts

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Typical entry: Portfolio / audition

Business (ESG UQAM)

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Social Work

⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years

📝 Apply for this course →

Durations are typical for Canada — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes)
Typical deadline
Rolling from October, with most competitive programmes closing mid-January
Note
High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

TOEFL: 80–90 iBT

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to UQAM for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

Read the guide →

See where UQAM ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free Canada University Shortlist Builder to see whether UQAM is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other Canada university that matches.

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UQAM FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to UQAM as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into UQAM?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, UQAM expects around BBB at A Level or 26 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for UQAM's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on UQAM's own admissions page before applying.

How much does UQAM cost for international students?

International tuition at UQAM typically falls in the range (low tier for Canada). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not UQAM's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for UQAM?

UQAM follows Canada's typical intake calendar: September (Fall), January (Winter, some programmes), with applications generally due rolling from october, with most competitive programmes closing mid-january. High-demand programmes (e.g. UofT Engineering, UBC) fill up fast — apply as soon as the portal opens for the best chance. Always verify the exact date on UQAM's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for UQAM?

Canada universities, including UQAM, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is UQAM known for?

Montreal's most urban and most affordable major university, known for political science, visual arts and an activism-minded student culture. UQAM is Montreal's most accessibly priced major university, taught almost entirely in French, with a downtown campus woven directly into the city's Quartier Latin cultural district rather than a traditional enclosed quad. It's known for a research-active political science department, a solid ESG UQAM business faculty, and visual and media arts programmes closely tied to Montreal's creative industries, all set within a politically engaged, socially active student culture. GCC and SEA applicants need genuine working French proficiency well ahead of applying, plus Quebec's Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) alongside the federal study permit — but in return get Montreal's affordability with UQAM's own lower fees on top.

Can I apply to UQAM with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — UQAM accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free Canada University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against UQAM and every other Canada university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to UQAM? Get free application support.

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