Université Laval
Kébec, the Algonquian name for a place "where the river narrows" describes the riverside city and capital of Quebec.
Université Laval, situated here in one of North America's oldest cities, is also the oldest university in Canada. It was also the first North American institution to offer courses in French, starting as a seminary in 1663 until its royal charter was received in 1852. A research-intensive university, Laval straddles the boundary between innovation and technological advancement and its links to history and heritage - it even has its own waltz, created by composer Wilfrid Beaudry!
Key information
Application information
Student Experience
Check out Laval's Student Testimonial Page and search stay reports by area of study.
Program details
Areas of Study: This exchange is with the Laval Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Science, and is open for studies in the following areas: (but must also be found on this list)
Faculty of Arts: Communication; Languages, Linguistics & Translation; Creative Writing, English, Spanish Studies, Theatre & Film; History including Art History, Museum Studies, and Archaeology; School of Languages (German, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian)
Faculty of Social Sciences: Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Industrial Relations. (Restricted: Social Work/Social Service, Psychology)
- Search links for "first cycle/premier cycle" for undergraduate courses, and "structure of the program/structure du programme".
Course requirements:
Exchange students are required to register for a minimum of 12 credits (equivalent to 12 units/credits at UCalgary, or 4 half-courses). The normal full-time workload for a bachelor's student at Laval is 15 credits (generally 5 courses per semester).
The list of courses available for the semester you are interested is a tentative wish-list. Laval cannot guarantee access, but you will register for courses when you arrive at Université Laval.
Transcripts
The original transcript is sent to the student free of charge to the address entered on their online student file provided to Laval (CAPSULE).
To have the partner institution receive the transcript directly, students must order an extra copy ($9) from the Registrar’s Office before leaving Québec.
https://www.reg.ulaval.ca/cms/site/reg/lang/fr_CA/page_accueil/DemDoc/releveNotes (Available in French only)
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters, Fall and Winter:
- Fall Semester runs from early September to late December.
- Winter Semester runs from early January to late April.
-
Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
You will also need to budget for expenses you may incur while in Québec, such as transportation, room and board, books, health and hospitalization insurance, personal expenditures, civil liability insurance, and so on.
Laval estimates your expenses will be around $6000-$8000 per term.
Quebec City cost comparison vs. Calgary: Click Here
-
Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange?
Since you remain a degree seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
There are four residences on campus, two of them coed. For more information on costs, room availability, and other possible living arrangements, visit the UL Residence Office website.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (B-).
Courses at Laval are taught in French. As such, applicants should have an intermediary or greater knowledge of the language. Students must have passed the TFI with a minimum score of 750/990 according to the Test de français international, or equivalent scores on other recognized French tests such as DELF or DALF are also acceptable (which would be a B2 level). We recommend that you have completed at least two 300-level or above courses in French as certification of language proficiency will be required for non-francophone students. If no test results are provided, your students will be required to take the French online test from Université Laval’s École de langues (ELUL).
An academic reference is required for a complete application.
Have questions?
The advisor for the program is: Veronica V. Cardoso
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.