Université de Montréal is Canada's largest French-language university and a member of the U15 research group. It is best known for artificial intelligence, medicine and law, and for the Mila AI institute led by Yoshua Bengio. Choose it if you can study in French and want lower fees than Toronto or Vancouver.
Montreal, Canada
Official website: umontreal.ca
#116
Top 5 nationally; U15 research group member
Home of Mila, one of the world's largest AI research institutes
Over 65,000 across the university and affiliated schools
CA$25,000 – CA$33,000
International students, undergraduate and master's programmes
CA$15,000 – CA$20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on umontreal.ca before you apply.
Maîtrise en informatique (MSc Computer Science)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
French: TFI 605 or equivalent
MSc Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
French: TFI 605 or equivalent
MBA (HEC Montréal)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100 (English track)
Master of Public Health
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
French: TFI 605 or equivalent
Baccalauréat en informatique (BSc Computer Science)
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
French: TFI 605 or equivalent
Mila — Yoshua Bengio's AI institute, with over 1,000 researchers and students.
Canada's largest French-language university — most programmes are taught in French.
HEC Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal are affiliated schools for business and engineering.
Faculty of Medicine — one of Canada's largest, linked to the CHUM university hospital.
AI and computer science graduates join Mila spin-offs, Google Brain Montreal and Microsoft Research.
Graduates can work anywhere in Canada for up to three years on a post-graduation work permit.
Medicine, pharmacy and nursing graduates enter Quebec's hospital network.
HEC Montréal MBA alumni move into consulting and banking in Montreal and Toronto.
Undergrad
1 Feb 2027
Postgrad
1 Feb 2027
Undergrad
1 Sep 2026
Postgrad
1 Sep 2026
The main campus sits on the northern slope of Mount Royal, with its art-deco Roger-Gaudry tower visible across the city. Two metro stations serve the campus directly.
Montreal is a bilingual city with some of the lowest rents among major Canadian cities. Festivals run all summer, winters are cold, and the underground city connects the downtown core.
Letter of acceptance from the university
Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
Provincial attestation letter, if required
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
For international applicants, most programmes close on 1 February 2027 for the fall 2027 intake and 1 September 2026 for winter 2027. Some limited-enrolment programmes, including medicine and several master's degrees, have earlier or programme-specific deadlines listed on their admission pages.
The main intake is fall (September). Many programmes, including computer science and the HEC Montréal MBA, also admit for winter (January). A few offer a summer (May) start. Check the programme's admission page, as availability differs each year.
You need a Canadian study permit. Because the university is in Quebec, you first obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) using your letter of acceptance, then apply to IRCC for the study permit with proof of funds. Allow three to four months for both steps.
Computer science, data science, public health and the HEC Montréal MBA are the most popular choices. Most programmes are taught in French, so applicants need a French test such as the TFI (around 605) unless they studied in French. The MBA's English track needs IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100.
Yes. The university's exemption scholarships for international students (bourses d'exemption) reduce tuition for undergraduate and graduate applicants, and are applied automatically based on your application. Graduate students can also seek funding through research supervisors and Mila. Check the financial aid pages for current amounts.
