UQAC looks out over the Saguenay River in the Chicoutimi district of Saguenay, about two and a half hours north of Quebec City. It's a French-language public university in the Université du Québec network, founded in 1969. Research leans on the region's industries, especially aluminium and the icing of power lines. UQAC also owns École NAD, a digital arts and animation school in Montreal. Many international students come from France and French-speaking Africa.
Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
Official website: uqac.ca
1969
Université du Québec
French
Aluminium and atmospheric icing
CA$18,000 – CA$24,000
International students; French and Belgian students pay less
CA$11,000 – CA$14,000
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 uqac.ca before you apply.
Baccalauréat en génie mécanique
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
French: B2 (TCF/TEF)
Baccalauréat en informatique
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
French: B2 (TCF/TEF)
Maîtrise en ingénierie
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
French: B2 (TCF/TEF)
Maîtrise en gestion de projet
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
French: B2 (TCF/TEF)
Digital Arts and Animation Degree (École NAD, Montreal)
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
French: B2 (TCF/TEF)
Aluminium research tied to the Saguenay smelting industry.
Research on ice build-up on power lines and structures.
École NAD, its digital arts and animation school in Montreal.
Engineering graduates join aluminium, forestry and energy companies in the region.
École NAD graduates work in Montreal's animation, games and visual effects studios.
Graduates of eligible programmes can apply for a post-graduation work permit, and French helps with Quebec immigration.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
Main intake
Undergrad
Selected programmes
Postgrad
Selected programmes
Chicoutimi sits where the Saguenay fjord begins, with a riverside park and an old pulp mill turned museum. Campus is within walking distance of the centre.
Rent is low by Canadian standards. Winters are long and snowy, which suits skiers, while summer brings kayaking and whale watching further down the fjord.
Letter of acceptance from UQAC
Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
For September entry, UQAC's international deadline is usually around 1 February, and for January entry around 1 September. Some programmes accept later applications if places remain. Leave time for the CAQ, which comes before the study permit.
Most programmes start in September, and many also admit in January. A few graduate programmes take summer starts.
You need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and then a Canadian study permit, supported by the letter of acceptance from UQAC. Apply online to IRCC with proof of funds and biometrics.
Engineering, computer science, project management and École NAD's digital arts programmes are popular. Teaching is in French, so you'll need about B2 French, often shown with a TCF or TEF. Master's programmes need a relevant bachelor's degree.
UQAC offers some tuition exemption bursaries for international students, and graduate students may get funding through research supervisors. Quebec also exempts some nationalities from part of the international fee; check the current list.
