Université Laval
Canada's oldest French university - comprehensive research in Quebec City with exceptional affordability.
Université Laval, founded in 1852, is the oldest French-language university in North America. Located in Quebec City on a large, fully self-contained campus, Laval has a distinctly residential campus feel unusual for a major research university. It is strong across virtually all disciplines and is particularly well-regarded in forestry, agriculture, pharmacy, and the social sciences.
What average do you need to get into Laval?
There is no single Laval acceptance rate - admission is program-by-program. Top competitive programs like Medicine (MD) require high 90s (CEGEP-based), while programs at the more accessible end admit students with averages around high 80s. A competitive overall average for most Laval programs is roughly the mid-80s and up. Check the per-program admission averages below to find your target.
Key Facts
- Location: Quebec City, QC
- Founded: 1852
- Students: 47,000
- Maclean's ranking: #12
- QS World ranking: #469
- Approximate domestic tuition: $4500/year
- Co-op available: No
Top Strengths
- Forestry
- Agriculture
- Medicine
- Law
- Pharmacy
- Architecture
- Social Sciences
Admission Averages by Program
Real admission average ranges for Laval programs, from most accessible to most competitive:
- Medicine (MD) — admission average: high 90s (CEGEP-based) (Highly competitive, serves Quebec City and regional health system.)
- Law (LLB) — admission average: high 80s (One of Quebec's top law faculties, civil law focus.)
- Forestry & Wood Sciences — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (One of Canada's most respected forestry programs, unique Quebec forest industry access.)
- Agricultural Sciences — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (Strong Quebec agri-food sector connections.)
- Architecture — admission average: high 80s + portfolio (Respected program with Quebec City's rich built heritage as context.)
- Pharmacy (PharmD) — admission average: high 90s (One of Canada's limited number of pharmacy programs.)
- Computer Science — admission average: high 80s (Growing program, Quebec City tech sector expanding.)
- Business (FSA ULaval) — admission average: high 80s (Well-regarded Quebec City business school, strong accounting program.)
- Nursing — admission average: high 80s (Strong clinical training, good Quebec health network connections.)
- Psychology — admission average: high 80s (Large program, strong research infrastructure.)
- Education — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (Quebec teacher certification, French instruction.)
- Environmental Sciences — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (Strong sustainable development and environmental research focus.)
Things to Know
- Laval's campus is one of North America's largest and most self-contained - essentially a small city.
- All instruction is in French - strong French proficiency is required.
- Quebec City is significantly more affordable than Montreal - a real quality-of-life advantage.
- Forestry and agricultural programs are among Canada's best and directly connected to Quebec's major industries.
Notable Alumni
- Brian Mulroney
- Jean Chrétien
- Pauline Marois