Overview

The Université de Montréal (UdeM) is a Canadian public French-language university founded in 1878. It is located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and offers more than 600 programs across 13 faculties including arts and sciences, education, law, medicine, theology, architecture, social work, criminology, and other fields. Currently, the university features 13 faculties, 67,000 students, and 2,300 professors. 

Established in 1878, the Université de Montréal is a prominent public research institution located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. As one of the leading French-speaking universities in the world, it is also known for being the birthplace of some of the best research centres in Canada, including the renowned Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA) and the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC). MILA (Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms) — co-founded by Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio, who leads the world's largest academic deep learning research group — makes UdeM the global capital of artificial intelligence research, with Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook AI, and Samsung all maintaining research laboratories within walking distance of the campus. 

The Université de Montréal's main campus is situated on the northern slope of Mount Royal in Montreal, offering picturesque views and a vibrant academic environment. With its affiliated schools, HEC Montréal (business) and Polytechnique Montréal (engineering), the Université de Montréal is a leading hub of higher education. It ranks 3rd in Canada for its research activities and 4th by volume of research. 

Montreal is consistently ranked one of the world's top student cities — bilingual (French and English), vibrant, culturally rich, safe, and extraordinarily affordable compared to Toronto, Vancouver, or any American city. Home to 4 universities and over 200,000 students, Montreal's youthful, entrepreneurial energy combined with UdeM's world-class research environment creates an unparalleled environment for ambitious international students.

Notable alumni include Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau (briefly studied at UdeM before transferring), Premier of Quebec Lucien Bouchard, Nobel Prize-winning immunologist Tadamitsu Kishimoto (affiliated faculty), and Yoshua Bengio — the AI pioneer who is one of the "Godfathers of Deep Learning" and winner of the 2018 Turing Award (the "Nobel Prize of Computing").

Intakes

The University of Montreal follows Fall, Winter, and Summer admission cycles. 

Fall Intake (September) — Primary and largest intake; open to all undergraduate and graduate programs.

• Application deadline for most programs: February 1 – March 1 (for September entry); verify by program
• Some competitive programs (Medicine, Law) close earlier in November–January

Winter Intake (January) — Secondary intake; available for select programs.

• Application deadline: September 1 – October 1 of the preceding year

Summer Intake (May) — Limited; select graduate programs only; verify availability at umontreal.ca.

Important for Indian Students:

• Application fee: CAD $131 (approximately ₹8,122) — non-refundable
• Most UdeM programs are taught in French; French language proficiency (B2 level) is mandatory for most programs — this is the single most important requirement for Indian students to plan for
• A growing number of programs — especially at the graduate level and through affiliated MILA — are available in English or bilingual format; verify program language carefully
• Canada Student Visa (Study Permit) required; financial proof of approximately CAD $15,000/year in living funds required for Quebec visa applications
• International students can work up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during holidays
• Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): Up to 3 years depending on program length; pathway to Canadian PR through Quebec's PEQ (Programme de l'expérience québécoise) — faster than Express Entry for Quebec graduates who speak French

Note: Polygon Campus primarily assists with graduate-level admissions. French language is the single most critical factor for UdeM — students planning to study here should begin French language preparation (targeting B2/DELF B2) at least 12–18 months before intended enrollment.

Top Courses

The University of Montreal offers more than 600 programs to its students across 13 faculties. Indian students can pursue about 350 graduate programs at the university. Key faculties and programs include: 

Faculty of Arts and Sciences — Département d'informatique et de recherche opérationnelle (DIRO)

• BSc in Computer Science — home of the MILA research ecosystem
• MSc in Computer Science — AI and Machine Learning tracks; globally elite research environment
• PhD in Computer Science — MILA-affiliated; working with Yoshua Bengio's group; among the world's most sought-after AI PhD positions
• MSc / PhD in Artificial Intelligence (emerging standalone program)
• MSc in Biomedical Informatics
• MSc in Mathematics / Statistics / Physics / Chemistry / Biology

Faculty of Medicine (Faculté de médecine)

• MD (Médecine — French-taught; highly selective)
• MSc / PhD in Biomedical Sciences — English tracks available
• MSc in Global Health — English-taught; growing program
• PhD in Biomedical Engineering
• MSc in Neurosciences

Faculty of Law (Faculté de droit)

• LLB in Law (French-taught)
• LLM (Master's in Law) — various specialisations
• DCL (Doctor of Civil Laws)

HEC Montréal (Business School — AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA Triple Crown — Affiliated School)

• BCom in Business Administration (French-taught)
• MSc in Finance — English-taught; very popular for Indian students
• MSc in Business Analytics — English-taught
• MSc in Management — English-taught
• MBA (full-time; English and French tracks)
• MSc in Information Technology Management

Polytechnique Montréal (Engineering School — Affiliated)

• BEng in various Engineering disciplines — top engineering school in Quebec
• MEng / MSc in Engineering (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical / Chemical / Computer)
• MSc in Artificial Intelligence (engineering application focus)
• PhD in Engineering disciplines

Faculty of Education (Faculté des sciences de l'éducation)

• BEd (Bachelor of Education — French-taught)
• MEd in Educational Sciences / Educational Technology

Faculty of Psychology (Faculté des arts et des sciences — Département de psychologie)

• BSc / MSc / PhD in Psychology — top psychology programs in Canada

Institut de recherche en immunologie et en cancérologie (IRIC)

• PhD in Cancer Research / Immunology — fully funded research doctoral positions

Cost of Studying at Université de Montréal

Annual tuition fees at University of Montreal range between CAD $21,545 and CAD $62,600 (approximately ₹13.4L–₹38.8L) for graduate programs, and CAD $28,727 (approximately ₹17.8L) for undergraduate courses. International students pay around CAD $18,000–$22,000 per year for undergraduate programs, and CAD $10,000–$15,000 per year for graduate and PhD programs. 

The students coming to study at the University of Montreal can expect to spend between CAD $1,500 and CAD $3,000 per month excluding tuition fees. Overall, Montreal is a relatively affordable city to live in, especially compared to other major cities in Canada and the United States. Montreal's cost of living is 30–40% lower than Toronto or Vancouver, making UdeM one of the most cost-effective research university destinations in North America for Indian students. Note: 1 CAD ≈ ₹62. 

Note: All INR conversions calculated at 1 CAD = ₹62. UdeM's UdeM Exemption Scholarship can dramatically reduce tuition to near-zero for outstanding international students — making net costs significantly lower than the above. Montreal is significantly more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver. Quebec study permit applicants must demonstrate approximately CAD $15,000/year in living funds. Please refer to UdeM's official fees page (umontreal.ca/en/tuition-fees) for the most current 2026–27 fee schedule.

Scholarships

The Université de Montréal has launched a new scholarship programme that will relieve international students from paying additional tuition fees. This programme aims to assist the top talent from around the world in attending one of the world's leading francophone research universities. New candidates' files will be evaluated to determine their eligibility and the amount of their exemption scholarship — no separate application required.

Key funding opportunities include:

• UdeM Exemption Scholarship for International Students (UG) — The UdeM Exemption Scholarship Program for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs provides significant tuition fee waivers, helping talented students from diverse backgrounds access high-quality education; since its inception in Fall 2020, the program has provided significant fee exemptions; automatically assessed — no separate application required; can reduce international tuition to domestic rates (effectively near zero for fully exempted students) 
• Partial Exemption Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies — Partial tuition fee exemption for outstanding international Master's students; automatically considered during the admissions assessment process; amounts vary by program and faculty
• UdeM Excellence PhD Scholarship — For outstanding incoming doctoral students; covers full tuition plus a monthly stipend; highly competitive; applied for during the PhD admissions process
• MILA (Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms) PhD Fellowships — Fully-funded PhD positions for students working in AI and machine learning research with MILA faculty; stipend of approximately CAD $20,000–$25,000/year plus full tuition coverage; extremely competitive; the most sought-after AI PhD funding in Canada
• PBEEE — Quebec Merit Scholarship for Foreign Students — Provincial scholarship offered by the Government of Quebec; covers graduate and postdoctoral students; significant stipend; apply through the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ); deadline typically November
• Bourse de la Francophonie — For students from French-speaking countries or students with strong French proficiency; covers tuition and living support; apply through the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships — Federal government scholarship; CAD $50,000/year (approximately ₹31L/year) for 3 years for PhD students; apply through UdeM's graduate office
• NSERC / SSHRC / CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships — Federal research funding for Master's and PhD students; CAD $17,500–$35,000/year; open to international students enrolled at Canadian universities
• On the Road to Inclusive Mobility Scholarship — UdeM offers this scholarship program targeting graduate students; merit-based partial funding; check eligibility for Indian nationals 

Note: Indian students should ensure their UdeM application is as strong as possible — the UdeM Exemption Scholarship is automatically assessed during admission and can dramatically reduce or eliminate international tuition surcharges. For AI and computer science PhD students, the MILA Fellowship is the most prestigious and transformative funding opportunity.

Admissions

Admission to University of Montreal is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 57%. The university reportedly has an international student acceptance rate of 40–50%. Details of admission to various levels of study at University of Montreal: For graduate programs, a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.3 scale (or equivalent) is required; undergraduate applicants must have successfully completed a high school diploma. 

For Graduate (Master's / Doctoral) Programs:

• Bachelor's degree from a recognised university; minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.3 scale (or equivalent) for most programs; competitive programs (Medicine, Computer Science / AI, Law) require higher 
• French Language Proficiency (B2 level — DELF B2 or equivalent) mandatory for most French-taught programs — the single most critical requirement for Indian students; some English-taught programs at HEC Montréal and Polytechnique exempt this requirement
• TOEFL iBT 90+ / IELTS 6.5+ for English-taught programs
• Statement of Purpose / Letter of Motivation; CV / Résumé
• 2 Letters of Recommendation (academic referees preferred)
• Official academic transcripts; Application fee: CAD $131
• Research Proposal required for PhD applications; supervisor identification strongly recommended

For Undergraduate Programs:

• Higher secondary certificate (Class 12 / CBSE / ISC / IB) with strong academic record; specific subject prerequisites depend on faculty
• French language proficiency (B2 level) mandatory for all UG programs — all undergraduate programs at UdeM are taught entirely in French
• Minimum 75–80% in Class 12 for most programs; Medicine and Law require higher; IB diploma accepted (minimum 28–32 points)
• Application fee: CAD $131

Indian students can check UdeM's specific admission requirements for their chosen program directly through Polygon Campus.

Placements