Bishop's University

What Bishop's University does

Bishop's University is a primarily undergraduate, English-language university founded in 1843 and located on a 550-acre campus in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec. The institution serves approximately 2,800 full-time students across over 100 programs spanning 25 departments in three faculties (Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences), two schools (Education, Williams School of Business), and a Graduate Studies division. Its operating model is built around a 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a residential campus community where most students live on-site, and a liberal education framework in which over half of graduates complete more than one concentration and over half of research personnel are undergraduates.

The university's revenue model is multi-stream: differentiated tuition based on residency status (Quebec residents pay $103.92/credit, out-of-province Canadians $324.35/credit, and international students $983.68/credit), mandatory compulsory fees ($1,913.85/year), campus residence fees (~$5,900/year), and required dining plans (~$6,532/year). The institution also derives material revenue from government sources, most notably an eight-year partnership agreement (2026-2034) with the Quebec government — alongside McGill and Concordia — providing up to approximately $20 million annually in provincial financing tied to French-language proficiency targets for out-of-province students. Additional grant revenue includes an $800,000 award from the Canada Foundation for Innovation as Bishop's share of the $12-million GRAIN collaboration supporting the European Space Agency's LISA gravitational wave mission.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: prospective students apply through an online portal, are recruited nationally and internationally via the Student Recruitment Office, and engage through campus tours, two annual open houses, student ambassador programs, and a guidance counselor network. The technology stack is conventional higher-ed infrastructure — Moodle for learning management, Microsoft Office 365 for email and collaboration, SharePoint for intranet, and an in-house "Octopus" ticketing platform — with no proprietary AI, SaaS, or platform products offered commercially. The institution is privately governed (Board of Governors and Senate) and operates as a public post-secondary entity within Quebec's regulatory framework.

Name

Bishop's University

Legal name

Bishop's University

Website

https://ubishops.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1843

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bishop's University is a primarily undergraduate, English-language university in Sherbrooke, Quebec, serving approximately 2,800 full-time students across over 100 programs with a 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a residential liberal arts model. Revenue comes from differentiated tuition, residence and dining fees, and Quebec government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Liberal arts education
• Teacher education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Bishop's generates primary revenue from tuition fees charged at differentiated rates based on student residency status (Quebec resident, out-of-province Canadian, international) and program level (undergraduate, graduate, thesis-based vs course-based).
2. Compulsory Fees: Mandatory fees charged to all students per semester, including student services and administrative charges.
3. Campus Housing (Residence): On-campus accommodation revenue from residence halls, managed through a separate billing account from tuition.
4. Dining Plans: Meal plan revenue from students living on campus, with required dining plans for on-campus residents and optional plans for off-campus students.
5. Government Funding: Provincial financing from Quebec government, including approximately $20 million annually through the French-language partnership agreement with the Quebec government (2026-2034), and federal/provincial research grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bishop's University is a primarily undergraduate, English-language university that delivers bachelor's and graduate degree programs across five faculties and two schools, with over 100 program offerings. It provides a residential liberal education experience on a 550-acre campus in Quebec's Eastern Townships, complemented by on-campus housing, meal plans, athletics (the Gaiters), and student support services for approximately 2,800 full-time students.

Product overview

Bishop's University is a primarily undergraduate, English-language university located in Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1843, it offers over 100 programs across five faculties (Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Social Sciences), two schools (School of Education, Williams School of Business), and a Graduate Studies division. The institution operates a liberal education model and provides campus living, athletics (Gaiters), and various student services. The university is not a software product company but an educational institution whose 'services' are academic programs, student support, and campus facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Quebec GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Eight-year partnership agreement (2026-2034) with Quebec's three English-language universities (McGill, Concordia, and Bishop's) to increase French proficiency among out-of-province students. Provides up to $20 million annually in provincial financing. Under the agreement, 60% of out-of-province undergraduates starting in fall 2026 must graduate with Level 4 French proficiency, with universities facing potential funding penalties for missing targets.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Bishop's University, through the GRAIN collaboration, contributes to the ESA's $2-billion LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, which will use three spacecraft to detect gravitational waves from colliding black holes at the centers of galaxies.
• GRAIN (Gravitational Wave Astrophysics Infrastructure Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Pan-Canadian research collaboration enabling Bishop's University researchers to contribute to gravitational wave detection research. The network supports Dr. John Ruan's team in developing software infrastructure for the ESA LISA mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Université de Sherbrooke: French-language Quebec university located in the same city (Sherbrooke) as Bishop's. Operates in the same local market and Quebec regulatory framework but does not directly compete given language differences, making it a regional peer for talent and local market dynamics.

Direct peers

• University of Prince Edward Island: Small Atlantic Canada primarily undergraduate university with a comparable scale and program mix. Similar in size, undergraduate focus, and small-university value proposition.
• St. Francis Xavier University: Small Nova Scotia-based primarily undergraduate university known for its tight-knit residential community and liberal arts model. Directly comparable in scale, undergraduate focus, and community-driven value proposition.
• Concordia University: Quebec English-language university that is a co-signatory to the Quebec government's French-language partnership agreement alongside Bishop's and McGill. Directly comparable as another English-language Quebec university with similar regulatory exposure and student demographics.
• Acadia University: Small Nova Scotia-based primarily undergraduate university with a similar liberal arts focus and intimate class sizes. Directly comparable in scale, program portfolio, and residential campus experience.
• Mount Allison University: Small Canadian primarily undergraduate liberal arts university with a similarly intimate learning environment and residential campus model. Highly comparable in scale (~2,000-2,500 students), program mix, and liberal arts positioning.
• McGill University: Quebec English-language university that, alongside Bishop's and Concordia, signed the 8-year French-language partnership with the Quebec government. Directly comparable as a private research-intensive English-language university operating under the same Quebec regulatory framework.
• University of King's College: Small Nova Scotia-based primarily undergraduate university with a foundational liberal arts and journalism focus. Comparable in scale, intimate learning model, and residential campus experience, though smaller than Bishop's.
• Trent University: Small Ontario-based primarily undergraduate university with a strong liberal arts and interdisciplinary focus. Comparable in scale, undergraduate emphasis, and emphasis on personalized learning.

Emerging players

• Wilfrid Laurier University: Mid-sized Ontario-based primarily undergraduate university with a strong liberal arts and business focus. Comparable in undergraduate emphasis and intimate learning approach, though materially larger than Bishop's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bishopsuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/ubishops
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/bishop's-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/ubishops
• TikToktiktok.com/@ubishops
• Xx.com/ubishops

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bishop's University