Laval University
Université Laval is Canada's oldest university (founded 1852) and the largest French-language university in North America, offering ~600 programs across 17 faculties to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students in Quebec City and globally via MOOCs and 60+ country exchange networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1852
- HeadquartersQuebec, Canada
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Laval University does
Université Laval is Canada's oldest university (founded 1852) and the largest French-language university in North America, headquartered in Quebec City on a 1.8 km² main campus with 40 buildings. It offers approximately 600 programs across 17 faculties from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels and houses 300+ research units, chairs, centres, and institutes, including the world-leading Forêt Montmorency (the largest teaching and research forest globally), a 6-million-document library system, and the CHU de Québec-Université Laval hospital network. It has educated over 359,000 living alumni over its 350+ year history.
The university operates a digital ecosystem anchored on monPortail (a student portal for registration, academic records, and services), complemented by a MOOC platform that has attracted 250,000+ learners over the past decade, AI-assisted administrative tools, and a Virtual Reality Clinical Simulator for medical training. Its core technology focus spans Arctic/northern research (Sentinel North program with 215+ researchers and 4,600+ scientific papers), collaborative robotics, pandemic preparedness (Canada Excellence Research Chair in zoonotic respiratory viruses), and sustainable development (49% Scope 1+2 GHG reduction vs. 2006 baseline). It ranked 7th globally in climate action on the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and #1 in Canada for organizational culture by Forbes for two consecutive years (2025–2026).
Revenue is generated through four principal streams: (1) majority provincial and federal government grants and subsidies as a Quebec public university, (2) tuition and student fees set under the regulated Quebec framework with differential domestic and international rates, (3) research grants and contracts from agencies such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation and industry partners, and (4) philanthropy via the Carrefour international Brian-Mulroney campaign, which raised $87M in 2024-25 (including a $20M Quebecor gift — the largest single donation in university history) and $49.88M in broader philanthropic support that year. The university distributes programs through direct on-campus enrollment, distance learning, CEGEP-to-university pathways, and international exchange agreements spanning 60+ countries with preferred partners including São Paulo State University, University of Lausanne, Côte d'Azur University, and the University of Bordeaux.
Laval University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Laval University
- Legal name
- Université Laval
- Website
- https://ulaval.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1852
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Université Laval is Canada's oldest university (founded 1852) and the largest French-language university in North America, offering ~600 programs across 17 faculties to undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students in Quebec City and globally via MOOCs and 60+ country exchange networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Laval University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
Keywords
Where Laval University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Quebec
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Laval University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government funding and subsidies: As a public university in Quebec, Université Laval receives the majority of its operating revenue from provincial and federal government grants, subsidies, and public funding programs.
- Tuition and student fees: Domestic and international students pay tuition and academic fees for enrollment in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Fees vary by program and student origin.
- Philanthropy and donations: The university raises funds through its philanthropy and alumni relations division. The Carrefour international Brian-Mulroney campaign reached $87 million, with a landmark $20 million donation from Quebecor. In 2024-25, $49.88 million in support was directed to student community, educational innovation, research, and infrastructure upgrades.
- Research grants and contracts: Université Laval generates revenue through research grants from federal and provincial agencies (e.g., Canada Foundation for Innovation), international research partnerships, and collaborative research agreements with industry and government.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Per session | Quebec and Canadian students — standard domestic tuition rates |
| Subscription | Per session | International students — full-cost tuition |
| Subscription | Per course/program | Continuing education and professional development programs |
| Other | Annual | Bourses de réussite — graduate student scholarships |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Laval University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Université Laval is a public research university delivering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across approximately 600 programs and 17 faculties, together with continuing education, MOOCs, and distance learning. The university also conducts research through more than 300 research units and offers enterprise and consulting services to businesses and government partners. Campus services include libraries, sports facilities, residences, and the affiliated hospital network CHU de Québec.
Product overview
Université Laval operates as a comprehensive university system offering educational services across multiple faculties and schools. The institution provides a portfolio of student-facing digital services including monPortail (student portal), Capsule (academic management), and distance learning options. Additional services include library resources (Bibliothèque with 6 million documents), athletic facilities (PEPS), student residences (2,300 rooms), and enterprise services. The university also offers continuing education, language schools, and summer programs. The digital ecosystem supports approximately 600 programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels across 17 faculties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs (1st cycle) Bachelor's-level degree programs across 17 faculties and approximately 600 offerings, delivered on campus in Quebec City and through CEGEP-to-university pathways for Quebec, Canadian, and international students.
- Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs (2nd and 3rd cycles) Master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral research training programs with access to 300+ research units, Canada Excellence Research Chairs, the Sentinel North strategy, and Bourses de réussite scholarships.
- Continuing Education and Professional Development Continuing education, certification, and executive programs for working professionals and lifelong learners, available on campus and at a distance.
- MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) Open online courses available to the public, including the French Immersion Pathway for language learning, accessible globally.
- Distance Learning (Formation à distance) Remote education programs and courses enabling students to pursue university studies fully online from anywhere in the world.
- Services aux entreprises (Business Services) Applied research, consulting, and training services delivered to businesses and government bodies, including the Mouvement Entreprises Vertes Québec energy transition program and the ENAP governance/public market management graduate program.
- Student Residences Sustainable on-campus student residences providing 2,300 rooms, serving enrolled undergraduate and graduate students.
- PEPS Sports Complex (Complexe sportif) One of Canada's largest modern sports complexes offering recreational and competitive sports facilities for students, staff, and the wider community.
- Library Services (Bibliothèque) University library housing 6 million documents and thousands of electronic resources, available to students, faculty, and authorized researchers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 in Canada for organizational culture by Forbes for second consecutive year (2026)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Laval University
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Laval University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Laval University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered preferred, core and minor.
- São Paulo State University (UNESP)preferredUniversité Laval has maintained a preferred partnership with São Paulo State University since 2007 as part of the university's international development strategy focused on cultivating partnerships with select, renowned institutions.
- University of LausannepreferredPreferred partnership established since 2007 with the University of Lausanne, a renowned Swiss research university, supporting joint research, student exchanges, and academic collaborations.
- Côte d'Azur UniversitypreferredPreferred partnership with Côte d'Azur University in France, developed since 2007 to foster scientific collaboration, faculty exchanges, and joint academic initiatives.
- Community of Universities and Educational Institutions of Aquitaine (ComUE)preferredSix-member university grouping including the University of Bordeaux, with which Université Laval maintains a preferred partnership enabling collaborative research and student mobility across the consortium.
- Université Laval Hospital Centre (CHU de Québec-Université Laval)coreAffiliated hospital centre comprising Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, CHUL, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Hôpital Saint-François d'Assise, Centre de pédopsychiatrie de Québec, Maison Paul-Triquet, and Centre de traitement dans la communauté. Serves as the primary clinical training and research platform for the Faculty of Medicine.
- École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP)corePartnership with ENAP to create a new graduate degree in governance and public market management, featuring a curriculum addressing integrity, strategic performance, accountability, and public procurement alignment.
- Mouvement Entreprises Vertes QuébeccoreCo-managed by professors Marc Journeault and Alexandre Gajevic Sayegh, this initiative mobilizes and guides businesses through energy transition and adoption of greener practices. Since March 2024, a team has guided 35 companies and empowered 50+ companies through training activities.
- Institut Mallet pour l'avancement de la culture philanthropiqueminorRegional partner supporting philanthropic culture and community giving initiatives in Quebec.
- ArcticNetcoreUniversité Laval participates in ArcticNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence, contributing to Canada's northern and Arctic research agenda.
- Québec InternationalminorRegional economic development partner supporting business services and regional prosperity initiatives.
- Musée de la civilisationminorCultural partnership with one of Quebec's leading museums, supporting knowledge sharing and cultural engagement with the university and broader community.
Scale indicators20 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Laval University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Université de Montréal: Largest French-language university in Canada and ULaval's principal in-province competitor. Comparable on program breadth, research intensity, and Francophone identity, with overlapping student-recruitment channels in Quebec and comparable faculty structures across medicine, law, and sciences.
- Concordia University: Montreal-based public research university with similar scale and Quebec operating environment. Comparable on applied research, professional programs, and continuing education; competes with ULaval for Quebec undergraduates and graduate students.
- McGill University: Major Canadian research university in Montreal, Quebec. Directly comparable in scale, research intensity, and Quebec-based student market; ULaval and McGill are the two flagship research universities in the province and compete for top Quebec students and federal research funding.
- Polytechnique Montréal: Quebec engineering school with comparable research intensity and Quebec-government funding model. Comparable for STEM and engineering graduate students and federally funded research collaborations in robotics and applied sciences (e.g., Clément Gosselin's area of work).
- Université du Québec: Provincial public university network (UQAM, INRS, ENAP, etc.) with the same Quebec government funding model and overlapping student base. Direct competitor for undergraduate Quebec students and federal research dollars, particularly through constituent schools like INRS and ENAP.
- Université de Sherbrooke: Public Quebec research university. Closely comparable in mission (Quebec public research university with co-op and applied research strengths), governance model (Quebec government funding), and student market overlap, making it a structural peer rather than a niche competitor.
Broad incumbents
- University of British Columbia: Major Canadian public research university with comparable scale, multi-campus structure, and large international student population. A broad incumbent peer for federal research funding, international student recruitment, and continuing education.
- University of Toronto: Canada's largest research university and the dominant incumbent for federal grant funding and international graduate students. A broader incumbent peer with overlapping research mission, multi-campus system, and similar continuing-education and MOOC activity.
Emerging players
- Sorbonne Université: Leading French-language research university in France with deep specialization in sciences, medicine, and humanities. Comparable as a Francophone research-intensive peer and a natural partner in ULaval's existing Côte d'Azur/Bordeaux/Lausanne Francophone network; relevant for benchmarking research output and international student mobility.
Regional players
- University of Geneva: Swiss public research university with similar multilingual/bilingual character and strong international research profile. Comparable as a non-Quebec peer with a similar mix of European research partnerships, international students, and Francophone institutional identity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Laval University social profiles
Digital presenceLaval University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Laval University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Laval University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Laval University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Laval University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Laval University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Laval University
What does Laval University do?
Université Laval is a public research university delivering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education across approximately 600 programs and 17 faculties, together with continuing education, MOOCs, and distance learning. The university also conducts research through more than 300 research units and offers enterprise and consulting services to businesses and government partners. Campus services include libraries, sports facilities, residences, and the affiliated hospital network CHU de Québec.
Is Laval University a public or private company?
Laval University is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Laval University founded?
Laval University was founded in 1852. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Laval University based?
Laval University is headquartered in Quebec, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Laval University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government funding and subsidies are the primary driver. The others are tuition and student fees, philanthropy and donations and research grants and contracts.
Who are Laval University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Université de Montréal, Concordia University, McGill University, Polytechnique Montréal, Université du Québec and Université de Sherbrooke. Broad incumbents are University of British Columbia and University of Toronto. Sorbonne Université is listed as an emerging player. University of Geneva is listed as a regional player.
Does Laval University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Laval University.
What industry is Laval University in?
Laval University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAG, Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions, with a secondary code of EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.