Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Key Highlights

• Public constituent university in the Université du Québec network
• Founded in 1969
• Independent legal personality under Québec law
• Operating and offering degree study in 2026-2027

Student Life & Environment

Student life is centred on the Chicoutimi campus, where academic buildings sit alongside sports, arts, food, support, and residential facilities. UQAC’s student-services hub provides assistance with learning, psychological well-being, educational and career orientation, financial aid, immigration questions, employment, and housing. These services can be especially useful for students arriving from outside Saguenay or outside Canada. The university supports student-led projects, cultural events, exhibitions, competitions, performances, and discovery outings. Its student association, MAGE-UQAC, represents students and operates services that include a campus bar and food outlet. Students can also participate in university sport and use the sports pavilion, subject to the applicable access arrangements and fees. Housing is available both on and off campus, but UQAC expressly places responsibility for securing accommodation on the student. The Val-Lomberette residences comprise several apartment-style configurations near campus. Published 2026-2027 monthly prices range from CAD 480 for a bedroom in a four-bedroom unit to CAD 810 for a studio, with other room configurations between those figures. Availability is not guaranteed, so students should contact the residence operator and review the lease terms before making travel plans. UQAC’s housing-information service also provides search guidance and information about tenants’ rights and responsibilities. Students living off campus should budget independently for furnishings, utilities, food, and commuting because these vary by property and are not represented by residence prices alone.

Location & Surroundings

UQAC’s principal campus is in Chicoutimi, one of the main urban centres within the City of Saguenay in Québec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. The official address is 555 boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi. The campus is near central Chicoutimi and combines an urban service environment with access to the region’s forests, waterways, and outdoor recreation. The university reports that students enrolled at UQAC can access the Société de transport du Saguenay public-transit network through the campus transit arrangement and associated student fee. This can reduce the need for a car for routine travel, although students should check routes and service frequency against their housing and class schedule. Campus parking is regulated and requires the relevant permit. Saguenay–Bagotville Airport is approximately 15 kilometres from the university; UQAC estimates a taxi or driving journey of roughly 15 to 20 minutes under typical conditions. Longer-distance travellers should plan onward transportation in advance because Chicoutimi is outside Québec’s largest metropolitan areas. Winter conditions are also a material planning consideration for clothing, commuting, and arrival logistics.

Costs & Career Outcomes

UQAC does not have one universal tuition figure. Charges depend on residency or immigration status, academic cycle, program type, credit load, and exemptions. The university states that Québec sets tuition rates and provides an online calculator for an individualized estimate. Students should use that calculator for their intended term and then add compulsory ancillary charges, housing, food, books, insurance, immigration expenses, and travel. Current application charges published in August 2026 were CAD 30, non-refundable, for applicants from Canada. International applicants paid a non-refundable CAD 100 application fee. Most international first-cycle applicants also paid a CAD 900 deposit credited toward tuition, while applicants from France and Belgium were excluded from that deposit rule; international second- and third-cycle applicants did not pay the deposit. Applicants should recheck these amounts before submitting payment. For context only, UQAC’s international budget page still used rounded fall 2025 tuition estimates, so they should not be treated as 2026-2027 prices. The university’s live tuition calculator is the safer planning tool. On-campus housing published for 2026-2027 ranged from CAD 480 per month for a room in a four-bedroom unit to CAD 810 for a studio. Career preparation differs by discipline. Some programs include placements or internship pathways, and UQAC maintains an employment portal for students and graduates with student jobs, internships, temporary roles, and permanent positions. Student services also provide employment and educational or career-orientation assistance. The sources reviewed do not support a university-wide placement rate, graduate salary, or named-employer outcome, so none is claimed here.