Canada (Laval University)

Université Laval was the very first French-language university in North America. In 1663 Monsignor François de Montmorency-Laval founded the colony’s first educational institution: Séminaire de Québec. In 1852, this institution became a university and the first building block for all French-language higher education in Québec, Canada, and North America.

The history of Université Laval is closely tied to that of Québec. For centuries this institution of higher learning has trained the intellectual elite of French-speaking Québec, and its influence continues to this day.

New ideas and excellence are the core values of Université Laval, which over the years has educated and graduated over 326,000 individuals, each of whom in their own way has contributed to the progress of their community and of society as a whole.For 350 years Université Laval has shown tomorrow’s leaders how to achieve their goals and has demonstrated its commitment to tackling society’s greatest challenges.