A Flexible Workforce

Employers in metro Montréal can count on a highly qualified workforce able to meet the needs of ultramodern high-tech industries, such as aerospace engineering, information and communication technologies and biopharmaceuticals. Montréal owes its highly flexible workforce to the excellent training offered by its universities, colleges and specialized schools and to the partnership that has developed between teaching institutions and businesses in the region via secondary, college and university programs that meet market needs.

Metro Montréal lays claim to a particularly vibrant and stimulating intellectual environment. The region ranks first in all of North America for the number of university students per capita and has 11 university-level institutions, including four large universities (two French-language and two English-language institutions), seven affiliated schools and over 60 private and public community colleges. Nearly 40% of the workforce in the Montréal area has a post secondary diploma from vocational schools, community colleges, or universities.

Montréal and Its Four Universities

McGill University
Founded in 1821, McGill University has 21 faculties and professional schools that offer more than 300 programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level. McGill is Canada’s leading research-intensive university, and has earned an international reputation for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery. McGill attracts renowned professors and
researchers from around the world and students from more than 150 countries, creating one of the most dynamic and diverse education environments in North America. There are approximately 23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students.

Concordia University
Concordia University has formal linkages with 89 institutions in 29 countries on five continents. Founded in 1974 through a merger of Sir George Williams University and Loyola College Concordia is recognized for the strength of its teaching and research. Concordia welcomes over 26,000 undergraduate and nearly 5,000 graduate students to its multiple state-of-the-art facilities on two campuses. The University offers over 180 programs and is home to 63 research chairs (22 of whom are Canada research Chairs) 18 research centres and 11 research institutes.

Université de Montréal
Founded in 1878, the Université de Montréal, with its two affiliated schools, the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal, is the largest university in Québec and the second largest in Canada. With over 55,000 students, the university awards some 10,000 diplomas annually in its many faculties and levels of study. The Université de Montréal includes
15 faculties and schools, offering courses and programs in virtually every academic field.

Université du Québec à Montréal
The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) opened its doors in 1969. The quality of its programs, its research in social issues and its innovations in the creative arts are the foundation stones of its reputation. The University offers training on campus, in its four regional centres and also long-distance, now that Télé-université (TÉLUQ) has come to
UQAM. Dynamic and innovative, UQAM offers about 300 programs at three levels of study through its School of Management and through its six faculties.

Metro Montréal has seven other university-level institutions:

The École Polytechnique de Montréal, affiliated with the Université de Montréal.
HEC Montréal, business school affiliated with the Université de Montréal.
The École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), affiliated with the Université du Québec.
The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), affiliated with the Université du Québec.
The École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP), affiliated with the Université du Québec.
Télé-université (TELUQ), affiliated with the Université du Québec.
Université de Sherbrooke campus in Longueuil.