Living in Québec City
Known worldwide for its rich history and European charm, Québec City is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. The city on the St. Lawrence River offers an exceptional quality of life and affordable cost of living and tops the list of Canada’s safest urban centres. With its cultural and economic vitality, Québec has all the benefits of a big city in spectacular natural surroundings.
Living in French
There’s no better place to experience North America’s French culture than Québec City. With its rich history and close ties to France, it is considered the cradle of French civilization in North America. In fact, Université Laval was the very first French-language university established in North America. Québec City and Université Laval offer the perfect setting for learning French at your own pace.
Studying in Québec City
Studying in Québec City means opting for a deeply unique and enriching experience—one where you can undertake high-quality studies while immersing yourself in North America’s French-speaking culture. Université Laval and the other universities in the area contribute significantly to Québec City’s vibrant research and development sector. What’s more, the city has an international airport and a fantastic geographic location, making it the perfect starting point to travel anywhere in Canada and the United States.
A rich and vibrant culture
Québec City is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, offering a wealth of activities in both summer and winter. It has several theatres and performance venues, museums and visitor centres, and numerous art galleries. Québec City hosts festivals and cultural events throughout the year, including the Québec City Summer Festival (one of the biggest musical events in Canada), the ComediHa Fest, the Carrefour international de théâtre and the TD New France Festival. Plus it has scores of bars, cafés, and bistros where you can gather with friends or family.
UNESCO City of Literature
Québec is the first francophone city to be named a UNESCO City of Literature, a credit to its extensive library network, the Maison de la littérature, and the city’s many writers, publishers, and booksellers. The city is also a source of inspiration and creativity with its poetry events, themed walking tours, and the Québec en toutes lettres literary festival.
Nature and outdoor activities
Québec City is a dream come true for sports enthusiasts and nature lovers. Its trove of green spaces includes one of the world’s largest urban parks, the Plains of Abraham. The city’s surrounding mountains, rivers, and lakes are just a short hop away, and the perfect place to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities year round. Check out the Québec Winter Carnival, the biggest event of its kind in the world, admire Montmorency Falls in spring, take a summer cruise on the St. Lawrence River, or stroll the orchards on Ile d’Orléans in fall—there are plenty of possibilities to choose from!
Great food
Trailblazing restaurants, food-themed itineraries, agritourism venues, opportunities to meet local producers, and the Québec Exquis! food festival make Québec City an exciting destination for foodies. Discover the city’s many flavours, from gourmet poutine and maple products to ciders and other local specialties.
Affordable cost of living
The cost of living in Québec City is moderate and housing is very reasonable compared to most North American cities. This makes Université Laval an affordable study destination. The on-campus residences offer reasonably priced accommodation and various off-campus housing options are also available nearby.
St. Lawrence river
The St. Lawrence River, with its imposing presence, offers gorgeous vistas from every angle. There are so many ways to enjoy the river: walk or bike along the shoreline Samuel-De Champlain Promenade, admire the cruise ships in port at Place des Canotiers, or try one of the many nautical activities offered just steps from the city and campus. Baie de Beauport even has a beach where you can kick back and make the most of everything the St. Lawrence has to offer.
