University of Quebec at Rimouski

Université du Québec à Rimouski
Type	Public
Established	1969
Affiliation	Université du Québec
Rector	François Deschênes
Academic staff	210 professors on campus + 325 lecturers
Administrative staff	300
Students	~7200
Undergraduates	~5400
Postgraduates	~1300
Doctoral students	~175
Location	Rimouski Lévis , Quebec , Canada 48°27′10.46″N 68°30′46.02″W / 48.4529056°N 68.5127833°W / 48.4529056; -68.5127833
Campus	Urban (Lévis and Rimouski)
Colours	Ultramarine blue
Website	https://www.uqar.ca/

The Université du Québec à Rimouski (French pronunciation: [ynivɛʁsite dy kebɛk a ʁimuski]; commonly referred to as UQAR) (Translation to English: University of Quebec at Rimouski) is a public university located in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada, with a campus in Lévis. Established in 1969, UQAR offers academic training throughout eastern Quebec, including the Chaudière-Appalaches, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Haute-Côte-Nord, and Manicouagan areas. It also has permanent offices in Gaspé and Rivière-du-Loup.^[1]

UQAR is part of the Université du Québec network, the largest university network in Canada, with over 100,000 students. UQAR accepts approximately 7,000 new students every year,^[2] including about 550 international students from over 45 countries.^[3] UQAR's primary areas of study include marine science, regional development, and Nordic studies.^[1]

The university's athletics teams are known as the Nordet, a French word used to refer to a northeasterly wind, and to UQAR's location in Quebec.

Religious and community leaders first proposed establishing a university in Rimouski in the 1930s. By the 1950s, the Séminaire de Rimouski had begun offering post-secondary level courses in partnership with Université Laval.^[4] Following the onset of the Quiet Revolution in Québec, post-secondary access expanded in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The Parent Commission report established that Québec's citizens were entitled to full educational opportunities at all levels.^[5] Implementing the report's recommendations necessitated secularizing the province's educational system, which had largely been run by religious organizations.^[5] An act creating the Université du Québec was passed by the provincial legislative assembly in 1968. One year later, the Université du Québec à Rimouski opened on the grounds of the former monastery of the Ursulines of Quebec.^[6]

From 1969 to 1973, UQAR was known as the Centre d'études universitaires de Rimouski (CEUR) (Centre of University Studies of Rimouski).^[6]

In its inaugural year, the CEUR counted 139 full-time students and 306 part-time students.^[6] Low enrollment in its early years prompted the university to open regional centres across the Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions.^[6] Early expansion of available programs focused on oceanography.^[2]

By 1970, more than 1,500 students were enrolled at the CEUR, though only 308 as full-time students.^[6]

In 1973, the CEUR became the Université du Québec à Rimouski, with Alcide H. Horth serving as its first rector.

During the night of May 13-14, 2009, at approximately 1:30 AM, the fire alarm system was triggered and reported by the on-duty Rimouski campus security agent. At the same time, smoke was spotted by patrolmen from the Sûreté du Québec. The fire resulted in a general alarm for the Rimouski fire department, prompting assistance from the fire departments of Bic and St-Anaclet. By midday, the fire was contained and mostly put out. It resulted in the destruction of the main wing's belfry as well as major fire damage to the roof and water damage to the floors below.

The affected wing housed procurement and printing services, student services, the student bookstore, the rector's and vice-rector's offices, finances and human resources, as well as classrooms and working spaces for graduate students. The university's geography department used the classrooms located on the 5th floor, directly under the fire-damaged part of the building, and researchers occupied the offices located directly under the collapsed belfry. Many graduate students also worked on the 5th floor.

The damage was estimated at the time to be at least $3 million.^[7]

The administrative capital of the Lower St. Lawrence region and a maritime community, Rimouski is also a "student city" that accommodates 15,000 students every year. Students represent nearly one in three people living in the town of 50,000.^[8]

The Rimouski campus has 11 pavilions in addition to student residences. The Rimouski campus also houses the Rimouski Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMER) and the Centre for Support for Innovation through Research (CAIR).^[9]

The university opened a second campus in Lévis, Québec's capital region, in 1980. The Lévis campus of UQAR has become a major pole for the institution. In 2019–2020, the Lévis campus was attended by about 3,000 students.^[10][11]

UQAR offers academic training throughout eastern Quebec, including the Chaudière-Appalaches, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Haute-Côte-Nord, and Manicouagan. It also has permanent offices in Gaspé and Rivière-du-Loup.^[12]

The current rector is François Deschênes.^[2]

UQAR has established more than 70 cooperation and exchange programs with about 15 countries around the world. Each year, UQAR welcomes about 550 international students.^[1]

As of 2025, more than 7,200 students are enrolled at UQAR, an increase of 3.6% from 2024, according to the university. Of these students, 1,304 are international students.^[2] The number of new registrations from international students decreased from 385 in 2024 to 243 in 2025.^[2]

UQAR provides more than 160 academic programs, ranging from undergraduate to doctoral levels, across disciplines such as administration, biology, environmental and bioresource chemistry, regional development, education, ethics, engineering, geography, history, computer science, literature and creative writing, oceanography, psychosociology, accounting, nursing, and social work.^[13]

Marine science, regional development, and Nordic studies are the three major areas of research at UQAR. These fields are integrated to meet the challenges of the territory covered by the university.^[14]

From 2011 to 2019, UQAR was rated among the top three research universities offering primarily undergraduate courses by the independent firm, RE$EARCH Infosource Inc.^[15] Over a ten-year period from 1999 to 2009, UQAR's research funding increased from $3.8 million to $17.4 million.^[16]

The university is an active member of the University of the Arctic.^[17] UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.^[18]

UQAR participates in UArctic's mobility program, north2north. The program aims to enable member institution students to study in different parts of the North.^[19]

The Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (UQAR) is the largest Francophone university research institute in marine science in Canada, and sponsors many research projects in Quebec.^[21]

At the beginning of the Quiet Revolution in the 1960s, the Quebec and Canadian governments identified the Lower St. Lawrence and Gaspésie regions as future regions for social experimentation in the area of regional development.^[22]

UQAR is looking to better grasp the issues and problems facing regions in connection with current economic and societal changes. Researchers associated with this line of research analyse socioterritorial dynamics affecting regions and create tools for development assistance.

UQAR is dedicated to the study of the Far North and cold lower latitudes.^[23] This research area involves a diversity of researchers with a multidisciplinary interest in northern environments around a number of highly complementary disciplines.

One of the major areas of study related to Nordic studies at UQAR is the response of high-latitude environments and communities to climate change.^[24][25] The Canada Research Chair on Northern Biodiversity focuses on studying the impact of human activity and climate change on biodiversity in the North. The research unit also studies conservation, looking at species monitoring, habitat management and restoration, and animal migrations.^[24]

Research at UQAR also examines human and industrial development in the North, with a focus on sustainability, Indigenous studies, and rural studies.^[26]

Université du Québec à Rimouski awards honorary doctorates to people who have made a significant contribution to the university or in the exercise of their profession or in general by their contribution to society. The university has awarded the following honorary doctorates:^[27]

• Louis-Marie Beaulieu (2025)
• Vivian Labrie (2025)
• Serge Payette (2025)
• Kim Thúy (2024)^[28]
• Mario Mimeault (2022)
• Normand Labrie (2019)
• Johnny Huard (2019)
• Paul Treguer (2014)
• Pierre-Maurice Vachon (2014)
• Jean-Guy Nadeau (2014)
• Michel Rouleau (2011)
• Laure Waridel (2011)
• Dany Laferrière (2010)
• Bernard Derome (2009)
• Élisabeth Carrier (2009)
• Rolande and Germain Pelletier (2008)
• Maurice Tanguay (2007)
• Jean Lemire (2007)
• Alain Caron (2007)
• Bernard Voyer (2005)
• Gérard Drainville (2004)
• Bernard Bélanger (2004)
• Loïc Bernard (2002)
• Pierre Dansereau (2002)
• Joseph Rouleau (2001)
• Pauline Charron (2000)
• Jean-Yves Gautier (1999)
• Léonard Parent (1998)
• Pascal Parent (1994)
• Jules Bélanger (1994)
• Lisette Morin (1993)
• René Simon (1992)
• Charles Beaulieu (1991)
• Claire L'Heureux-Dubé (1989)
• Gilles Vigneault (1978)
• Ernest Lepage (1977)

The Université du Québec à Rimouski medal is awarded to people in recognition of their remarkable contribution to the development of a sector related to one of the university's main missions: teaching, research, and service to the community. The university awarded the following medals:^[29]

• Suzanne Tremblay (2018)
• Léonard Otis and Gilles Roy (2012)
• Mariano Mémolli and José Luis Esperón (2011)
• Fire department of the City of Rimouski Fire Safety Service (2009)
• Paul Bellemare (2009)
• Adéodat St-Pierre (2005)
• Jacqueline Caron (2004)
• André P. Casgrain (2002)
• Jamie Salé and David Pelletier (2001)
• Rimouski Océanic QMJHL hockey team (2000)
• Louis Legendre (1999)
• Guillaume Leblanc (1992)
• Pierre Harvey (1988)
• René Simon (1987)
• Philippe (Phil) Latulippe (1986)
• Jean Lapointe (1986)
• Alice Parizeau (1983)
• Anne-Marie Roy (1981)

• Rimouski
• Lévis, Quebec
• The Cégep de Rimouski

• Ferretti, Lucia. L'Université en réseau: les 25 ans de l'Université du Québec. Sainte-Foy: Presses de l'Université du Québec, 1994.

• Université du Québec à Rimouski (official website)
• UQAR's Foundation (FUQAR)
• Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER)