Laurentian University: Canada's Leading Bilingual University
Benefits of studying in English and French at an Ontario university.
Laurentian University is a public bilingual university in Canada, offering education in both English and French. Founded in 1960, it is located in Sudbury, Ontario.
Three main reasons to study at Laurentian — one of Canada's top universities:
- personalized support throughout the entire program in small classes;
- the university leads the province in graduate employment — 96% of students find jobs within six months of completing their program;
- Laurentian graduates have high incomes in Ontario.
Laurentian University's mission is to prepare students and future leaders in an inclusive, intellectual and curious environment. In pursuing its main goals, the university adheres to its core values:
- Community, created through understanding, a welcoming atmosphere, and care for the student and faculty community.
- Integrity, achieved through openness with students and showing respect.
- Student success, born from support in the academic and research environment.
- Stewardship of natural resources, which are part of the campus educational environment.
- Collaboration, born in the process of working on solutions to modern global challenges.
University Campus in Sudbury
Sudbury, with a population of over 170,600, combines developed urban infrastructure with natural resources. It's a friendly and multicultural city, with more than a third of residents speaking both official languages, English and French. In 2015, Sudbury was named the happiest city in Canada.
The city has long been known for its mining industry, which still accounts for over 16,000 jobs today. Now it has also become a center for financial services, healthcare, business, and trade. The educational and research environment enables innovation in many areas important to both Canada and the world.
Laurentian University's campus is just minutes from downtown. The campus covers 765 acres and borders a vast natural area surrounded by five freshwater lakes. Laurentian University students can enjoy long walks and hikes on 35 kilometers of trails, visit numerous theaters and museums, shop and dine, and make many new friends.
Why International Students Choose Laurentian
Laurentian University has 7,711 international students representing 67 different nations and cultures. Of these, 6,609 are undergraduates, and 1,102 are pursuing master's or doctoral degrees.
What attracts students from abroad the most?
- the university's bilingualism and respect for other languages and cultures;
- opportunity to earn a bachelor's or master's degree at a reasonable cost;
- vibrant student life with many cultural and sports events;
- picturesque campus and nature;
- direct support from faculty and many services for international students ready to advise on any issue;
- excellent job prospects with good earnings;
- numerous student clubs and sports teams for hockey, soccer, basketball, golf, and other sports.
University Programs
Laurentian offers a wide range of programs across four faculties:
- Faculty of Arts;
- Faculty of Education and Health;
- Faculty of Management;
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture.
The university offers 113 educational programs, including 34 in French. Most programs lead to bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees. Admissions take place in September, January, and May.
Additionally, there are several programs offering postgraduate diplomas, such as the Nurse Practitioner program or the Science Communication program. Students can also earn a Certificate of Bilingualism by completing at least 15 credits in each language.
Some programs at Laurentian are unique in Canada. For example, it's the only place to enroll in a FEPAC-accredited bachelor's or master's program in forensic science. It's also the only university in Canada offering a French-language program in speech therapy. The School of Architecture, the university's newest school, emphasizes northern architecture, focusing on building with wood and renewable materials.
The School of Management also offers the highly sought-after MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree. Business administration is popular due to its wide range of opportunities, career prospects, unlimited potential, and constant global demand for graduates. Laurentian University's MBA program prepares students for leadership roles in modern business, providing a deep understanding of business principles and strategic management.
Laurentian University recognizes that the most important thing for students is to learn how to apply their knowledge in practice to have good employment prospects right after graduation. Therefore, all programs have a practical focus: Education School students hone their skills working with children in classrooms, Psychology Faculty students conduct consultations with other university students, and engineering students spend a lot of time in laboratories working on their own projects.
Cost of Study at Laurentian
The cost of studying at the university will largely depend on the level of education you choose and the program you're interested in. Most programs at the same level will cost approximately the same, but some will be lower or higher based on the specifics of the field and the number of credits earned for the course.
Tuition fees for undergraduate programs:
Program |
Credits per year |
Annual cost (in Canadian dollars) |
Most programs |
30 credits |
$28,620.90 CAD |
Business Administration and Sports Administration |
30 credits |
$30,069.32 CAD |
Engineering |
36 credits |
$39,087.24 CAD |
Architecture |
30 credits |
$36,917.30 CAD |
Computer Science |
30 credits |
$30,052.00 CAD |
Tuition fees for graduate programs:
Program |
Total credits for the program |
Annual cost (in Canadian dollars) |
Most graduate programs |
30-45 credits |
$22,911.53 CAD |
Architecture |
45 credits |
$18,129.52 CAD |
Business Administration |
30-45 credits |
$34,051.12 CAD |
Chemical Sciences |
24 credits |
$12,700.80 CAD |
Computer Science |
30 credits |
$15,876.00 CAD |
Engineering |
30 credits |
$15,876.00 CAD |
Most doctoral programs cost $23,500 CAD.
In addition to tuition, students may also need to pay additional fees that cover various resources, study materials, and a medical plan.
The university also provides an estimate of annual living expenses that students can expect while studying at Laurentian.
Books, textbooks, field trips |
$1,000 CAD |
Accommodation, housing expenses |
$6,738 CAD — $8,739 CAD |
Food |
$4,075 CAD — $5,420 CAD |
Transportation |
$0 CAD — $2,000 CAD |
Entertainment, personal expenses |
$1,000 CAD — $2,500 CAD |
Trips home |
$1,000 CAD — $1,250 CAD |
It's worth noting that international students in Canada are allowed to work up to 24 hours per week during the semester and full-time 40 hours per week during holidays. Additionally, Laurentian University offers scholarships specifically for international students: in the first year of study, a student may receive from $10,000 CAD to $15,000 CAD, and with good academic performance, scholarship payments can become annual.
Admission Requirements
Each program at Laurentian may have its specific requirements, but a constant condition for international applicants to Canadian universities is proof of language proficiency. As the university is bilingual, you should choose which language you're ready to prove proficiency in for your academic studies.
Laurentian University accepts results from many recognized international language tests, including the most popular ones, IELTS and TOEFL.
Required scores for studying in English:
TOEFL (iBT) |
88 points |
IELTS |
6.5 (no less than 6.0 in each component) |
Cambridge Assessment English |
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a Cambridge score of 176 or higher |
CAEL |
70 (no less than 60 in each component) |
CanTEST |
4.5 (no less than 4 in each component) |
PTE |
60 |
Laurentian University notes that applicants don't necessarily need to take the above-mentioned English proficiency exams. An alternative option is to complete the University Pathway program from ILAC, where students can improve their language skills and learn more about the system and requirements in Canadian higher education institutions. With a certificate of completion from the University Pathway program, you can apply to Laurentian without taking additional exams.
For studying in French, one of the following conditions must be met:
- Three years of education in a school or university where French was the language of instruction;
- Minimum C-1 level on the TCF test;
- Minimum C-1 level on the written part of the TEF test;
- Advanced French language diploma (Diplôme approfondi de langue française, DALF) with a minimum C-1 level.
Admission Assistance
If you want to get a quality education and open up many career prospects, studying in Canada is an ideal choice for you. Canada has many different colleges and universities offering a wide variety of study levels and programs. If you need help choosing a suitable program and details on admission requirements, feel free to contact us. We'll provide you with free support for enrollment in a Canadian university, help you gather all necessary documents, and additionally assist with student visa applications. Sign up for a consultation with our visa consultants to start your journey to Canada.