A francophone university in Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, that describes itself as the only francophone university in Western Canada.
The university traces its origins to the arrival of Abbé Norbert Provencher in Manitoba in 1818. In 1877, the college took part in founding the University of Manitoba. In 1922, a major fire destroyed the college, including its records and its 20,000-volume library. In 1975, the college began offering technical and professional training. In 1983, it chose to focus on postsecondary education, and secondary education was transferred to Collège Louis-Riel. In 2011, the institution was granted full university status.
The university describes itself as the only francophone university in Western Canada. Its mission is to offer college and university education that favours the full potential development of its students, while contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the flourishing of Francophonie in Manitoba and beyond. It is located on the banks of the Red River in Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg.
The university has six faculties and schools, including the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Sciences. The average class size is 20 students. Students can take courses at the University of Manitoba, and those credits count toward their program at the university.
The student population is listed as 1,700 or more students. Campus facilities include science and computer laboratories, simulation rooms, an amphitheatre, a student centre, the Alfred-Monnin library, a fitness centre, the Sportex, and two gymnasiums. Residence options include the Père-Théophile-Lavoie residence.
Applicants may apply through regular admission from Manitoba high schools, high schools in other Canadian provinces or territories, or high schools in other countries. The university also accepts International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) pathways.