Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Université du Québec à Montréal Foundation (UQAM)

The Université du Québec à Montréal Foundation (Fondation de l’UQAM) is the main philanthropic vehicle supporting UQAM’s mission of teaching, research and creation. It mobilizes alumni, staff, private foundations, companies and friends of the university to finance scholarships and strategic projects that benefit students and the broader academic community in Montréal and across Québec.

Each year, the Foundation offers more than CAD 2 million in scholarships, representing around 850 awards at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. These scholarships are funded through endowed and current-use funds created by donors, departments, faculties, research chairs and partner organizations. They recognize academic excellence, support student engagement, help students in financial difficulty and target specific profiles such as students with disabilities, parents, returning students or people from under-represented groups.

The Foundation administers a large and diverse portfolio of named scholarships, many of which are tied to particular disciplines (arts, communication, education, sciences, management, political science and law, etc.) or themes such as equity, diversity and inclusion, environmental issues, urban studies, feminism and social innovation. Numerous awards are created in memory of professors, donors or public figures, or in partnership with companies and unions, and are renewed annually through the income generated by capitalized funds.

To structure access to this support, the Fondation de l’UQAM organizes two main scholarship competitions each year, in the fall and winter terms. Students consult the central UQAM scholarship site to see the detailed criteria, then apply according to the rules set for each program. The Foundation works closely with faculties, departments and services such as student life and financial aid to select recipients and manage payments.

Beyond traditional scholarships, the Foundation operates a dedicated crowdfunding platform, "Vos idées pour l’UQAM". This online tool allows members of the university community to propose projects and raise donations from their networks and the public. The Foundation provides a guide, forms and support so that student and institutional initiatives aligned with UQAM’s mission can be showcased and financially supported.

The primary beneficiaries of the Foundation’s funding are UQAM students at all cycles, who receive scholarships to help them pursue and complete their studies and to support research, creation and community engagement activities. The funds also contribute to the development of research projects and institutional priorities that have positive social, cultural and economic impacts in Montréal and Québec. Testimonials from scholarship recipients published by the Foundation highlight how this financial support reduces financial stress, encourages persistence and enables ambitious academic and professional pathways.