The Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS; English: University of Sherbrooke) is a French-language public research university in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, with a second campus in Longueuil, a suburb on the South Shore of Montreal. It is one of two universities in the Estrie region of Quebec (the other one being Bishop's University), and the only French-language university for the region.
As of 2022, the Université de Sherbrooke is home to 31,000 students, and an additional 3,000 older learners (age 50+) in continuing education in its "University of the Third Age". Of its 7,400 employees, about 4,000 are teaching staff. The university has over 100,000 graduates and offers 46 undergraduate, 48 master's and 27 doctoral programs. It holds a total of 61 research chairs, among which are the pharmacology, microelectronics, statistical learning, and environment research chairs.
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Campus
The Université de Sherbrooke has five campuses:
The Main Sherbrooke Campus
The Sherbrooke Health Campus
The Longueuil Campus
The Joint Campus in Saguenay (on the site of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi)
The Joint Campus in Moncton (on the site of the Université de Moncton, in Moncton, New Brunswick).
History
The Université de Sherbrooke was established in 1954 as a French-speaking Catholic university in a region that had historically been English speaking, the Estrie, or Eastern Townships in English. The only university in this region for over 100 years was the English-based Anglican Bishop's University. The Roman Catholic Church created this university in an effort to provide a more convenient education for the Catholic and French speakers in the region. Initially there was a religious component to the pedagogical activities, but by the end of the 1960s the number of priests working for the university had greatly diminished during the Quiet Revolution. In 1975, the appointment of a layman as Rector marked the end of religious activity in the institution.
In 1991, the campus in Longueuil was opened, located adjacent to the Longueuil Metro station and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.
Université de Sherbrooke's arms, supporters, flag, and badge were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on January 15, 2004. Université de Sherbrooke's crest and Supporters were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on April 20, 2007. The motto of the school is Veritatem in Charitate ("Truth through charity").
In 2006, the university opened a branch of its medical facility on the campus of UQAC, where its students enrol for medical courses. This was subsequently followed by a similar branch on the campus of the Universite de Moncton in New Brunswick.
The number of students attending the Université de Sherbrooke continues to rise and the university has worked with the City of Sherbrooke to respond to the increase. Activities at the Université de Sherbrooke are mainly centred on teaching and research.
À l’Université de Sherbrooke, l’École de gestion fait des 4 à 7 à chaque jeudi, ce sont des partys étudiants.
Rectors
2025-present: Jean-Pierre Perreault
2017–2025: Pierre Cossette
2009–2017: Luce Samoisette
2001–2009: Bruno-Marie Béchard Marinier
1993–2001: Pierre Reid
1985–1993: Aldée Cabana
1981–1985: Claude Hamel
1975–1981: Yves Martin
1965–1975: Mgr. Roger Maltais
1955–1965: Mgr. Irénée Pinard
1954–1955: Mgr. Maurice Vincent
Institutions
The Université de Sherbrooke is composed of the following faculties:
Faculty of Administration
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Letters and Humanities
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Faculty of Sports and Physical Education
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Theology, Ethics and Philosophy
The Main Sherbrooke Campus includes:
Administration
Support services
Most faculties
The George-Cabana Pavilion (central pavilion)
The Multifunctional Pavilion
The Univestrie Pavilion (sports centre)
The Cultural Centre and Maurice-O'Bready Theatre
The Humanities Library
The Law and Government Publications Library
The Music Library
The Science and Engineering Library
Programs
The university offers a variety of bachelors, masters, doctoral and post-doctoral programs as well as various certificates and microprograms.
The Faculty of Theology, Ethics and Philosophy offers Undergraduate level certificate, diploma, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Theology/Theological Studies; Doctorate Theology and Religious Vocations; and Undergraduate level certificate/diploma/Graduate level certificate/diploma Pastoral Studies/Counselling.
The Faculty of Engineering offers courses in the following specialties: Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biotechnology Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Building Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Sports
Sports teams representing the Université de Sherbrooke are called Le Vert & Or (called The Green and Gold in English).
Media
The university publishes the magazine UdeS, which has a circulation of 85,000 copies. Published three times a year by the Communications Service, this magazine is distributed free to everyone in the central graduate database and to staff as well as friends of the institution. Copies are also distributed in a number of locations in Sherbrooke.
The university's student community puts out a student newspaper, the Collectif, and operates an FM radio station, CFAK-FM.
Rankings and reputation
Université de Sherbrooke has placed in several international post-secondary school rankings. In the 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities rankings, the university ranked 501–600 in the world. The 2023 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 751–800 in the world and 24–26 in Canada. In U.S. News & World Report 2022–23 global university rankings, the university placed 789th.
The university has also placed in post-secondary national rankings, including the 2023 rankings published by Maclean's, which ranked Sherbrooke 15th in their Medical-Doctoral university category, and 20th in their reputation ranking for Canadian universities.
Associations and student groups
There are many associations and student groups at the University of Sherbrooke.
ADEEP
L'association des étudiantes et étudiants en pharmacologie is a group for the pharmacology students, founded in 2007.
FEUS
Founded in 1955, the Fédération étudiante de l’Université de Sherbrooke represents all undergraduate students in the university. With 10 member associations and over 13,000 student members, it is one of the most important lobby groups in the Estrie region. It is a member of several external organizations, having formerly been affiliated with the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ), the Quebec Federation of University Students. As of 2016, it is not part of a province wide student organisation.
AGEFLESH
Founded in 1993, the Association générale des étudiants de la Faculté des lettres et sciences humaines de l’Université de Sherbrooke represents students in the Faculty of Letters and Humanities. It participated in the student strike movement against the $103 million in cuts to student financial assistance in the spring of 2005.
Since 2005, when it was accredited as sole representative of all students in the faculty, the association has fought against the monopoly held by a food-distribution company on the Sherbrooke Main Campus. It is preparing a business plan to set up a student cooperative cafe in the faculty.
AGEEMUS: Founded in 1969, the Association générale des étudiants en médecine de l’Université de Sherbrooke represents medical students attending the university's various satellite campuses (Longueuil, Chicoutimi, Moncton).
AGED: The Association générale étudiante de droit of the Université de Sherbrooke represents students in the Faculty of Law.
Notable faculty
Esteban Chornet, professor of chemical engineering, entrepreneur, and inventor; 2004 recipient of the Prix Lionel-Boulet
Pierre Deslongchamps, professor emeritus and organic chemist
Micheline Dumont (historian) (born 1935), historian, professor emeritus
André Lussier, professor emeritus and pioneer of clinical rheumatology in Canada.
Gilles Pigeon, former Dean of Medicine, 1991 recipient of the Duncan-Graham Award of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Officer of the National Order of Quebec and of the Ordre des Palmes académiques
Ouida Ramón-Moliner, anaesthetist
Louis Taillefer, professor of physics, Canada Research Chair in Quantum Materials, 2011 recipient of the Order of Canada
Charles Thiffault (born 1939), NHL ice hockey coach
Notable alumni
Aziz Akhannouch, businessman and prime minister of Morocco
Laurent Beaudoin, chairman of the board of directors of Bombardier
Jean-Christophe Beaulieu, Canadian football player
Élisabeth Brière, member of Parliament
Liu Chao-shiuan, prime minister of Taiwan
Jean Charest, Quebec premier and deputy prime minister of Canada
Martin Coiteux, president of the council of treasury of Quebec under the government of Philippe Couillard
Monique Desroches, ethnomusicologist
Moulay Hafid Elalamy, minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and Digital Economy of Morocco
Valérie Harvey, writer and sociologist
Pierre-Marc Johnson, Quebec premier
Simon Jolin-Barrette, Quebec minister of Justice and French Language
Louis Lagassé, notary
Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, Fittest Woman on Earth, 2014 Reebok Crossfit Games
Marc Nadon, supernumerary judge and former Supreme Court nominee
Anne Monique Nuyt, paediatrics researcher
Charles Sirois, businessman
Commemorative stamp
On 4 May 2004 Canada Post issued 'Sherbrooke University, 1954-2004 / Université de Sherbrooke, 1954-2004' as part of the Canadian Universities series. The stamp was based on a design by Denis L'Allier and on a photograph by Guy Lavigueur. The 49¢ stamps are perforated 13.5 and were printed by Canadian Bank Note Company.