Université de Montréal to open campus in Laurentians for medicine and pharmacy

L’Université de Montréal (UdeM) will open a campus in the Laurentians, a region with a pressing need to recruit healthcare personnel. It will be specifically for medical and pharmacy students.

The Laurentian campus is expected to welcome its first medical students in the fall of 2026 and pharmacy students in 2027. This will improve recruitment and help retain healthcare professionals in this region of Quebec.

The Laurentians have the highest population growth rate of any region in Quebec. By 2026, the population is expected to grow by 6.1 per cent, which is higher than the Quebec average of 4.2 per cent.

“Given that people who study in the region are more likely to stay there once they have completed their training, the Laurentian campus could have a major positive impact,” according to a press release from the Université de Montréal.

This is the first time in Canada that a pharmacy faculty has been relocated from the main campus. UdeM points out that 21 years ago, it was “a pioneer in inaugurating the first off-campus medical school in Quebec and Canada.” This campus, located in Mauricie, has been “a resounding success,” according to the university.

Pharmacy needs are growing in order to meet demand. Based on a 2024 survey of pharmacy staff, Université de Montréal maintains that 74 per cent of pharmacy needs in emergency departments in the Laurentians region are not being met.

The new campus will be located in Saint-Jérôme, but the exact location of the premises is not yet known. Initially, 24 medical students and 30 pharmacy students will be able to attend the new campus. Eventually, both faculties will welcome cohorts of 50 students each.

–The Canadian Press’s health coverage is supported by a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for this journalistic content.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews