About the university
INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique) is a public research university founded by the Government of Québec in 1969 and part of the Université du Québec network. It teaches only at graduate level: research master's, professional master's and PhDs, delivered through five research centres in water and environment, health and biotechnology, energy, materials and telecommunications, urban studies and rural studies. Students join research teams from the start, and most research programmes need a supervisor before you apply.
French is INRS's official language, but its language policy lets applicants without French in on English B2 (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 72 or PTE 59), and INRS offers French courses. Indian students mostly look at INRS for funded research master's and PhDs in telecommunications, energy and materials, microbiology and water sciences. PhD students automatically receive a bursary covering the higher international fee.
- Founded
- 1969, by the Government of Québec
- Type
- Public graduate-only research university; member of the Université du Québec network
- Levels
- Master's (research and professional), PhD, DESS and short graduate programmes only; no bachelor's degrees
- Research centres
- Five: Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Eau Terre Environnement, Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications, Urbanisation Culture Société, Ruralités durables
- Locations
- Training centres in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval and Varennes
- Language
- French is the official language; English B2 accepted as an alternative for admission
- Intakes
- Autumn, winter and summer trimesters
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en télécommunications (profil avec mémoire), M.Sc. (3404)
- Fee / year
- C$33,444
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (45 credits, research thesis); Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications, Montreal
- Intakes
- Any trimester, preferably autumn
- English
- French B2 (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ, DELF or DALF), or, under INRS's language policy, English B2 instead: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59 or CAEL 60. The programme description asks for sufficient French, so confirm with the programme
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en sciences de l'énergie et des matériaux, M.Sc. (3731)
- Fee / year
- C$33,444
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (45 credits, research thesis); Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications
- Intakes
- Autumn (apply by 30 March); Winter (apply by 1 November); Summer (apply by 1 March)
- English
- French B2 (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ, DELF or DALF), or, under INRS's language policy, English B2 instead: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59 or CAEL 60. The programme description asks for sufficient French, so confirm with the programme
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en microbiologie et biotechnologie, M.Sc. (2231)
- Fee / year
- C$33,444
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (45 credits, research thesis); Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie
- Intakes
- Autumn (apply by 30 March); Winter (apply by 1 November); Summer (apply by 1 March)
- English
- French B2 (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ, DELF or DALF), or, under INRS's language policy, English B2 instead: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59 or CAEL 60. The programme description asks for sufficient French, so confirm with the programme
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en sciences de l'eau (profil sans mémoire), M.Sc. (3748)
- Fee / year
- C$37,766
- Duration
- 1 year full-time (45 credits, including a 3-month professional internship); Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Quebec City
- Intakes
- Autumn (international applicants apply by 15 February); entry is quota-based
- English
- French B2 (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ, DELF or DALF), or, under INRS's language policy, English B2 instead: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59 or CAEL 60. The programme description asks for sufficient French, so confirm with the programme
- Postgraduate
Maîtrise en études urbaines (avec mémoire or avec stage de recherche), M.Sc. (3854/3855)
- Fee / year
- C$33,444
- Duration
- 2 years full-time (45 credits); offered jointly with UQAM; Centre Urbanisation Culture Société, Montreal
- Intakes
- Autumn (apply by 30 March); Winter (international applicants apply by 1 August); Summer (international applicants apply by 1 March)
- English
- Sufficient spoken and written French plus reading English, per the programme description
- Postgraduate
Doctorat en sciences de l'eau, Ph.D. (3461)
- Fee / year
- C$30,165
- Duration
- 4 years full-time (90 credits); Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Quebec City
- Intakes
- Autumn (apply by 30 March); Winter (apply by 1 November); Summer (apply by 1 March)
- English
- French B2 (TCF, TEF, TEFAQ, DELF or DALF), or, under INRS's language policy, English B2 instead: IELTS Academic 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72, PTE Academic 59 or CAEL 60. The programme description asks for sufficient French, so confirm with the programme
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (CAD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maîtrise en télécommunications (profil avec mémoire), M.Sc. (3404) | 2 years full-time (45 credits, research thesis); Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications, Montreal | C$33,444 | ≈ ₹22.4 lakh |
| Maîtrise en sciences de l'énergie et des matériaux, M.Sc. (3731) | 2 years full-time (45 credits, research thesis); Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications | C$33,444 | ≈ ₹22.4 lakh |
| Maîtrise en microbiologie et biotechnologie, M.Sc. (2231) | 2 years full-time (45 credits, research thesis); Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie | C$33,444 | ≈ ₹22.4 lakh |
| Maîtrise en sciences de l'eau (profil sans mémoire), M.Sc. (3748) | 1 year full-time (45 credits, including a 3-month professional internship); Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Quebec City | C$37,766 | ≈ ₹25.3 lakh |
| Maîtrise en études urbaines (avec mémoire or avec stage de recherche), M.Sc. (3854/3855) | 2 years full-time (45 credits); offered jointly with UQAM; Centre Urbanisation Culture Société, Montreal | C$33,444 | ≈ ₹22.4 lakh |
| Doctorat en sciences de l'eau, Ph.D. (3461) | 4 years full-time (90 credits); Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Quebec City | C$30,165 | ≈ ₹20.2 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Institut national de la recherche scientifique with similar universities in Canada.
Scholarships
- PhD
Exemption bursary for international and non-Quebec Canadian students (PhD)
Value: Covers the frais forfaitaires (CAD 8,022.60 per trimester in 2026-2027)
Eligibility: Awarded automatically to admitted PhD students; not if the fees are already reimbursed by another body
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Research master's
Exemption bursary for international and non-Quebec Canadian students (research master's)
Value: Covers the frais forfaitaires (CAD 9,115.50 per trimester in 2026-2027)
Eligibility: Awarded by some research centres by competition; professional master's and the master's in knowledge mobilisation are excluded. Ask your centre's student file officer
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- INRS does not offer undergraduate programmes.
Postgraduate
- Master's: a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with an average of at least 3.0 to 3.2 out of 4.3 or equivalent, depending on the programme. Check how your Indian percentage or CGPA converts.
- PhD: a relevant master's degree with an average of at least 3.2 out of 4.3 or equivalent.
- Most research master's and PhD programmes need a research supervisor who has agreed to take you before you apply.
- Apply online through the IDÉ portal; a selection committee reviews complete files. After admission you need a CAQ and a study permit valid to the end of each trimester.
Documents
- Birth certificate and passport
- Official transcripts and degree certificates (certified translation if not in French or English)
- Proof of French or English level, submitted with the application
- CV and a presentation text
- Three referees who know your academic work
- Supervisor's agreement for research programmes
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| French (main requirement) | B2 level for applicants whose previous studies were not in French: TCF, TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada, DELF or DALF; results valid two years |
| IELTS Academic (alternative) | 5.5, for applicants without working French |
| TOEFL iBT (alternative) | 72 |
| PTE Academic (alternative) | 59 (CAEL 60 also accepted) |
| English-medium degree | A university degree taught in English can show functional English instead of a test |
Accommodation and living costs
INRS is spread across research centres in several cities and the pages we checked do not describe its own residences or publish housing costs. Students usually rent privately near their centre; INRS has a 'Se loger au Québec' guide for new students.
| Item | In CAD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
INRS teaches through research centres rather than one campus, with training centres in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval and Varennes.
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement in Quebec City for water, earth and environmental sciences.
- Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications, with telecommunications at Place Bonaventure in downtown Montreal and energy and materials in the Montérégie region.
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie for health, microbiology and biotechnology.
- Centre Urbanisation Culture Société in Montreal; the urban studies master's is joint with UQAM.
- French courses at all levels for students who do not speak French.
Careers and graduate outcomes
INRS graduates go into research, industry and public-sector roles; industry-linked programmes such as PERSWADE in smart wireless communication place part of the research in companies. For work rights during and after study, see our Canada guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Graduates who say INRS met their expectations | 95% | INRS graduate programmes page (community survey) |
Studying in Canada
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Canada. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
Can I study at INRS without French?
Yes, in many cases. INRS's language policy accepts English at B2 level instead, for example IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 72 or PTE 59. Some programme descriptions still ask for French, so check with your programme and supervisor.
How much does INRS cost for international students?
For 2026-2027, a research master's costs about CAD 33,444 a year for the first three trimesters, then about CAD 2,713 a year. A PhD lists CAD 30,165 a year, but every admitted PhD student gets a bursary that brings this to about CAD 6,097. A professional master's costs about CAD 37,766 for a full-time year.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
For most research master's and PhD programmes, yes. INRS has a project directory and a supervisor-finder to help you contact professors.
Does INRS offer bachelor's degrees?
No. INRS is a graduate-only university.
Sources
- INRS: Droits de scolarité et autres frais 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Bourses d'exemption pour étudiants étrangers (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Exigences linguistiques (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Bureau du registraire (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Futurs étudiants (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Graduate programs (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Historique (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Studying in energy, materials and telecommunications (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Maîtrise en télécommunications, official description (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- INRS: Maîtrise en sciences de l'eau sans mémoire, official description (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: inrs.ca (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details