High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) is one of four universities in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The UQAM is the largest constituent element of the Université du Québec (UQ), a public university system with other branches in Gatineau (near Ottawa), Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec City, Chicoutimi, and Trois-Rivières. UQAM was founded on April 9, 1969 by the government of Quebec, through the merger of the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, a fine arts school; the Collège Sainte-Marie, a classical college; and a number of smaller schools. Although part of the UQ network, UQAM possesses a relative independence which allows it to print its own diplomas and choose its rector. In 2004, UQAM had a student population of 42,257 in six faculties (Arts, Education, Literature, Language and Communications, Political Science and Law, Science, and Social science) and one school (Management).