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, Communication, Political Science and Law, Science and Social science) and one school (Management). It offers Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees. It is one of Montreal's two French-language universities, along with the Université de Montréal, and only 1% of its student population is Anglophone.