[2] The Dominican University College offered civil and pontifical bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in philosophy and theology.

[3] The adjoining Dominican convent and house of studies opened in 1899, modelled after the medieval studium generale specializing in Philosophy and Theology.

In 1900, the Dominicans brought their School of Theology to Ottawa, followed shortly thereafter by courses in Philosophy in 1902, and granted ecclesiastical degrees at the level of licentiate.

Étienne Gilson and Marie-Dominique Chenu were instrumental in the founding of the institute, which relocated to the Université de Montréal in 1942.

In June 2024, the building was sold to Les Ecoles Catholiques Centre-Est for use as a francophone secondary school .

The institute was founded in 1960 by the Dominican Order during the construction of the convent of Saint Albert the Great, and offered French programs in pastoral or liturgical theology or in catechism, leading to university certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees.

[16] The Dominican University College Foundation is a public charitable organization whose sole purpose is to raise funds for DUC and the Institut de pastorale in order to help build its future and support students and faculty through bursaries and endowed research chairs.