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Studying in Québec, a World of Advantages!

Studying in Québec means benefitting from a world-class education system and stimulating student life in a unique environment

With its cutting-edge institutions, low tuition fees, and expert faculty and researchers, Québec has everything it takes to make your studies a success.

Quality education

Throughout your educational path, you will benefit from :

  • Its prestigious research and technology transfer centres
  • The expertise of its professors and researchers in cutting edge sectors
  • Its modern higher education institutions and vocational training centres

Take advantage of your studies in Québec to acquire valuable work experience! Various opportunities are available to you if you want to work during or after your studies.

Work

Immigration & Citizenship Canada offers a range of programs that allow international students to work during or after their studies, subject to certain conditions.
Get a student work permit

Affordable costs

Tuitions fees and the cost of living in Québec are very low.

The tuition fees of international students are among the lowest in North America. For an equivalent university education, it generally costs less to study in Québec than elsewhere in North America.

The cost of living in Québec is relatively low. Housing, food and healthcare costs are lower in Québec than in many developed countries.

Bilingualism

Take advantage of your stay in Québec to learn or perfect your French. Québec is home to numerous language schools to help you reach your goal.

Québec’s educational institutions offer programs in English and French. A large proportion of Québec’s population is bilingual (French and English), especially in Montréal.

Stimulating student life

You’ll enjoy the opportunity to live in a stimulating, exciting, picturesque, and welcoming environment.

Whether you prefer wide open spaces, or the cultural and culinary attractions of a large, multicultural city like Montréal, there’s so much for students to discover in the beautiful province of Québec!

 

Learning French

Studying in Québec is also an opportunity to live and study in French

To facilitate the integration of international students, the Government of Québec offers a wide range of options for learning French. It’s about more than teaching. It’s about sharing our culture.

A Francophone environment

A beacon of the French language in the Americas, Québec lets you live and study in French!

Most universities ans colleges offer French courses to students and teachers during the summer period and during reading week.

Integration of immigrants

To facilitate the integration of immigrants, the Government of Québec offers French courses.

French schools (Colleges and Universities)

Some links only available in French

 

My University Studies

University studies in Québec offer a world of possibilities

In addition to benefiting from world-renowned programs, many of which are offered in collaboration with international institutions, you will live in a healthy, stimulating environment. The steps to take for studying in Québec are also extremely simple.

Studying in Québec: four steps

  1. Choosing a program of study and an educational institution
  2. Admission
  3. Obtaining a Québec Acceptance Certificate (QAC) for studies
  4. Obtaining a study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

STEP 1 - Choosing a program of study and an educational institution

Find out which programs of study are offered by contacting the educational institution of your choice or by getting in touch with the information centre of the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur.

STEP 2 - Admission

The best way to find out about admission requirements, processing times and application deadlines is to contact the educational institution directly.

Applications for vocational training programs must be sent directly to the vocational training centre the applicant wishes to attend.

At the college level, the application must be sent to a regional admissions service or directly to the educational institution if it is not part of a regional admissions service. Applicants wishing to be admitted to a private college must contact the college directly.

STEP 3 - Obtaining a Québec Acceptance Certificate (QAC) for studies from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion

As soon as you receive your letter of acceptance, apply to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion for a QAC for studies, if you plan to stay in Québec for over six months.

The requirement to obtain a QAC for studies generally applies to all international students at all levels of education, although some categories of students are not required to get one. To submit an application and consult the list of exemptions, go to www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/caq-students-exemptions.

Obtaining a QAC for studies takes about four weeks, apart from postal delays. The certificate is valid for the duration of your studies up to a maximum of 49 months.

STEP 4 - Obtaining a study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

As in the case of the QAC for Studies, obtaining a permit to study in Canada is a requirement for all study programs lasting longer than six months. Some international students need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada. This document and the study permit are issued at the same time by a local Government of Canada visa office.

Please contact your local Government of Canada visa office to obtain your study permit and, if necessary, a Temporary Resident Visa. The procedure to be followed is described here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp.

The Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur offers scholarships to international students with excellent academic records. To be eligible, you must be enrolled full-time in a diploma program at a Québec educational institution.

To find out more about these programs, consult the Éducation internationale and Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur websites.

Choosing a university

Québec has 18 universities (15 French-language and 3 English-language) that include several top-ranking academic institutions in Canada and the world.

List of academic institutions in Québec

Degrees

Québec universities offer three levels of study that lead to different degrees.

Undergraduate studies: Bachelor’s degree, diploma or certificate

Graduate studies:

  • Master’s degree
  • Doctoral degree

Each course corresponds to a given number of credits. To obtain a degree or diploma, students must accumulate a certain number of credits. One North American credit corresponds to two ECTS credits.

Generally speaking, a Bachelor’s degree requires 90 to 120 credits, a Master’s degree, 45, and a PhD, 90 or more.

Applying for admission

For more information on admission procedures and deadlines for filing an application, contact the university of your choice directly.

For an overview of university admission procedures, consult the Admission à l’université (Admission to University) section (French only).

Make sure you follow the instructions for international students.

You may file several applications for admission at the same time, but you must only register with one university.

Required authorizations

Once you have your official letter of admission to a Québec university in hand, you may require one or both of the following documents:

Prepare financially

Tuition fees and the cost of living are very affordable in Québec. However, you should know what to expect before you leave your country of origin.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees depend on your area of study. For more information, consult droits de scolarité (tuition fees, French only).

Insurance

Check the prerequisites for international students staying in Québec. Among other things, you must obtain health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of your stay.

Stay

You must possess sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your stay, including tuition fees, transportation costs (return ticket to your country of origin), settling-in expenses for the first year and living expenses for the duration of your stay.

Financial assistance

Bursaries and scholarships

Bursaries and scholarships are available for students and researchers in all fields of study or research who wish to undertake or continue their studies or research activities in Québec.

How to apply

Applications are preselected by the universities. Applicants must meet all the admission requirements of the Québec excellence bursary program for international students and must provide all the required papers as indicated on the FQRNT website.

Contact your educational institution for more information.

Other bursaries, scholarships and financial assistance

For information about other bursaries, scholarships and financial assistance, contact the educational institution of your country or the Québec institution where you wish to study. Bursaries and scholarships are generally granted to the most deserving graduate students.

To get more information about financial assistance, contact the Québec Government Office covering your territory.

Student exchanges and internships

Exchange programs

Student exchange programs allow you to complete part of your studies in a Québec educational institution (host institution) while remaining registered in an institution in your country of origin (home institution).

Check with the educational institution of your country or the Québec institution where you wish to study about exchange programs.

 

My College Studies

A unique system

College-level education—a particularity of the Québec system—is provided in comprehensive and technical public colleges (cégeps) and private colleges.

Cégeps are unique to Québec and are a transition between secondary school and university or the labour market.

Colleges

The college network includes:

  • 48 public colleges (cégeps) spread throughout Québec
  • 11 institutions under the responsibility of another government department
  • 61 private colleges
  • Public colleges
  • Private subsidized colleges
  • Metropolitan Montréal regional college admission service (SRAM)
  • Québec City regional college admission service (SRACQ)
  • Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean regional college admission service (SRASL)

Choosing a program

There are two types of college programs:

  • Two-year pre-university programs that prepare students for university and that lead to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS)
  • Three-year technical programs that prepare students for the labour market and that lead to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS)

Not sure which program is right for you? Consult the descriptions of pre-university and technical programs. Click on the code to find out which colleges are authorized to provide these programs.

Applying for admission

Once you have selected your college and your program, you must submit an application for admission.

For an overview of admission procedures, consult:

Admission to a public college (French only)
Admission to a private college (French only)

Before you submit your application, we recommend that you take the time to explore the various programs and job prospects.

It is important to follow the instructions for international students. The requirements may differ from those for Québec students.

Required authorizations

Once you have your official letter of admission to a Québec educational institution in hand, you may require one or both of the following documents:

Prepare financially

Tuition fees and the cost of living are very affordable in Québec. However, you should know what to expect before you leave your country of origin.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees depend on your area of study. For more information, consult the tuition fees page (French only).

Insurance

Check the prerequisites for international students staying in Québec. Among other things, you must obtain health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of your stay.

Stay

You must possess sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your stay, including tuition fees, transportation costs (return ticket to your country of origin), settling-in expenses for the first year and living expenses for the duration of your stay.

My Vocational Studies

Vocational studies in Québec offer access to some of the best training in the world.

Enjoy access to outstanding programs at Québec’s state-of-the-art vocational training centres. With their hands-on approach, you’ll acquire all the tools you need to learn the trade of your dreams!

In-demand trades

Québec offers some of the best vocational training in the world!

  • Quality programs
  • Hands-on courses
  • Meaningful, interesting internships
  • Rapid learning of a specialized trade
  • Very high placement rate and good working conditions

Vocational training in Quebec is:

  • More than 200 modern vocational training centres
  • At least 1740 fast-track and effective programs
  • 21 exciting training sectors

Programs adapted to economic activity

  • Vocational training programs are adapted to the economies of the regions where they are offered
  • Developed in collaboration with employers, they are designed to meet job market needs
  • Most programs include workplace internships

Québec, métiers d’avenir (In-demand trades)

Applying for admission

Vocational training programs are offered throughout the year across Québec.

The start date of courses, program length and admission requirements vary from one institution to another.

Once you have chosen your vocational training program, contact the educational institution offering the program to inquire about admission requirements.

For your convenience, you can consult the list of Vocational Training Programs.

Required authorizations

Once you have your official letter of admission to a Québec educational institution in hand, you may require one or both of the following documents:

Inquire in advance about the prerequisites for staying in Québec as an international student. You will need health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of your studies.

Financial assistance

Merit scholarships

Merit scholarships are intended for international students from growth-market countries in Asia (China, India, Japan) and the Americas (Brazil and Mexico), as well as from developing countries in the French-speaking world. Students who want to study full-time in a vocational program will be given preference.

Applications from students enrolled in one of the 50 programs with favourable job outlooks will also be given preference. If you are eligible for this scholarships, you will be entitled to the supplemental tuition fee exemption.

Want to apply?

Applications are pre-selected by the school boards, then forwarded to Éducation internationale, the organization that manages the scholarship and bursary program for the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur.

 

The Québec System

Want to come to Québec to study? Here is some valuable information to achieve your dream!

Studying in Québec: 5 steps

  1. Choose your education level
  2. Choose your educational institution and program
  3. File an application for admission
  4. Obtain the required authorizations
  5. Prepare financially

Québec’s education system

Québec’s education system is composed of the following levels:

  • Pre-school (kindergarten)
  • Primary and secondary school (general and vocational programs)
  • College (pre-university and technical programs)
  • University

School attendance is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16.

Québec has a secular language-based public education system. Courses are taught in either French or English, depending on the school. Mixed-gender (boys and girls) classes are the norm at all levels of the system.

Québec also has a network of private educational institutions that are recognized by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur. These institutions offer the same official study programs as the public system.

Québec’s education system

Choosing the right level

Before taking any steps to come to Québec to study, it is important to choose the right level before applying: university, college or vocational.

If you don’t know which level is appropriate for you, you can ask the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (MIDI) for a comparative evaluation, which you then give to the educational institution you have chosen.

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