half-time to four-year old children, in some schools;
	full-time to five-year old children throughout the school year;
	throughout Québec, in the public school system and certain private schools.

Primary education

Regardless of whether they have attended kindergarten, all six-year old children must be enrolled in elementary school. Children of five years of age will be enrolled provided they turn six before October 1 of their first school year.

Pupils with adjustment problems can have access to services that take their learning difficulties into account.

The Québec school system encourages parents to participate actively in their children’s education by becoming involved in: the school’s governing board, the school’s parents participation committee, the school board’s parents committee, the advisory committee for handicapped children, children with adjustment difficulties or learning disabilities and the advisory committee on school transportation. Only Québec education establishments have the authority to grant candidates, after examination of their school files, equivalencies in order to admit them to their program of study.

Secondary education

After six years of primary education, children must continue their education at secondary, or high school level within:

	a general program, lasting five years, that results in a secondary school leaving diploma (DES) and leads to higher education or;
	one of several vocational programs that lead to the practice of a skilled or semi-skilled trade and that result in either a vocational studies diploma (DEP) or a vocational training certificate (AEP).

Access to these programs requires the completion of three to five years of general high school studies. Vocational studies last from one to two years depending on the program.

Collegial studies

General program high school or secondary studies lead to collegial studies, the first level of higher education. The collèges d'enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEPs) and some private colleges offer a choice between :

	pre-university studies that last two years and serve as a preparation for university;
	technical studies that last three years and lead to employment as technicians or technologists. Under certain circumstances, technical studies can also lead to university.

Whatever their choice, students must take some general education courses which are common to both programs. The Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS) recognizes the studies completed in pre-university programs and technical studies programs.

CEGEPs offer a wide variety of pre-university programs: natural science, social science, dance, music, fine arts, liberal arts, the humanities, science, history, and civilization. Some CEGEPs also offer an international baccalaureate. The numerous vocational programs are divided into five fields : biological technology, physics technology, social technology, business administration and arts. In fact, they cover all sectors of the economy.

Specialized educational establishments such as institutes and conservatories also offer diverse training programs: circus, music, agri-food technology, tourism and hotel industry, fashion design, horticulture, etc.


University studies

University studies constitute the second level of higher education. The duration of study can vary according to the discipline or level.

Undergraduate studies lead to a bachelor's degree (three to five years), a certificate or diploma (one or two years of study). At the graduate level, studies lead to a master's degree (generally two years of study) or to a certificate or diploma (generally one year of study). Doctoral studies lead to a Ph.D. degree after three years of study.

As highly autonomous bodies, universities can determine their own courses of study, their teaching and research programs, their own admission and registration requirements and award their own diplomas and degrees.

Québec's various universities, research institutes and higher learning centres are located in Montréal, Québec City and Sherbrooke. However, a university education is available in most regions through the Université du Québec campuses in Rouyn-Noranda, Saguenay, Gatineau, Montréal, Rimouski and Trois-Rivières.

	the Certificat de sélection du Québec or CSQ (Québec selection certificate);
	confirmation of permanent resident status (visa issued by the Canadian authorities);
	passport;
	birth certificate;
	report cards, if applicable.

Depending on the individual situation, either the parents or the school board register the child. The school board may send you the necessary documents for registration and provide you with the contact information for the school.

Each year, all school boards issue a public notice concerning admission applications. The school year usually begins at the end of August and the admission period is either February or March.

Although you can apply for admission at any time, it is highly recommended you register your child for pre-school (kindergarten) before the end of June.

College and university

To apply to CEGEP, you must contact the institution you wish to attend. If it is a member of a Service régional d'admission (regional admission service), you will be referred there.

For the fall term (beginning at the end of August), applications must be handed in before March 1. For the winter term (beginning in January), the deadline is November 1. Colleges may demand an application fee.

As far as universities are concerned, you must send your application and the required fee to the institution you wish to attend. Deadlines vary by institution and individual program.

	before classes start in the morning;
	at lunchtime;
	after school.

Children who attend day care can use the time to do their homework.

Parents who send their children to the school day care facility for a minimum of two and a half hours a day for at least three days a week pay the minimum daily fee. However, other costs such as fees for meals eaten at school or special activities organized by the day care may be added. Contact your school or school board to find out what schools provide these services.

	the development, implementation and evaluation of the school's educational role;
	the ways of applying the pedagogical regime;
	the time allotted to each subject;
	the student support policies;
	the school budget;
	the premises;
	the orientations, action plans and periodic evaluations of vocational centres and adult education centres.

The governing board also plays an advisory role in other areas such as the selection of school manuals and didactic material.

	to upgrade your skills;
	to acquire new general or vocational training;
	personal interest.

A wide range of adult education programs, full- or part-time, day or evening, distance, online, etc., are available.

Adult education centres, which are run by the school boards, offer literacy programs, presecondary studies and general and vocational programs at the secondary level. Colleges and universities also offer adult education programs.

According to your needs, you should contact an institution within your school system, a community agency, your municipality or Info Apprendre. You can also contact the immigration and integration services of the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC), which will help you choose from the resources available.

Admission to some programs

Before admitting students to their program, educational establishments in Québec must make sure that the candidates meet their entrance requirements.

The minimum admission requirements for vocational studies vary according to individual programs. Technical training programs require a high school leaving diploma (DES) or its equivalent.

Before you are admitted to a vocational or technical training program, adult education centres, school boards, CEGEPs and private colleges must assure themselves that the courses you took outside Québec meet the minimum admission requirements for your program. They will ask you to provide a Évaluation comparative des études effectuées hors du Québec (Comparative Evaluation of Studies Done Outside Québec). Issued by the MRCI, this document has an indicative import only. As an expert opinion it binds neither the employers, the professional orders nor the educational institutions that have to evaluate your educational record according to their own methods and criteria. The Évaluation comparative describes the studies completed abroad and establishes a comparison between them and the main diplomas and degrees issued in Québec.

(1) Within the meaning of the Education Act and the General and Vocational College Act and its regulations. Return to the text


Useful links

	Services Québec Information on Government of Québec programs and services
	ÉduQuébec-Régions
	Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec Information on the Québec educational system and institutions
	Régime québécois d'assurance parentale