The largest of Canada’s ten provinces, with an area of 1 667 926 km2, Québec is three times bigger than France, seven times bigger than the United Kingdom and over half the size of Argentina. Close to eight million people live in Québec. Québec’s population is made up mainly of French-speaking people, who account for 80% of the total population. English speakers are concentrated in and around the Island of Montreal. Québec’s Aboriginal peoples live mainly in Northern Québec.

Québec is the cradle of French language and culture in the heart of the Americas. It is also a major hub of the knowledge-based economy and international commerce. A meeting ground for Latin and Anglo-Saxon cultures enriched by the contri- butions of multiethnic immigration, the province offers a stimulating environment that has the added advantage of being a safe place to live. And its education system is among the best in North America. Take advantage of a lifestyle tailored to your needs by coming to study in Québec. You can, for example:

• study aeronautical engineering in the vibrant city of Montréal;
• explore the forests around Abitibi-Témiscamingue;
• learn marine science in Rimouski etc.

Each year, Québec welcomes about 30 000 international students from over 160 countries.

QUÉBEC education System

Québec’s education system includes preschool education, elementary and secondary school education, college education, vocational and technical training, and university education. The public education system in Québec is nondenominational. It is established along language lines, French and English, depending on the language of instruction in the school. Québec also has a network of private institutions recognized by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS). These institutions offer government-approved programs of study. Québec’s educational institutions offer:

• workshops, practicums and small-group training
• sessions conducive to discussion
• modern infrastructures
• multidisciplinary approaches
• the possibility of working during and after your studies
• opportunities to improve proficiency in French or English

Vocational and technical training Vocational and technical training are integral parts of the education system. They are available at both the secondary (vocational training) and college (technical training) levels for young people and adults, and lead directly to the labour market. Offered at the secondary level in school boards and private schools, vocational training is designed for students who have successfully completed Secondary III or IV. All vocational training programs lead to either a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) or an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS). Both are issued and certified by the Québec government. Technical training is offered at CEGEPs and private colleges. Their programs of study lead of a government- issued Diploma of College Studies (DCS), which entitles graduates to work as technicians or technologists.

College education College education, which is the first level of higher education, is available to students who have successfully completed their secondary studies. The second level is university education. The colleges, or CEGEPs, provide regular pre-university education in two-year programs that make students eligible to apply for university. Technical three-year training programs prepare students to enter the labour market, in addition to allowing them to apply for university studies. Both paths lead to the Diploma of College Studies (DCS) issued by Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport. University education University programs are offered at three levels leading respectively to a bachelor’s degree (three or four years), a master’s degree (one or two years) and a doctoral degree (three or more years).

Why Study In QUÉBEC?

The excellence of the education system

• Québec has one of the highest undergraduate graduation rates.
• educational institutions offer programs that are recognized the world over, and many of them are offered in conjunction with educational institutions in other countries.
• Québec institutions of higher learning are equipped with ultramodern infrastructures (leading-edge technology labs, computer labs, sports installations, auditoriums, etc.) regardless of their size or location.
• Québec has prestigious research and technology centres in leading sectors.
• Québec universities are full-fledged members of large international networks.
• various vocational training programs leading to the practice of a skilled trade or occupation are offered year round throughout Québec.
• Relationships between teachers and students are candid and friendly. The choice of studying in French or English
• Québec’s secondary school, college and university system includes both English- and French- language institutions. Competitive fees
• our tuition rates are some of the lowest in north America.
• The cost of living in Québec is among the lowest in Canada. Quality of life
• Reputed for its wide-open spaces, Québec offers impressive landscapes and a wide range of activities. It has numerous lakes and rivers, an immense boreal forest, a fjord and a majestic river, as well as many national parks whose character changes with the seasons.
• Québec is the quintessential outdoor destination, offering a full range of recreational activities.
• The quality of Québec’s urban life is remarkable, being a blend of the modern aspects of North American cities and the old-world charm of European destinations. Safe living conditions
• Québec is recognized for its tranquility, its sense of justice and its respect for individuals.
• The crime rate is one of the lowest in north America. A dynamic culture
• Québec has a prolific, dynamic and unique culture.
• Québec society is increasingly diversified and open to the world.
• many large-scale intercultural and international events take place over the course of any given year. These events include festivals, carnivals, art shows and sporting events.

Cost associated with studying in QUÉBEC

International students who wish to study in Québec must prove that they have sufficient funds to pay their tuition fees and cover their basic needs for the entire duration of their stay. They must also be in a position to cover the costs associated with submitting an application for a Québec Certificate of Acceptance and a study permit, tuition fees and other costs connected with registration (related expenses, costs of teaching materials, student association fees, and health and hospitalization insurance premiums). Exemption from differential tuition Fees The Exemption from Differential Tuition Fees Program exempts a limited number of foreign students from paying the additional tuition fees normally demanded of foreign students. In other words, foreign students who qualify under this program pay the same tuition fees as Québec students. This program applies to foreign students at three levels of education (vocational, college and university). At the university level, only nationals of countries with which Québec has signed an education or training agreement are eligible for this program. To find out more about the program, to learn which countries have signed an exemption agreement with Québec, or to verify whether such agreements are still in effect, you can contact the proper authorities in your country of origin; or visit the Web site of the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport.

Québec Merit Fellowships Program for Foreign students The Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport provides Merit Fellowships for high-calibre foreign students. To be eligible, you must be enrolled full time in a degree program offered by a Québec educational institution. You may be entitled to a scholarship ranging from $10 000 to $35 000 per year and per level of instruction. Recipients of merit Fellowships are auto- matically exempted from differential tuition fees

Four steps to studying in Québec

To study in Québec, students need to obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate for Studies as well as a study permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This requirement applies to any program that lasts longer than six months and that is offered at the elementary level through to the university level, and to any other program offered by an educational institution. Some foreign nationals may also need a temporary resident visa to enter Canada. In such cases, the Canadian visa officer will issue the visitor a visa at the same time as the study permit.

Step 1: Choosing a program of study and an educational institution
Step 2: applying for admission
Step 3: Obtaining a Québec Acceptance Certificate

for studies (QAC for studies) from the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec

The QAC is valid for the duration of your studies, up to a maximum of 49 months.

Step 4: Obtaining a Study Permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and, if required, a temporary resident visa.

Moving to Québec and starting your training!

Employment Opportunities

Take advantage of your stay in Québec to acquire valuable work experience! Various work opportunities are open to you during and after your period of studies. Citizen- ship and Immigration Canada has a number of programs that allow international students to work during or after their studies under certain conditions. International students who wish to take advantage of these programs must first obtain a work permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, except if they are working on campus. In addition to meeting the specific requirements of the different programs, you must hold a valid study permit and be enrolled full-time in a participating educational institution.

Programs offered

• Working on Campus
• Off-Campus Work Permit Program (maximum of 20 hours per week)
• Co-op and Internship Programs Work Permit
• Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• Work Permit for Spouses