Education level selection
Québec’s public education system is
secular. It is set up on a linguistic basis (English or French), depending on the language(s) of instruction used in the classroom.
Co-education (i.e. males and females in the same classroom) is the norm at all education levels in Québec. There is also a network of private institutions recognized by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS). These institutions are authorized to offer official programs.
Education levels
| University |
Undergraduate (1st cycle):
- Duration: 3-4 years
- Leads to a bachelor’s degree, diploma or certificate.
Master’s (2nd cycle):
- Duration: 2 years
- Leads to an advanced graduate diploma (diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées/DESS) or a master’s degree.
Doctorate (3rd cycle):
- Duration: 3 years or more
- Leads to a doctorate (PhD).
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| College (pre-university and technical) |
The college network is one of the key features of Québec’s education system. Two program tracks lead to the college diploma (diplôme d’études collégiales/DEC):
- Pre-university education
- Duration: 2 years
- Prepares students for university-level courses.
- Technical training
- Duration: 3 years
- Leads to the labour market.
- Under certain conditions, provides access to university-level studies.
- Examples of technical training for skilled trades: aircraft design technician, nurse, insurance advisor, financial services advisor.
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| Vocational training |
There are 2 possibilities:
- Vocational diploma (diplôme d’études professionnelles/DEP)
- Duration: 1 to 2 years
- Completing vocational training enables individuals to carry on a trade in the labour market and, under certain conditions, provides access to college-level studies.
- Examples of trades: butcher, mechanic, dental assistant, etc.
- Attestation of vocational specialization (attestation de spécialisation professionnelle/ASP)
- Duration: less then a year
- The ASP is geared toward individuals who already hold a DEP or who are carrying on a trade in connection with a program studies.
- Examples of trades: masonry restorer, legal secretary, industrial machinery maintenance mechanic, etc.
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| Primary and secondary |
School attendance is mandatory for all children between the ages of 6 and 16, i.e. from the first day of the school year following the year in which the child turns 6 until the last day of the school year in which the child turns 16.
Primary
Secondary
- Duration: 5 years
- Students who complete high school receive a secondary school diploma (diplôme d’études secondaires/DES), which is a pre-requisite for taking college-level courses.
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