CEGEP - Education Path

Education Path

Students in the province of Québec who intend to pursue post-secondary education must attend a college before enrolling in a Quebec university. Students who follow a general studies program in Quebec complete six years of primary school (grades 1 through 6), followed by five years of secondary school (grades 7 through 11, or Secondaire I to V in French). Quebec students complete one grade fewer in total than all other Canadian students before beginning post-secondary studies, ending high school in grade 11 instead of grade 12. Colleges then prepare students for university or to enter a technical profession. Most Quebec undergraduate programs are three years in length for Quebec students; hence, the total number of years of study from primary school through a Bachelor's degree is the same as in the rest of North America. It is also possible to attend a university after obtaining a technical college diploma, as they are usually treated by universities in the same manner as 2-year college diplomas (associate degree).

Students wishing to continue their university education outside Quebec must take one year of courses to fulfill the requirements of the institution to which they are applying. For example, students wishing to attend an Ontario university may complete one year of college and apply as a regular applicant who has completed grade 12 in Ontario. Additionally, students who have a DEC from a Quebec college may apply for admission with one year of advanced standing to institutions outside Quebec, as some advanced courses at the college level may be assessed as equivalent to introductory courses at university.