Popularly known as the ‘cradle of French Civilization in North America’ Quebec is a historical treasure with a remarkable mix of architecture, art and culture. It is also one of the major provinces in Canada that invests graciously in its education sector. Quebec colleges and universities offer the best quality education with a fee structure that is lowest in Canada.
To talk of colleges in Quebec, they are quite popular amongst international students owing to their unique education system and degrees. The colleges in Quebec offer around 125 programs under 21 fields of study. As a student, you can choose the program that best suits your career goals while residing in a beautiful and safe region of the world. In this blog, we cover everything that you need to know about Quebec colleges for international students, the education system, popular courses and much more.
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College Education System in Quebec
A unique feature of Quebec’s education system is the network of colleges that connects secondary-level schools with universities. There are both public and private colleges in Quebec that operate under CEGEP (collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel). The learners either continue to university or enter the workforce after completion of their college education in Quebec. Although it is a French-dominated province, there are many renowned English colleges in Quebec too.
There are three options for colleges in Quebec for International students:
- Pre-University Education: These two-year programs provide access to undergraduate programs in Canada and lead to a Diploma of College Studies (DEC) issued by the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur (MES).
- Technical Education: These three-year programs prepare students to step into the job market with relevant skills and knowledge. They lead to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS) issued by the Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur (MES) and also give access to undergraduate programs.
- Continuing Education: With programs ranging from 6 to 18 months, continuing education leads to an Attestation of Collegial Studies (AEC) issued by the college. It consists of a set of technical courses specific to each institution. The aim of this program is to prepare students for employment. These programs are offered to meet the workforce needs and demands of the market.
Top 8 Colleges in Quebec for International Students
Now that we know about the education system in Quebec let us have a look at the list of colleges in Quebec for international students. To find out the best college you also search through College Finder easily. Here are the top colleges in Quebec in 2024:
- Dawson College
- Vanier College
- LaSalle College
- John Abbott College
- TAV College
- Ahuntsic College
- Montmorency College
- Marianopolis College
Let us now go into details of 8 colleges that tops the Quebec colleges list:
1. Dawson College
Dawson College is one of the top colleges in Quebec under CEGEP. The College offers both two-year pre-university programs and three-year career programs. Pre-university programs are designed to prepare students for further studies at university. Career programs on the other hand lead the students directly to employment. Students completing any of the two programs are awarded a college diploma.
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College Type |
Public |
|
Establishment Year |
1968 |
|
Programs Offered |
Diploma in Biomedical Laboratory Technology, Regular Training in Nursing, Social Service, Civil Technology |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter |
2. Vanier College
Vanier College is another popular college in Quebec that perfectly blends traditionality with modern technology and facilities. It offers full-time pre-university programs and technical career programs that award Diploma of College Studies (DCS) on completion of the course. There is a Continuing Education Department too that offers credit DCS courses and Attestation of College Studies (ACS) programs, as well as non-credit courses and programs.
|
College Type |
Public |
|
Establishment Year |
1970 |
|
Programs Offered |
Diploma in Architectural Technology, Diploma in Respiratory and Anaesthesia Technology, Diploma in Animal Health Technology |
|
Intakes |
Winter, Autumn |
3. LaSalle College
LaSalle College is one of the best colleges in Quebec that offers professional, college and pre-university training. Out of the total students there, 40% are international students coming from more than 110 different countries. LaSalle College has 5 specialty schools with over 60 programs based on creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. LaSalle College is also the largest fashion school in Canada.
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College Type |
Private |
|
Establishment Year |
1959 |
|
Popular Courses |
Diploma (DEC) in Computer Science Technology - Video Game Programming, Diploma (AEC) in Media Studies, Diploma (DEC) in Hotel Management Techniques |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter, Summer |
4. John Abbott College
John Abbott College is one of the best Quebec colleges for international students. At present, the College caters to over 6500 day students and more than 2000 Continuing Education students from Québec, Canada and abroad. John Abbott College offers a variety of career and pre-university programs specifically designed to equip students with the necessary tools to succeed in life and career.
|
College Type |
Public |
|
Establishment Year |
1971 |
|
Popular Courses |
Diploma in Business Management, Engineering Technologies, Graphic and Web Design |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter |
5. TAV College
TAV (Torah and Vocational College) is a bilingual college located in Montreal, Quebec. It offers 15 career or pre-university programs of study to a large multicultural body of students. TAV college started as a small institution within Quebec’s CEGEP network and today, it is a full-fledged private college. It has been recognized and accredited for subsidies from the Quebec Ministry of Education since 2010.
|
College Type |
Private |
|
Establishment Year |
1989 |
|
Popular Courses |
Diploma (DCS) in Social Sciences, Diploma (DCS) in Arts, Literature and Communication, Diploma (DCS) in Early Childhood Education |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter |
6. Ahuntsic College
College Ahuntsic is one of the best educational institutions in Quebec. This college aims to inspire and help international students succeed in their school careers through direct aid with the granting of scholarships and by indirect aid by financing certain additional educational projects. This is one of the limited colleges which offer to teach French in English both languages.
|
College Type |
Public |
|
Establishment Year |
1967 |
|
Popular Courses |
Diploma in Human Science, Diploma in Computer Science, Diploma in Natural Sciences, Diploma in Electronic Technology etc. |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter |
7. Montmorency College
Montmorency College is the only and first College in Quebec, the 3rd-largest city in Canada with a population of 4,00,000. It provides around 28 technical and pre-university training programs to more than 7,500 students. The College's educational mission is to offer reachable quality training and education that results in success. It follows an open atmosphere and accepts many international applicants.
|
College Type |
Public |
|
Establishment Year |
1969 |
|
Popular Courses |
SCIENCES HUMAINES, TECHNIQUES DE MUSÉOLOGIE, TECHNOLOGIE DU GÉNIE CIVIL, TECHNIQUES DE TOURISME, ARTS VISUELS etc. |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter |
8. Marianopolis College
Marianopolis College prepares international students to pursue academic excellence and become autonomous lifelong learners. The college provides high-quality pre-university college programs in a community devoted to changing the lives of about 2,000 remarkable young people from all parts of Greater Montreal and the world. As part of its undertaking to support students through scholarships and financial aid, colleges offer a variety of scholarships and subsidies each year, ranging from a few hundred dollars each to full tuition.
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College Type |
Private |
|
Establishment Year |
1908 |
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Popular Courses |
Marketing Media and Communication, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, Business, History etc. |
|
Intakes |
Fall, Winter |
The number of international students opting to study at colleges in Quebec increases every year. The colleges in Quebec have a worldwide reputation of offering the best education through a variety of courses. If you want to know more about Canadian universities, check out top universities & colleges in Canada now. Moreover, you can also connect with our Yocket Professionals to choose the best colleges in Quebec easily.
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