Types of educational paths
Three different paths available at one cegep: Technical DCS, Pre-university DCS and ACS. Depending on your goals, one of these paths will meet your needs.
The acronym CEGEP stands for Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (General and Vocational College). What we call a CEGEP constitutes the first tier of higher education in the Quebec education system and is analogous to France’s university institutes of technology. All technical and pre-university program diplomas awarded are state diplomas.
Why choose CEGEP? Regardless of the type of program you are attracted to, several good reasons come to mind when you choose to study at CÉGEP.
Types of programs
The DCS: Diploma of college studies
Technical DEC
This DEC is mainly intended for students looking for targeted practical training and integration into the labour market in the medium term. The program last three years (6 sessions) on a full-time basis. All AEC programs include work internships. An example of a Technical DEC is the DEC in Business Management. It is possible to pursue university studies after obtaining this diploma.
Pre-university DEC
As its name suggests, this DEC is intended for students who may want to pursue university studies, but who first want to explore different facets of a field of study before specializing in a specific university program. This program lasts two years (4 sessions) on a full-time basis. For example, a pre-university DEC in Humanities (subjects: History, Politics, Psychology) can be followed by a university bachelor’s degree in Law or Criminology.
The AEC: Attestation of college studies
The Attestation of Collegial Studies is intended for students looking to upgrade their skills or retrain to quickly enter the labour market. This program lasts 10 to 18 months on a full-time basis and includes a work internship. This type of program does not give direct access to university, with some exceptions (e.g., if the student already has a recognized university degree from their country of origin). Examples of AECs: Object Oriented Programming and Web Technologies / Early Childhood Education.
Comparison between the French and Quebec school systems
How much should I budget for my personal expenses?
(housing, food, transportation, etc.)?
The budget varies from person to person, depending on their needs. In order to help you better plan your budget for your first year in Quebec, we suggest that you consult this table which includes all the expenses that an international student will have to incur, on average, regardless of their country of origin.
