Study in Quebec : A comprehensive guide

Studying abroad could be life-changing. It comes with experiences that not only alter personalities but also reward promising career prospects. But it all stands null if you choose the wrong course or university. While there’s nothing wrong with any course, one that is wide off the mark would simply waste time and resources. By choosing a university in Canada, it is highly unlikely that you could go wrong.

Quebec has diverse programs in its 16 accredited universities. But the benefits of studying in Quebec go way beyond that. From arts to sciences to business to language, their quality education comes with a relatively low cost of living and a robust healthcare system. It is a popular study destination. In fact, 2023 saw over 117,000 in the prestigious universities in Quebec. Like those in the rest of Canada, they have a remarkable quality of education. However, the admission criteria and requirements vary.

Popular Courses to Study in Quebec

The world recognises Quebec for its strong engineering programs. École Polytechnique de Montréal, Concordia University, and McGill University among others offer graduate and undergraduate courses in engineering in different fields. Concordia University is also known for its business and management programs. The UK healthcare sector is rapidly growing. Graduates from McGill University and Université de Montréal can benefit from their extensive medicine, dentistry and nursing programs. Not only that, it could help them get hired by Quebec’s healthcare facilities. To be a part of the growing technology sector of Quebec, students can undertake computer science programs at Université de Sherbrooke and Université Laval.

Cost of Education

Education is one of the key but indispensable expenses. Factually, Quebec has a relatively lower cost of education. The average annual cost of tuition in Quebec ranges between CAD 10,000 and CAD 36,000. However, this varies depending on the choice of course and university and the level of education. Additionally, Quebec is also popular for its language courses supported by its bilingual culture. They could cost around $340 to $425 per week. Eligible students can benefit from the Québec Perspective scholarship by the Gouvernement du Québec (central government).

Cost of Living

Despite the high quality of life, the cost of living in Quebec is CAD 15,078 or INR 9 Lakh. It banks on various factors like location and lifestyle. Coupled with basic necessities like housing, transportation and food, lifestyle plays a vital role in determining the cost of living.

Accommodation

Quebec has both on-campus and off-campus accommodation facilities for international students. The universities extend their on-campus housing options to students at CAD 4,000 to CAD 8,000 per year. Meanwhile, renting or sharing apartments in cities like Montreal and Quebec starts at CAD 500 per month. Students can also choose to live in homestays.

Transportation

Students can get monthly passes on public buses and even seek discounts. The Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) manages the public transport in Montreal while the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC) does Quebec City. Both of these could cost about CAD 90 per month. Alternatively, students can rent bikes or take taxis for longer routes. When exploring Quebec, they can take the Via Rail or Greyhound to travel around the provinces.

Food

Students can expect an expense of CAD 200 to CAD 400 on monthly groceries. The amount heavily varies on eating habits and preferences. If they know how to cook, they can save a bucketload of money on food. Otherwise, dining at the restaurant or takeaways can cost them about CAD 10 to CAD 30 per meal.

Health Insurance

Healthcare in Quebec is free for the citizens. To maintain that, International students need to apply for the Quebec Health Insurance Plan (RAMQ) as a part of their visa process. The plan covers students for their medical and care needs and costs about CAD 600 to CAD 700 per year. Uniquely, students can get their private health insurance. However, the government needs to approve them beforehand.

Requirements for Studying in Quebec

The requirements of both Quebec and its universities are slightly different than the rest of Canada. While the main criteria as set by the Canadian government is to be matched, Quebec too extends a few needs of their own. Students can apply for up to 3 programs in a university and as many universities as they like. However, they must apply to only the ones they wish to pursue as the applications cost about 131 CAD or INR 8,031.

Documents for University Admissions

The documents required to apply to Quebec universities are academic records, language proficiency test results and letter(s) of recommendation, if any, along with the application form and fee. If the course is mainly taught in English, students need to take IELTS or PTE Academia to demonstrate their English proficiency. Conversely, french course students need tests like Test de français international (TFI) or Test d’évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec (TEFAQ).

Once selected, the University will generate a Letter of Acceptance (or Admission Offer) for students to use to get their student visas.

Documents for Visa Application

The documents submitted to the university and the acceptance letter are crucial during the visa process. Further, the documents needed are visa application and fee, proof of funds, biometrics and payment to RAMQ (health insurance.)

Ready to fly? Connect with Studywise International for a FREE CONSULTATION today!