L'école au Québec — du primaire à l'université, un parcours unique en Amérique.
1. Overall structure
Structure from primary to university:
- Primary: 6 years (Grades 1 to 6, ~6 to 12 years old)
- Secondary: 5 years (Sec. 1 to 5, ~12 to 17 years old)
- CEGEP: 2 or 3 years (~17 to 19 years old)
- University: bachelor's ~3 years, master's ~2 years, doctorate ~3-5 years
2. Mandatory and free schooling
- Mandatory and free until age 16
- Public school: free (only material and field-trip fees)
- Private school: typically $4,000 to $15,000/year
3. Bill 101 and French schooling
Bill 101:
- Children of immigrants: mandatory French-language school at primary and secondary
- Free choice at CEGEP and university
- A few very specific exceptions (Canadian English-speaking parent educated in English)
4. CEGEP: between high school and university
The CEGEP:
- 2 years: pre-university programs (sciences, humanities...)
- 3 years: technical programs (toward direct employment)
- Free at public CEGEP for Quebec residents
5. University: cheaper for Quebecers
University fees:
- Quebec residents: ~$3,000/year (among the lowest in the Americas)
- Other Canadian provinces: ~$9,000/year
- International: $18,000 to $50,000/year depending on the program
6. The levels at a glance
Summary of the main levels of the Quebec school system: typical duration, approximate age and cost for a Quebec resident. Figures are indicative.
The school year at primary and secondary starts in late August or early September and ends in late June. At CEGEP and university, two main sessions structure the year: fall (late August to December) and winter (January to May). An optional summer session is added to catch up on courses.
| Level | Duration | Approximate age | Cost (QC resident) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary (public) | 6 years | 6 to 12 years | Free (materials separate) |
| Secondary (public) | 5 years | 12 to 17 years | Free (materials separate) |
| Secondary (private) | 5 years | 12 to 17 years | $4,000 to $15,000 per year |
| Pre-university CEGEP | 2 years | 17 to 19 years | Free at public |
| Technical CEGEP | 3 years | 17 to 20 years | Free at public |
| University — bachelor's | about 3 years | 19 and up | about $3,000 per year |
| University — master's | about 2 years | 22 and up | about $3,000 per year |
7. The welcome class for non-French-speaking children
For children arriving without French, the public network offers the welcome class. The child spends one or two years of intensive immersion in French, then joins the regular class at their age level.
The service is free and organized by your school services centre. Ask for it explicitly at enrollment: it is not always proposed automatically.
8. Your action list
Follow these concrete actions to enroll your children in Quebec's school system. Check each box as you go: your progress is saved if you're signed in.
- Find your school services centre (former name: school board)
- Gather the documents: birth certificate, vaccines, previous report card
- Enroll your children in February-March for September
- Request the welcome class or francisation if needed
- Visit the assigned school before the start of the year
9. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions from new parents about Quebec schools: at what age to enroll a child, how the territory map works, and whether it's really impossible to attend public English school as an immigrant.
At what age must my child start school in Quebec?
The first mandatory year is Grade 1 of primary, in September of the year your child turns 6.
Before that, two free public options exist: maternelle 4 ans (kindergarten 4) and maternelle 5 ans (kindergarten 5). They are not mandatory but very common — maternelle 5 ans is attended by nearly every child. School is mandatory until age 16 or until obtaining a diploma.
Can you pick any public school?
No. Each address belongs to a school services centre and to a specific school catchment. Your child has a guaranteed spot at the school of your address. Requesting another school in the same centre is possible but conditional on availability.
Private schools, by contrast, are open to all Quebecers — admission criteria are set by the school, often via an entrance test in the autumn before enrollment.
Is there really no way to attend public English school?
In the vast majority of immigration cases, no — Bill 101 closes the door at primary and secondary. The narrow exceptions exist only when at least one parent attended an English-language school in Canada (not abroad).
After secondary, the choice is free: an immigrant student can enroll in an English-language CEGEP (Dawson, Vanier, John Abbott) or an English-language university (McGill, Concordia, Bishop's).
10. Official sources
For official information:
11. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Family allowance in Quebec — the financial aid for families with school-age children, to apply for at enrollment.
- New baby paperwork — the first registrations that lead to the school path.
- Learn French free with Francisation Québec — for parents accompanying children in welcome classes who want to learn in parallel.
Author's note: Quebec's system is different and excellent. Your children will learn French fast, and free CEGEP opens many doors.
