Choosing and enrolling your child in a Quebec elementary school: French or English public, private, enrolment deadlines and parents' rights.

Quebec's school system is divided into school boards serving specific geographic territories. There are two major public networks: French language network — the largest, accessible to all residents English language network — accessible only under specific eligibility conditions (see below) Elementary school in Quebec spans 6 years (Grades 1–6), for children approximately 6–12 years old. Compuls...

Where to learn French for free in Gatineau and the Outaouais — Francisation Québec, APO, AFIO, Cégep de l'Outaouais — and how to register.

In Gatineau, it can be tempting to do everything in English because of Ottawa, just across the river. But you live in Quebec: French remains essential for local jobs, services, school and integration. The state funds free courses for all levels, and the Outaouais has its own francization organizations. Pathway Program Paid? Intensity For whom Government Francisation Québec (MIFI) Yes (if eligib...

Where to learn French for free in Laval — Francisation Québec, Carrefour d'intercultures, Collège Montmorency — and how to register.

In Laval, French opens doors: work, children's school, services, social life. And you don't have to pay to learn it: the state funds free courses for all levels, and Laval organizations offer friendly practice. Pathway Program Paid? Intensity For whom Government Francisation Québec (MIFI) Yes (if eligible) Full time or part time Permanent + eligible temporary immigrants School board School boar...

Where to find free homework help — Alloprof, libraries and community groups — when you can't help in French.

Many newly arrived parents feel guilty about not being able to help their child with homework in French, especially while learning the language themselves. Good news: in Quebec there's a real network of free homework help, built for the local school curriculum. Your child can get help from teachers, online or in person, at no cost. Your job isn't to know the answer — it's to connect your child ...

How to enrol a non-francophone child in Quebec school and access welcome and French-support services.

When a child who doesn't yet speak French arrives in Quebec, the school doesn't leave them to fend for themselves in a regular class. It offers welcome and French support services — often in what's called a classe d'accueil (welcome class). There the child learns French intensively and gradually integrates into Quebec school life, until they can follow regular instruction in French. Depending o...

Where to learn French for free in Québec City — Francisation Québec, welcome organizations, CÉGEPs — and how to register.

In Québec City, almost everything happens in French: work, school, services, neighbourhood life. Learning French is the best investment for your integration and your job. Good news: there are free courses, state funded, for all levels. Pathway Program Paid? Intensity For whom Government Francisation Québec (MIFI) Yes (if eligible) Full time or part time Permanent + eligible temporary immigrants...

Where to learn French for free in the Saguenay — Francisation Québec, SANA Saguenay-Le Fjord, Cégep de Chicoutimi — and how to register.

The Saguenay Lac Saint Jean is a deeply French speaking region: here, French isn't an option, it's the everyday language. That's also an opportunity: you're immersed in French constantly, which speeds up learning. And free courses, state funded, exist for all levels. Pathway Program Paid? Intensity For whom Government Francisation Québec (MIFI) Yes (if eligible) Full time or part time Permanent...

Where to learn French for free in Sherbrooke and the Estrie — Francisation Québec, SANC, the Cégep and Université de Sherbrooke — and how to register.

In Sherbrooke, French is the language of work, study and daily life. Learning it is the best accelerator of your integration, and you don't have to pay for it: the state funds free courses for all levels, and the Estrie has a solid welcome network. A few hours a week, kept up over time, are enough to transform your daily life in this French speaking city. Pathway Program Paid? Intensity For who...

Francisation Québec, community organizations, conversation cafés: every free way to learn French in Montreal.

In Montreal, you do not need to pay to learn French. Three avenues coexist and complement one another: The government route — , which funds formal courses (full time, part time, or online) with a possible allowance for eligible learners. Neighbourhood community organizations — courses that are often less formal, in small groups, sometimes with childcare for parents. Informal practice — librarie...

Enrolling your child in school in Bécancour: the Centre de services scolaire de la Riveraine, required documents, the welcome class and school transport.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16. The Centre de services scolaire de la Riveraine runs the French public schools, serving all of Centre du Québec. The Central Quebec School Board runs the English public schools. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access to English public school. Generally, one parent must have received the majority of their ...

Cégep de Chicoutimi: flagship programs, international students, campus life, costs and financial aid, and how to prepare your admission file.

The Cégep de Chicoutimi — public, francophone, founded in 1967. 2,500 students. Pre university and technical programs. Flagship programs: Aeronautics (one of 2 CEGEPs in Quebec offering this training) Police techniques Nursing Civil engineering Arts and letters The Cégep hosts a growing number of international students. The cost of living in Saguenay makes studies very affordable. The internati...

The Université du Québec à Chicoutimi: programs, student life, and tips for international students.

The UQAC is one of the ten institutions in the Université du Québec network. About 6,250 students as of fall 2025, including roughly 1,500 international students — about one in four. That share has fallen sharply since 2024 as federal and provincial study permit rules tightened. Flagship programs: engineering, management, forestry sciences, arts, computer science. UQAC is very welcoming to inte...

Cégep de Drummondville: programs, international students and college life.

Cégep de Drummondville — public, francophone, founded in 1968 as part of the Parent reform that created Quebec's CEGEP network. 2,500 full time students. The main campus is on Boulevard Saint Joseph, 10 minutes' walk from downtown and reachable via STD bus. Central position in the Centre du Québec — a popular choice for students from across the region: Victoriaville, Nicolet, even Trois Rivière...

The CSS des Draveurs, Western Quebec School Board, and how to register your child.

In Gatineau, several School Service Centres run the French public schools: CSS des Draveurs (Gatineau sector, including Cantley and Val des Monts) CSS des Portages de l'Outaouais (all of Hull sector and Aylmer) CSS au Cœur des Vallées (Buckingham and Masson Angers) The Western Quebec School Board runs the English public schools. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access t...

Cégep de Jonquière: flagship programs, ATM (Arts and Media Technology) and student life.

Cégep de Jonquière — public, French language, founded in 1967 as part of the Parent reform that created the CEGEP network. 3,000 students full time. Main campus on Boulevard du Royaume, near downtown Jonquière. Particularly known for its Arts and Media Technology (ATM) program — one of the most prestigious in Quebec in journalism, radio and television. This specialty draws students from across ...

The Laval school centre, Sir Wilfrid Laurier English board, and how to register your child for the school year.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16. In Laval, two school networks share the territory. The Centre de services scolaire de Laval (CSS de Laval) runs all the French public schools — it's the default network for the vast majority of families. The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board runs the English public schools, but access is restricted by law. The Charter of the French...

Enrolling your child in school in Lévis: the Centre de services scolaire des Navigateurs, required documents, the welcome class and the enrolment steps.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16. The Centre de services scolaire des Navigateurs runs the French public schools. English schools fall under the Central Quebec School Board. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access to English public school. Generally, one parent must have received the majority of their elementary education in English in Can...

The CSS Marie-Victorin, the Riverside School Board, and how to register your child for the school year.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from 6 to 16. In Longueuil, two school networks share the territory. The Centre de services scolaire Marie Victorin runs the French public schools. The Riverside School Board runs the English public schools, several of which are in Greenfield Park. The Charter of the French Language — often called Bill 101 — restricts access to English public schoo...

Enrolling your child in school in Magog: public, private or English options, the Centre de services scolaire des Sommets, documents and daycare costs.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16. The Centre de services scolaire des Sommets runs the French public schools. The Eastern Townships School Board runs the English public schools. Three main paths coexist in the region: the public French network of CSS des Sommets, the private network (annual fees), and the public English network reserved for families eligible under...

Enrolling your child in school in Repentigny: the Centre de services scolaire des Affluents, documents, the welcome class, enriched programs and transport.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16. The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents runs the French public schools, serving both the Repentigny and Le Gardeur sectors. English schools fall under the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access to English school. Generally, one parent must have received the majority...

Université de Sherbrooke and Bishop's University — the two universities that make Sherbrooke a student city.

Sherbrooke is one of Quebec's main student cities. With about 40,000 students for a population of 175,000 residents, nearly one in four Sherbrookers is a student. The Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) is the main university, French speaking, founded in 1954. It has over 33,000 students across three campuses: Main campus in Sherbrooke Health campus near the CHUS Longueuil campus (Montréal South Sh...

The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents and how to register your child for the school year.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from 6 to 16. The Centre de services scolaire des Affluents runs the French public schools. English schools fall under the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, but access is limited by law. The Charter of the French Language — Bill 101 — restricts access to English school. Generally, one of the parents must have received their elementary education in ...

UQTR and Cégep de Trois-Rivières — university life in the Mauricie region.

The UQTR, founded in 1969, has over 15,000 students (15,129 for the 2026 2027 year). Its main campus is in Trois Rivières, with satellite campuses in Drummondville, Terrebonne, Joliette and L'Assomption, plus additional facilities in Quebec City and Longueuil. Recognized for programs in kinesiology, podiatry, chiropractic, nursing and engineering. The Cégep de Trois Rivières has over 4,000 stud...

The school system in Brossard, how to register your child, and what you need to know about welcome classes for newcomer students.

In Quebec, public school is free and mandatory from age 6 to 16. In Brossard, two school networks share the territory. The Centre de services scolaire Marie Victorin runs the French public schools — it's the default network for the vast majority of families. The Riverside School Board runs the English public schools, but access is restricted by law. The Charter of the French Language — often ca...

Free courses, conversation circles, apps, media — where to go and how to start to improve your French.

Learning French in Quebec isn't about signing up for one course and waiting. It's multiplying your contacts with the language in every possible situation. This guide gathers five families of resources, from the most formal — free government courses — to the most informal — radio in the background while cooking. All are free or very low cost. But before going to explore others' offerings, start ...

The technical words you'll hear at RAMQ, SAAQ, the bank — so you're never caught off-guard.

When you arrive in Quebec, even with good French, administrative counters can be destabilizing. The clerk speaks quickly, uses technical words, and assumes you understand. This guide gathers the vocabulary for the five situations you'll meet earliest: RAMQ, the bank, the lease, SAAQ, and immigration. Every term below is also indexed on , with IPA pronunciation and audio, gathered with terms fro...

Free French courses, a financial allowance, and online registration: everything about Francisation Québec for newcomers.

Francisation Québec is the government service that groups together all free French courses offered to immigrants. It was created in June 2023 by the Ministère de l'Immigration (MIFI). It is today the only official portal to register for a French course in Quebec. A useful distinction so you don't get lost: the MIFI and Francisation Québec are not the same thing. The MIFI is the ministry — the g...

From primary to university, understanding levels and choices for your kids.

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 The diagram below shows these pathways, plus the entry points for adults. Mandatory and free until age 16 Public school: free (only material a...