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Unit 4 · Lesson 1

The Canadian Education System

The French-Canadian education system differs significantly from the English one: especially in Quebec, where the cégep exists as a unique step between high school and university. Understanding this structure is essential whether you are applying, supporting someone who is, or working in an educational context.

Outside Quebec, French immersion and francophone schools exist in every province, and French-language universities serve Francophone communities from New Brunswick to Manitoba. This lesson maps the full landscape.

The Quebec education path

École primaireGrades 1–6, ages 6–12
École secondaireSecondary 1–5, ages 12–17
Cégep2 years pre-university OR 3 years technical, ages 17–19
Université: Baccalauréat3 years (Quebec) / 4 years (other provinces)
Université: Maîtrise2 years
Université: Doctorat3–5 years
Other provinces: Elementary → Middle / High school → University (4 years). No cégep step.

Francophone universities in Canada

Key French-language institutions from coast to coast

Université de Montréal

Montreal, QC: large research university

UQAM

Montreal, QC: Université du Québec à Montréal

Université Laval

Quebec City, QC: oldest French university in North America

Université d'Ottawa

Ottawa, ON: officially bilingual (French/English)

Université de Moncton

Moncton, NB: main Francophone university in the Maritimes

Université Saint-Boniface

Winnipeg, MB: serves Western Canada's Francophone community

Education system vocabulary

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French

le cégep

tap to flip

English

Quebec's pre-university college

Unique to Quebec. Stands for Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel. Two years for university-bound students, three for technical programs.

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Match the French term to its English meaning

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Click a French word, then click its English match.

Complete the education sentences

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Hint: The unique Quebec pre-university institution between high school and university.

Au Québec, les étudiants complètent leavant d'accéder à l'université.

In Quebec, students complete the cégep before entering university.

The Canadian education system quiz

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What is unique about the cégep in the Quebec education system?