English CEGEPs

In Quebec, there are a total of 9 colleges that offer English instruction and specialize in DEC programs. A DEC program is simply a program that leads to a DEC/DCS (see below).

Here's some terminology that you'll later see on this page:

• Day Division = regular daytime students in the youth sector, and not in continuing education (see below)
• DEC = diplôme d'études collégiales, same as DCS
• DCS = diploma of collegial studies, same as DEC
• DEP = diplôme d'études professionnelles, same as DVS
• DVS = diploma of vocational studies, same as DEP
• Continuing Education = education provided for adults who've left the formal education system, consists of short or part-time programs and/or courses
• AEC = attestation d'études collégiales, typically reserved for Continuing Education, same as ACS
• ACS = attestation of college studies, typically reserved for Continuing Education, same as AEC

CEGEP/college diplomas refer to DCS/DEC; vocational/trade school diplomas tend to refer to DEP/DVS. When researching and applying to CEGEPs, make sure you choose programs that lead to a DCS/DEC!

When referring to a program by its diploma type, the French acronyms are typically used.

To learn more about special programs and opportunities like Springboard to a DCS, field trips and exchanges, see Special Programs, and visit official college sites for details.

The "Big Five"

Listed here are the five most well-known English CEGEPs, especially to students in Montreal.

Program counts consider all profiles/options of a program to be one program (even Double DEC programs), and only include programs that lead to a DCS. (For example, the Commerce, Two Math and Psychology profiles would all be counted once as the Social Science program, and not as three programs. Similarly, the Music program and the Music and ALC double DEC would both be counted once as the Music program and not as two separate ones.)

Marianopolis College

Marianopolis College, often affectionately referred to as "Mari", is located between the Vendôme and Villa-Maria (STM orange line) metro stations. It has a close-knit student body of roughly 2000 students, over 100 student clubs, and classes are 25% smaller than public colleges on average. Marianopolis offers 6 academic programs in Science, Social Science, Arts and Sciences, ALC (Arts, Literature and Communication), Liberal Arts, and Music; the college is also a partner of Alliance Sport-Études.

Dawson College

Boasting one of the largest college campuses today with over 8000 daytime students, Dawson College was the first anglophone school in the CEGEP network. Dawson offers 5 pre-university programs* in Science, Social Science, Liberal Arts, ALC, and Visual Arts, as well as 21 technical programs in the areas of Medical and Engineering Studies, Business and Social Technologies, and Applied Arts.

*The count excludes Journeys, a one-year transition program designed for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students as it does not lead to a DCS.

Vanier College

Vanier College is named in honour of Canadian soldier, diplomat and former Governor General, Georges P. Vanier. The college has a student body of over 6700 students and offers 6 pre-university programs in ALC, Liberal Arts, Music, Science, Social Science, and Computer Science and Mathematics; here are 14 technical programs available as well. Vanier is also a partner of Alliance Sport-Études.

Champlain Regional College

Champlain College St-Lambert offers 5 pre-university programs in ALC, Liberal Arts (under the program name "Law and Civilization"), Science, Social Science, and Computer Science and Mathematics; 4 technical programs are also available.

The St-Lawrence Campus offers 3 pre-university programs in ALC, Science, and Social Science, as well as 2 technical programs in Accounting and Management Technology (named the "P.W. Sims Business Program") and Tourism. This campus also offers Education Abroad opportunities.

At Champlain College Lennoxville, there are 5 pre-university programs available in ALC, Liberal Arts, Science, Social Science, and Visual Arts (510.A0), in addition to 4 technical programs.

John Abbott College

This college was named after Sir John Abbott, Canada's third Prime Minister. Over 6500 students are enrolled in John Abbott College's day division, which offers 6 pre-university programs in Arts and Sciences, ALC, Liberal Arts, Science, Social Science, and Visual Arts (510.A0), as well as 12 technical programs.

Sources: Fédération des cégeps, official CEGEP sites, viewbooks and more

Other English CEGEPs

Heritage College, Gatineau

Website: https://www.cegep-heritage.qc.ca/

Part of the Fédération des cégeps and a partner of Alliance Sport-Études, Heritage College is the only public Anglophone CEGEP in Western Quebec. Heritage offers 4 pre-university programs in Liberal Arts, Visual Arts, Science, and Social Science, as well as 8 technical programs.

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Centennial College, Montreal

Website: https://college.centennial.qc.ca/

Centennial College is an independent private English CEGEP that offers a pre-university Social Science program with the option of two profiles, General Social Science and Commerce.

Sources: official CEGEP sites

Bilingual CEGEPs

Instead of a focus on DEC programs, some of the colleges below offer more DEP and/or AEC programs. (Not sure what DEC, DEP, and AEC mean? See English CEGEPs at the top of this page.)

A reminder: if you're looking at CEGEP/college programs, look at the DEC programs (the ones that lead to a DCS/DEC)!

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Cégep de Sept-Îles

• Public French CEGEP with an English sector, part of the Fédération des cégeps
• Website: https://cegepsi.ca/
  • See the "English Section" part of the website menu
• Location: Sept-Îles, Quebec
• 2 pre-university programs in English: Social Science (English) 300.A3, Science (200.B1)

TAV College

• Private bilingual college
• Website: https://www.tav.ca/
• Location: Montreal, Quebec
• 4 pre-university programs in ALC, Science, Social Science, Computer Science and Mathematics
• 2 technical programs: Early Childhood Education, Special Care Counselling
• Offers a Grade 12 Study Option program (see Alternatives to CEGEP)

LaSalle College

• Private bilingual college
• Website: https://www.lasallecollege.com/
• Location: Montreal, Quebec
• 2 pre-university programs in ALC, Social Science
• 10 technical programs:
  • Computer Science Technology
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Special Care Counselling
  • Accounting and Management Technology
  • Business Management
  • Food Service Management/Restaurant Management (430.B0)
  • Travel Tourism/Tourism Techniques (414.AC)
  • Hotel Management Technique/Hotel Management (430.A0)
  • Interior Design (570.E0)
  • Fashion Design (common code of 571)

There are still some colleges out there that offer a few DCS programs, but it's hard to give a full list. You can find a list of all Quebec colleges (includes English, French, public and private) on the Quebec government website here: List of CEGEPs and Private Colleges in Quebec

Sources: Fédération des cégeps, official college sites

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Want to learn more about applying to CEGEP? Take a look at the next section, Applying to CEGEP.

Curious about the R-Score, what it is and how it works? Continue to The R-Score.

Think CEGEP might not be for you? Try Alternatives to CEGEP.