Admission Requirements for DEC Programs
ADMISSION TO A DEC PROGRAM
In order to be admitted into a program that leads to the attainment of a Diploma of College Studies (Diplôme d’études collégiales or DEC in French), the applicant must meet one of the five following requirements*:
1 - A HOLDER OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (DES)
A holder of a Secondary School Diploma (SSD) who satisfies the special conditions, if any, established by the Minister for admission may be admitted to a program of studies leading to a Diploma of College Studies.
2 - A HOLDER OF A SECONDARY VOCATIONAL DIPLOMA OR HAS OBTAINED CREDIT
2.1. A holder of a Secondary School Vocational Diploma (SSVD) who satisfies the special conditions, if any, established by the Minister for admission or has obtained the number of credits allotted by the Basic school regulation for preschool, elementary and secondary education (chapter I-13.3, r. 8) or by the Basic adult general education regulation (chapter I-13.3, r. 9) for the following subjects may be admitted to a program of studies leading to a Diploma of College Studies:
- (1) Secondary V Language of Instruction;
- (2) Secondary V Second Language; and
- (3) Secondary IV Mathematics.
A holder of a Secondary School Vocational Diploma who satisfies the conditions of admission established by the Minister may also be admitted to a program of technical studies leading to the Diploma of College Studies. The conditions of admission are established for each program of studies to ensure continuity of training and are based on the vocational training received at the secondary level.
3 - EQUIVALENCY ACCEPTANCE
Despite sections 1 and 2, a college may admit a person to a program of studies leading to a Diploma of College Studies if the person has received instruction the college considers equivalent.
4 - EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY + INTERRUPTED STUDIES
A college may also admit to such a program of studies a person who has instruction and experience the college considers sufficient and who has interrupted full-time studies for a cumulative period of at least 24 months.
5 - COMMITMENT AGREEMENT
A college may conditionally admit to a program of studies leading to a Diploma of College Studies a person who, not having obtained all the credits required by the Basic school regulation for preschool, elementary and secondary education (chapter I-13.3, r. 8) or by the Basic adult general education regulation (chapter I-13.3, r. 9) to obtain a Secondary School Diploma, commits to obtaining the missing credits in the first term.
- The foregoing also applies to a holder of a Secondary School Vocational Diploma who has not obtained all the credits for the subjects mentioned in subparagraphs 1 to 3 of the first paragraph of section 2.1.
- Despite the foregoing, a person who must obtain more than 6 missing credits or who has previously failed to fulfil his or her commitments after being conditionally admitted may not be conditionally admitted.
*Note that these requirements are set by the Quebec Ministry of Education and are common to all colleges across the province.
Ref : C-29, r. 4 – College Education Regulations
Updated: April 22, 2022
