Tuition Exemption Program

Am I eligible?

As an international student, you may be eligible for financial assistance under the Tuition Exemption Program for International Students. To qualify, you must meet the criteria for one of the program’s designated quotas. If invited by the CEGEP that admitted you, you must submit a complete application. Each CEGEP is responsible for the initial selection and forwards chosen applications to the Fédération des cégeps, which reviews them and returns the list of selected candidates to the CEGEPs. The CEGEP will then inform selected applicants of the results.

Because the number of available tuition exemptions is limited, not all applicants will be selected. Priority is given to students residing outside Canada at the time of their application. The program’s goal is to increase the number of international students studying at CEGEPs in Québec.

Applicants who apply to the Tuition Exemption Program through more than one institution will be automatically disqualified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who funds the Tuition Exemption Program?

The Tuition Exemption Program is managed by the Fédération des cégeps on behalf of Québec’s Ministry of Higher Education (MES), which also provides the funding. The Federation manages three different exemption quotas for international students enrolled full-time in technical programs.

Am I eligible if I’m enrolled in a pre-university program?

Only if you qualify for the humanitarian exemption. Otherwise, the program is exclusively for full-time students in technical programs leading to a Diploma of College Studies (DEC).

Am I eligible if I’m enrolled in an Attestation of College Studies (AEC) program?

No. AEC programs are not eligible for this exemption.

Can I apply directly to the Fédération des cégeps?

No. Only CEGEPs can submit applications to the Federation. You must contact the international office at the CEGEP where you’ve been admitted.

Are there any fees to apply?

No. There are no fees to apply. Your CEGEP will invite you to submit your application if you’re eligible and will then forward it to the Fédération des cégeps. Contact the international office of your CEGEP for more details.

Are certain countries prioritized?

Yes, depending on the quota:

Quota 1: Open to students from all countries admitted to a technical program at any CEGEP in Québec.
Quota 2: Reserved for students from full member countries of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie or Algeria, admitted to a technical program at a CEGEP located outside the Montréal Metropolitan Community (MMC). Eligible countries include: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Gabon, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Niger, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.
Quota 3: Open to students from any country admitted to a technical program on a specific list, taught in French, and offered outside the MMC in Québec.

Are specific fields of study prioritized?

Quotas 1 and 2: No. All technical programs are eligible. Pre-university and AEC programs are not.
Quota 3: Yes. Only the listed technical programs taught in French are eligible. These include fields such as respiratory therapy, nursing, forest product processing, geomatics, architecture technology, computer science, multimedia integration, and more.
Quota 4: Yes, but only two specific programs are eligible, determined annually.
Quota 5: No restrictions. All technical and pre-university programs are eligible, but not AEC programs.

When will I receive a response?

The Fédération des cégeps will send results to the CEGEPs shortly after the application deadline. Your CEGEP will then contact you directly.

Who will inform me of the decision?

The CEGEP where you’ve been admitted will inform you of the outcome.

If I receive an exemption, am I covered by RAMQ?

No. Tuition exemption does not make you eligible for coverage under Québec’s public health insurance plan (RAMQ). You must still enroll in the mandatory group health and hospitalization insurance plan for international CEGEP students. Visit the mandatory health insurance section for more information.

Will I need to present original documents at the CEGEP?

Yes. You must present the original versions of all documents submitted during your admission and exemption application. Failure to do so may result in your exemption being revoked.

Will I receive money to cover the international tuition fees?

No. The exemption removes the additional international tuition fees, but you will not receive any direct payment. You are responsible for living expenses and for paying the same ancillary fees as Québec students, along with the health insurance premium.

In short, you must have sufficient financial resources to cover:

round-trip transportation from your home country
first-year setup costs (CA$500)

Living expenses
Living expenses cover the expenses of daily life in Québec. 

The following are the amounts, in Canadian dollars, that you must have between January 1 and December 31, 2025. They may vary depending on the age and number of people included in your application:

One person under the age of 18: $7,756
One person aged 18 and over: $15,508
Two people aged 18 and over: $22,745
Two people aged 18 and over and one person under the age of 18: $25,479
Two people aged 18 and over and two people under the age of 18: $27,499

Can I request an extension of my exemption?

No, unless you face exceptional, unforeseeable circumstances. Even if your exemption starts in a later semester, it cannot be extended beyond the standard program length.

Can I change my program of study and keep my exemption?

Yes, but only if the change does not extend the length of your program (except for students enrolled in co-op programs).

Can I change CEGEPs and keep my exemption?

No. Changing institutions automatically cancels your exemption.