Academic Programs for Adults

Since the recent modification of the Canadian Regulations amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, language schools can no longer offer Work programs. However, foreign students enrolled in a full-time professional, collegial or university program and holding a study permit are allowed to work off-campus, without having to first obtain a work permit. It means that to study in an academic program gives you the right to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic semesters, and full-time during holidays as per the school calendar. For students interested in working in Quebec while getting a professional or technical education, Edu-inter has a partnership with Mérici collégial privé which is a private co-educational college-level institution. Mérici offers 3 types of programs:

Attestation of Collegial Studies (AEC)

These short-term programs (2 semesters) are designed to give you quick and direct access to the labor market. This is a specialized training derived from a technical program, but without the general education courses. Therefore, such programs do not allow you to continue your education at university level. Here are some of the AECs offered by Mérici:

• AEC – Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism
• AEC – Events and Convention Management
• AEC – Restaurant Management
• AEC – Tourism, Accommodation and Restaurant Management

Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) – Techniques

Divided in 6 semesters (3 years), these programs train you for a specific job, depending on the technique chosen, while allowing you to continue your education at the university level in accordance with the Quebec education system. In addition to the program specific courses, general education courses are also provided to give you the prerequisites needed to enter university. Here are some of the DECs offered by Mérici:

• DEC – Special Care Counselling
• DEC – Hotel Management Techniques
• DEC – Tourism
• DEC – Restaurant Management
• DEC – Orthotics and Prosthetic

Pre-university programs

Divided in 4 semesters (2 years), these programs give you a general education, either in natural sciences or in human sciences, which will allow you to continue your university level studies in accordance to the Quebec education system. However, these programs do not specifically train you for a job and do not give you a direct access to the labor market. Requirements:

• The student needs to meet the requirements set by Merici (See Factsheets)
• Before the program begins, the student must have reached the minimum level of French proficiency required by Mérici college privé in one of the following two classification tests: