Diploma of College Studies (DCS/DEC)

Cégep à distance is a member of the Québec college system and is subject to the same laws and obligations as any other conventional CEGEP. The admission requirements described below are therefore identical to those of other CEGEPs.

Applications are reviewed based on the Cégep à distance admission policy and the Règlement sur le régime des études collégiales.

You must have completed the prerequisites for both the program and the courses you wish to take.

Also note that a French placement test is mandatory before you register for a second-language French course, unless you have already passed the college-level prerequisite. (Please contact us to find out how to register for the test.)

In order to be admitted to a program leading to a DCS/DEC, you must satisfy one of the following four requirements:

1- A secondary school diploma (SSD/DES)

If you have received a diploma from the Youth Sector, it is mandatory to have at least a one-year interruption before you can register at Cégep à distance (with certain exceptions: Alliance Sport-Études student athletes, extended absence from the country, etc.).

If you have a DES, but you did not pass the courses listed below, Cégep à distance may require you to take make-up courses for the missing subjects. You will have to take and pass these courses in the year following your registration with Cégep à distance.

  • Secondary V Language of Instruction
  • Secondary V Second Language
  • Secondary IV Mathematics
  • Secondary IV Science and Technology or Technological and Scientific Applications
  • Secondary IV History and Citizenship Education

If you were admitted to a program of college studies leading to a DCS/DEC before the fall 2007 semester, you may be exempt from certain admission requirements. Contact an Information Technician at Cégep à distance for additional information.

Cégep à distance may grant conditional admission to students missing six or fewer credits (excluding English credits) to complete their secondary school diploma. The missing credits will have to be earned before you can register for another course.

Note: The Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur (MES) recognizes a Certificate of Equivalence of Secondary Studies and General Educational Development certificate (GED) as equivalent to an SSD/DES. The MES does not recognize Secondary School Equivalency Tests (SSETs/TENS) or Attestations of Equivalence of Secondary Studies (AESS/AENS) as equivalent to an SSD/DES.

2- A diploma of vocational studies (DVS/DEP) and completion of the following mandatory courses

  • Secondary IV Mathematics
  • Secondary V Language of Instruction
  • Secondary V Second Language

Please note that because of program prerequisites and our admission regulations, only the Secondary V second-language course can be taken at the same time as your first semester courses at Cégep à distance.

3- An equivalent education

If you have neither a Secondary School Diploma (SSD/DES) nor a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS/DEP), Cégep à distance may still be able to grant you admission if your education is deemed equivalent.

Your education may be deemed equivalent if:

  • You have an education that Cégep à distance considers equivalent to an SSD/DES (for example: you have a Secondary IV education and have completed 30 university credits), or
  • You have received a diploma in a school system outside of Québec deemed equivalent to that of an SSD/DES following a review by Cégep à distance.

Academic equivalency for studies completed outside Canada

Please note that if you studied outside Canada, in addition to your proof of status in Canada, you will require an attestation of schooling. You can use the Cégep à distance comparative evaluation service for studies pursued outside Québec.

4- Sufficient instruction

Under certain conditions, your training and experience may be recognized for the purpose of admission. You must have discontinued your full-time studies in the Youth sector for a cumulative period of at least 36 months and you must submit a CV. For more information, please read Sufficient instruction.