Canada is a massive country, encompassing some 9 million square kilometres. (For reference, France and the UK are 500,000 and 250,000 square kilometres, respectively). And with this geographical vastness come appreciable differences in culture, public opinion, provincial policy and – occasionally – education. There wouldn’t be a Canada without these differences.

In many regards, Quebec is a noticeable outlier. It’s far and away the largest francophone province, and has built its identity around those unique roots. It’s the only province governed by civil law (inspired by the Napoleonic code) rather than common law. And Quebec is the only province where high school ends at grade 11.

It’s that last difference that causes students some frustration. Students from every other province break into university following a standardized grade 12 high school year – but Quebec doesn’t follow the standard. Instead, it has the CEGEP.

In this article, we explore what CEGEP is, how it poses a challenge to some Quebec students, and what OES can do to help students circumvent the non-standardized system and enter university sooner.

What Is CEGEP?

As mentioned, high schools in Quebec go up to grade 11. But rather than prematurely release students into the wilderness of university/work life, the province constructed a liminal education system to bridge the gap. The change dates back to the 1960s when the Quebec government chose to overhaul its system, which was at a relative disadvantage compared to other provinces. They called these new transitional schools “CEGEPs.”

CEGEP stands for Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel – or, in English, General and Vocational/Professional College. On the “general” end, courses resemble basic grade 12 courses elsewhere in the country – math, English, science, etc. On the “professional” end, CEGEPs offer vocational courses towards certain diploma professions.

A Road Bump for Some Quebec Students

The purported length of a CEGEP stint is two years, although that figure doesn’t always paint an accurate picture of reality. A student can attend a CEGEP for three or more years before ever seeing their graduation papers. According to the Quebec government, “only 41% of newly enrolled students in preuniversity programs obtain their diploma within the scheduled two-year period.”

Contrast this with students elsewhere in the country, who complete a single year of senior high school (complete with U-level courses) before they can apply to the university program of their choice.

Mind you, transfer credits for one year of your CEGEP studies may be applied toward a degree at the university of your choosing. But it still doesn’t change the fact that Quebec students feel delayed in their applications by a full year compared to students elsewhere in Canada.

The Fédération des commissions scolaire du Québec (essentially the Quebec school board) tried unsuccessfully to abolish the CEGEP system in the 2000s, and the system has had vocal detractors throughout its nearly 60-year history. Moreover, many students find the arrangement frustrating. They want what every other student in Canada gets: a fresh shot at university after their 12^th year of school.

The OSSD as an Alternative to CEGEP

Luckily, there is an alternative to the CEGEP for Quebec students, and it involves completing an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD – yes, there are many acronyms to remember in this article!). Instead of heading to a CEGEP after Grade 11, Quebec students can round out their high school with a final year at an Ontario school to achieve an OSSD, which is universally recognized among Canadian (and international) post-secondary schools.

This loophole has existed for a while. But prior to the digital age, it was challenging to pull off. A student would have to physically relocate for their final year of Ontario high school, leaving behind friends and family.

However, as we all know, online learning is changing education. Nowadays, a Quebec student can effortlessly, remotely complete a one-year CEGEP alternative at a ministry-inspected online high school like OES.

What makes OES a compelling alternative to CEGEP for Quebec students? In the following section, we make our case by examining the many benefits.

Why OES Is a Great CEGEP Alternative

If you’re a Quebec student (or parent) visiting this article to weigh your academic options, allow us first to introduce ourselves. OES is a fully accredited, ministry-inspected online high school offering Ontario high school credits online. Our innovative school features a multitude of diverse course offerings, each taught by knowledgeable, experienced instructors. And our robust support system for students ensures that each learner gets the help they need to achieve their highest potential.

In the following subsections, we parse out exactly what makes OES a fantastic alternative for CEGEP.

A Streamlined Final Year

Let’s begin with the obvious. As mentioned, CEGEPs take at least two years – essentially stretching a student’s pre-university schooling to grade 13 or beyond. While students from other provinces make headway in their university programs, a CEGEP student is still attempting to complete their final year.

OES allows you to complete your CEGEP alternative in one year. Our mixture of University- and College-level grade 12 courses prepare students for post-secondary life on an expedited timeline. Since our courses are self-paced, a student can even attempt to complete their coursework in less than a school year.

This puts you on a level playing field for university applications, allowing you to enroll sooner, finish your diploma sooner, and chase your dream sooner.

Remote Learning on Your Turf

With OES’ innovative, accessible online high school, there’s no need for relocation. There’s no need to cross borders or even leave the comfort of your home. You can complete our online courses on your turf.

It may take some getting used to for students acquainted with brick-and-mortar classroom education, but students get in the groove quickly at OES. Our multimedia approach to lessons keeps things engaging and fresh with PowerPoints, videos, PDFs, interactive content and more. Meanwhile, our intuitive online platform makes the whole process – from submitting assignments to taking quizzes – easy to follow.

And when you’re done studying for the day, you can hang out with your friends, spend family time, or do whatever else you want in the comfort of your hometown.

Diverse Course Offerings

Admittedly, one of the attractive value propositions of CEGEP is its comprehensive mixture of general and vocational learning opportunities.

When you attend online high school at OES, you will find similarly diverse course offerings. We offer university-level grade 12 courses that emphasize the theoretical aspects of certain disciplines (like English, Physics, Biology, etc.) and prepare students for the rigours of university academics. We also offer college-level courses that highlight the practical and applied uses of disciplines (Math for College Tech., College English, College Chemistry, etc.).

Additionally, OES offers courses geared explicitly toward differing student ambitions: visual arts, international business, Canadian and international law, equity and justice, accounting and more. Whatever your interests, you’ll find engaging courses at our online high school. We encourage prospective students (and guardians) to peruse the Ontario online learning graduation requirement.

Please note that CEGEP-alternative pre-university requires you to take U/M level courses. For a full course list, visit the OES website and click on the “Our Courses” tab.

A Self-Paced Education

OES operates on a self-paced educational model – sometimes called “asynchronous learning.” As you might gather from the name, self-paced learning involves each student moving through a course at their own speed.

If you’re a math whiz, you can work through your MCV4U course briskly, without feeling held back by other students’ pace. Conversely, if you need some time to absorb those tricky algebraic vectors, you can move at a slower speed. This applies to all of your coursework.

Underpinning the self-paced educational model is the philosophy that all learners are different. We’ve seen remarkable success with our self-paced online model as students assume ownership over their education. To learn more about the experience of self-paced learners, you can read through our blog post linked to the left, or contact us to book an academic guidance meeting.

A Balancing Act of Support and Independence

A student at OES has the best of both worlds: support and independence.

They can enjoy ample support from our knowledgeable teachers, experienced staff and 24/7 tutoring services. If students have questions, they’re encouraged to capitalize on the deep knowledge of our stellar teaching staff. If they need explanations during off-hours (say, 11 pm on a Saturday), students can work through problems with our 24/7 tutoring services.

Conversely, they also learn critical soft skills to bolster their academic independence ahead of post-secondary school. The nature of remote, self-paced learning asks students to take ownership of their studies. There are no teachers hovering over their desks, spurring them to keep studying; no clock on the wall telling them when to take a recess break or finish for the day. It’s up to students to manage their time and energy. And in doing so, students learn effective self-motivation and time management tactics that carry over to their academic and professional careers.

With luck, this balance between support and independence mirrors the transitional nature of CEGEP.

Preparing for the World Ahead with Online Studies

Time management and self-motivation aren’t the only soft skills students hone at OES. Our courses immerse students in technology and digital communication, which will undoubtedly serve them as they enter the modern workforce or post-secondary system.

Most universities and workplaces expect applicants to have some basic proficiency in online communication and digital fluency. Throughout a student’s tenure at OES (even if it is just the one-year CEGEP alternative), they will write professional correspondences with teachers, access online information, submit their work digitally and more – sharpening their skills in the process!

The Next Steps: How to Complete a CEGEP Alternative with OES

If the benefits listed above pique your interest, you might wonder what the next steps in the process are.

We strongly suggest starting with an academic guidance appointment. This 15-minute remote meeting allows you to speak directly with one of our experienced staff members, asking any lingering questions or voicing outstanding concerns about our CEGEP alternative. Likewise, it gives our staff the chance to point you in the right academic direction.

As you enroll in our CEGEP alternative, we’ll begin with academic transcript approval through our Guidance Office. Essentially, we’re looking to confirm your completion of grade 11 (Secondary V) or an equivalent level.

Next, you’ll be required to complete six pre-universities courses through our online school. Anything with a “U” or “M” in the course name is considered an acceptable pre-university course. These might include “BOH4M – Business Leadership,” “MHF4U – Advanced Functions,” “MDM4U – Data Management,” and several other courses. You’re also free to take additional courses that interest you.

Then, you’re off to the races, earning Ontario high school credits online. We’ll continue to support you through your OES journey however you need us – as teachers, tutors, guidance counsellors, etc.

Finally, to satisfy the pre-university requirement, you will need to complete 40 hours of community involvement, as well as an Ontario Literacy Course or Exam. To learn more about volunteer requirements, we recommend reading this handy University of Waterloo article on the topic. If you have any questions about any of the requirements listed above, or feel you have an alternative situation, please broach the subject in your academic guidance appointment.

Conclusion

Some Quebec students flourish in their CEGEP experience. However, others may find Quebec’s idiosyncratic system limiting and frustrating. If you count yourself in the latter camp, consider a CEGEP alternative pre-university program at OES.

At OES, you’ll find a convenient, supportive, enriching and accessible final-year experience. You’ll hone critical soft skills, learn at your own pace, engage with exciting multimedia course material and march to the beat of your own drum.

Book an appointment today to get the ball rolling. Before long, you’ll be applying to the universities of your choice – a full year ahead of some of your peers.