When planning an expatriation, the question of theequivalence of French and Canadian diplomas is frequently raised. It is not always easy to understand what a French diploma means abroad. On your CV, some of the training you may have done in France may not be equivalent in the province in which you wish to settle in Canada. It is important to know how to recognisethe"local equivalence" of your diploma in order to be able to explain it to the company that wishes to recruit you.
Equivalence of diplomas France Canada: the case of Quebec
Whether you want to move to Quebec or to another province in Canada, it is important to understand that, although the Canadian constitution allows each province to develop its own academic programs, overall the same terms are used to describe university courses and degrees.
- 1st cycle university ➡️ Canadian baccalaureate (Bac+3 in France)
- 2nd cycle university ➡️ Maîtrise (Master in France)
- Postgraduate ➡️ Doctorate
These three cycles provide an approximation of the number of years a student has studied.
Here is an infographic that provides an overview of the university system in Quebec and the equivalencies in France:
Equivalence of diplomas France Canada: what to put on your CV?
If you have training that is not equivalent in Quebec (such as a BTS or DUT), it is always useful to mention the higher level of your diploma on your CV. For example, you can specify: "BTS Informatique (Quebec equivalent: DEC + 2 years)".
We do not recommend writing directly: "BTS Informatique - 2-year training after the DEC in computer science". In this case, the company that recruits you may understand that you have completed a Quebec training course to reach this level. It is therefore important to specify in which country you obtained your diploma. If you are at the stage of writing your CV, we have put at your disposal a Canadian CV template a developer to help you write your CV in Canadian format.
Equivalence of diplomas in France and Canada: the case of computer science diplomas
To give you an idea of the equivalent studies in IT (computer science) in Canada, here are some examples of Quebec diplomas that may correspond to the French equivalents:
- Bachelor's degree in computer and electronic systems: Equivalent to a French bachelor's degree in computer science (Bac + 3).
- DEP and AEC in Computer Management: These are short specialized courses, they do not really have any equivalence in France but they could be compared to a BEP in computer management.
- Maîtrise en informatique Equivalent to a master's degree in computer science in France.
The value of foreign credentials in Canada
First of all, you should know that in the IT field in Canada, your experience is more valuable than your diplomas. The technical skills and soft-skills you have acquired during your experiences are the most important points to highlight on your CV.
For the same reasons, it is generally not necessary to apply for equivalence in IT.
However, in some cases it is necessary to have a degree in your field. Indeed, for closed work permit applications (your permit is sponsored by a company that has made you a job offer), it is necessary to have a CV that corresponds to the NOC code(National Occupational Classification) to which the job offer is attached. The NOC code of a job states the main functions of your future role and the conditions of access to the profession. To find out more about NOC codes, we invite you to consult the dedicated page on the Canadian immigration website.
Here is an example with NOC 2174 for the occupation of Web designer and developer:
Equivalence of diplomas France Canada: recognition of European credits
As in Europe, studies in Canada are credit-based. Credits are used to evaluate the number of hours of courses required to obtain a degree. One course generally corresponds to 3 credits (it is also possible to accumulate credits during an internship). Here an overview of the credits required for some degree categories:
- Certificate: 30 credits
- Bachelor's degree: 90 to 120 credits
- DESS: 30 credits
- Master's degree: 45 credits
- PhD: 90 credits
If you wish to obtain a diploma equivalence in Quebec, you should know that there are reciprocal agreements between France and Quebec allowing the recognition of European credits in Quebec: two European credits(ECTS) correspond to one Quebec credit.
Are you an engineer in France? There is an arrangement on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications (ARM) between the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) and the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) of France. You can find more information on this subject here.
Are you from another country than France?
If you come from another country than France and you wish to know the equivalence of your degree between Canada and your country, the University of Montreal has set up several comparative tables according to your country of origin. You can easily compare the educational systems and get an idea of the equivalence of your degree in Quebec.
Still have doubts about the value of your degree in Canada?
If you have any doubts about the value of your credentials in Canada, you can apply for a request a comparative evaluation of your studies with the MIFI. This is not adiploma equivalency but simply a comparison between two official educational systems to give you a benchmark on the value of your diploma in Canada.
⚠️ Important: This is an expert opinion issued by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration for information purposes only. It is not a neither a diploma nor an equivalence of diploma.
A comparative assessment is not required for an immigration application and you can send a request for a comparative assessment from abroad.
Experience trumps degrees in IT
In general, the degrees of French schools and universities are highly valued in Canada in Canada: this is explained by the good reputation of studies in France, good qualifications, specialised technical knowledge and a generally exemplary academic record exemplary.
In Canada, we are not interested in the label of a school: each person is considered for what they are worth in terms of their involvement in projects and teams Each person is considered for what he or she is worth in terms of involvement in projects and teams, and in terms of the "soft skills" that make each of us more competitive and unique in the eyes of employers.
If you are looking for a new life experience in Canada do not hesitate to contact us. contact us. We can help you to find a job in Canada and we will guide you for free on all the steps of the relocation.
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