Quebec is a province in Eastern Canada and Canada’s largest province by area. With an estimated population of 9,016,222 as of April 1, 2026, it is the second-most populous province after Ontario. Quebec City is the provincial capital, while Montréal is the province’s largest city. French is Quebec’s sole official and common language; English and many other languages are also spoken.
Quebec has a distinct nursing education pathway rather than a general exception to four-year nursing education. A three-year technical Diploma of College Studies (DEC) in Nursing at a CEGEP can lead to the licensing examination administered by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ). After meeting the licensing requirements, graduates may practice as registered nurses. Universities also offer bachelor’s pathways for direct-entry and DEC-qualified students, as well as graduate nursing programs. Because nursing is regulated by a professional order, candidates must demonstrate the French-language proficiency required for professional licensure in Quebec.
The following institutions offer established nursing programs in Quebec.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Quebec
1. McGill University
McGill University is a public university founded in 1821. Its nursing programs are offered by the Ingram School of Nursing within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
McGill’s nursing school was established in 1920. Its current undergraduate options include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) and the Bachelor of Nursing Integrated (BNI). Students entering the BScN from a Quebec CEGEP generally begin in U1 and complete the U1–U3 curriculum, while students entering from high school generally complete a U0 preparatory year first. The BNI is available to eligible graduates of the 180.A0 Nursing DEC and can be completed in two years of full-time study. It consists of 92 credits, including 27 advanced-standing credits from the DEC and 65 credits completed through McGill. The school also offers master’s and doctoral nursing programs.
McGill lists Quebec-rate undergraduate tuition at CAD 103.92 per credit. The published nursing tuition is CAD 12,985.50 for Canadian students from outside Quebec and CAD 35,561.10 for international students. Required institutional fees and insurance are additional, and exact costs depend on the student’s program and residency status. Graduate tuition also varies by program and status, so applicants should consult McGill’s official tuition and fee tables.
2. University of Quebec
The program linked in this section is offered by Université de Montréal, not by an institution in the Université du Québec network. Université de Montréal is a French-language university founded in 1878.
The Faculty of Nursing offers an initial Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an integrated DEC-BAC pathway for qualified nursing diploma holders. It also offers master’s and Ph.D. programs in nursing. The master’s program includes options related to clinical expertise, nursing management, and nursing education, while the doctoral program includes specializations in care and health, nursing services administration, and nursing education.
Université de Montréal lists undergraduate tuition of CAD 103.92 per credit for Quebec students and CAD 324.35 per credit for Canadian students from outside Quebec enrolled in a French-language program. The standard rate for most international undergraduate students is CAD 1,025.76 per credit, or CAD 30,772.80 for 30 credits. Other compulsory fees are additional, and graduate rates vary by academic level and status. Applicants should review the university’s official tuition information.
3. CEGEP Heritage College
- Study Program
- Credential Offered: Diploma of College Studies (DEC)
CÉGEP Heritage College is a publicly funded English-language CEGEP in Gatineau and the only public CEGEP in Western Quebec that offers postsecondary English-language education. Its Nursing program is a standard three-year technical DEC program rather than an accelerated or pre-university program. Students begin gaining clinical experience in their first semester, with the amount of clinical training increasing throughout the program.
Graduates receive a Diploma of College Studies and are eligible to take the Quebec licensing examination administered by the OIIQ. After obtaining an RN license, graduates may work as registered nurses in Quebec. Students must also demonstrate the required proficiency in English and French. Eligible graduates may continue through university articulation pathways, including McGill’s Bachelor of Nursing Integrated program, which recognizes 27 advanced-standing credits and admits qualified students at the U2 level.
Heritage College currently lists a per-semester fee total of CAD 327 for Quebec residents and CAD 2,052 for Canadian students who are not Quebec residents. The listed international fee for the Nursing program is CAD 10,849 per semester. These amounts are in Canadian dollars and are subject to change, so applicants should check the college’s current fee schedule.
Quebec offers both college and university pathways into nursing. Prospective students should compare admission requirements, French-language obligations, licensing steps, program structures, and current fees before applying.
We hope this article on nursing schools in Quebec was helpful. If you are interested, check out the Study in Canada and Available Programs for International Students!
