Admission

Law Faculty

DESS in Canadian Law

Graduate 2-328-1-3

August 2025
Start of session
Full-time and Part-time
Plan of study
30 credits
Application deadline
from September 3, 2024 to February 1, 2025
Offered at the Montréal campus

Intended for jurists educated outside of Canada in the traditions of common law, this program provides an in-depth exploration of the Canadian legal system and Quebec law.

Overview

About this program

Gain a solid understanding of Canadian and Quebec law 

This specialized graduate program is offered exclusively in English and allows jurists educated on the traditions of common law to gain a solid understanding of the foundations of the legal system in Canada, as well as a general knowledge of Quebec law. Discover the unique features of Canadian law, such as public law, bijuralism, and First Nations legal systems.  

Continue developing your skills in order to meet the requirements to be called to the Bar in a province or common law territory in Canada. After successfully completing this program, you will need to apply for a certificate of qualification issued by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada’s National Committee on Accreditation.  

Read more
  • Program designed for jurists educated outside of Canada 
  • Introduction to comparative law in Canada and in the Commonwealth 
  • Offered in English only 
  • Small-group teaching sessions

Advantages of studying law at UdeM 
Legal studies with a human perspective 

  • Discover a vibrant academic and research environment that has had a major impact on the development of the law for over 100 years 
  • Benefit from a comprehensive, varied legal education that paves the way to a law practice and careers where legal knowledge is a major asset 
  • Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of a large faculty team at all academic levels 
  • Belong to the largest Faculty of Law in Quebec and Canada 
  • Benefit from access to a comprehensive library and computer lab 
  • Focus your priorities on challenges that will be faced by the future legal experts 

Courses and specifics

  • 30 credits
  • Full-time
  • Part time
  • Day course
  • Evening course
Take a look at some topics covered.
DRT 6200Quebec's civil law system

Historical overview; 1866 codification; 1994 recodification; hybridity and bijuralism; fundamental concepts: persons and families, property, contractual and extracontractual obligations – selected issues.

DRT 6502Foundations of Canadian and Indigenous law

First Nations legal systems; civil law and common law; Canadian Constitution; federalism; legislative and executive jurisdiction, judicial power; International law; interpretation of laws; bijuralism; theory of law.

DRT 6593Canadian criminal law 1

Sources, classification and interpretation; actus reus and mens rea; responsibility for actions of others; attempt; defending a person; involuntary conduct; provocation; police entrapment; mistake of law or appearance of right. 

DRT 6594Canadian criminal law 2

Adversarial procedure; criminal investigation; detention and arrest; temporary release; pre-trial procedures; trial by jury; right to be tried in a reasonable time; determination of sentence; judicial appeal and review.

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Admission requirements

Admission requirements

Be sure to select your choices to display the eligibility conditions that apply to you.

Program-specific conditions

Pour être admissible à titre d'étudiant régulier au D.E.S.S. en droit canadien, le candidat doit :

  • satisfaire aux conditions générales d'admissibilité (section XI) du Règlement pédagogique des études supérieures et postdoctorales
  • être titulaire d'un diplôme de Juris Doctor ou de LL.B. en common law
  • avoir obtenu, au 1er cycle, une moyenne d'au moins 2,7 sur 4,3 (ou l'équivalent) ou la moyenne exigée par l'université d'origine pour l'admission à un programme de 2e cycle, si celle-ci est plus élevée
  • avoir étudié dans un programme de Juris Doctor ou de LLB en langue anglaise
  • le candidat doit avoir une bonne connaissance de l’anglais écrit (capacité de lecture), puisque plusieurs lectures et documents de référence en droit canadien sont en anglais

Puisque le programme est offert en anglais, l’étudiant n’est pas tenu de démontrer qu’il possède une connaissance suffisante du français.

La scolarité minimale exigée est de deux trimestres à plein temps. La scolarité maximale est de douze trimestres à compter de la première inscription.
La première année, nous ne proposerons que le cheminement à temps plein.

Note that the quantitative criteria indicated above does not replace a qualitative review of your application. These criteria are provided for information purposes only. Eligibility for a study program does not guarantee an offer of admission. Information on this page may change without notice.
Find out about eligibility for this program

Do you have all the information required to start your admissions process?

Here are some tips and ideas to make navigating the admission process easier.

Costs and financial aid

$2,117.74 *

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits


Tuition fees: $1,483.65

Other fees: $634.09

These amounts are estimates and do not account for other expenses, such as costs for insurance, residence, transportation, manuals, etc.

Check your legal status

* These estimates cannot at any time subsitute for an invoice or be used as proof for any reason whatsoever. These calculations are based on the 2024-2025 academic year.
Information updated: June 5, 2024

$5,264.89 *

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits


Tuition fees: $4,630.80

Other fees: $634.09

These amounts are estimates and do not account for other expenses, such as costs for insurance, residence, transportation, manuals, etc.

Good news! You may be able to lower this amount!

Under certain conditions, Canadian students who are not residents of Quebec can follow university study programs offered in French while benefiting from the same tuition fees as residents of Quebec.

Check eligibility criteria

Check your legal status

* These estimates cannot at any time subsitute for an invoice or be used as proof for any reason whatsoever. These calculations are based on the 2024-2025 academic year.
Information updated: June 5, 2024

$11,527.24 *

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits


Tuition fees: $10,893.15

Other fees: $634.09

These amounts are estimates and do not account for other expenses, such as costs for insurance, residence, transportation, manuals, etc.

Good news! You may be able to lower this amount!

As an international student, you have access to exemption scholarships granted by UdeM throughout your university program. Note that for ungraduated programs, you must be enrolled as a full-time student for two sessions and reside in Quebec in the case of exclusively online study programs.

Find out about the UdeM exemption scholarship

* Note that this amount may vary depending on the selected track (with or without dissertation or directed study).

These estimates cannot at any time subsitute for an invoice or be used as proof for any reason whatsoever. These calculations are based on the 2024-2025 academic year.
Information updated: June 5, 2024

$2,117.74 *

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits


Tuition fees: $1,483.65

Other fees: $634.09

These amounts are estimates and do not account for other expenses, such as costs for insurance, residence, transportation, manuals, etc.

* These estimates cannot at any time subsitute for an invoice or be used as proof for any reason whatsoever. These calculations are based on the 2024-2025 academic year.
Information updated: June 5, 2024

Calculate tuition fees based on other situations

Available financial assistance

Plan your budget

Pursue your studies, but not at all costs! Various resources are available to help make it easier for you to study more and worry less.

 

Future prospects Pursuing a career or further studies? The choice is yours!

There are excellent job opportunities in Canada’s legal professions. Keep in mind that courses taken in the DESS program are recognized in the comparative common law Master program.

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