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Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Fall 2025

Preparatory Year

Undergraduate | Study program 1-955-4-1

Interested in pursuing your studies at Université de Montréal or elsewhere, but you don’t have a diploma of college studies (DCS), or have completed your pre-university studies outside Quebec? The preparatory year gives you everything you need to get into an undergraduate university program.

Overview and specifics

Full-time and Part-time
Plan of study
24 credits

Program information

  • Info SAFIRE
  • See details provided by SAFIRE (page in French)
  • Service d'appui à la formation interdisciplinaire et à la réussite étudiante (SAFIRE) (page in French)
  • Faculty of arts and sciences (page in French)

Admissions

Admissions information

  • Contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment
  • Visit the help centre (in French)

Overview

About this program

A springboard to pursuing studies at UdeM 

The preparatory year is a general education program designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills required to pursue undergraduate university studies. This preparatory year is equivalent to the Freshman Program or Freshman Year offered by North American universities. The program is intended for individuals with a Quebec secondary school diploma who have been out of school for 4 years or more, or individuals with a secondary school diploma from outside of Quebec.

The preparatory year also gives you the chance to reflect on the study area you want to pursue by exploring several disciplines before you specialize. You have the choice of 3 areas of study in sciences, humanities and social sciences, or arts and letters.

Université de Montréal does however offer some programs for students who received their education outside Quebec that can be completed in 4 years! Discover more about our 4-year bachelor's degrees.

  • Tailored program that allows students to get into a university program
  • Some courses offered at the Laval campus
  • Student coaching provided by SAFIRE
  • Three areas of study to explore several disciplines
  • Wide range of courses

 

Areas of study

Note that the area of study you are interested in may not be offered during the session for which you wish to apply.

Advantages of studying arts and sciences at UdeM
Join the ranks of an internationally renowned university

  • Take advantage of the support and coaching available through SAFIRE (Service d’appui à la formation interdisciplinaire et à la réussite étudiante) throughout your pathway

  • Benefit from the widest range of undergraduate program choices in Canada that are available upon successful completion of your preparatory year

 

Admission requirements

Admission requirements

New French language requirement for admission starting Winter 2026 

To better support your success, Université de Montréal is updating its French language requirement for admission—especially if you need to submit the results of a French test.

 

See the FAQ to learn how these changes may affect you

Fall 2025 admission: no change

If you plan to apply for admission in the autumn of 2025, the French language requirement remains the same.

See the French language requirement for this program

You studied
and have, or will obtain, a diploma from the following program or province:
and have, or will obtain, a diploma from the following program or country:

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

French language admission requirements

To be eligible, you must provide proof of the level of French language proficiency required for this study program. To do so, you must have:

  • Passed the Épreuve uniforme de français, langue d'enseignement et littérature, au collégial, from Quebec’s Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur
  • Submitted proof of French proficiency recognized by the University (see form)
  • Obtained at least a B2 level in oral and written comprehension in a French test recognized by Université de Montréal (page in French) within 24 months prior to the start of the study session for which you have applied

Make sure you respect official deadlines for uploading your supporting documents in the Knowledge of French section in the Centre étudiant after you submit your application. Deadlines may vary based on the study program.

Mandatory upgrading of written French: Once you are admitted, you may be required to take a written French test, and then pass one of the upgrading courses. Refer to the specific regulation for the study program. Find out more about the mandatory assessment of written French.

French
Requires B2 level in oral and written comprehension in an accepted test or diploma
Comments
  • Upon successful completion of the preparatory year, students are eligible for the same Université de Montréal undergraduate programs as students with a DCS, except for the following programs:
    • Bachelor in Law if admission to the preparatory year is based on a Quebec-issued secondary school diploma or its equivalent
    • Undergraduate PhD programs or, if applicable, their preparatory year
    • Programs with specific education prerequisites:
      • Bachelor in Nursing Sciences (DEC-BAC)
      • Major in advanced prehospital emergency care
      • Short undergraduate program in integration in nursing 
      • Qualification programs
      • Qualification programs
  • Review of applications for a program with limited space available or with a specific level requirement may consider all results from the preparatory year. Therefore, it may take longer to receive a reply about admission than for other categories of students. 
  • It is strongly suggested that students take the course MAT 1903 to be tested on their skills in mathematics. If their test result does not meet the required level, they are strongly encouraged to take the extracurricular course MAT 1901.
  • Most program courses can be taken at the Montreal or Laval campus.
  • Individuals interested in this program may wish to contact an academic management advisor at SAFIRE to discuss their academic pathway (514 343-6521).
Information on this page may change without notice.
See academic regulations

Costs and financial aid

Permanent Quebec resident

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits
$2,111.74
Tuition fees:
$1,483.65
Other fees:
$628.09

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

Canadian non-Quebec resident

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits
$5,258.89
Tuition fees:
$4,630.80
Other fees:
$628.09

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

International student

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits
$14,991.94
Tuition fees:
$14,363.85
Other fees:
$628.09

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 more

* 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

Francophone student from France or Belgium

Total for a full-time session of 15 credits
$5,258.89
Tuition fees:
$4,630.80
Other fees:
$628.09

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

Available financial assistance

  • Undergraduate scholarships:

    Funding possibilities for undergraduate students

  • Exemption scholarship for international students:

    Scholarship program for exemption from additional tuition fees for international students

  • Funding for Mobility:

    Scholarships and mobility funding programs offered to students from the Université de Montréal who wish to study abroad

Future prospects

After completing this first year, you can choose a discipline program, based on the applicable admission conditions. UdeM offers over 250 undergraduate programs in a wide range of disciplines, such as health, law, social sciences, letters and languages, planning and music.


Program structure (1-955-4-1)

This program is at least 24 course credits and offers 3 areas of study:

  • Human and social sciences
  • Arts and letters
  • Sciences
LEGEND
CR : credit

Segment 71 Specific to the Humanities and Social Sciences orientation

Orientation credits are divided as follows:

6 compulsory credits and 18 optional credits

Block 71A Intellectual approach

Compulsory - 6 credits.

Course
Title
CR
FAS 1901
Work Methods for University
3.0
Course
Title
CR
PHI 1901
Rational Thinking and Reasoning
3.0

Block 71B Education in Human and Social Sciences

Option - Minimum 9 credits, maximum 18 credits.

Course
Title
CR
ANT 1902
Concepts of Anthropology
3.0
ECN 1901
Introduction to Economics
3.0
HST 1901
Modern History
3.0
POL 1901
Dynamics of Political Life
3.0
Course
Title
CR
PSY 1901
Introduction to Psychology
3.0
REL 1901
Modern Religious Issues
3.0
SOL 1901
Introduction to Sociology
3.0

Block 71C Education in Arts and Letters

Option - Maximum 9 credits.

Course
Title
CR
FRA 1903
French-language Literatures
3.0
FRA 1904
The Literary Essay
3.0
Course
Title
CR
HAR 1901
Introduction to the Visual Arts
3.0

Block 71D Education in the English Language

Option - Maximum 6 credits

Course
Title
CR
ANG 1901A
English 1 (Level A1)
3.0
ANG 1902
English 2 (Level A2)
3.0
Course
Title
CR
ANG 1903
English 3 (Level B1.1)
3.0
ANG 1904
English 4 (Level B1.2)
3.0

Block 71E Education in Sciences

Option - Maximum 9 credits.

Course
Title
CR
BIO 1953
Origin and Diversity of Life
3.0
BIO 1954
The Cell and Homogeneity of Life
3.0
CHM 1963
General Chemistry
3.0
CHM 1982
Organic Chemistry
3.0
IFT 1901
Introduction to Software Tools
3.0
Course
Title
CR
MAT 1903
Differential Calculus
3.0
MAT 1905
Vector and Linear Algebra
3.0
MAT 1923
Integral Calculus
3.0
PHI 1901
Rational Thinking and Reasoning
3.0
PHY 1902
Electricity and Optics
3.0

Block 71F Education in Statistics

Option - Maximum 3 credits.

Course
Title
CR
STT 1901
Statistics for Social Sciences
3.0
Course
Title
CR
STT 1903
Introduction to Statistics
3.0

Segment 72 Specific to the Arts and Letters orientation

Orientation credits are divided as follows:

15 compulsory credits and 9 optional credits

Block 72A Intellectual Approach

Mandatory - 6 credits.

Course
Title
CR
FAS 1901
Work Methods for University
3.0
Course
Title
CR
PHI 1901
Rational Thinking and Reasoning
3.0

Block 72B Education in Arts and Letters

Mandatory - 9 credits.

Course
Title
CR
FRA 1903
French-language Literatures
3.0
FRA 1904
The Literary Essay
3.0
Course
Title
CR
HAR 1901
Introduction to the Visual Arts
3.0

Block 72C Education in the English Language

Option - Maximum 6 credits.

Course
Title
CR
ANG 1901A
English 1 (Level A1)
3.0
ANG 1902
English 2 (Level A2)
3.0
Course
Title
CR
ANG 1903
English 3 (Level B1.1)
3.0
ANG 1904
English 4 (Level B1.2)
3.0

Block 72D Education in Human and Social Sciences

Option - Maximum 9 credits.

Course
Title
CR
ANT 1902
Concepts of Anthropology
3.0
ECN 1901
Introduction to Economics
3.0
HST 1901
Modern History
3.0
POL 1901
Dynamics of Political Life
3.0
Course
Title
CR
PSY 1901
Introduction to Psychology
3.0
REL 1901
Modern Religious Issues
3.0
SOL 1901
Introduction to Sociology
3.0

Block 72E Education in Sciences

Option - Maximum 9 credits

Course
Title
CR
BIO 1953
Origin and Diversity of Life
3.0
BIO 1954
The Cell and Homogeneity of Life
3.0
CHM 1963
General Chemistry
3.0
CHM 1982
Organic Chemistry
3.0
IFT 1901
Introduction to Software Tools
3.0
Course
Title
CR
MAT 1903
Differential Calculus
3.0
MAT 1905
Vector and Linear Algebra
3.0
MAT 1923
Integral Calculus
3.0
PHY 1901
Mechanics and Modern Physics
3.0
PHY 1902
Electricity and Optics
3.0

Block 72F Education in Statistics

Option - Maximum 3 credits

Course
Title
CR
STT 1901
Statistics for Social Sciences
3.0
Course
Title
CR
STT 1903
Introduction to Statistics
3.0

Segment 73 Specific to the Sciences orientation

Orientation credits are divided as follows:

3 compulsory credits and 21 optional credits.

Block 73A Intellectual Approach

Mandatory - 3 credits

Course
Title
CR
FAS 1901
Work Methods for University
3.0

Block 73B Education in Biology

Option - Minimum 3 credits, maximum 6 credits.

Course
Title
CR
BIO 1953
Origin and Diversity of Life
3.0
Course
Title
CR
BIO 1954
The Cell and Homogeneity of Life
3.0

Block 73C Education in Chemistry

Option - Minimum 3 credits, maximum 6 credits

Course
Title
CR
CHM 1963
General Chemistry
3.0
Course
Title
CR
CHM 1982
Organic Chemistry
3.0

Block 73D Education in Mathematics

Option - Minimum 6 credits, maximum 9 credits.

Course
Title
CR
MAT 1903
Differential Calculus
3.0
MAT 1905
Vector and Linear Algebra
3.0
Course
Title
CR
MAT 1923
Integral Calculus
3.0

Block 73E Education in Statistics

Option - Maximum 3 credits.

Course
Title
CR
STT 1901
Statistics for Social Sciences
3.0
Course
Title
CR
STT 1903
Introduction to Statistics
3.0

Block 73F Education in Physics

Option - Minimum 3 credits, maximum 6 credits

Course
Title
CR
PHY 1901
Mechanics and Modern Physics
3.0
Course
Title
CR
PHY 1902
Electricity and Optics
3.0

Block 73G Education in Computer Science

Option - Maximum 3 credits.

Course
Title
CR
IFT 1901
Introduction to Software Tools
3.0

Block 73H Education in Arts and Letters

Option - Maximum 9 credits

Course
Title
CR
FRA 1903
French-language Literatures
3.0
FRA 1904
The Literary Essay
3.0
Course
Title
CR
HAR 1901
Introduction to the Visual Arts
3.0

Block 73I Education in Human and Social Sciences

Option - Maximum 6 credits.

Course
Title
CR
ANT 1902
Concepts of Anthropology
3.0
ECN 1901
Introduction to Economics
3.0
HST 1901
Modern History
3.0
POL 1901
Dynamics of Political Life
3.0
Course
Title
CR
PSY 1901
Introduction to Psychology
3.0
REL 1901
Modern Religious Issues
3.0
SOL 1901
Introduction to Sociology
3.0

Block 73J Education in the English Language

Option - Maximum 6 credits.

Course
Title
CR
ANG 1901A
English 1 (Level A1)
3.0
ANG 1902
English 2 (Level A2)
3.0
Course
Title
CR
ANG 1903
English 3 (Level B1.1)
3.0
ANG 1904
English 4 (Level B1.2)
3.0

Academic regulations

Consult the academic regulations for undergraduate studies

Studies are governed by Undergraduate Studies Regulations and by the following provisions:

Art. 3.4 Specific details related to admission: conditions relating to knowledge of the French language

To be accepted into this program, candidates must have either passed the Épreuve uniforme de français langue d'enseignement et literature—Collégial or present results from the Test de français international (TFI) or another test recognized by the University* attained in the 18 months prior to the start of the session for which they have applied.

  • The candidate may request exemption from this test by making a request to the Centre de communication écrite.
  • To be admissible to the program, the candidate must have obtained at least 605/990 in the Test de français international (TFI), or B2 in oral and written comprehension on another test recognized by the University.
  • Depending on the candidate's results on the French admission test, he or she may be required to take an additional assessment of written French proficiency.

* For admissions purposes, other tests are recognized as equivalent to the Test de français international (TFI). Please see the list of tests recognized by the Université de Montréal, published by the Centre de communication écrite.

Art. 6.3 Registration regime

The student is enrolled on a full- or part-time basis.

  • Full-time students are enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 18 credits per session.
  • Part-time (less than 12 credits per term) students student must register for a minimum of nine credits in four consecutive sessions.

Art. 6.6 Upgrading courses

The student may be required to complete and pass two EDP (French as a second language) courses or up to two FRA (French as a mother tongue) courses within the time frame detailed by the respective authority. These required courses are extracurricular courses.

Students who wish to enrol in MAT1903 are strongly advised to take a mathematical assessment test. If his/her test result is insufficient, he/she is strongly recommended to enrol in a course outside the MAT1901 program.

Art. 6.9 Enrolment in extracurricular courses

In addition to the 24 credits in the program, students may enrol in six extracurricular course credits, including upgrading courses in French or mathematics, plus undergraduate courses they have been authorized to take. If the need to upgrade in French or mathematics requires more than six extracurricular credits, the respective authority may authorize the student to enrol in more than six extracurricular credits.

Art. 6.10 Schooling

A minimum study period of two sessions in the program and a maximum period of two years.

Art. 11.2 Average determining program advancement

The cumulative average, calculated at the end of each session, determines progress in the program.

Art. 13.4 Resumption after a failed course

In general, a student who fails a course must repeat it or, with the approval of the respective authority, substitute another course.

Art. 14.1 Promotion system

Course-based promotion prevails in the program.

Art. 14.3 Progress on probation

  • A student whose cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0 after completing 12 credits is placed on probation.
  • A student who fails to complete a mandatory or optional course is placed on probation.
  • A student who satisfies all the program requirements will have their probation lifted and will receive the "completed program designation" allowing him/her to take undergraduate programs.
  • At the end of the probationary period, a student who has not met the program transition standard, with a cumulative average of 2.0, is expelled from the program.
  • Probation lasts one year. A student's probation cannot be extended, unless otherwise authorized by the respective authority.
  • All students on probation must register for their courses with the approval and mediation of the Service d’appui à la formation interdisciplinaire et à la réussite étudiante (SAFIRE).

Art. 18 Granting of grades and certificates

The program cannot lead to a certificate or an attestation. Only the transcript attests that the program has been completed.

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