Preparatory YearUndergraduate | 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 informationAdmissionsAdmissions informationOverviewAbout this programA springboard to pursuing studies at UdeMThe 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.
Advantages of studying arts and sciences at UdeM |
| Résultat | Cours prescrit |
| TCF : 6 - 7 sur 20 | FRS1504 et FRS1604 |
| TCF : 8 - 10 sur 20 | FRS1604 |
| TEF : 300 - 349 sur 699 | FRS1504 et FRS1604 |
| TEF : 350 - 424 sur 699 | FRS1604 |
- 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).
Costs and financial aid
Permanent Quebec resident
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 2025-2026 academic year.
Information updated: July 17, 2025
Canadian non-Quebec resident
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 2025-2026 academic year.
Information updated: July 17, 2025
International student
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 2025-2026 academic year.
Information updated: July 17, 2025
Francophone student from France or Belgium
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 2025-2026 academic year.
Information updated: July 17, 2025
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
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.
Block 71B Education in Human and Social Sciences
Option - Minimum 9 credits, maximum 18 credits.
Block 71C Education in Arts and Letters
Option - Maximum 9 credits.
Block 71D Education in the English Language
Option - Maximum 6 credits
Block 71E Education in Sciences
Option - Maximum 9 credits.
Block 71F Education in Statistics
Option - Maximum 3 credits.
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.
Block 72B Education in Arts and Letters
Mandatory - 9 credits.
Block 72C Education in the English Language
Option - Maximum 6 credits.
Block 72D Education in Human and Social Sciences
Option - Maximum 9 credits.
Block 72E Education in Sciences
Option - Maximum 9 credits
Block 72F Education in Statistics
Option - Maximum 3 credits
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
Block 73B Education in Biology
Option - Minimum 3 credits, maximum 6 credits.
Block 73C Education in Chemistry
Option - Minimum 3 credits, maximum 6 credits
Block 73D Education in Mathematics
Option - Minimum 6 credits, maximum 9 credits.
Block 73E Education in Statistics
Option - Maximum 3 credits.
Block 73F Education in Physics
Option - Minimum 3 credits, maximum 6 credits
Block 73G Education in Computer Science
Option - Maximum 3 credits.
Block 73H Education in Arts and Letters
Option - Maximum 9 credits
Block 73I Education in Human and Social Sciences
Option - Maximum 6 credits.
Block 73J Education in the English Language
Option - Maximum 6 credits.
Academic regulations
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.