Marianopolis College

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Frequently asked questions

Here are some FAQs about applications, admissions and programs at Marianopolis. If you do not find the answer you are looking for, feel free to email our Admissions team at admissions@marianopolis.edu.

  • Who can apply to Marianopolis?

    All Secondary V students can apply to Marianopolis, regardless of language or which high school they are attending. Students who wish to transfer from another Cégep or college can also apply if they have a minimum of 2 semesters or at least 50% of their course requirements left to complete.

  • What is a certificate of eligibility? Do I need one to attend Marianopolis?

    Under the Quebec Charter of the French Language, only certain people holding a certificate of eligibility (CoE) have the right to attend publicly funded English-language elementary schools or high schools in Quebec. Everyone else must attend French-language schools, with very few exceptions.

    At the college level, all students can attend English-language institutions, including MarianopolisIn fact, approximately half of our students do not have a CoE. Non-CoE holders and CoE holders have different admission and graduation requirements and take different courses.

    For more information on the CoE, visit the Ministry of Education’s website. If you wish to obtain your CoE, you must do so before completing high school, otherwise you will be considered a non-CoE holder at the time of admission to college. Contact your high school or school board for further details.

  • Will I need to pass a French language proficiency test to be admitted?

    You must write a French language proficiency test only if:

    • You are completing your high school studies outside of Quebec (including Francophone countries or programs) and do not have a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE)
    • You attend English high school in Quebec but do not have a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) and are not taking the course Français langue d’enseignement.
    • You are applying to the Arts and Sciences program (even if you have a CoE) and are not taking the course Français langue d’enseignement.

    French language proficiency test results should be submitted by May 1 for Fall admission and by December 20 for Winter admission. See the Entrance Requirements page for details on which tests are accepted. Please note that Marianopolis College does not administer French language proficiency tests. These tests are conducted externally, and schedules and availability may vary. The Admissions Office recommends scheduling an appointment to take the test while completing your application.

  • Will I need to write a placement test in English or French?

    After you are admitted to the College and you have confirmed that you will attend, you will need to write an English placement test to determine your level of English proficiency. This test does not affect your admission, but serves to place you in the correct course stream.

    You are not required to take a French placement test. However, during the first week of classes, instructors will conduct diagnostic evaluations to confirm appropriate course placement. If necessary, adjustments to your course stream will be made based on these assessments.

  • Will I need to write an exit exam in English or French?

    In order to receive your DEC (Diplôme d’études collégiales), you must pass a language exit exam set by the Ministry of Higher Education.

    • If you have a certificate of eligibility, you will write the English Exit Exam.
    • If you do not have a certificate of eligibility, you will write the French Exit Exam (Épreuve uniforme de français).
  • How many classes in French will I need to take?

    The number and type of French courses you will take depends on whether you have a certificate of eligibility for English-language education, and if so, how strong your level of French is. There are many pathways and sets of courses that can accommodate different levels of French proficiency.

    • If you have a certificate of eligibility, you will take two French Second Language courses, and, either three additional French Second Language courses to improve your French skills, or three program courses in French.
    • If you do not have a certificate of eligibility, you will take three French Literature courses to help you prepare for the French Exit Exam (Épreuve uniforme de français) and two program courses in French.
  • Which immigration documents are required to attend Marianopolis?

    If you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you must submit two documents to study at the college level: a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a study permit. Valid copies of both documents are required to begin classes. The College encourages applicants to apply for these documents as soon as they receive their letter of acceptance. You must obtain the documents using the Designated Learning Institution number associated with Marianopolis College (DLI 019358463012). Please consult the International Documents Application Guide for more information on how to apply for these documents.

  • If I select Health Science as my first-choice program, should I select Pure and Applied Science as my second-choice?

    It is important to note that both Science programs have identical entrance requirements, so if you do not meet the requirements for one, you will likely not be admitted to the other.

    If Science is the only program you are interested in, we recommend selecting Honours Pure and Applied Science or Honours Health Science as your first choice and either Pure and Applied Science or Health Science as your second.

    If you have academic interests other than science, we recommend selecting Health Science or Pure and Applied Science first and then selecting a second-choice program with lower requirements.

  • What happens if I am not admitted to my first-choice program?

    If you are not admitted to your first-choice program, you will be immediately considered for admission to your second-choice program. You may also be considered for an alternate program that was not listed on your application.

  • Can I change programs partway through my studies?

    Yes, you can, but keep in mind that you may need to catch up. Changing programs after one semester might require taking summer courses, while changes made after a full year of study will likely add an extra semester. Program changes are subject to availability.

  • Can I apply to Marianopolis for the Winter semester?

    Limited spots are available for Winter semester admission in the following programs: Arts, Literature, and Communication; Science (excluding the Honours option); and Social Science (excluding the Human Behaviour concentration).
  • Are my high school grades in all courses considered for admission?

    Yes, all credited Secondary IV and V courses are considered and included in the overall average at the time of admissions. For students applying to the Science program, a separate average of Math and Science courses is also computed.

  • If I am repeating a high school course, which mark is considered for admission?

    The admissions committee considers both marks, although the most recent mark carries the most weight. If the exact same course is repeated in the same language, the previous grade will be replaced by the new grade.

  • Will year-end final marks count for admission?

    Yes. The Admissions Office will check final grades in July to verify that prerequisite courses have been successfully completed and that the requirements for the Secondary School Diploma have been met. Students who are missing requirements to enter the College and/or their program will have their admission withdrawn or modified.

  • Does the College offer remedial courses?

    Yes. Students whose English or French placement test results indicate the need for language development may be placed in remedial or reinforcement courses. If your Math grade is below 75% and you are a Social Science or Science student, the College may invite you to enroll in a non-credit Math course during the Fall session, if applicable to your program, for additional support.

  • What is the R-Score and how is it calculated?

    The R-Score (cote R, cote de rendement collégial, or CRC) is the measure of each student’s academic performance used by the admissions offices of Quebec universities to compare and rank applicants.

    For each of your college courses, you receive an R-score that takes into account three components: your grade, the group average (and standard deviation), and group strength (which is determined by the high school grades of the students in the course group). Your overall R-Score is a weighted average of the R-Scores you obtain for each of your courses. The R-Score is calculated by the Ministry of Higher Education.

    More information about the R-Score is available on the website of the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI).

  • How do Marianopolis students' R-Scores compare to students in other colleges?

    Because of high admissions standards at Marianopolis, students have the advantage of being surrounded by strong students, which gives a boost to the group strength component of their R-Score. This is why Marianopolis students tend to achieve higher overall R-Scores relative to students from other colleges.

  • Is the R-Score the only criterion used for university admission?

    No, some university programs have additional criteria, such as an admission essay, CV, interview, audition, portfolio, letters of recommendation or entrance exams. Universities publish all admission criteria on their websites. Also, remember that only Quebec universities consider the R-Score.

  • Can Marianopolis graduates attend universities outside Quebec?

    Yes, Marianopolis graduates may apply to any university outside Quebec. Normally, they will apply to the second year of a university program and may be granted credit for up to one year of university studies, depending on the courses they have taken and the grades they have obtained.