Atwater metro station opens almost straight into Dawson College, which occupies a former convent on Sherbrooke Street West in Westmount. It's the largest English-language CEGEP in Quebec. Students take two-year pre-university diplomas that lead on to McGill, Concordia and other universities, or three-year technical diplomas in fields like nursing, 3D animation and computer science. Classes are in English, but Montreal outside the doors runs mostly in French.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Official website: dawsoncollege.qc.ca
Public English-language CEGEP
1969
Former convent on Sherbrooke Street West
Direct link to Atwater metro
CA$15,000 – CA$21,000
International students, pre-university and technical diplomas
CA$15,000 – CA$20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on dawsoncollege.qc.ca before you apply.
DEC Science (Pre-University)
DiplomaDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
DEC Social Science, Commerce Profile
DiplomaDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
DEC Computer Science Technology
DiplomaDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
DEC 3D Animation and Computer-Generated Imagery
DiplomaDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
DEC Nursing
DiplomaDuration
36 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
The biggest English-language CEGEP in Quebec.
Pre-university diplomas that feed into McGill and Concordia.
Technical programmes in animation, illustration and photography.
Most pre-university graduates go straight on to a bachelor's degree in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada.
Technical graduates work as nurses, programmers, animators and lab technicians.
Montreal's game and VFX studios hire from the animation programmes.
Undergrad
Early March
Postgrad
No PG intake
Undergrad
Limited programmes
Postgrad
No PG intake
The college sits on the Westmount side of downtown, a few minutes from the Forum, Atwater Market and the Lachine Canal bike path.
Montreal is cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver for rent, and the metro reaches most student neighbourhoods. Winters are long and properly cold, so budget for a real coat.
Letter of acceptance from Dawson College
Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ)
Proof of funds for tuition and living
Online IRCC study permit application
Medical exam, if requested
Valid passport and biometrics
For August entry, Dawson's main deadline is usually 1 March. International students should apply earlier than that, because the CAQ and study permit take months. Some programmes also take applications for January.
Almost everything starts in August. A few programmes accept students in January.
You need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and then a Canadian study permit, supported by the letter of acceptance from Dawson College. Apply online to IRCC with proof of funds and biometrics.
Science, commerce, computer science technology, 3D animation and nursing draw a lot of applicants. You need secondary school completion equivalent to Quebec's, and proof of English if you didn't study in it.
Scholarships for international students at CEGEPs are rare. Check Dawson's international office and the Quebec government's exemption programmes before you count on any help.
