UQAR – Université du Québec à Rimouski
The Canadian education system is very different from the French system. There, students must choose their own courses before each term, in collaboration with the administration.
Moreover, some courses are only accessible after contacting the relevant professors, who usually want to assess the students’ motivation.
The Canadian system also allows students a lot of free time to work independently. As a result, the number of weekly courses is much lower than in the French system.
Teachers are highly dedicated to students, offering dynamic and engaging lessons, creating a friendly and pleasant atmosphere for everyone.
To ensure a smooth academic experience at UQAR, it is essential to get in touch with the department heads as early as possible to ensure proper support.
Indeed, some course modules require prior preparation with the teachers, such as the technical development project module, which consists of a lab work session supervised by a professor.
Moreover, the courses listed on UQAR’s website are not always available in practice, as their offer depends on the number of interested students and the availability of teachers.
For example, when we arrived, the professor responsible for courses related to renewable energy had just retired, forcing us to revise our study contract.
It’s important to note that the study contract will likely evolve as the terms progress.
During our stay, we managed to have our technical development project module from one term recognized as an internship by EILCO.
This process saved us a lot of time in our studies since UQAR recommended doing this project rather than an internship in a company.
UQAR has a residence for students, and another one is currently under construction.
Every year, UQAR welcomes far more students than the city can offer in terms of available housing. Canada has been facing a housing shortage for several years, making the search for accommodation particularly difficult.
As for transportation, a minibus system is in place, but it is paid and not very efficient. During our stay in Canada, we lived in a small residence located an hour by bus from the university, in a small town near Rimouski, and it was very difficult to get around efficiently since the minibus only ran 3 to 4 times a day.
UQAR offers many activities on campus and has several dedicated spaces, such as a gym, a bar, and a radio studio.
Additionally, several events are organized each month, offering students many opportunities to socialize and have fun.
Finding accommodation was very difficult, even when opting for shared housing.
Public transportation is rarely used, relatively expensive, and inconvenient, as most people travel by car.
Additionally, we had to revise our study contract several times and fully adapt our study plan to match the courses actually offered by UQAR.
Entrance to the University of Rimouski
École d’Ingénieurs du Littoral Côte d’Opale – 50 Rue Ferdinand Buisson
CS 30613 – 62228 CALAIS CEDEX
Direction générale : Tél.: 03 21 17 10 05 / Service Concours : Tél.: 06 14 06 46 47
