Admissions Process for International Students
Cumberland College’s 16-month ACS (Attestation of College Studies) in Digital Marketing is fully accredited by ministère de l’ Enseignement supérieur, meaning admitted students are eligible to apply for a permit to live in Montreal for the duration of their studies.
Our international application online process is really easy, offering you different start dates throughout the year depending on the issue of your study visa so you do not need to wait to come to Montreal.
International students need to obtain the following documents before starting their program:
- Valid Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ)
- Valid Study Permit
- Health insurance
1. Submitting an Application
The first step to be admitted as an international student at Cumberland College is to submit an online application for the course. You will need to have ready the following documents to attach them during the online application:
- Copy of the original certificate of birth certificate and an official translation into French or English.
- Copy of latest diploma/transcript of records of secondary and/or post-secondary education. Documents need to be officially translated into French or English.
- Proof of international language proficiency test: B1 level in English or French*
- Copy of passport
You need to be 18 years old or over at the moment of starting your program to be accepted as an international student.
*Students need to have succeeded an international language proficiency test of level B1 in English or French. Multiple official tests are accepted: IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, Duolingo, TEF, TEFAQ, TFI or DELF whenever the student has passed the equivalent of B1 level.
2. Paying The Registration Fees
Anyone submitting an application for admission will be required to pay a $50 fee to review their application. For those who are admitted, an invoice for the $200 registration fee will be sent to you, along with payment instructions for the issuance of your acceptance letter (non-refundable and valid for one year).
After receiving the payment, Cumberland College will send the student the Letter of Acceptance necessary for the application of immigration documents. The usual times to receive the Letter of Acceptance are up to 2 weeks.
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3. Obtaining Immigration Documents
Now that you have received your Letter of Acceptance, you can start the application of the necessary visa documents. There are 2 document you will need to apply for:
- CAQ certificate, issued by the Gouvernement du Québec
- A study permit issued by the Government of Canada
You can apply for a CAQ either online or by mail, and can consult the Immigration Quebec website for more information on the process, and the supporting documents required for students from your country. Please note that an application fee is required.
To apply for a study permit from the Government of Canada, you will need:
- An acceptance letter from Cumberland College
- A valid passport or travel document
- Proof you can support yourself financially while in Canada, and well as any family members who come with you
You can apply online or by mail, and application fees will apply. You can consult the Government of Canada website for more information on the process.
4. Arriving in Canada
After you have successfully applied for your CAQ and study permit, you will be ready to start preparing for your time in Canada.
Please, send a copy of your CAQ and study permit at least one month before the start of your program. If we do not receive your documents on time, we will transfer your date of start to the next session.
4.1 Payment of tuition fees
You will need to have a payment agreement in place with the college before the beginning of your semester.
If we do not receive the payment on time, student will be transferred to the next session.
4.2 Deferral of studies
In case your study permit is delayed and you can not start your program on the selected date, we will transfer the student to the next session. We will issue a new Letter of Acceptance (free for the 1st deferral letter and $50CAD for the following ones).
4.3 Finding Accomodation
If possible, you should try to reserve accommodation before you leave. Rentals in Montreal are generally quite affordable compared to other major North American cities, and there are a number of great neighbourhoods to choose from.
4.4 Arriving in Quebec
When you arrive in Quebec, you will need to present the immigration authorities with the following documents.
- Your passport
- Your study permit (or the letter of authorization issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- Your temporary resident visa (where applicable)
- Your CAQ for studies
- Your health certificate (if you had to pass a medical examination to obtain your study permit)
- The Letter of Acceptance from Cumberland College
For more information, please visit the Immigration Quebec website.
5. Health Insurance
All international students who study in Canada are required to have health insurance. Medical coverage available to international students varies from province to province. In provinces in which international students are not covered under provincial health care plans, you will have to make arrangements for private health insurance coverage.
Québec has concluded social security agreements with certain countries. You could benefit from such an agreement if you are a native of a signatory country. In general, the agreement applies when you take up residence in Québec permanently or during a temporary stay to work, study or undergo training. However, you have to take certain steps to be covered under such an agreement. To know the countries benefiting from this agreement, please visit the following link.
If your country is not in that list, as an international student studying in Canada, it is advisable that you purchase private health insurance before your trip, to make sure you are covered in all cases.
6. Working During Your Studies
As a full-time student at Cumberland College, you may be eligible to work part-time up to 20 hours per week. This could help you to support yourself during your studies, or allow you to gain some valuable digital marketing experience.
However, you should be aware that many employers in Montreal require staff to be able to speak French or English, and often both languages, which can make finding work more challenging for international newcomers. The government does offer language courses for newcomers to the province, and you can learn more about them here.
7. Staying in Montreal After Your Course
Are you interested in staying in Quebec to begin your digital marketing career after you graduate from Cumberland College? Consult the Immigration Quebec website to find out more about the requirements to apply to stay permanently.