Quebec

Quebec is the land of Francophones and the official language is French.
The world’s most photographed hotel is the Château Frontenac, a heritage hotel situated in old Quebec.
The city of Quebec is known for the UNESCO heritage site, “Old Quebec”, with its fortified walls, historic landmarks and museums, located along the Saint Lawrence River. The city is renowned for its architecture, annual festivals and predominantly European character.
Quebec is the largest producer of maple syrup in the world
Quebec’s dairy industry is the largest in Canada.
The famous ICE hotel “Hôtel de Glace” located in Quebec city, requires 30,000 tons of snow and 500 tons of ice to be built, and stays open from 4th January to 28th March, each year. The inside temperature averages between -3 degrees to -5 degrees, and so far, up to 55,000 people have slept inside the hotel.

Demography

With a population of 8.18 million, Quebec is the second most populated province in Canada, accounting for 24% of the total Canadian population.
In Quebec, Montreal is the most populous city, followed by Quebec City, which is also the Capital of the province, and 10th populous city in Canada.
Quebec is the only Canadian province which has a higher majority of French speaking persons than English speaking, and Francophones account for 81% of the total population.

Geography

Quebec is Canada’s second largest province and occupies an area of 1.5 million square kms, which is almost three times the size of France!
Over 90% of Quebec lies within the Canadian Shield.
The highest mountain in Quebec is Mount Mont D'Iberville, which is located at the border of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Cape Wolstenholme is Quebeç’s northernmost point.
The St Lawrence River valley in Quebec is an extremely fertile region and is known for producing dairy products, fruits, vegetables, livestock and maple sugar.

Climate

Quebec has a cold and humid climate, it totally depends on the province's latitude, elevation and maritime.
Koppen Climate classification states that Quebec has three major climates:

Humid Summer
Snowy winters

has ranging temperatures across the province and experiences four seasons including, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. In the south, the weather is continental, and can range from very hot summers (June – August) to very cold winters, including rain and snow (December – February). In summer, residents may even experience the occasional tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
Central Quebec experiences longer and colder winters and short and cool summers. with average temperatures of -10 degrees C and – 25 degree

Healthcare

Its mandatory for international students to have healthcare covered.

Most of the Canadian provinces have two types of health insurance plans:

Medicare - which is provided free by the Canadian government for permanent residents and citizens of Canada, covering doctor visits, hospital stays, and medical tests.

Private Health Insurance: Residents and students need to purchase, it covers,hospital stays, medical tests, and many more.

University Education

Quebec is home to ten top ranking Universities ( Both French and English) and dozens of colleges.
The degrees and diplomas gained through Quebec’s Educational institutions are globally recognized.
Quebec’s educational institutes are equipped with the most modern technology, including high-tech laboratories, computer labs, auditoriums and sports facilities.
Quebec’s tuition fees and cost of living is one of the lowest in comparison to other Canadian provinces.
Quebec attracts a diverse range of International students due to its numerous study programs, low tuition rates, modern technological facilities, and enticing living environments. Most importantly, Quebec allows international students to gain permanent residency and migrate to Canada through the Quebec Experience Program.

Popular Areas of study

Architecture
Art
Aviation
Design Studios
Economics
Engineering
Fashion
Food and Beverage
Humanities
Journalism
Languages
Management and Marketing
Natural Sciences
Performing Arts
Social Sciences

The province of Quebec has three predominant English language Universities,

McGrill University which is ranked 42nd Best University in the world according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018.
Concordia University – Concordia University is rated as the number one business school in Canada.
University of Montreal which has one of the largest research institutions in Quebec and one of the top 100 universities globally.

Why Study in Quebec

The Canadian government provides a variety of options allowing international students to stay in the country and work, upon completion of their studies. One option is the Post-Graduate work permit program, which allows graduates of post-secondary institutions to stay for up-to three years and work in any Canadian province and gain required work experience, without the need of an arranged job offer.

Some provinces like Ontario, offer provincial immigration programs, like the Ontario Immigrant Nominee program, which allow international students who have studied in Ontario a chance to apply for residency, and if successful may be able to remain permanently in Canada.

Economy/ Key Industries

Quebec has a thriving economy, representing 19.65% of the total Canadian GDP. The main industrial products from Quebec City are pulp, food, metal, paper, wood items, chemicals and electronics. The economy is based largely on transportation, tourism, service sector, and defence.

Key industries in Quebec include:

Agriculture
Mining
Tourism
Hydroelectricity
Forestry

Agriculture

The St Lawrence River valley is the most fertile agricultural area in Quebec, and the largest producer of maple syrup in the world, along with production of fruit, vegetables, and dairy.

Mining

There are over 27 mines in the province of Quebec, producing over 30 different minerals, , including iron, gold, nickel, titanium, zinc, copper, silver and stone and an estimated mineral shipment value of $6.8 billion. The mining industry provides 15,000 jobs, and has an investment value that exceeds $2 billion.

Tourism

Known as the “Beautiful province”, Quebec experiences annual increase in tourism each year. The tourism industry is linked to over 30,000 businesses, creating jobs mainly in the hospitality, transport and maintenance sectors.

Hydroelectricity

The hydroelectricity company Hydro-Quebec is the largest in the world and employs more than 40,000 people, and as such, holds a monopoly in the generation, transmition and distribution of electricity in Quebec.

Forestry

The forestry industry in Quebec is vast and widespread with numerous coniferous forests, lakes and rivers. As a result, the pulp, paper, and lumber industries are thriving, with an estimated value of more than $18 billion.