Recognition of Prior Learning

Who can apply

Any ÉTS student who has successfully completed a course or activity in their program either at another university or in another ÉTS program.

When do I apply?

As soon as possible after being admitted to ÉTS and no later than the end of the first semester of enrolment. Note: You can only apply once, so you must list all your activities on the same form. The ÉTS Registrar’s Office will not accept applications received after this deadline. Late applications are automatically denied.

How do I apply?

1. Complete the prior learning recognition application form:

Left-hand section: Write the name of the successfully completed course.
Right-hand section: Write the name of the course in your program that you feel is equivalent to the course already completed.

2. Attach the following to the application:

ÉTS courses successfully completed: none
Courses successfully completed at another university:
Course outline (version for the semester when you successfully completed the course)
Official transcripts, sent directly by the institution and bearing the institution’s seal (for Québec universities, the mailing can be made via the BCI server)

3. Send the form to the Registrar’s Office to the attention of the person handling your file. If you require a transcript, please send this person’s name to your institution.

Once all required documents are received, please allow three to four weeks for processing.

Remarks : For undergraduate students

Exemptions or integrations are not generally granted for Québec technical college studies, but some substitutions or exemptions may be possible for general college studies. (s. 4.5)
Recognition of prior learning cannot result in the granting of more than half the credits for a certificate or more than two-thirds the credits for a bachelor’s degree. (s. 4.8). Students in an undergraduate short program can only receive credit for one prior course.
For engineering science courses (course codes starting with CTN, ELE, GOL, GPA, GTI, LOG, and MEC), only courses successfully completed at a recognized Québec engineering school can be considered.
The knowledge or skills used to determine whether an applicant is admitted to ÉTS are not to be used for the assessment.
For more information, please refer to Chapter 4 of the Règlement des études de 1er cycle (undergraduate education regulations, in French only).

Remarks : For graduate and doctoral students

Recognition of prior learning cannot result in the granting of more than half the credits for a DESS, more than two-thirds the credits for a master’s degree (excluding bridge programs), or more than two-thirds the credits for a doctorate. Students in master’s-level short programs can only receive credit for one prior course. (s. 5.7)
Except as permitted by section 3.7, recognition of prior learning in a course credited in a program already sanctioned by a degree only results in a substitution. (s. 5.3[f])
The knowledge or skills used to determine whether an applicant is admitted to ÉTS are not to be used for the assessment. (s. 5.3[b])
For more information, please refer to Chapter 5 of the Règlement des études de cycles supérieurs (graduate and doctoral studies regulations, in French only).