To understand equivalences of degrees, it helps to examine Quebec’s entire educational system.
Elementary (primary) school lasts six years; high school lasts five years. Pre-university, or collegial, studies last two years and lead to a diploma of collegial studies (DCS), which is a prerequisite for university admission.
As a result, students can attend university after completing 13 years of schooling, usually at 19 years of age. The most demanding programs are subject to strict admission criteria.
Undergraduate studies, which lead to a Bachelor’s degree, last four years.
Certificates are undergraduate diplomas earned following one year of studies; students can accumulate three certificates to earn a Bachelor’s degree.
The first level of graduate studies is the Master’s program, which last two years with a master's thesis or a supervised project, is geared toward research and is often completed in preparation for a Ph.D. program.
The D.E.S.S. (Diplôme d’études supérieurs spécialisées) is a graduate diploma with a professional orientation.
The second level of graduate studies is the Doctorate (Ph.D.), which is a three-year, research-oriented program.
A fonte é uma escola de Adm e negócios, mas acaba explicando rapidamente o sistema québecois. Mais infos em: http://www.hec.ca/en/prospective_student/quebec_system/index.html
