CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="no-js" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8">    <title>Understand the Canadian education system</title>  <meta content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" name="viewport"> <meta name="description" content="Your options for studying in Canada are endless, from elementary and high school all the way through to college, university and graduate studies." /> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="Understand the Canadian education system" /> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Global Affairs Canada" /> <meta name="dcterms.issued" title="W3CDTF" content="2018-09-05" /> <meta name="dcterms.modified" title="W3CDTF" content="2023-12-28" /> <meta name="dcterms.subject" title="scheme" content="Programs, Exchange programs" /> <meta name="dcterms.language" title="ISO639-2" content="eng" /> <meta name="dcterms:service" content="GAC-AMC_Educanada" /> <meta name="dcterms.accessRights" content="2" />  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" />  <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.educanada.ca/study-plan-etudes/system-education-systeme.aspx?lang=eng" />  <link href="/wcmglobal/frameworks/v4.0.49.1/theme-gcweb-v10.5.4/assets/favicon.ico" rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/css/all.css" integrity="sha256-mUZM63G8m73Mcidfrv5E+Y61y7a12O5mW4ezU3bxqW4=" crossorigin="anonymous"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/wcmglobal/frameworks/v4.0.49.1/theme-gcweb-v10.5.4/css/theme.min.css" /> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="/wcmglobal/frameworks/v4.0.49.1/wet-boew/css/noscript.min.css" /></noscript>  <link href="/styles/topsitecustom-wet4_new.css" rel="stylesheet" media="screen" type="text/css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.educanada.ca/styles/edustyles.css" />  <link href="/study-plan-etudes/styles/branch.css" rel="stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" />   <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-3543698-9', 'auto'); ga('set', 'anonymizeIp', true);</script>   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-TB8GZJ');</script>   <script src="//assets.adobedtm.com/be5dfd287373/0127575cd23a/launch-f7c3e6060667.min.js"></script>   <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.educanada.ca/educanada2/assets/invitation-manager/Overlay.css">   <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-MTE7792H4X"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-MTE7792H4X'); </script>   <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-QMMPDTDFT0"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-QMMPDTDFT0'); </script>   </head> <body vocab="http://schema.org/" resource="#wb-webpage" typeof="WebPage"> <nav> <ul id="wb-tphp"> <li class="wb-slc"> <a class="wb-sl" href="#wb-cont">Skip to main content</a> </li> <li class="wb-slc"> <a class="wb-sl" href="#wb-info">Skip to "About government"</a> </li> </ul> </nav><header><div id="wb-bnr" class="container"> <div class="row"> <section id="wb-lng" class="col-lg-offset-0 col-md-offset-0 col-sm-offset-2 col-xs-12 col-sm-5 col-md-8 pull-right text-right visible-md visible-lg"> <h2 class="wb-inv">Language selection</h2> <ul class="list-inline mrgn-bttm-0"> <li id="gcwu-gcnb-lang"><a href="/study-plan-etudes/system-education-systeme.aspx?lang=fra" lang="fr">Fran莽ais</a></li> </ul> </section> <div class="brand col-xs-12 col-sm-9 col-md-4" property="publisher" resource="#wb-publisher" typeof="GovernmentOrganization"> <a href="https://www.educanada.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng" property="url"><img src="https://www.educanada.ca/images/educanada-en.png" alt="EduCanada - A world of possibilities" property="logo" class="margin-bottom-none" /> </a> <meta property="name" content="EduCanada"> <meta property="areaServed" typeof="Country" content="Canada"> <link property="logo" href="https://www.educanada.ca//images/educanada-en.png"></div> <section id="wb-srch" class="col-lg-offset-4 col-md-offset-4 col-sm-offset-2 col-xs-12 col-sm-5 col-md-4 visible-md visible-lg"> <h2>Search</h2> <script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=000838019765642533408:twabvibi4ue"></script><div class="gcse-searchbox-only"></div> </section> <section class="wb-mb-links col-xs-4 col-sm-3 visible-sm visible-xs" id="wb-glb-mn"> <h2>Search and menus</h2> <ul class="list-inline text-right chvrn"> <li> <a href="#mb-pnl" title="Search and menus" aria-controls="mb-pnl" class="overlay-lnk" role="button"> <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-search"> <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-th-list"> <span class="wb-inv">Search and menus</span> </span> </span> </a> </li> </ul> <div id="mb-pnl"></div> </section> </div> </div><nav role="navigation" id="wb-sm" class="wb-menu visible-md visible-lg" data-trgt="mb-pnl" typeof="SiteNavigationElement" lang="en"> <h2 class="wb-inv">Topics menu</h2> <div class="container nvbar">  <div class="row"> <ul class="list-inline menu" role="menubar"><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Why Canada</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/index.aspx?lang=eng">Why Canada - home</a></li><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/quality-education-qualite.aspx?lang=eng">A quality education</a></li><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/reasons-raisons.aspx?lang=eng">Top reasons to study in Canada</a></li><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/virtual-canada-virtuel.aspx?lang=eng">Visit Canada virtually</a></li><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/faq.aspx?lang=eng">Frequently asked questions</a></li><li><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/stories-histoires.aspx?lang=eng">Student stories</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/live-work-vivre-travailler/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Live and work</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/live-work-vivre-travailler/index.aspx?lang=eng">Live and work - home</a></li><li><a href="/live-work-vivre-travailler/prepare-budget-preparer.aspx?lang=eng">Prepare your budget</a></li><li><a href="/live-work-vivre-travailler/travel-canada-voyage.aspx?lang=eng">Travelling in Canada</a></li><li><a href="/live-work-vivre-travailler/province/index.aspx?lang=eng">Provinces and territories</a></li><li><a href="/live-work-vivre-travailler/work-travail/index.aspx?lang=eng">Work</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Plan your studies</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/index.aspx?lang=eng">Plan your studies - home</a></li><li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/system-education-systeme.aspx?lang=eng">Understand the Canadian education system</a></li><li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/before-avant/index.aspx?lang=eng">Before your studies</a></li><li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/during-pendant/index.aspx?lang=eng">During your studies</a></li><li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/after-apres/index.aspx?lang=eng">After your studies</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/programs-programmes/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Find programs and costs</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/programs-programmes/index.aspx?lang=eng">Find programs and costs - home</a></li><li><a href="https://w05.educanada.ca/index.aspx?action=programsearch-rechercheprogramme&lang=eng">Search colleges & universities</a></li><li><a href="/programs-programmes/pathways-voies.aspx?lang=eng">Common pathways (college & universities)</a></li><li><a href="/programs-programmes/map-carte.aspx?lang=eng">Map of colleges and universities</a></li><li><a href="/programs-programmes/education_cost-cout_education.aspx?lang=eng">Study costs</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Scholarships</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/index.aspx?lang=eng">Scholarships - home</a></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/news-nouvelles/index.aspx?lang=eng">News</a></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/testimonials-temoignages/index.aspx?lang=eng">Testimonials</a></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/search-scholarships-rechercher-bourses.aspx?lang=eng">Search for scholarships</a></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/can/index.aspx?lang=eng">For Canadians</a></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/non_can/index.aspx?lang=eng">For non-Canadians</a></li><li><a href="/scholarships-bourses/app/apply-scholarships-postuler-bourses.aspx?lang=eng">Apply for scholarships</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Your country</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng">Your country - home</a></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng#asia-pacific">Asia-Pacific</a></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng#europe">Europe</a></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng#latin-america-caribbean">Latin America and the Caribbean</a></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng#north-america">North America</a></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng#me-africa">Middle East and North Africa</a></li><li><a href="/my-country-mon-pays/index.aspx?lang=eng#ss-africa">Sub-Saharan Africa</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/about-a_propos/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">About</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/about-a_propos/index.aspx?lang=eng">About - home</a></li><li><a href="/stay_connected-restez_branches.aspx?lang=eng">Social media</a></li><li><a href="/blog-blogue/index.aspx?lang=eng">Blog</a></li><li><a href="/contact_us-contactez_nous.aspx?lang=eng">Contact us</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/index.aspx?lang=eng" class="item">Start your journey</a><ul class="sm list-unstyled" id="" role="menu"><li><a href="/start-commencez/index.aspx?lang=eng">Start your journey - home</a></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/events-evenements.aspx?lang=eng">Recruitment events</a></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/languages-langues.aspx?lang=eng">Learn English or French </a></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/k-12-maternelles.aspx?lang=eng">K-12 studies</a></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/francophonie.aspx?lang=eng">Study in French</a></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/stem-stim/index.aspx?lang=eng">STEM in Canada</a></li><li><a href="/start-commencez/ai-ia.aspx?lang=eng">Study artificial intelligence</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div> </div></nav> <nav id="wb-bc" property="breadcrumb"> <h2>You are here:</h2> <div class="container"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li> <a href="/index.aspx?lang=eng">EduCanada</a> </li> <li><a href="/study-plan-etudes/index.aspx?lang=eng">Plan your studies</a></li><li>Understand the Canadian education system</li> </ol> </div> </nav></header> <main property="mainContentOfPage" resource="#wb-main" class="container" typeof="WebPageElement">     <p><img class="img-responsive visible-md visible-lg" src="/study-plan-etudes/assets/images/banner/education-system-1180x300.jpg" alt=""></p><h1 id="wb-cont" class="edu">Understand the Canadian education system</h1><p>Are you thinking about studying abroad in Canada? Or sending your child to study in Canada? Canada is recognized for its <a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/quality-education-qualite.aspx?lang=eng">quality education</a> at all levels. Canada’s provincial and territorial governments are responsible for education. They follow government standards to ensure high quality public education across the country. School is mandatory for children from about the age of six years old to 18 years old. Our study environments are safe and welcoming. You’ll discover a world of possibilities!  </p><h2>Featured video</h2><div class="col-md-6 mrgn-tp-sm well well-sm"><h3 class="mrgn-tp-sm">How Canada's Education System Works</h3><figure class="wb-mltmd"><video title="How Canada's education system works"><source type="video/youtube" src="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bua41X5hDgs?rel=0"></video><figcaption style="padding-top: 15px;"><p><a href="/start-commencez/ces-sec.aspx?lang=eng">Transcript</a></p></figcaption></figure></div><div class="clearfix"></div><h2 class="edu">Education options in Canada</h2><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/elementary-primaire.aspx?lang=eng">Elementary school</a></h3><p>Are you moving to Canada with your children or thinking about sending your child to study abroad? Canada offers excellent elementary or primary school education options.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/secondary-secondaire.aspx?lang=eng">High school</a></h3><p>To prepare your child for university, college or to offer them an international experience, consider Canada for high school studies. Find out about our secondary school options.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/college.aspx?lang=eng">Colleges and vocational schools</a></h3><p>Canada’s colleges and vocational schools offer practical, hands-on learning. When you graduate, you’ll receive a certificate or diploma.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/university-universite.aspx?lang=eng">Universities</a></h3><p>Canada is an international research leader and has some of the top universities in the world. When you graduate, you’ll receive a Bachelors, Masters or PhD degree.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/graduate-studies-etudes-superieures.aspx?lang=eng">Graduate studies</a></h3><p>Start here to discover the range of graduate study options available across Canada, including master’s degrees, PhD and doctoral programs.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/certifications.aspx?lang=eng">Professional certifications</a></h3><p>Earn a professional certification or designation in your field and open the door to career opportunities in Canada, your home country and beyond.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/language-langue.aspx?lang=eng">Language schools</a></h3><p>Study English or French while visiting or working in Canada or upgrade your language skills so you can study at a college or university. Canada’s language schools offer high-quality programs.</p><h3><a class="edu" href="/study-plan-etudes/online-learning-enseignement-en-ligne.aspx?lang=eng">Online and distance learning</a></h3><p>Canada is a leader in online learning and distance education. Study from home and get the full benefit of a high-quality Canadian education.</p><h2 class="edu">Keep exploring</h2><div class="row wb-eqht mrgn-tp-lg"><div class="col-md-4"> <div class="well well-sm eqht-trgt"><img alt="" src="/study-plan-etudes/assets/images/features/f-assessing-credentials.jpg" class="img-responsive full-width mrgn-bttm-md"> <h3 class="mrgn-tp-sm"><a href="/study-plan-etudes/before-avant/qualifications.aspx?lang=eng">Credentials and qualifications</a></h3> <p>Learn about how to get your academic credentials and qualifications assessed.</p> </div> </div><div class="col-md-4"> <div class="well well-sm eqht-trgt"><img alt="" src="/study-plan-etudes/assets/images/features/f-common-pathway.jpg" class="img-responsive full-width mrgn-bttm-md"> <h3 class="mrgn-tp-sm"><a href="/programs-programmes/pathways-voies.aspx?lang=eng">Common pathways to college and university</a></h3> <p>Canada's education system is flexible. Discover all the paths you can take to achieve your goals.</p> </div> </div><div class="col-md-4"> <div class="well well-sm eqht-trgt"><img alt="" src="/why-canada-pourquoi/assets/images/features/f-quality-education.jpg" class="img-responsive full-width mrgn-bttm-md"> <h3 class="mrgn-tp-sm"><a href="/why-canada-pourquoi/quality-education-qualite.aspx?lang=eng">A quality education</a></h3> <p>Learn more about the academic standards and quality education you’ll find in Canada.</p> </div> </div></div><div class="clearfix"></div><p><b>Learn more</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.cicic.ca/1130/An-overview-of-education-in-Canada/index.canada">An overview of Canada’s education system</a></li><li><a href="http://www.icascanada.ca/fsw">International Credential Assessment Service of Canada</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bcit.ca/ices/eca/">International Credential Evaluation Service</a></li><li><a href="http://www.alberta.ca/iqas-immigration.aspx">International Qualifications Assessment Service</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wes.org/ca/eca/">World Education Services: Evaluations for Immigration</a></li></ul>      <div class="pagedetails"> <div class="row"> </div> <dl id="wb-dtmd" class="text-right"> <dt>Date modified: </dt> <dd> <time property="dateModified">2023-12-28</time> </dd> </dl> </div>  </main> <footer id="wb-info" lang="en"> <div class="landscape"> <nav class="container wb-navcurr"> <h2 class="wb-inv">About government</h2> <div class="row wb-eqht"> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-4 visible-md visible-lg"> <section class="hght-inhrt"> <section><h3>About</h3><ul class="list-unstyled"><li><a href="/about-a_propos/index.aspx?lang=eng">About EduCanada</a></li><li><a href="/contact_us-contactez_nous.aspx?lang=eng">Contact EduCanada</a></li><li><a href="https://www.international.gc.ca/education/strategy-strategie/strategy-summary-sommaire-strategie.aspx?lang=eng">Canada鈥檚 International Education Strategy </a></li><li><a href="/faq.aspx?lang=eng">Frequently asked questions</a></li><li><a href="/blog-blogue/index.aspx?lang=eng">Blog</a></li></ul></section> </section> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-4 brdr-rght visible-md visible-lg social"> <section class="hght-inhrt"> <h3>Media</h3><ul class="list-unstyled"><li><a href="/stay_connected-restez_branches.aspx?lang=eng">Social media</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EduCanada.Official/">Facebook</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/educanadaofficial">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3i7Qo2eyKtXxScwgq3OqjA">YouTube</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/educanada">LinkedIn</a></li></ul> </section> </div>  <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-4 mrgn-tp-md mrgn-bttm-md"> <section class="hght-inhrt"> <h2 class="sr-only">Partners</h2> <ul class="row list-unstyled"> <li class="col-xs-6 text-center"><img src="/images/cmec-gr.png" alt="Council of Ministers of Education Canada" /></li> <li class="col-xs-6 text-center"><img src="/wcmglobal/frameworks/v4.0.49.1/theme-gcweb-v10.5.4/assets/wmms-blk.svg" alt="Symbol of the Government of Canada" width="100" class="mrgn-tp-md"></li> </ul> </section> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div class="brand"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <nav class="col-md-9 col-lg-10 ftr-urlt-lnk visible-md visible-lg"> <h2 class="wb-inv">About this site</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/notices-avis.aspx?lang=eng" >Terms and conditions</a></li> <li><a href="/transparency-transparence.aspx?lang=eng" >Transparency</a></li> </ul>  </nav> <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-3 col-lg-2 text-right visible-sm visible-xs tofpg"> <a href="#wb-cont">Top of Page <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-up"></span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.2.4/jquery.js"></script> <script src="/wcmglobal/frameworks/v4.0.49.1/wet-boew/js/wet-boew.min.js"></script> <script src="/wcmglobal/frameworks/v4.0.49.1/theme-gcweb-v10.5.4/js/theme.min.js"></script>   <script type="text/javascript"> var gDcsId="dcsu0dn4k8fpu3kc7p8tycaep_9u6o"; </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="/wcmglobal/utilities/webtrends/webtrends.load.js"></script> <noscript> <p><img alt="" width="1" height="1" src="https://sdc.international.gc.ca/dcsu0dn4k8fpu3kc7p8tycaep_9u6o/njs.gif?dcsuri=/nojavascript&WT.js=No&WT.tv=8.0.0" /> </p></noscript>   <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TB8GZJ" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>   <script type="text/javascript">_satellite.pageBottom();</script>   <script src="https://www.educanada.ca/educanada2/assets/invitation-manager/Overlay.js"></script> <script src="https://www.educanada.ca/educanada2/assets/invitation-manager/InvitationManager.js"></script>   </body> </html>