Centre Collegial de l’Alberta

The Centre collégial de l’Alberta is run by the French-language faculty at Campus Saint-Jean at the University of Alberta. The school opened in 2014 to meet a demand for college-level courses from Alberta’s growing francophone population. The province has the fourth-largest French-speaking population in Canada outside of Quebec; nearly 200,000 primary and secondary school students are enrolled in French-language programs.

The college offers programs in three areas: a two-year diploma in business administration; a one-year certificate and a two-year diploma in early childhood education (ECE); and an eight-month health-care aide (HCA) certificate. Business administration and ECE are offered through a distance learning model. The HCA program has a lab component and both the ECE and HCA programs include practicums. The school prides itself on a supportive atmosphere.

Located in Edmonton’s French Quarter, the campus is a cultural hub for Alberta’s francophones. Eligible students can apply to stay at Résidence Saint-Jean, where residents commit to living in an entirely French-speaking environment for a total immersion experience. Anyone can join a range of francophone student clubs and sports teams. A free shuttle links Campus Saint-Jean to the University of Alberta’s North campus.

Quick facts

School size:
Small

Tuition:
Diploma $6,800
Certificate $6,800

Residence offerings:
Yes

Popular programs

Certificate or Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Health Care Attendant Certificate
Techniques in Business Administration Diploma

Cool options

Health Care Attendant: Based on the Alberta government curriculum, this program prepares students to become front-line workers on health-care teams in hospitals and nursing homes equipped to work in French and English.
Early Childhood Education: Students obtain an ECE certificate after one year in the program and can complete an additional year to obtain a diploma. Specifically adapted for a francophone minority context, this program teaches students how to introduce children to language and help them understand their environment.