Concordia University (Montreal): Admission, Fees and the CAQ

Concordia University is a public English-language university in Montreal, Quebec. Graduates of Russian or Kazakh secondary schools are admitted directly, but to the 120-credit Extended Credit Program: Quebec students arrive after two years of CEGEP college and finish in three years, while international school-leavers take an extra year of foundational courses. International tuition in 2026/27 is $820 (CAD 1,160) per credit in Arts and Science and $910 (CAD 1,285) in Engineering and Computer Science, or $24,540–27,180 (CAD 34,800–38,550) for 30 credits a year. The fall deadline is 1 March, but Concordia asks international applicants to apply by 1 February because Quebec requires a CAQ before the study permit.

This is Concordia in Montreal, not Concordia University Chicago, Wisconsin or Irvine in the USA.

Who Concordia suits

Concordia suits students who want an English-language degree in a bilingual city at a lower cost than McGill. Its strengths are the John Molson School of Business, the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, film, design and studio arts, journalism and psychology. It is an urban university with a free shuttle between its two campuses.

How Canadian higher education works overall is explained on studying in Canada.

Compare it with:

• McGill if you are aiming for a top-50 research university;
• the University of Ottawa if you would rather avoid the Quebec CAQ step;
• other Canadian options in universities in Canada.

Why the bachelor's takes four years

Quebec schooling ends after 11 years, followed by two years of CEGEP and a three-year (90-credit) bachelor's degree. School-leavers from elsewhere therefore enter the Extended Credit Program of 120 credits, with a first year of introductory courses. In Concordia's country table, the Russian and Kazakh certificates are not marked as giving access to three-year programmes, so budget for four years. IB HL results of 4 or higher can bring up to 27 transfer credits and AP exams up to 30; a standard attestat brings none.

Admission requirements

International applicants need graduation from an accredited high school; SAT and ACT are not required.

Many departments add letters of intent, portfolios, interviews or auditions with their own deadlines.

Documents. Upload unofficial copies of all transcripts, front and back, in the original language. Documents in neither English nor French need a translation by a certified translator; notarial certificates are not accepted. Official transcripts are usually requested only after admission.

English requirements

Results must be less than two years old when you apply.

Some programmes require higher scores. If scores are missing, you have three weeks to submit them after Concordia's request.

Application deadlines

Late applications are considered if places remain. Immigration steps (CAQ, then the study permit) can take months.

Tuition in 2026/27

Quebec universities charge per credit; a normal year is 30 credits.

Compulsory fees (student services, athletics, student associations) are charged per credit or per term, plus a health and dental plan; use Concordia's estimator for your programme. Summer 2026 rates were lower than fall rates (for example CAD 1,075 per credit in Arts and Science), so expect international tuition to rise during your degree.

French citizens and francophone Belgians pay the Canadian out-of-province rate under Quebec agreements; there are no such agreements for Russia or CIS countries.

Concordia's living-cost estimates for the year: books CAD 2,843, transit CAD 756, personal expenses CAD 4,897; an apartment with utilities around CAD 1,100 a month and food around CAD 450 a month. See the cost of studying in Canada.

Scholarships

All bachelor's applicants are automatically considered for faculty entrance scholarships based on academic ranking; decisions run from winter into spring until awards are filled, and an offer of admission does not mean you will receive one. Fine Arts portfolio programmes select on the portfolio. Concordia aims its CAD 4,000 ($2,820) Undergraduate Excellence Award at students in Canada, so applicants from abroad should not count on it. After the first term, students with an assessment GPA of 3.30 can receive in-course scholarships. See scholarships in Canada.

Residence

Concordia estimates residence rooms at $3,770–9,110 (CAD 5,352–12,920) for eight months, plus a mandatory meal plan of $4,730 (CAD 6,705). Concordia also budgets the off-campus option at about CAD 1,100 a month for an apartment with utilities and CAD 450 for food, which is why many international students share a flat.

Quebec: CAQ, funds and study permit

1. CAQ (Certificat d'acceptation du Québec). Issued by Quebec's immigration ministry (MIFI) through the Arrima portal. The fee is $95 (CAD 135) for applications from 1 January 2026 and is non-refundable. In 80% of cases a decision is made within 25 business days of a complete file. The CAQ replaces the PAL and confirms a place in Quebec's share of study permits; Quebec's 2026 target is 39,474, and on 22 July 2026 the Quebec government revised the maximum number of applications for some institutions.
2. Study permit from IRCC, only after the CAQ.

Funds. Quebec requires tuition, return travel and CAD 24,617 ($17,360) for one person's yearly living costs for applications from 1 January 2026, more than the federal figure of CAD 23,448 elsewhere.

Fees and visa centres. Study permit $110 (CAD 150), biometrics $60 (CAD 85). Since 28 January 2026, Canadian visa application centres in Russia do not accept passports; Russian applicants submit theirs abroad, for example in Yerevan, Almaty or Astana. Students may work off campus up to 24 hours a week during terms. See the Canadian study permit and working while studying and the PGWP.

Concordia or McGill

Plan for Fall 2027

1. September–October 2026: choose a programme, check subjects and departmental requirements.
2. October–December 2026: take the English test, order certified translations.
3. By 1 February 2027: apply and pay CAD 100; send departmental materials on time.
4. February–April 2027: receive the decision and admission letter.
5. Immediately after: apply for the CAQ on Arrima, then the study permit.
6. June–August 2027: biometrics, passport submission abroad, housing, arrival.

Common mistakes

• Budgeting for three years. Russian school-leavers study for four.
• Applying for the study permit before the CAQ. The CAQ comes first.
• Showing funds at the federal level. Quebec requires CAD 24,617, not 23,448.
• Using a notary instead of a certified translator. Concordia does not accept notarial certificates.
• Counting on the CAD 4,000 award. It is aimed at students in Canada.

FAQ

How long is a Concordia bachelor's for a Russian school-leaver?

Four years. Russian and Kazakh school-leavers enter the 120-credit Extended Credit Program with an introductory first year. Three-year, 90-credit programmes are designed for graduates of Quebec's CEGEP colleges.

How much does Concordia cost international students?

In 2026/27, CAD 1,160 per credit in Arts and Science, CAD 1,285 in Engineering and Computer Science and CAD 1,400 in business. At 30 credits a year that is CAD 34,800–42,000 ($24,540–29,610) before compulsory fees and insurance.

What IELTS score does Concordia require?

IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online are accepted. TOEFL (4.0 on the new scale), Duolingo (105) and other tests are also accepted, and some programmes ask for more.

Do I need French to study at Concordia?

No. Teaching is in English. French helps with daily life and part-time work in Montreal, and Concordia notes that its French courses cost students less than standard courses.

What is the CAQ and when do I apply?

It is Quebec's acceptance certificate for international students. You apply on Arrima after receiving your admission letter; the fee is CAD 135 and the usual processing time is 25 business days. You cannot apply for a Quebec study permit without it.

Does Concordia offer scholarships to international students?

Faculty entrance scholarships are assigned automatically by academic ranking, but numbers are limited. The CAD 4,000 no-application award is aimed at students in Canada.

How does StudyU help with Concordia?

Programme selection, the application and translations, and the CAQ and study permit files are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Concordia decides on admission and scholarships, Quebec's immigration ministry issues the CAQ and IRCC decides on the study permit.

Sources

• Concordia: international high school requirements (country table), checked 01.10.2026
• Concordia: documents, English proficiency, deadlines and how to apply, application fee
• Concordia: undergraduate tuition 2026-27, costs and aid, international fee exemptions
• Concordia: undergraduate scholarships
• Québec.ca: basic needs for 2026, CAQ fees, processing and caps
• IRCC: 2026 allocations under the student cap, PAL/TAL and CAQ, fees, visa application centres, off-campus work
• THE World University Rankings 2027: Concordia University

USD amounts use the ECB reference rate of 30.09.2026 (CAD 1 = $0.7051), rounded to $10. All facts checked on 01.10.2026.

If you want to weigh Concordia against McGill or an Ontario university without the CAQ step, send us a request.

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.