Quebec trains nurses differently from the rest of Canada, and most of its programmes are taught in French. This guide explains the two routes into nursing in Quebec, ranks the province’s university nursing degrees and reviews the top five.
Imagine finishing school in Quebec and hearing about DEC, DEC-BAC and BScN all in one conversation. They all lead to nursing, but they take different amounts of time and lead to different job titles. Knowing the difference can save you a year or more.
How we ranked these schools
Canada has no official national dataset on nursing school outcomes like the US has, so we combined two things. First, schools in Quebec that appear in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for nursing are placed at the top, in QS order. Second, we ranked the other university nursing programmes that lead to registration with the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) on the range of routes they offer, the strength of the wider university and the clinical training they can provide.
In Quebec you can become a nurse in two ways. A three-year college diploma in nursing (DEC) at a CEGEP lets you write the OIIQ exam and work as a nurse (infirmière). A university bachelor’s degree, either straight after CEGEP or through the shorter DEC-BAC route for DEC graduates, leads to the clinical nurse title (infirmière clinicienne). This ranking covers the university degrees.
Quebec nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | School | City | Nursing degree options | QS Nursing 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McGill University | Montreal | BScN; Bachelor of Nursing (Integrated) for CEGEP nursing graduates | 50th |
| 2 | Université de Montréal | Montreal | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route) | 151–225 |
| 3 | Université Laval | Quebec City | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route) | Not ranked |
| 4 | Université de Sherbrooke | Sherbrooke and Longueuil | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route) | Not ranked |
| 5 | Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) | Trois-Rivières | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route) | Not ranked |
| 6 | Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) | Rimouski and Lévis | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières | Not ranked |
| 7 | Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) | Gatineau and Saint-Jérôme | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières | Not ranked |
| 8 | Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) | Saguenay | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières | Not ranked |
| 9 | Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) | Rouyn-Noranda | Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières | Not ranked |
Top Quebec nursing schools reviewed
1. McGill University
McGill’s Ingram School of Nursing is ranked joint 50th in the world for nursing by QS, the highest in Quebec. It is Quebec’s main English-language university nursing school, although you will still need to meet French requirements to register as a nurse in Quebec.
- Degree options: BScN; Bachelor of Nursing (Integrated) for CEGEP nursing graduates
- World ranking: 50th in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: English-speaking students and CEGEP nursing graduates who want a world-ranked degree
2. Université de Montréal
The Faculté des sciences infirmières at Université de Montréal is one of the largest French-language nursing faculties and is in the QS world rankings. Students train across Montreal’s large university hospital network.
- Degree options: Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route)
- World ranking: 151–225 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: French-speaking students who want a research-strong faculty in Montreal
3. Université Laval
Université Laval’s Faculté des sciences infirmières is in Quebec City and is one of the province’s largest nursing faculties, with placements in the capital region’s university hospitals.
- Degree options: Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route)
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: French-speaking students in eastern Quebec
4. Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke’s École des sciences infirmières teaches nursing on its main campus and at Longueuil, near Montreal. The school is known for a practice-based approach to learning.
- Degree options: Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route)
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students who want a practice-focused programme near Montreal or in the Eastern Townships
5. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)
UQTR is part of the Université du Québec network and trains nurses for central Quebec, with a strong focus on practice.
- Degree options: Baccalauréat en sciences infirmières (including the DEC-BAC route)
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students in central Quebec
Language: to join a professional order such as the OIIQ, you must show that you know French well enough to practise. If you are not already fluent, plan for French classes before or during your studies.
What does nursing school cost in Quebec?
Statistics Canada puts average undergraduate tuition in Quebec at about $3,963 a year for Canadian students in 2025/2026, among the lowest in Canada. This average mainly reflects Quebec residents; Canadian students from other provinces pay higher rates. International students pay much more: the national average for international undergraduates is about $41,746 a year.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- Route: decide whether you want the CEGEP DEC, the DEC-BAC or a direct bachelor’s. The DEC-BAC lets you work as a nurse sooner and finish the bachelor’s after.
- Accreditation: many Canadian nursing degrees are also accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN). Ask about the programme’s current status.
- Exam results: in Quebec, new nurses write the OIIQ professional examination, not the NCLEX-RN. Ask each school about its graduates’ results.
- Admission competition: nursing seats are limited. Apply to more than one school.
- Clinical placements: where students train, and whether you may be placed far from campus.
Your next step: Decide which route suits you (DEC, DEC-BAC or a direct bachelor’s), then shortlist two or three schools from the table and check their admission requirements and deadlines.
Related: Moving to Canada as a nurse: NNAS, NCLEX and immigration steps · Nurse salaries in Canada by province
Sources: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Nursing), Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ), university programme pages, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, Statistics Canada Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey 2025/2026. Programmes and fees change; always confirm with the school.
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