Guide for newly admitted students – Graduate programs (except MBA)

Graduate diplomas (D.E.S.S.)

Master's degree (MSc, MM, LLM)

Short graduate programs

Guide for newly admitted students – Graduate programs (except MBA)

Graduate diplomas (D.E.S.S.)

Master's degree (MSc, MM, LLM)

Short graduate programs

Congratulations! You’ve received an offer from us. Follow this guide, step by step. It contains information that will help you, right up to your first week of courses.

Step 1: Respond to the offer of admission

Read your letter of admission carefully.

Accept your admission offer if a task to do so appears in HEC en ligne. You have two weeks from the date you receive your admission letter to respond to the offer.

Step 2: Receive our communications

HEC Montréal email address (hec.ca)

You will receive communications from the school at this address. Make sure you can access your inbox! For more information, visit the Email webpage.

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Step 3: Start immigration procedures

You must start immigration procedures to study at HEC Montréal in the following cases:

  • You live outside Canada;
  • You hold valid immigration documents but are studying at another educational institution;
  • You have worker status in Canada;
  • You are a refugee.

Don’t waste any time; it can be a long process! Use your admission letter.

Step 4: Provide Official Documents

If your admission is conditional, you must provide official documents (with the note “program completed”, “degree received” or equivalent) from your studies, as explained in your admission letter.

  • For university studies completed in Quebec: online, by asking the issuing university for your official transcripts through the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire .
  • For studies completed elsewhere in Canada or in the United States: by asking the issuing school to directly documentsenligne [at] hec.ca (email) us your transcripts or mail them to HEC Montréal.
  • For studies completed abroad: by asking the issuing school to send your official documents directly by documentsenligne [at] hec.ca (email). Otherwise, you can scan the original copies of your official documents yourself and submit them in PDF format via HEC en ligne > Documents > Upload Documents > Submit supporting documents.

These documents must be submitted before the course begins.

For verification purposes, HEC Montréal reserves the right to request the original version of an official document.

Step 5: Confirm your legal status in Canada

Check whether you need to provide documents confirming your legal status in Canada. Your legal status will determine the rate that applies to your situation and, therefore, how much you will pay in tuition fees.

Make sure to provide any required documents in HEC en ligne before the deadline shown on the academic calendar.

Step 6: Enroll in courses

You must enroll in courses in the first term. If you do not,  your file will be closed.

Check the section on the Course Enrollment page to see the number of credits required to be a full-time student.

If you have a study permit, you must be studying full-time for Fall and Winter terms. For more information, contact Zone Info.

Looking to receive credit for courses you've already taken? Find out how to apply for recognition of prior learning and competencies based on your program.

Step 7: Consult your class schedule

Your schedule and your courses will be posted on HEC en ligne before the start of classes.

Step 8: Take part in back-to-school events

Check out the activity calendar for your program (welcome and information sessions, guided tours, workshops, etc.) and sign up.

Step 9: Get your compulsory or recommended supplies

You will find all the books you need at HEC Montréal Coop (French only) and at the library. Take this opportunity to get your student card – you’ll need it, especially to identify yourself during exams.

For some courses, you will also need a laptop computer configured to the School's standards. To purchase a laptop or a calculator, contact the HEC Montréal Coop (French only).

Step 10: Pay your tuition fees

Your invoice will be available on HEC en ligne about two weeks before courses begin. To avoid line-ups and late fees, you can pay your tuition fees online or by telephone through your financial institution. Visit our webpage for more information.

Step 11: Read the HEC Montréal Code of Conduct

We suggest that you read the Code of Conduct (PDF, 102 Ko) for HEC Montréal students, as it gives guidelines on the appropriate behaviour to ensure a quality learning environment.

We suggest that you also read the Academic Rules and Regulations (PDF, 327 KB), which explain the conditions to be met in order to continue in your program:

  • Enrol in the structure for your program in your admission term.
  • Maintain a GPA of at least 2.7/4.3 in your program of studies.
  • Find a professor who will be prepared to supervise you, before you earn 21 credits in the thesis stream or 36 credits in the supervised project stream.
  • Complete the required preparatory courses in the specialization within one year.
  • Complete your program within 4 years.

You will also find all the important policies and regulations on the Documents officiels page (French only) in the Affaires pédagogiques and Affaires étudiantes sections.

Step 12: Get ready for your workload

  • Most HEC Montréal courses are worth 3 credits.
  • A 3-credit course corresponds to 45 classroom hours, including exams, and 90 hours of individual work.
  • In the fall and winter terms, a course generally last 15 weeks, followed by an exam period.
  • In the summer term, a course generally last 7 weeks, followed by an exam period.

To help you properly manage your workload, ask about our study support tools.