Student status may be given to a person of full age who is not considered to be a DEPENDANT (refer to 3.1.8).
A student is a person who attends an educational institution recognized by the ministère de l’Éducation du Québec (MEQ), which delivers a course or a program also recognized by the MEQ. This course or program allows the student to obtain credits or units leading to a diploma. This also applies to the student who takes correspondence courses with an institution dedicated to distance learning.
It is possible to verify this information with the institution or with the MEQ at the following number: (418) 643-7095 or on the Intranet site: //www.meq.gouv.qc.ca
When beneficiaries declare that they are students who have not registered under an Individualized Plan, they must specify the NUMBER OF COURSES taken and the number of college UNITS or university CREDITS granted for those courses.
In most cases what matters is the number of courses and the related credits or units, rather than the manner in which those courses are given.
A normal session comprises at least 13 teaching weeks. Accordingly, when a student is enrolled in 1 course (3 credits or units) given intensively for 3 weekends, the number of teaching hours is spread over the period covered by one regular session, such that beneficiaries do not become ineligible.
AUDITORS do not attend educational institutions, are not enrolled in a program and are not entitled to credits, whereas INDEPENDENT STUDENTS are registered in a program entitling them to credits or units and are regarded as students.
Individuals attending a francization program within a COFI or a program from the MRCI are not regarded as attending an educational institution within the meaning of Article 6 of the Regulations, except when the institution attended offers francization courses as part of a program entitling them to credits or units. The Officer will therefore verify the number of credits gained in order to determine whether students pursue studies pursuant to the provisions of Article 6.
The following persons are INELIGIBLE:
a student attending a VOCATIONAL SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
- FULL TIME, i.e. a student who has 15 hours of courses or more each week
- a student attending a POST-SECONDARY institution, i.e. a college, university and training schools recognized by a law society, a board of notaries or an order of chartered accountants, etc., if he or she is attending
FULL TIME, that is, taking:
- (college) 4 courses or 180 periods;
- (university) 12 credits per session;
OR
- More than 2 courses;
OR
- courses giving MORE THAN 6 CREDITS or UNITS per session;
OR
- 1 course or courses comprising IN ALL MORE THAN 6 PERIODS OR TEACHING HOURS per week, including laboratories and practical directed work. In this situation, the teaching hours or periods may be solely and entirely devoted to laboratories or practical directed work. This is often the case with off-campus practicums;
OR
- is ENROLLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF WRITING A UNIVERSITY THESIS for more than 6 credits per session, regardless of the number of hours devoted.
Individuals who do not meet these conditions in terms of hours of courses, units or credits, do not have the status of student. However, some may nonetheless benefit from financial assistance to students, paid by the Ministère de l’Éducation. They must therefore exercise a remedy. Individuals under this special program are:
Single-parent families: program available to FEMALE and MALE STUDENTS
- Female students who are less than 20 weeks pregnant;
- Male students or female students who reside with their child less than 12 years of age;
- Male or female students who reside with their child less than 21 years of age, if he or she suffers from a major functional deficiency;
Two-parent families: program available to FEMALE STUDENTS only
- Female student who is less than 20 weeks pregnant;
- Female student who resides with his or her child less than 6 years of age;
- Female student who resides with his or her child less than 21 years of age, if he or she suffers from a major functional deficiency;
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Summary table |
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Students attending a vocational secondary educational institution are ineligible if they are enrolled in:
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Students attending a post-secondary educational institution are ineligible if they are enrolled in:
May be eligible for assistance, students entering a secondary-level general education program with an individual development/action plan as part of an income assistance case management process.
Person eligible for the 66/72 benefit A person eligible for the 66/72 benefit may be eligible for financial assistance when he or she is enrolled in general, vocational or post-secondary studies in a secondary school. The studies may be self-directed or may form part of an employment assistance measure or program.
A person who meets one of the following criteria is also eligible:
A person eligible for the 66/72 benefit must avail himself or herself of any loans or grants from the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur to which he or she is entitled, depending on the situation:
Note: A person eligible for the 66/72 benefit who is attending a secondary, vocational or post-secondary educational institution as part of an employment assistance measure or program may be eligible for financial assistance. Although this person is enrolled in a program of study that qualifies him or her for financial assistance for educational expenses, he or she does not have to avail himself or herself of this entitlement. |