~ 1 ~

~ 2 ~

Contributors

Coordinator Student Guide

Raka Katon, Kharinda Zahrah

Cover Design

Kara Katon

English Editor

Muhammad Abdurrahman, Irfani Ausri Mas, Kara Katon

Indonesian Editor

Raka Katon, Kharinda Zahrah

French Editor

Haqeem Sapuan, Rachel Suliono, Chyntia Sari

Photographer

Ihsan Mas

Special Thanks

Anna Victoria Rahardjo, Mela Setijoso

~ 3 ~

Table of Contents

Contributors .................................................................................................................................................. 2

Opening Words ............................................................................................................................................. 4

The City of Montreal ..................................................................................................................................... 5

Why Montreal? ............................................................................................................................................. 7

Geography ..................................................................................................................................................... 9

Language ..................................................................................................................................................... 12

University .................................................................................................................................................... 14

College......................................................................................................................................................... 21

Departure Preparation and Arrival ............................................................................................................. 30

Life Style ...................................................................................................................................................... 40

Part Time Job .............................................................................................................................................. 45

Editors note: PERMIKA Montreal ................................................................................................................ 47

PERMIKA Montreal ..................................................................................................................................... 48

References………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…49

External Links…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………52

~ 4 ~

Opening Words

Coordinator of Student Guide PERMIKA Montreal

PERMIKA Montreal (Persatuan Mahasiswa Indonesia di Kanada, the Montreal branch) is

the Indonesian student-run association in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that began in the 1990s

and has since provided Indonesian students in Montreal a way to connect with other

Indonesian students and people living in Montreal. Permika Montreal is a part of PPI (Persatuan

Pelajar Indonesia) Dunia, the global organization that connects Indonesian students worldwide.

Here in Montreal, the Indonesian patriotic spirit runs through the group and energizes its

members to strive and create a closely-knit group of people.

As this is PERMIKA Montreal’s first student guide, this book offers complete and in-

depth information for students who are interested to live and study in Montreal. The living

experience in Montreal is quite different to many other countries, as such we are thankful for

those who have given their contributions in creating this student guide.

Montreal is a great city to study and to live in; it offers prestigious bilingual English and

French universities. The campuses and many parts of the older city give off the same ambiance

as old European establishments in North of America. Furthermore, this mixture allows an

interesting opportunity to live in a bilingual city while studying in university. The experience of

speaking English and French at the same time is not to be missed! This city also offers many

events and festivals throughout Montreal’s four seasons.

Hopefully, this book could give all readers the exact picture of the living experience in

Montreal. Please enjoy and read this student guide. We would like to welcome all of you in

Montreal, Quebec. Don’t be afraid to contact us should you have any more questions. Thank

You!

Raka Katon

Student Guide Coordinator

President of PERMIKA Montreal

~ 5 ~

The City of Montreal

Montreal, of which the francophone call la belle ville, was only deemed to be an

official city in 1832. It was the capital of the United Province of Canada from the year 1844-

1849. The city’s growth, highly encouraged by the opening of the Lachine Canal, continued

until mid 1800s at which Montreal was the largest city in British North America. Montreal

became a mostly Francophone city between the 1883 and 1918 due to the annexation of

neighboring towns; and an alcohol paradise for Americans from the 1920s through the

1930s during the prohibition movement in the United States. Although the city is the

capital and center of government activity of the province of Quebec, it also functions as a

key administrative function in New France. While most government positions were

appointed in Quebec, Montreal and the other districts did have some brief elements of

democracy.

In the early 1950s, a new metro system was constructed, Montreal’s harbor was

expanded and the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened to accommodate the sharp increase of

Montreal’s population that was said to have surpassed one million people. Following this,

the infrastructure was improved, new skyscrapers and museums were built; the city then

gained international status through Expo 67, a general exhibition of the Category One

World’s Fair, and the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Albeit the fact that Montreal was only recognized as a city in 1832, the area was

inhabited as far as 8000 years ago by the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, while the oldest artifact

found of the city is about 4000 years old. After having adopted the cultivation of maize and

the lifestyle of subsistence farming, as well as fishing along the St. Lawrence River and

hunting in the woods, the nomadic Iroquoians were able to support a full diet and by the

14th century, had built fortified villages similar to those described by Cartier when he later

visited Montreal during the Age of Exploration.

Seventy years after Cartier’s visit, explorer Samule de Champlain went to the village

of Hochelaga on the island of Montreal but discovered that the island was no longer

inhabited and that the villages were destroyed. Many theories were proposed by

~ 6 ~

archeologists but based on increasing understanding of the political dynamics of the

indigenous tribes of Montreal and the French, the St. Lawrence Iroquoians were concluded

to have been destroyed by the Mohawk of the Iroquois who wanted to dominate the

politics of hunting and trading in the valley below Tadoussac, a village in Quebec, Canada,

which also serves as the meeting point between the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers.

The Mohawk, which established their base in what is now present-day New York,

were able to defend what had become their hunting grounds when Champlain decided to

establish a fur trading post at Place Royal on the Island of Montreal; and it was not until

1639 that the French created a permanent settlement. French colonists created a mission

named Ville Marie on May 17, 1642 as part of a project to create a colony dedicated to the

Virgin Mary; this colony, which was established under the authority of the Roman Catholic

Société Notre-Dame de Montréal, was governed by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve.

Although by 1651 Ville Marie had been reduced to less than 50 inhabitants through

repeated attacks by the Mohawks, it became a center for the fur trade.

The population of the Island of Montreal during the French rule consisted of both

natives and French; when the first census was directed, the French population was 659 and

the native population was 1000. Immigration to Montreal increased thereafter and 200

people arrived in the island between the year 1653 and 1659; eventually about 1200 to

1500 immigrants settled on the island coming from different regions of France as well as

difference social classes. Another significant group of immigrants were soldiers who came

in the early part of the colony’s history. During the 17th century, there was a very extreme

shift in the demographics of Montreal as 56% of the population was newcomers to

Montreal, and the male population mostly dominates the city, and this percentage of

population was maintained until 1710 despite the growth in infant mortality rates.

It is now clear that Montreal, a city that is famous as a melting pot for different

cultural backgrounds, was founded on a history of diversity. Through this, we come to

understand how this city was built, and how it transformed into the city that we now know,

our beautiful Montreal.

~ 7 ~

Why Montreal?

1. Wide Range of Cultural Diversity

Bonjour! Welcome to Montreal, Canada’s renowned cultural capital where you can

experience a great range of diversity by being you. Once you arrive in Montreal, you will get

the chance to experience high quality of life while being able to submerge yourselves in

Quebec’s European root. As you hear the beautiful French language spoken around you,

your eyes will be pleased by the vintage architecture of the old Montreal, and your taste

buds will be surprised at the wide variety of foods available at the many high quality

restaurants around the city. Although French is the official language of Quebec, you don’t

need to feel anxious if you are not a francophone since you will easily spot many English

speaking Montreal-ers. Moreover, Montreal welcomes many immigrants from all over the

world. So, nobody is a stranger in this city. Everybody brings his or her own uniqueness to

contribute in making Montreal as the multi-cultural capital of Canada.

2. Educational Support

Canada’s economy in general gives a good potential for future employment;

however Montreal, specifically, is ranked as the 10th best city for university student by QS

magazine. With the unlimited resource that the city has, the development of technology

allows students to have more access to study in different fields, which is definitely

accessible for the Anglophones. Numerous and varied research topics are studied with high

interest by universities throughout the city, and they cover fields from medical sciences to

engineering. Yet, the faculty of art, which includes the topics: humanities, social sciences,

languages and law, are also well developed. So you don’t have to limit yourselves based on

the knowledge accessibility. Furthermore, one of Montreal’s English universities, McGill, is

ranked as the 17th best university in the world by QS magazine in 2010, which makes it the

number one university in Canada.

~ 8 ~

3. Be Creative

As studying might get a little frustrating, Montreal is the best city for you to unleash

your artistic creativity. Many festivals, such as music, fashion and art, will await you during

your summer holiday. Indeed there are many Montreal’s artists that take a step on the

world stage, namely Feist, Arcade Fire and Celine Dion. As the university’s local bands are

well known for its art rock genre, many of them have also toured worldwide

independently. This achievement would not be reached without the beautiful natural

scenery surrounds. If you are not into art, there are many activity that you can do in St.

Lawrence River or in the hills around Montreal. During winter, you will find outdoor

hockey arena in every corner of this city including your university front yard. So no matter

what interests you, no matter what your talents are, no matter who you want to be, you will

find a place to develop it here in Montreal.

~ 9 ~

Geography

The fleur-de-lise the Flag of Quebec

Quebec is one of the French speaking provinces in Canada, and is the biggest

province in Canada. Located in the Eastern coast of Canada, it covers an area of 1,667,441

km2. Quebec spreads from the Nord-du-Quebec region to its southernmost region:

Monteregie, and the southern portion is split in half by the Saint Lawrence River. The river

itself is 1197 kilometers long and has a depth of up to 400 meters. The river’s water can be

categorized into three types: salt water, brackish water and fresh water, which connects

the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. As such, the North Atlantic Ocean contributes the

salt water, the Great lakes contribute the fresh water and the brackish (a mixture of salt

and freshwater) water is found in the areas between the two bodies of water.

Quebec is home to a variety of landscapes. From the cold tundra of the North, the

coniferous forests of the taigas in the central areas, to the boreal and lowland forests of the

south, Quebec offers a wide variety of places to explore. In the center of Quebec lies its

capital city, the aptly named Quebec City.

It is the oldest city in Canada with the population of 500,000 people. Founded in

1608 by Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer who found and mapped out the area now

known as Quebec. These maps eventually helped in finding the island which became the

city of Montreal. Nowadays, Montreal is the most metropolitan city and the crowdest city in

~ 10 ~

Quebec. In comparison, Montreal’s population has reached up to 1.6 million in 2011 and its

highest elevation is 233 meter.

The province of Quebec is located in the north of the equator. Thus, Quebec has 4

seasons which are: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Since Montreal’s weather is considered

extreme, every season has its own beauty and uniqueness. The seasons in Montreal are

very different to Indonesia’s tropical seasons: the dry and wet seasons. Usually, winter lasts

from December to April, and is characterized by almost daily snowfalls and short days. As

such, the temperatures in this season can fall up to -40°C. However even at these

temperatures and short days, we can still do many outdoor activities such as hockey, ice

skating or ice fishing which are some of the more popular winter past times. Afterwards,

spring is the transition period from winter to summer that goes from May to June. In this

season, the snow melts. So the leaves and flowers begin to grow from their respective

plants and the province becomes green again. The temperature steadily increases until

summer comes. During this period, people start to do more outdoor activities such as water

sports and picnic.

Summer is the hottest season of the year with temperatures reaching up to 40°C.

Furthermore, the days are very long which is ended by the sunsets that can get as late as 9

PM. This season, however, has the highest frequency of events and festivals that can help to

pass the time during this season. If none of these events are interesting, there are many

outdoor and indoor activities offered in summer months such as woodland trekking,

paddle boating and nature watching in Mont Royal Park. The transition season from

summer to winter is called fall. This season is characterized by the strong winds blowing

across the whole Quebec province which aid the preparation done by the flora and fauna of

Canada to face winter. In this season the leaves turn into different hues of yellow and

orange, and eventually fall off the trees just before winter. On the other hand, the

hibernating animals are at their largest. Both of these phenomenon happen in preparation

for the oncoming winter season. During summer and winter, the temperatures can get very

extreme. Hence many people say if you can live in Quebec, you can live anywhere else in

this world!

~ 11 ~

Map of the province of Quebec

The key to the Map to the left:

1. Bas – saint – Laurent

2. Saguenay-lac-saint-jean

3. Capital-nationale

4. Mauricie

5. Estrie

6. Montreal

7. Outouais

8. Abitibi-temiscamingue

9. Cote-nord

10. Nord-du-quebec

11. Gaspesie-iles-de-la-

madeleine

12. Chaudiere-appalaches

13. Laval

14. Lanaudiere

15. Laurentides

16. Monteregie

17. Centre-du-quebec

~ 12 ~

Language

In Quebec, there are two primary languages that are spoken: French and English.

While for the rest of Canada, English is the primary language. For Quebecois, the

prevalence of either French or English depends on the region. Within the city of Montreal,

English is more common, however, French is very dominant in the outer areas of the

province. According to a 2011 census, the population’s native languages are: 78.1% French,

7.7% English and, the remainders are foreign languages such as Arabic, Spanish, Italian, etc.

It is preferable to take beginner French and/or English classes before coming to

Montreal in order to get accustomed with the language. However you can also learn the

language in Montreal by taking classes from reputable schools or tutors; many universities

offers beginner’s French courses during summer and normal times of the year. As a

student, you can acquire bursaries that encourage French language education. The financial

and bursary office of your education institution should be able to refer you to the

appropriate bursaries.

The majority of services in Quebec are bilingual. According to Quebec law, the

required spoken language in businesses is French. Therefore, in order to work at most jobs,

especially in the service sector, you have to be fluent in both languages.

Easy Expressions

English Indonesian French

How are you? Apa kabar? Comment ça va?

How much is it? Berapa? Ça coûtecombien?

Are you free tonight? Apakah kamu ada waktu luang malam ini?

Est-ce que tu es libre ce soir?

What time? Jam berapa? À quelle heure?

What is your name? Nama anda siapa? C’est quoi ton nom?

My name is… Nama saya… Mon nom est…

Call me. Jangan lupa untuk menelefon saya.

Appelle-moi

What is your number? Berapa nomor telefon anda? Qu’est-ce que c’est ton numéro?

Call the police! Panggil polisi! Appelle la police!

Help me!!! Tolong! Tolong! Aide-moi!!!

Can it be cheaper? Apakah bisa lebih murah? Est-ce-que ça pourrait être moins

~ 13 ~

cher?

What time is it? Sekarang jam berapa? C’est quoi l’heure

Stop!!! Stop!!!/ Berhenti!!! Arrète!!!

Where is the bank? Dimana letak bank? Oùest la banque?

Start the car!!! Ayo jalan! Démarre la voiture!!!

Yes. Iya. Oui.

No. Tidak. No.

~ 14 ~

University

1. McGill University

A. History

Established in 1821 by the Scottish merchant James McGill, McGill University now

holds the prestigious title of Canada’s number one university for the eighth consecutive

year according to Macleans ranking and it is also ranked in the top twenty in the world

according to the QS university world ranking. It is a world-renowned research university

and boasts around 25000 undergraduates and 8000 graduates students, with one fifth

representing the international students community. Being the first university founded in

Canada, it helped to create multiple universities across Canada, including the University of

British Columbia and University of Victoria. Also amongst its numerous alumni, there are

twelve Nobel Laureates, three astronauts, two Canadian prime ministers and nine Academy

Awards winners.

The university boasts two different campuses across the Montreal. The main

campus is located in the heart of the city at the foot of Mount Royal and this is where

Burnside Hall, the university’s first building, was built. In the midst of downtown Montreal,

the campus offers a unique sight with its large grass fields, greenery and various buildings,

both modern and antique. While most of the faculties are hosted in the main campus, the

second campus located in the outskirts of the city, houses the Faculty of Agriculture and

Environmental science, the School of Dietetics and Nutrition and the School of

Environment.This campus has the facilities needed to do research done by the faculty of

agriculture ranging from soil research to animal husbandry research. It is also houses the

nearby Morgan Arboretum a forested reserves which, as well as a park visited by the locals

used to train the students studying wildlife biology and its related subjects.Inaugurated in

1905, the campus is significantly younger than the main campus but it covers an area of

650 hectares, making it the largest agricultural college in Canada.

~ 15 ~

B. Curriculum

There are in total eleven faculties and eleven schools at McGill University. The

faculties range from the Arts to Engineering to Law and Medicine. Across this diverse array

of faculties and schools, there are approximately 340 academic programs offered for

undergraduates and around 250 programs for doctoral and master’s graduate degree

program. Despite its large student body, McGill retains a low student to faculty ratio of

about 16:1 with 1600 tenure track professors and an additional 4300 adjunct and visiting

professors.

Being an English university in a French–speaking province puts McGill in a unique

position where it allows bilingualism in its curriculum. Students are allowed to submit

written and graded work in either English or French, except when it involves a language

course. This gives the student an opportunity to do their work in the language they feel

most comfortable in.

Most of the undergraduate programs last for the typical four years, although there

are exceptions in this case. Students coming in from CEGEP, the Québécois pre-university

college, enter university at the second year level. Students coming in from normal high

school may also get additional credits up to one-year worth according to their high school

curriculum. The length of time also depends on the respective programs in which the

student is enrolled in; for example, engineering can last up to five years. Master’s program

normally lasts for two years and PhD lasts four years minimum, the length of time also

depend on the programs themselves.

C. Student Accommodations

For such a large student body, McGill offers a relatively few on-campus housing

options. It houses approximately 2700 freshman undergraduates per year. Every student

is guaranteed on campus housing for their first year at McGill but for the remaining length

of their studies, students are expected to look for off campus accommodation by

themselves, although some do return to the residences (colloquially known as ‘rez’) as floor

~ 16 ~

fellows. The oldest residences are the Upper residences, which are located up close to

Mount Royal and are composed of the McConnell Hall, Molson Hall, Gardner Hall and

Douglas Hall. Royal Victoria College, the university’s first all-female dormitories, is the

second largest residence and is now a co-ed dormitory. Other residences include University

Hall, Solin Hall, Sherbrooke Carrefour and New Residence, which was converted from a

four-star hotel.

At the end of their first academic year and before summer begins, student go on an

apartment hunt across the city. This is usually seen as a rite of passage and most students

settle for the area on the left of the main campus, now affectionately called the McGill

Ghetto. However, in recent years, some students also choose other areas in the city due to

the rising rent prices.

D. Student Facilities

For student facilities, both the university and the city offer the complete package. On

campus, there are various cafeterias spread around the buildings, and even more

restaurants are available within walking distance in the downtown area. Students clubs

and unions play a big role in the student life a McGill. Each program and faculty has its own

student union in addition to the university’s Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU),

which is the largest student body union in the university. For club activities, there are

hundreds of options to choose from, from cultural groups such as MASSA (McGill Malaysian

Singaporean Student Association) to charity-based associations such as UNICEF McGill to

sports club such as the SSMU Ski and Snowboard Club. There are plenty of choices for the

students and it goes without saying all of them are student-run. For sports facilities, the

McGill Sports complex hosts a vast array of facilities for many different sports activities,

including football, basketball, squash, swimming and gym. Students can purchase a gym

pass for the semester in order to access these facilities. With all of these overwhelming

choices, students are sure to find their interest and be fully engaged inextracurricular as

well as in academic.

~ 17 ~

E. Library

McGill proudly hosts twelve libraries in its main downtown campus. The libraries

are grouped according to their subjects, for example the Redpath library is conserved for

social sciences and humanities while Schulich library is for science and engineering. At the

beginning of each semester, there are library tours available and this can offer a lot of

insight into the way McGill libraries are run. In addition to the 6 million items held in the

library, the McGill librarians are the go-to people for anything library related. Each

department has their own librarian and they can be easily contacted for appointments in

case of emergency needs. The library website also offer access to large databases for all

students in all subjects. These libraries are also centers of activities during the time before

and during exams, due to the proximity of the printing facilities in the library, the quiet

atmosphere and the range of resources available to borrow from the library.

F. Tuition Fees

At McGill University, the tuition fees can differ from one student to another. It also

differs from one program to another. Generally, Quebecois students pay the lowest fee,

amounting to around $3000 per year while Canadian students (outside Quebec) pay

around $7000 per year. On the other hand, International students pay the highest fee of

around $30 000 per year. Applicants with outstanding academic achievement may be

eligible for the $3000 entrance scholarships for their first year. Tuition fees for Master’s

students and PhD students are quite different. Some Master’s and PhD program offer a

stipend to the candidate depending on the program they enrolled in.

G. How to Apply and Fees

Speaking from personal experience, applying to McGill is stress-free and very easy.

All applications are done online. The standards for application differ from each high

school/ college curriculum and it also differs for each program and faculty. It would be

advisable to check the standards before deciding which program is correct for each

prospective student. During the application, each student is asked to choose two options

for two different programs according to their own priority. This will be taken into account

when the application s reviewed. If the student is not accepted in their first choice, it is still

~ 18 ~

possible that the university will offer a place in the second choice to the student. The

general requirements include a proof of English proficiency such as TOEFL or IELTS for

students whose mother tongue is not English and who did not complete their secondary

education in English. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded online and once the student is

accepted, arrangements must be made by the student to send their official transcripts from

their respective high schools. The last step in the application is the payment. The

application fee is CAD$100 and this must be paid using a valid credit card. Applicants will

also be given an ID number to check the status of their application online. Each program

may have a specific application deadline therefore each applicant must consult the

program individually. For the Fall admission, admission letters should be given around

March- April of the same year.

2. Concordia University

A. History

Concordia University, the second university in Quebec with English as its instruction

language, was founded in 1974 after the merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams

University. Its name is derived from Montreal’s motto, which is Concordia Salus (meaning

‘well being through harmony’). In Canada, Concordia is ranked 13th and internationally it is

ranked 501-550th overall by QS World University Rankings. The faculty of Business, also

known as, John Molson School of Business is ranked top ten in Canada and top 100

worldwide. The university is constantly expanding its premises to accommodate the

students with better and more modern facilities. In the academic year of 2011-2012,

Concordia University reported that there are 45 000 students enrolled in the university.

Like McGill, Concordia also boasts two different campuses, one in downtown Montreal and

the other at the west end of the city. The downtown campus, also called Quartier Concordia,

has numerous Concordia buildings surrounding the original Sir William George building

and it is currently being expanded and refurbished to accommodate student life more. The

second campus is the Loyola campus and it is approximately 7km apart from the

downtown campus to the West.

B. Curriculum

~ 19 ~

Currently, Concordia has four faculties, a school of graduate studies, and numerous

colleges and institutes. In total, it offers more than 300 undergraduate and 100 graduate

programs. The four faculties include Faculty of Arts and Science, Faculty of Engineering and

Computer Science, Faculty of Fine Arts and John Molson School of Business. Concordia

offers a wide range of programs from social sciences to Industrial engineering to

accounting.

Typically, undergraduate programs take three or four years, depending on the

program, while Master’s programs last from two to three years and PhD programs are at

least four years long. Concordia implements a program called co-operative program which

renders its curriculum particularly unique. It is a program that allows students to gain real

work experience while completing their degree at Concordia. The co-op program started in

1980 at Concordia and now, it is available in 30 undergraduate and 5 graduate programs

with over 1000 students participating in the program. This program offers students the

opportunity to bridge the gap between the academic and real life experience and be more

prepared for the professional life.

C. Student Accommodations

Like most universities, the two options available for students’ accommodation are

residences and off-campus student housing. Concordia has three residences: Hingston Hall

and Jesuit Residence at the Loyola Campus and Grey Nuns Residence at the Sir George

Williams Campus. The prices depend on the residence in which the student is admitted. For

off-campus housing, students have to look for their own accommodation, and occupy the

popular the Mile-end area and the Plateau area.

D. Student Facilities

The CSU, Concordia Student Union, is the main student union for the university. In

addition to CSU, each department and program has their own student union. Concordia also

hosts many student-run clubs in which other students can participate. The Concordia gym,

called Le Gym, has 10 000 square feet of training space with 75 cardio machines and 75

strength stations. In addition, there are sports classes such as dance and aerobics in which

student can enrol in.

~ 20 ~

E. Library

The university hosts two libraries, one on each campus. The Webster library is

located in Quarter Concordia and has around 1.9 million printed and electronic books. The

other library is the Vanier library, located inthe Loyola Campus. In each library, there are

librarians who are trained in their respective fields and can offer invaluable insights to the

students during their study.

F. Tuition Fees

The tuition fees vary with the program the student takes but in general, a Quebec

resident pays around $3600 per year while a non-Quebec Canadian resident pays $6000

and international students pay around $20000 per years. Should a student require financial

help, there are scholarships and student aid available for the students.

G. How to Apply and Fees

Once the student decided to apply to Concordia and know their program of interest,

the student can fill out the application online. But before that the student should check the

admission requirements; for instance International Students will need to provide a proof of

English proficiency. When the prospective student fills out their application forms online,

they will need to create a Concordia university account to allow easy access of tracking the

application’s status. For the application, the student will have to pay a $70 non-refundable

fee. If the application is successful, the student will be emailed and a letter of acceptance

will be sent in due time.

3. French Universities

With its historic French background, Montreal also has two universities where

French is the language of instruction: UDEM and UQAM. Université de Montreal (UDEM) is

a public research university with 650 undergraduate and 71 doctoral programs offered in

French. Université du Quebec à Montréal or UQAM is a public university founded in 1969

and currently has a student body of more than 41 000 students. There are six faculties,

from Arts to Science to Law, and it offers undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral degrees

~ 21 ~

College

1. John Abbott College

John Abbott College is one of four English language CEGEPs in Quebec, named after

Sir John Abbott, Canada’s third prime minister. The college was founded after John Abbot’s

founders bought a large plot of land from McGill University for the price of $1 CAD, for

which it shares the land with the MacDonald Campus of McGill, in 1970. By September

1971, it had roughly 1200 young students. Since then its population and programs

expanded, and it becomes a top rated CEGEP in Quebec. Situated on the western tip of the

island of Montreal, its location is conducive to the stimulation of a study environment.

A. Study Opportunities

The college offers two types of programs: two year pre-university programs that

leads to university, and three year career/professional programs intended train graduates

in the vocational skills needed for the desired profession. There are currently eight pre-

university programs (2 years), eleven career programs (3 years), and two honors pre-

university programs. For students who lack the requirements or grades to enter the

program of their choice, the college offers one to two semesters of transitional programs.

Furthermore, the college also offers continuing education for adults as night classes. Please

refer to the external link page for the link for list of available programs.

Currently the college population is over 7700 students where 84% of the students

are between the ages of 17 and 20 years old. Although 65% of the students are English

speaking students, 19% of the student body speaks French as their first language and 16%

have a first language other than English.

In terms of facilities, the college is divided into seven main buildings: The Britain

Hall building houses, the continuing education center of the college, The Casgrain Centre

houses, the sports complex, theatre and art studios of the college. The Center also has the

Munch Box, which is a small on campus cafeteria that offers fast food menu items, and

Starbucks coffee. Furthermore it has a large student lounge, Agora, for indoor events,

~ 22 ~

performances, movies and more. The Herzberg building is the central building for

classrooms and labs for a variety of subjects in Science and Nursing. It has various student

services such as library, coffeehouse, clubs and offices. Similar to the Herzberg building, the

Hochelaga building also contains classrooms, which are used for Social Sciences and career

programs. The Penfield building houses’ classrooms are for arts and languages programs

as well as professional programs. There is also a new building, known as the Edward

building for Science and Health Technologies departments. Finally, there is the Stewart Hall

building that is used for classrooms, bookstore, cafeteria and offices.

The college offers many extracurricular activities such as its own radio station,

CSKY, and the student newspaper, Bandersnatch. There is also the student union, SUJAC,

which promotes and defends students’ rights and interests. Not to forget, the college’s

sport’s teams are known as the Islanders. Please refer to the external link page for more

student activities.

B. Admission

The college accepts applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements as

defined by the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sports, and who have a reasonable

chance of succeeding in the program they apply to. However, fulfillment of minimum

requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Applicants can participate in the three round application process, which mean she

or he has three chances for their files to be evaluated. The first round deadline for the Fall

term is March 1st , while the second and third round happens in mid-April and mid-May

respectively. For the winter term, the deadline is November 1st. Notice that not every

program starts during the winter term. If a student is admitted, then the process ends and

an acceptance letter from the College will be sent. However if a student is refused, they

have two more chances to be evaluated for admission. Despite the multiple chances, it sis

important to note that space becomes very limited by the 3rd round.

To apply for the college, students have to apply through SRAM, which is a program

that helps to divide the applicants by their choice of program. SRAM is only available online

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and will ensure all documents are received on time, open a file for the students, issue ID

numbers and calculate overall average; it doesn’t evaluate the student’s file.

C. Fees

Full time students who are taking four courses per semester and are enrolled in

D.E.C or A.E.C do not pay tuition fees but they do pay other associated costs. On the other

hand part time students, international students and non-Quebec residents pay tuition fees.

Please refer to the external link page for a list of the fees.

2. Vanier College

Vanier College was founded in 1970 as the second English language college after

Dawson College and is located in the borough of Saint Laurent. The college was named after

Georges Vanier, who was a native-born Governor General. It welcomed roughly 1400

students when the college first opened its doors and it occupies property and buildings

purchased by the government from the Soeurs de Sainte-Croix. The college area used to be

a convent and a private women’s college and was considerably renovated over the years to

accommodate the changing needs of post secondary education.

A. About

The college offers over 25 programs in both year of pre-university and the three-

year of technical fields. With currently over 6000 students, it is the third largest English

language college in Quebec. Just like John Abbott College, pre-university programs cover

subjects that will prepare graduating students for university. Meanwhile, the technical

programs are for students who want to immediately enter the work field. Similar to John

Abbott College, the college also offers Continuing Education programs throughout the year.

. Please refer to the external link page for the link for list of available programs.

Known for its diverse student body with students from all cultural background and

continent, Vanier’s population is currently over 6700 full time students with an additional

of 2000 students attending the Continuing Education Department. Also not to mention, it

has a growing International Education sector. The academic life of the College is also

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improved through the huge amount of student services, resource centers, and social and

cultural activities.

The Athletics Department is consisted of competitive teams in ten collegiate sports.

Well known as the Cheetas, the athletic departments have produced a number of

professional athletes. They have won both National and Provincial Championships,

particularly the Men’s AAA Basketball team who captured their second National

Championship, and the Men’s AAA Football team who won their ninth Bol d’Or Provincial

Championship.

If the student is interested in attending Vanier college, Vanier provides a college

visit. You may do this by becoming a student for a day (options includes general student,

science student, commerce student or communication student) or attending the open

house in November.

B. Admission

The admission process works almost similar to John Abbott College, in that future

students must use the online SRAM to apply. For the application, there is a $30 non-

refundable fee. Just like John Abbott College, there are three rounds for the Fall and two

rounds for the Winter. Some programs may have extra requirements to fulfill such as

writing a letter of intent, audition, interview or a proof test of English proficiency. To see

the program specific requirements and more FAQ, please refer to the external link page.

C. Fees

Fees are paid in the start of each semester (Autumn and Winter) (refer to the links

for the breakdown of the fees). Newly accepted students who do not confirm their

attendance by paying their semester fees by the date indicated in the offer of admission will

risk losing their place in the College. On the other hand, the returning and current students

who do not pay the semester fees by the deadline will not be allowed to register in their

courses and will not be placed in any pre-registered courses. Furthermore, current and

returning students who fail to pay current course fees will have their courses deleted.

Additionally, if they fail to pay outstanding fees and fines then they will not be permitted to

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register or have access to their Omnivox account. A late payment fee of $50 is applied to

unpaid fees and a fine of $20 will be charged to any NFS checks. For further information on

payment procedures and fees, please refer to the external link page.

3. Dawson College

Dawson College is located in the heart of downtown Montreal in a historical building

and is named after Sir William Dawson, who was the McGill University principal from 1855

to 1893. His leadership helped McGill to build a solid foundation in academia and in

material acquisition, thus establish McGill as one of the great learning institutions in North

America.

A. About

The College’s current population is approximately 10,000 students, with day and

evening students enrolled in more than 50 programs. Just like Vanier and John Abbott, they

offer programs that are pre-university programs (2 years) and careers programs (3 years).

The diversity of languages and culture represented at Dawson among the students, faculty

and staff reflects the multiethnic character of Montreal itself. This diversity subsequently

enriches the lives of all the students and their college experience.

Dawson was the first English language institution in Quebec when it opened its door

to the 1,200 students in the fall of 1969. In 1988, all of the school’s operations are moved

under one roof, the former Mother House of the Congregation de Notre-Dame. Extensive

renovations transformed the century old building into one of the most attractive colleges in

the country, which occupies an entire city block. Furthermore, the college is linked to the

underground metro network via the Atwater station.

The school sits on 12 acres of green space and during bouts of beautiful weather,

students frolic the grounds to play Frisbee or read under a tree. Its size and development

offer students a wide range of programs and courses, and facilities such as an exquisite

library and gyms. Thousands have graduated over the last 37 years and continue onto

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become successful individuals. Dawson has many programs available, which you can find

by referring to the external link page.

In addition to its exceptional academic qualities, their extracurricular is no different.

There are various clubs, student government, athletics and recreation, and events that

students can participate in. Additionally, there are also studio productions produced by

students in second year of Theatre Program and major productions produced by the third

years that are performed every year. Students can also participate in Montreal’s St.

Patrick’s Day on the moving float along with energetic cheerleaders. The Blues’ sports team

also competes nationally for sports such as basketball, golf, cross country running and

soccer.

If you are planning to attend Dawson College, future students are allowed to visit

the school to experience its campus and facilities. To do so, there are many options such as

the open house, which happens on the third or fourth Sunday of October every year and

college tours, which happens through November and early December. Furthermore, in

Winter Dawson holds a special evening for graduating high school students before the

March 1st application deadline. Finally, there are also public events at Dawson such as

sports events or plays where the general public is invited.

B. Admission

In terms of application Dawson uses Common Application System, which can be

done online or by paper. You can apply online or by paper, for paper application, you must

request it either by person, telephone, email or download. For foreign students, please

refer to the external link page. Similar to Vanier College, the application fee is $30 while for

foreign students the application fee is $50. Additionally, if the student’s intended program

requires aptitude tests, they can take it with a fee of $45.

C. Fees

For all returning day students, the regular student fees are $140 for Fall 2013,which

needs to be paid full before its specified deadline. If the fee is not paid in full, the student

won’t be able to register for Fall 2013.For all new day students, the regular fees are also the

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same as the returning day students but they must pay it in a different period. Similarly,

they can’t register for Fall 2013 if the fees are not paid in full. Furthermore, there are also

additional student fees (nonresident of Quebec, convocation, part time program fees, etc…)

that will be assessed by August 20 and due September 9 2013. For more details on fees

please refer to the external link page.

4. Marianopolis College

Recognized as one of Quebec’s top pre-university colleges, Marianopolis boasts a

diverse student body compromised of 2,000 students from over 175 public and private

high schools. It is one of the smallest Anglophone colleges and it’s located between

Vendome and Villa Maria train stations in Westmount Ave. The school was founded in 1908

by The Congregation of Sisters, as the first institution for higher learning for English-

speaking Catholic women in Quebec. In 1969, male students are began to be accepted and

currently the College accepts students with all faiths even though it remains under the

supports of Congregation of Notre-Dame.

A. About

The college also offers two different types of programs: pre-university programs,

which take 2 years, and double DEC programs, which take 3 years. Double DEC programs

allow students to combine music with Science, Social Science or Arts. It offers 10 different

pre-university programs where it touches on many disciplines yet small enough to give

students the focus they need to achieve in the chosen discipline personal attention that

they need. Please refer to the external link page for further information of their programs!

The college provides a welcoming and intimate learning environment. It prepares

students for world’s top universities. Their dedicated faculty goes above and beyond to

make these students succeed and they make an effort to get to know their students and vice

versa. The college highly emphasizes teamwork, physical well being and fair play for all

their students. The college‘s sports teams known as the Demons, compete in basketball,

rugby, soccer, volleyball, badminton and gold. Students may choose any of those activity in

Activity Period, which is a twice a week universal break where students may choose to

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participate in any intramural sports. Furthermore during spring, students can participate

in the annual McGill University Intramural Festival, where the college gets into a friendly

competition against other CEGEPs.

There are also enriching artistic activities such as the Arts fest where students can

enjoy a week long celebration of arts every April. It gives students of any area of study the

chance to showcase their literary, video works, musical talents, art and more. There is also

arts trip where any student can experience arts related activities for three days. During

this time, the students will visit great art museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts and a

multitude of cultural and sightseeing options. Another activity is the lab apprenticeship

project where students gain hands-on experience in research laboratories at local

universities and research institutes. Finally, there are the math and science competitions

and science fair for those who love curricular competitions.

For future students, the college provides a student-for-a-day program where

students can meet admission representatives, have lunch with the other students and see

the college in action. The program is available in the fall, which includes a general tour

where they can sit in different classes and a music tour where they can sit in for music

related classes.

B. Admission

Unlike the other colleges, Marianopolis applicants must go through their website to

apply. There are only there rounds for this College and the first deadline is March 1st and

the second round starts on May 15th(if there are still available spots). Just like the other

colleges, there may be specific requirements for some programs and the college may test

the student’s proficiency of English and French. For further details of the application

process please refer to the external link page.

C. Fees

As a private institution, the College charges tuition and receives partial funding from

the government. Unlike the other colleges, the tuition for one academic year of full time

studies total over $6000 and is paid online through major banks. Out of province students

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will pay an additional $2638 per year and international students will pay an additional

$6112 per year. For more information on the fees breakdown and financial support, please

refer to the external page link!

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Departure Preparation and Arrival

I. Getting Ready for Montreal

It’s finally that time, the time to get ready to go to Montreal! Now there are a few

things you have to keep in mind to ensure a smooth transition to living in Montreal.

1. Documents

First things first, as Indonesians we have to apply for visa to go to almost every

country in this world. As students, we will have to obtain a student permit to study in

Montreal. The general procedure is pretty similar as the rest of Canada with a slight

difference in that you will have to also apply for a CAQ, an additional document needed for

applying to the Quebec province.

2. CAQ

First before applying for your Study Permit through the embassy, you will have to

apply for the CAQ. The CAQ application process is an online application that can be paid

using any major credit card. The fee of the application process is CAD $107 which is

roughly Rp. 1,009,000. There is also the paper option where you send the document

through mail, however you will have to send the supporting documents through mail as

well. The CAQ application will not be completed until the payment is completed and the

supporting documents are received. Therefore, to hasten the application time you may

need to send it through UPS or FedEx.

Additional Notes:

In some cases, you may be exempted from applying, please check the link to see if

you are exempted from the CAQ (please refer to the links section).

If you’re an unaccompanied minor (under 18 years old), you will need to have a

legal guardian (Canadian citizen or Quebec resident) in Quebec.

When filling out your application forms have these ready:

a. passport

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b. valid credit card

c. printer to print the receipt

d. documents that need to be mailed

N.B. These documents are essential to both the online and paper applications

Listed below are the documents that needs to be sent (for students residing in

most countries):

a. passport formatted recent ID photo

b. photocopies of your passport containing your personal information

c. letter of admission for educational institution

d. proof of payment (printed out) (if using paper version than online)

e. proof of financial capacity (types explained later in the study permit section)

For students residing in France, Monaco, Austria & Hong Kong (please refer to the links

section)

For students residing in the US, Greenland, and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (please refer to

the links section).

For minors there are additional documents needed, (please refer to the links section)

Note: all documents must be in English or French

Address to be sent to:

Service aux étudiantsétrangers

Ministère de l’Immigrationet des Communautés culturelles

285, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, 4e étage

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Montréal (Québec) H2Y 1T8

CANADA

It will take around 20 days for the application to be processed after receiving

payment and documents. When your application is approved, a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance

Certificate) will be sent to you, which you will include in your Study Permit application

required documents.

Sometimes the government will inform that you need to take medical examination if

you’re a resident of certain countries. For more information please look at the links section.

3. Study Permit

Now that you’ve received your CAQ, it’s time to apply for you Study Permit! This

time, the application has to be given directly to the Canadian embassy Visa Application

Center at your respective countries.

Here is the list of documents that you will need to provide along with your application:

a. Letter of proof of acceptance

b. Proof of identity

c. Proof of financial support

d. Letter of explanation

e. Medical Information

Let’s walk through each required documents.

A. Proof of acceptance:

This is a letter from the educational institution that you have been accepted into.

B. Proof of identity:

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This entails your valid passport (and if applicable, an accompanying famiy

member’s) and two recent passport sized photos. There’s a specific specification for the

passport sized photos, please refer to the links section.

C. Proof of Financial Support:

This document will show that you have the financial ability to fund your university

carrer in Canada. From estimations, the minimum amount of cost of living is $1100 /per

year in addition to your school’s tuition. Such documents may be:

a. The last 4 months of your bank statement

b. Proof of payment of tuition and accommodation for the whole duration of your

study in Canada

c. Proof of loans from financial institutions

d. Letter from whoever’s providing money

e. Proof of funding from Canada

f. Bank draft in convertible currency

g. Proof of transferred money from a Canadian bank (under your name)

D. Letter of explanation (if applicable):

If you don’t need a student visa but still want one, you will need to write an

explanation as to why you applied for the student visa.

E. Medical Information:

Most of the time and depending on where you’ve lived for past recent years, the

government will ask you to do a medical test and send the results as a part of your

application.

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After sending all of these documents, the processing will vary depending on which

Visa Application Center you applied to. Please refer to the links section for further

information.

And after all of that waiting, your application is finally done! If your application was

successful, you will receive your passport along with your Temporary Resident Visa and

you will have to enter Canada before the visa expires.

You will receive your study permit once you arrive in Canada. However, if your

application was rejected they will give you an explanation letter explaining why your

application got rejected. It may be that you do not have the necessary funds to finance your

studies in Canada, or maybe the medical examination result is not acceptable and the study

intention is not convincing.

4. Clothes

After living in Montreal for a few years, I can safely say that Montreal’s weather is

very moody throughout all of its seasons. Despite that, Montreal’s winter is notoriously

brutal. So to prepare for all types of weather Montreal gives us, here’s a list of what you

should bring:

A. Winter

(i) Winter Jacket

The winter jacket should be a polar or a down jacket, waterproof and sometimes

the tag will show the minimum negative degrees Celsius that it can withstand. Some good

quality jackets include Canada Goose, Point Zero and North Face.

(ii) Winter Boots

Similar to the winter jacket, it should be waterproof, lined with fur and a little

bigger than your usual size to allow for thicker socks, and extra comfort for the long winter

journeys. Also, the boots should indicate the minimum degrees Celsius it can withstand.

(iii) Mittens

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(iv) Earmuffs

(v) Winter hat

> You can find these winter essentials in these stores but not limited to:

(i) Winners

(ii) Simons

(iii) Sears

(iv) La Baie

(v) Point Zero

(vi) Sports Expert

(vii) Eaton Center has many shops which you can find these items as well

B. Summer

Summer in Montreal is very beautiful but can get very hot at times but it’s similar to

summers in many other countries. To find clothes, accessories or shoes for summer, you

should walk along St. Catherine downtown or Eaton Centre.

5. Language

You may think, “I’m going to a francophone speaking part of Canada so I need to

learn how to speak immaculate French!” Calm down, you don’t need to speak French to

survive here, but it’ll be asset if you can! People here are mostly bilingual so you will

survive by speaking English, especially in downtown. When you go out of downtown, you

may come to French-speaking areas in which case you will need to sharpen your French

skills! If you really want to be prepared, just study basic conversational French statements

online.

II. Arrival in Montreal

1. Airport and Downtown

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Finally the moment you’ve been waiting for, arriving in Montreal! Once you arrived

in Montreal Trudeau Airport, you will need to go to the Accueil Center, which is located just

after the immigration area. There you will be able to get your Study Permit. If your flight

does not take you directly to Montreal, you will need to take care of your student visa at

your first port of entry into Canada, in which case all of the same documents are needed

and there will be clear signs indicating where you should head to.

Listed below are the documents you will need to prepare to obtain your Study

Permit:

a. Passport/Travel Document

b. Temporary Resident Visa (which should already be in your passport/travel

document)

c. Acceptance letter from educational institution

d. Letter from visa office confirming study permit

e. Financial Proof

f. Other letters from the visa office

After receiving your Study Permit, you’re ready to embark on a new chapter in your

life. Now, you need to get downtown to your hotel or dorm and you can do so by getting on

a taxi, 747 bus or limos.

A. Taxi:

Taxi is the most common way most people travel downtown because of its

convenience. However the price to get to downtown is higher in relation to other modes of

transport. It will cost $40 plus a 10%-20% tip (usually it’s 15%) to get to anywhere within

the downtown Montreal area. To get to other destinations, it will cost $17 + tip similar as

before. Conveniently, the taxi do accept most major credit cards such as Visa, American

express and MasterCard but sometimes it may not work. Additionally, four people

maximum can fit into one taxi.

B. Limo:

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Limo is very similar to taxi but on the high end side that it will cost $49.5 - $54.5

plus the 10%-20% (usually 15%) tip.

C. 747 Bus:

Bus is the most affordable way to get to the Montreal downtown area. You can buy a

$9 ticket at the STM Machine near the arrival area, in which you can use the ticket for a

good 24 hours including to go on the Montreal. Alternatively, you can get a 3-day pass or a

weekly pass with Opus card. It will usually take about 45 minutes, more or less depending

on the traffic. The first stop it will get off at is Lionel Groulx, which is also a metro stop, so if

you need to go by metro you can get off here. Afterwards, it will continue along the path on

Rue Rene-Levesque (please look at the links section for the route).

III. First Things to do in Montreal

Now that you’ve arrived, you will need to get adjusted to start your life in Montreal.

The first things you will need to do are: open a bank account, get a cellphone and/or

cellphone plan, buy household necessities.

A. Banks:

If you have a bank account abroad, the bank may have a Branch here. However, if

you don’t, you can open a new bank account from one of these banks.

a. a.RBC (www.rbc.com)

b. BMO (www.bmo.com)

c. CIBC(www.cibc.com)

d. Scotia Bank(www.scotiabank.com)

e. National Bank (www.nbc.ca)

f. TD Bank (www.tdbank.com)

g. BNP Paribas (bnpparibas.com)

h. HSBC (www.hsbc.ca)

i. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ – branches

(http://www.bk.mufg.jp/global/globalnetwork/americas/index.html)

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j. Citibank - branches (http://www.citi.com/canada/homepage/english/contact.jsp)

B. Cellphone:

Whether you need a new phone or need to get a phone plan for your current phone,

here are the list of cellphone companies you can visit that are available in Montreal.

a. Bell Mobility (www.bell.ca)

b. Rogers (www.rogers.com)

c. TELUS (www.telus.com)

d. Fido (www.fido.ca)

e. Koodo (koodomobile.com)

f. Virgin Mobile (www.virginmobile.ca)

C. Household Necessities:

To settle down, you will need to buy things such as groceries, household appliances

and furnitures. Listed below are some of the places you can visit in downtown Montreal.

(i) Grocery stores

a. PA Supermarche

b. Provigo

c. Maxi

d. Super C

e. Metro

(ii) Drug Stores

a. Jean Coutu

b. Pharmaprix

(iii) Household necessities/ appliances

a. Canadian Tire

b. Winners

c. Simmons

d. Eaton Center

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e. La Baie

In the midst of settling down, you might want to grab some bite to eat. You should

walk along St. Catherine and the Eaton Center area (the shopping district of Montreal) to

find variety of restaurants and shops!

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Life Style

1. Shopping

Do you like shopping but discouraged to go outside by the bad weather? No worries,

take the metro to underground Montreal. Hidden beneath the city center, you will find 40

kilometers of walkways connecting restaurants, offices, apartments, universities, theaters,

cinemas and over 1500 shops! The best part is that most of the shopping areas, such as Eaton

Center and Ogilvy, are connected to the metro!

The famous Eaton Center is located in the heart of the Montreal underground city and is

the primary shopping street that sells from medium brands to high quality brands. Eaton Center

attracts tourists all year long. On the other hand, Ogilvy is the place where they sell luxury

brand design such as Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, and Burberry; there are also brand names

from local area such as Canada Goose. Both Eaton Center and Oglivy are conveniently located

in Montreal’s shopping street of St. Catherine.

Now to get to these shopaholic’s paradise, you can take the metro and will need

to get off at these stations (the stores and places are listed along):

A. Green line

Peel Station: Cours Mont-Royal/Simons Department Store/ Place Montreal Trust

Mcgill Station: Eaton Centre/ PromeadesCathredale/ The Bay

Place des Arts Station: Quartier des Spectales/ Opera de Montreal / Complex des Jardin

2. Transportation

A. STM ( Societe de transport de Montreal )

Getting around Montreal is quite efficient with STM, which includes the public bus and

subway system. The subway system also known as the metro, have four lines: Green line

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(HonoreBeaugrand – Angrignon) , Orange line ( Montorency – Cote Vertu ), Yellow line ( Berri-

UQAM – Longueuil – Unversite de Sherbrooke ), and Blue line( Saint Minchel – Snowdon). The

metro’s four lines efficiently cover much of downtown Montreal and is accessible from 5:30 am

to 12:15 pm. On the other hand, the bus system’s operating hours may depend on the type of

bus services. They have four types of services; local network routes, all night network routes,

express network routes, shuttle network routes.

The most important bus information is the 747 bus to get from the airport to downtown

Montreal, which operates 24 hours and costs only $9. The ticket options are as following:

Validation : 24 hours on all STM bus and metro lines

1. Single fare card ( one trip) : $ 3,00

2. Two trip fare card ( two trip) : $ 5,50

3. 1 day fare card : $ 8,00

4. 3 day fare card : $ 16,00

5. Unlimited evening pass ( from 6 p.m to 5 a.m ) : $ 4,00

B. AMT ( Agence Metropolitaine de transport )

AMT is Montreal’s public train system, which is different than the STM. Their

services extends further from downtown Montreal including Laval (ÎleJésus), communities

along both the North Shore of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and the South Shore of the St.

Lawrence River. In 2011, the AMT is ranked first among the commuter rail agencies in North

America thank its punctuality rate of 97,1%!

C. BIXI

Now let’s look at the most environmental friendly transport system, known as the

BIXI bikes that is commonly used during spring and summer between 15th April to 15th

November! In addition, it is conveniently accessible to everyone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a

week. It is not hard to use BIXI bikes, you just need to follow these few steps:

~ 42 ~

1. Insert your credit card in the payment of a BIXI station. A minimum fee for BIXI is $7. A

receipt will be printed with the access code.

2. Choose a bike and enter the code

3. Note : BIXI only accepts credit card

III. Events

Montreal is an inspiring city whose diversity makes life here rich and dynamic. Most

people who visit Montreal will come to realize that the city offers so many great events all year

long. Here are some of the events that you definitely don’t want to miss!

MAY

As the flowers bloom along the Lachine Canal, pedestrians run along the jogging track, people

prepare theit barbecue parties and festivals are intricately planned.

Events Beginning End Metro

Bird Fest – Montreal Biodome April 28 May 21 Viau

Festival international du Cinema April 27 May 06 Place-des-Arts

Elektra May 02 May 06 Beaudry

Festival AccesAsie May 03 May 19 Place-des-Arts

Petitsbonheurs May 04 May 13 Joliette

Festival de musique de chambre de Montreal

May 10 June 02 Bonaventure

Festival de musique et de dansetraditionelle

May 11 May 13 President-Kennedy

Piknic Electronic May 20 September 30 Jean-Drapeau

Fiesta Latina May 21 May 27 Saint-Laurent

Commerce + CreativiteMtl May 22 May 25 Bonaventure

Festival TransAmeriques May 24 June 09 McGill

The Great Gardening Weekend May 25 May 27 Pie-IX

JUNE

The temperature is rising, yet the festivities and activities won’t be stopped!

Events Beginning End Metro

La Fete Eco-Bio June 01 June 03 D’Iberville

FrancoFolies de Montreal June 07 June 16 Place des Arts

Nuit Blanche sur Tableau Noir June 07 June 10 Mont Royal

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Grand Prix de Formule 1 June 08 June 10 Jean Drapeau

Festival Eureka June 15 June 17 Place d’Armes

Trombo – Montreal Biodome June 16 November 11 Champs-de-Mars

Montreal Botanical Garden June 23 October 31 Pie-IX

Fete Nationale du Quebec June 24 June 24 http://www.fetenationale.qc.ca/

Festival International Montreal en Arts

June 27 July 01 Beaudry

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal

June 28 July 07 Place des Arts

JULY

It’s the last moments before the leaves transforms into crimson red, but there’s still no

shortage of activities and festivals!

Events Beginning End Metro

Fete du Canada July 01 July 01 Guy Concordia

Les Week-ends du monde July 09 July 17 Jean Drapeau

Festival International du Tango July 10 July 15 Prefontaine

Heavy MTL July 11 July 12 Jean Drapeau

Festival Juste pour rire July 12 July 27 Berri UQAM

Zoofest July 12 July 29 Saint Laurent

Festival International de Film Fantasia July 19 August 07 Guy Concordia

Festival international de courses de Bateaux Dragons de Montreal

July 20 July 22 Place d’Armes

Now if you just want to do normal daily activities in places such as coffee shops, fresh market,

bookstores and more, Montreal has no shortage of them!

COFFEE SHOPSAMUSEMENT PARK BOOKSTORE

Tim Hortons - Old Port > Chapters

Starbucks - Mont Royal > Indigo

Second Cup - Jean Drapeau

Java U - La Ronde

Art Java

Van Houte

Humble Lion

Pikolo

~ 44 ~

HALAL SHOP FRESH MARKET DRUG STORE

Akhavan - Jean Talon >Pharmaprix

Lebanese Restaurant - Marche Atwater > Jean Coutu

- Maisoneuve

- Lachine

ASIAN STORESASIAN BAKERY STORE

Where you can find Indonesian food, RICE! - Cocobun

Marche Hawaii - Harmony

Chinatown

INDONESIAN RESTAURANT LIBRARY

GadoGado Restaurant - Grande Bibliotheque

Nyonya Cuisine Restaurant

MIA Tapas Indonesiens

For further information on any aspects of Montreal’s lifestyle, please refer to the external

link page!

~ 45 ~

Part Time Job

You may ask, what is a part time job? Jobs that require less than forty hours of work

per week is considered as part time jobs; above that is considered full-time jobs. You may

ask again, why should anyone want to have a part time job? Having a part time job is an

excellent way to gain some experience while getting a little pocket of money during school

time or during holidays! Here are the requirements and some resources to help you get

your new part-time job.

1. REQUIREMENTS A. For international student:

If you’re an international student, you will be required to have a work permit in order

to work off-campus. However for on-campus jobs you will not need a work permit in

almost all CEGEP and universities. There are some requirements you may need to fulfill to

be eligible for a work visa. They are:

a. You must have a valid study permit

b. You must be a full-time student for at least six of the 12 months preceding the date

of your work permit application

c. You must be in good academic standing (i.e. not on probation or required to leave

the university)

d. You must sign a form authorizing the institution, the province, and Citizenship and

Immigration Canada (CIC) to share your personal information (to confirm that you

are continuing to study full time and that you are in satisfactory academic standing).

You are not eligible to apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit if you are:

a. Participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by

Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)

b. Participating in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT

c. Receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

d. Participating in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, Canada-Chile

~ 46 ~

e. Participating in the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program

f. Participating in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program

g. Attending a participating institution and registered in either an English as a

Second Language or French as a Second Language program or

h. A visiting or exchange student.

B. For permanent resident & Canadian citizen:

Usually only proof of residency, work visa and social insurance number are required

to apply a part-time job.

2. RESUME / COVER LETTER :

Resume or CV (Curriculum vitae) is required to apply a job. It is a two page

document that summarizes everything about you to your future employer. Your CV should

include:

a. Your name and contact information,

b. Education information,

c. Your language, computer and other relevant skills.

d. Certifications and licenses,

e. Work and volunteer experience,

f. Interest, and

g. References

In many cases such as working in a specific field-oriented job or higher paying jobs

(i.e. working in a bank or as an intern), cover letters are required. Cover letter is a letter in

which you state why you want the job and to show your future employer your relevant

qualifications. This letter is very important since it may be the deciding factor whether you

or your competition gets the job! Usually the universities have informal classes that can

give your guidelines to make a good CV or cover letter. For links to part-time jobs resources,

please refer to the external link page!

~ 47 ~

Editors note: PERMIKA Montreal

Irfani’s Testimony:

As young adults, some of us may choose to travel 15000 kilometers to Montreal ready to

embark on a new chapter in our lives. Commencing this journey is simultaneously nerve

wracking and exciting so PERMIKA Montreal published this Student Guide to be your compass

while you settle down in Montreal. From Montreal’s History to Part Time Jobs in Montreal, this

book will provide you all the information you need to survive the first few weeks in Montreal

and it may also be useful in the long run!

Without further ado, PERMIKA Montreal wishes that you will find this Student Guide

informative and fun as much as we had fun making it! Hold on tight because your journey is

about to begin!

Chyntia’s Testimony:

Being a student in a foreign country is hard, especially for the first time. However, this

guide book isn’t just made for a specific group in mind. Even having lived 7 years in Montreal I

still discover new festivals and new things to do. Obviously there are some aspects that we

couldn’t cover, and the way you can know Montreal inside out is to come here. With that said,

we really hope this guide provides adequate information on a first glance basis, and that we

delivered a great first glimpse of the city of Montreal (There’s plenty more to discover, trust

me!)

~ 48 ~

PERMIKA Montreal Admins Year 2013

President

Raka Katon

Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University

Vice President

Kharinda Zahrah

Accounting, Concordia University

~ 49 ~

Secretary

Irfani Ausri

Physiology, McGill University

VP Finance

Rachel Suliono

Anatomy Cell Biology, McGill University

VP Events

Chyntia Sari

Industrial Engineering, Concordia University

~ 50 ~

VP Events

Haqeem Sapuan

Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University

VP Media

Kara Katon

Cultural Studies, McGill University

~ 51 ~

References

Geography

Geography. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.gouv.qc.ca/portail/quebec/pgs/commun/portrait/geographie/?lang=en

Marsh, J. (n.d.). St. lawrence river. Retrieved from

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/st-lawrence-river

Image: Regions administrative du quebec. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Regions_administratives_du_Quebec.png

Language

Detailed Mother Tongue (232), Knowledge of Official Languages (5) and Sex (3) for the

Population Excluding Institutional Residents of Canada, Provinces, Territories,

Census Divisions, Census Subdivisions and Dissemination Areas, 2011 Census. 2012.

Universities

"About Co-op - Institute for Co-operative Education - Concordia University - Montreal,

Quebec, Canada." Institute for Co-operative Education - Institute for Co-operative

Education - Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July

2013. <http://co-op.concordia.ca/aboutco-op/>.

"Applying to McGill | Applying to Undergraduate Studies - McGill University." Home Page |

McGill University.N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/>.

Dehaas, Josh. "The 2013 Maclean’s University Rankings - Canada, Uncategorized -

Macleans.ca." Macleans.ca - Canada News, World News, Politics, Business, Culture,

Health, Environment, Education .N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013.

~ 52 ~

<http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/11/01/the-2013-macleans-university-

rankings/>.

"Faculties and schools | About McGill - McGill University." Home Page | McGill

University.N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013.

<http://www.mcgill.ca/about/quickfacts/faculties>.

"Faculty and staff | About McGill - McGill University." Home Page | McGill University.N.p., n.d.

Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.mcgill.ca/about/quickfacts/staff/>.

"History - Concordia University." Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada. N.p., n.d.

Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.concordia.ca/about/who-we-are/history/>.

"Institute for Co-operative Education - Institute for Co-operative Education - Concordia

University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada." Institute for Co-operative Education -

Institute for Co-operative Education - Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec,

Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013. <http://co-op.concordia.ca/index.php>.

"Nearly 200 years of history | About McGill - McGill University." Home Page | McGill

University.N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.mcgill.ca/about/history>.

"QS World University Rankings - 2012 | Top Universities." Top Universities. N.p., n.d. Web. 3

July 2013. <http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-

rankings/2012>.

"Students | About McGill - McGill University." Home Page | McGill University.N.p., n.d. Web. 3

July 2013. <http://www.mcgill.ca/about/quickfacts/students/>.

"Top 100 MBA Programs | Beyond Grey Pinstripes." Homepage | Beyond Grey

Pinstripes.N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013.

~ 53 ~

<http://www.beyondgreypinstripes.org/rankings/school.cfm?cid=78>.

"Undergraduate programs - Concordia University." Concordia University - Montreal,

Quebec, Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.concordia.ca/programs-

and-courses/undergraduate-programs/>.

"Welcome to McGill | Newly admitted undergraduate students - McGill University." Home

Page | McGill University.N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2013.

<http://www.mcgill.ca/newstudents/>.

"Notable alumni | About McGill - McGill University." Home Page | McGill University.N.p., n.d.

Web. 3 July 2013. <http://www.mcgill.ca/about/alumni>

Arrivals and Departure

Online application for a québec acceptance certificate (caq) for studies. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/electronic-services/caq-

electronic/index.html

Citizenship and immigration canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-

int.asp

Part Time Jobs

Determine your eligibility — Work off campus. (n.d.). Retrieved from Government of Canada

- Gouvernement du Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus-

who.asp

External Links

Universities

For more information on McGill’s:

~ 54 ~

Libraries: http://www.mcgill.ca/library/

Tuitions: http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/tuition-charges/fallwinter-term-

tuition-and-fees/undergraduate-fees

Scholarships: http://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/finances

Online Application: http://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/finances

Application Standards: http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/standards

Application Steps: http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/sites/mcgill.ca.applyi

ng/files/steps_201314.pdf

For more information on Concordia’s:

Co-op Programs: http://co-op.concordia.ca/index.php

Housing: http://www.concordia.ca/admissions/housing/residences/

Residence Fees: http://residence.concordia.ca/residenceadmissions/r ates/index.php

Libraries: http://library.concordia.ca/index.php

Tuition Fees Calculator:http://www.concordia.ca/admissions/tuition-and-

fees/undergraduate/calculator/

University of Montreal: http://www.umontreal.ca/english/

College

For more information on John Abbott College’s:

List of Programs: http://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/?61C6C176-BE10-45CB-AE0D-

A6F0DEB5509C

Student Activities: http://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/?31A627D9-404C-4980-8F77-

BF75B70D8D4D

Fees: http://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/continuing-education/courses/fees

For more information on Vanier College’s:

List of Programs: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/academic-programs/

Program specific requirements: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/admissions/admission-

information/

Admissions FAQ: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/admissions/questions-and-answers/

Full time students day division fees: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/fee-

payment/images/full-time-student-fees.jpg

~ 55 ~

Part time students day division fees: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/fee-

payment/images/part-time-student-fees.jpg

Fee payment procedure: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/fee-payment/payment-

procedures.html

Further information on fees: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/fee-payment/

For further information on Dawson College’s:

List of programs: http://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/choose-dawson/programs-of-

study.

Online Application: http://commonapplication.qc.ca/

Foreign Students Application: http://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/?BA889A9 B-80C9-

44A0-B907-7ED387999729

Fees: http://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/our-services/finance-department/student-

fees

For further information on Marionopolis College’s:

List of Programs: http://www.marianopolis.edu/programs/

Admission FAQ: https://go.bemarianopolis.ca/admissions/faqs.ezc

Admissions for non-Quebec students: https://go.bemarianopolis.ca/admis

sions/admissions.ezc

Fees breakdown: http://www.marianopolis.edu/resources-and-services/tuition-

financial-aid-and-scholarships/

Financial Support: http://www.marianopolis.edu/student-support/tuition-financial-

aid-and-scholarships/financial-aid-and-scholarships/

Departure Preparation and Arrival

Students exempted from CAQ:

http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/obtaining-

authorizations/requirements/list-exemptions.html

CAQ Paper Form Application: http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/forms/search-

title/dca-studies.html

~ 56 ~

CAQ Documents

For students from France, Monaco, Austria& Hong Kong: http://www.immigration-

quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/obtaining-authorizations/certificat-

acceptation/country-france/index.html

For students residing in the US, Greenland, and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon :

http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/obtaining-

authorizations/certificat-acceptation/country-france/index.html

Medical Examination additional info:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexams-temp.asp

Passport Photo Specifications for Study Permit:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/photospecs.asp

Study Permit Processing Time: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/temp.asp

747 Bus Route: http://www.stm.info/english/info/a-747.htm

Life Style

For more information on Montreal’s activities: http://www.tourisme-montreal.org

For more information on

STM:http://www.stm.info/en/about/financial_and_corporate_information/about-stm.

For more information about the bus schedule and

network:http://www.stm.info/en/info/networks/bus.

For more information on AMT:http://www.amt.qc.ca/

For more information on BIXI:www.montreal.bixi.com

For more information on Montreal’s events:www.lavitrine.com.

~ 57 ~

Part Time Job (Bank Jobs and Other Resources)

Canada Banque employ: http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca/ Quebec Job Bank: http://placement.emploiquebec.net/mbe/ut/rechroffr /erechroffr.asp?CL=english Quebec Specialized Job Bank: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/othsite-eng.aspx?CT=GD&CC=QC&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No Emploi Québec – Student Job Bank: http://emploietudiant.qc.ca/index_en.asp Service Canada – Student Job Bank: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx

Work for Government or Public Service:

Federal Public Service Jobs: http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/index-fra.htm

Government Jobs: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/othsite-eng.aspx?CT=GV&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No

Concordia & McGill:

Concordia CAPS On-Line Job Bank: https://excel.concordia.ca/home.htm

Concordia HoJo Classifieds: http://classifieds.csu.qc.ca/

McGill CAPS On-Line Job Bank: https://csm-caps.mcgill.ca/students/

McGill SUS Summer Opportunities and Research Database (SOAR): http://soar.sus.mcgill.ca/

McGill CAPS – Research Opportunities for Science Students: http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/experience/science/

Classifieds Website:

Craigslist: http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/jjj/

Kijiji: http://montreal.kijiji.ca/f-jobs-W0QQCatIdZ45

Job Aggregators & Job Banks:

Eluta: http://www.eluta.ca/

Indeed: http://www.indeed.ca/

Monster: http://www.monster.ca/

~ 58 ~

Simply Hired: http://www.simplyhired.ca/

CareerJet: http://www.careerjet.ca/

WowJobs: http://www.wowjobs.ca/

Nice Job: http://www.nicejob.ca/

New Job List: http://newjoblist.com/

Career AIM: http://www.careeraim.com/

More Job Banks: http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/topic/website/job

Job Matching Websites:

Jobbook: http://www.jobbook.com/

Workhoppers: http://www.workhoppers.com/

Placement Agencies:

ACSESS – Canada: http://www.acsess.org/STAFFINGCLIENTS/advanced.asp

NAPS – USA: http://www.recruitinglife.com/membership/membership-directory.cfm

Recruiters Directory: http://recruitersdirectory.com/search/index.cfm

More agencies: http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/topic/website/placement