Quebec Lexicon

Currency

CAD: Universal symbol for the Canadian dollar

$: Canadian currency sign. For example: one Canadian dollar (CAD$1) = $1.00

School System

Credits: during one period of study, a full-time undergraduate student usually registers in five different courses of 45 hours each, e.g. three hours a week during 15 weeks. In the Quebec academic system, these hours are measured in terms of credits. A 45-hour course corresponds to three credits.

Level: indicates the various levels of studies.

Program: set of courses determined and scheduled according to the objectives of a program offered and approved by the Université de Sherbrooke.

Term: the university year ranges over twelve months, beginning in September, and includes three terms:

• the Fall term, from September to December;
• the Winter term, from January to April;
• the Summer term, from May to August.

Lodging

Lease (bail): A lease is a contract between the owner and yourself, and it can help you to avoid rental problems. When you rent an apartment or a room off campus, be sure to sign a lease. The duration may be 4, 8 or 12 months, depending on your agreement with the owner. Before you sign, read all the details, because once you have signed the lease, it is very different to cancel.

Studio: Apartment with one big room.

Apartment (logement) 2½: Apartment with two main rooms (usually of medium size) separated with one wall; the ½ is the bathroom.

Apartment (logement) 1½ to 6½: The figure corresponds to the number of rooms in the apartment; the ½ is the bathroom.

Prices indicated above are to be used as reference only and can be higher in some cases.

Furnished Apartment (logement meublé): Furniture is included, but you must buy tableware and other essential products. You should ask exactly what is included in the furnished apartment because it can differ from one place to another.

Semi-furnished Apartment (logement semi-meublé): The refrigerator and stove are the only pieces of furniture included; you must furnish the rest of the apartment.

Apartment “all included” (logement « tout inclus »): Heating, hot water, electricity and furniture are usually included in the price of the “all included” apartment. You should ask exactly what is included in the furnished apartment because it can differ from one place to another.

Apartment close to a convenience store (dépanneur): Apartment close to a small grocery store open outside regular business hours.