Université du Québec à Rimouski offers PGDip in Oceanography, a postgraduate diploma in Marine Science programme in Rimouski, Canada. The programme runs for 1 year, delivered on campus. Tuition for international students is CAD 7,423 per semester (CAD 1,558 per semester for local students).
Also offered as: Master's Degree, Doctorate
At a glance
Degree:Postgraduate Diploma
Field:Marine Science
Duration: 1 year
Delivery: On Campus
Local tuition: CAD 1,558 / semester
International tuition: CAD 7,423 / semester
Last reviewed September 2026 ·
Program details
Overview
This Diploma of Specialized Graduate Studies (DESS) in Oceanography offers a one-year, 30-credit route into marine-science practice for graduates who already hold a science or engineering degree but want oceanography training without committing to a full master's. Students choose a concentration in marine resources, marine physics, or marine geology and geochemistry, and complete a minimum three-week supervised internship in a relevant institution, business, or organization. The program is delivered full-time, in person, at the Rimouski campus, with classes held on weekdays during day and evening hours, and admission limited to a single autumn intake capped at ten new students per year. It is designed both for recent graduates in biology, chemistry, engineering or geography seeking focused marine-science credentials and for working professionals wanting to add oceanography expertise to an existing scientific background. The compact, one-year format and capped enrolment distinguish it from UQAR's research-based Master of Science in Oceanography, positioning it as a shorter, practice-oriented credential aimed at meeting employer demand for staff able to work in resource management, marine ecosystem protection, or sustainable-development roles without the extended time commitment of a thesis-based degree.
Requirements
Minimum GPA:3.20 / 4.3
Admission Requirements: Applicants need a bachelor's degree in a relevant natural-science or engineering discipline, such as biology, environmental science, geography, geology, physics, chemistry or engineering, with a cumulative average of at least 3.2/4.3; an average between 3.0 and 3.2 may still be considered where the applicant has relevant professional experience. Applicants holding a first-cycle degree from outside Quebec need a minimum average of 12/20. Admission on experience is also possible for applicants with the required knowledge, appropriate training and relevant experience, subject to up to 12 credits of probationary coursework. As with all UQAR programs, applicants must meet the French Language Mastery Policy, providing an accepted French test (TEF 460, TCF 460 or Bright Language 3.5 across written comprehension, oral comprehension and written expression) if their diploma does not exempt them, or sitting the institutional French exam on arrival, with a mandatory French course required on failure.
Application Details
Start Date:September
Application Deadline:UQAR divides its academic year into fall, winter and summer trimesters; most programmes admit for fall and several also for winter or summer, and for non-contingented programmes an application can be filed at any time up to the start of term, making admission effectively rolling, while contingented (quota) programmes each carry their own fixed deadline published on that programme's own page rather than centrally. UQAR applies this same timeline to Canadian and international applicants and does not publish a separate blanket international closing date; international candidates must still secure a Certificat d'acceptation du Quebec and a study permit before arriving, and must upload supporting documents within six weeks of starting an application or the file is closed, so early application is strongly recommended. Admission is therefore rolling except where a specific programme is contingented. These are institution-wide dates; this programme publishes no deadline of its own.
