Quebec Education & Student Credits (2025 Guide)

Quebec students and their families can access a suite of provincial and federal tax credits designed to make post-secondary education more affordable. Whether you’re attending CEGEP, university, college, or a professional program, understanding how to claim tuition credits, student loan interest, scholarship exemptions, and transfer/carryforward options can significantly reduce your tax bill or boost your refund. This guide provides in-depth coverage of all major Quebec education credits—including claim optimization strategies and special rules unique to Quebec.

Quebec Tuition & Exam Fee Credit: Non-refundable provincial credit for eligible tuition and certain exam fees paid to recognized institutions.
Student Loan Interest Credit: Claim interest paid on eligible Quebec and Canada student loans.
Scholarship, Bursary & Grant Exemptions: Maximize tax-free treatment for most scholarships and government aid.
Transfer & Carryforward Rules: Transfer up to $5,000 in unused credits to a parent or spouse, or carry forward indefinitely.
Advanced Tips: Optimize claims between parents/students, stack with federal credits, and avoid common mistakes.

Quebec university campus with students, books, and tax forms representing education credits

Quebec Tuition & Examination Fees Credit

What’s Eligible? Tuition fees paid to a recognized post-secondary institution in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada (including universities, CEGEPs, colleges, and many professional programs). Certain mandatory examination fees (e.g., professional licensing exams) are also eligible.
Minimum Amount: Tuition/exam fees must total at least $100 per institution per year.
Ineligible Fees: Student association/activity fees, books, residence, meals, transportation, or insurance are NOT eligible for the tuition credit.
Who Can Claim? The student, or a parent/spouse/grandparent if the credit is transferred.
Required Documents: Relevé 8 slip (from Quebec institutions) or Form TL11 (for out-of-province/out-of-country studies), showing eligible fees for the tax year.

How to Claim

Enter eligible tuition/exam fees on Schedule T of your Quebec tax return (TP-1).
Transfer the allowable amount to line 398 of your TP-1, and (if transferred) to line 326 of a parent or spouse’s return.
For federal returns, use Schedule 11 and line 32300.
Unused credits can be transferred or carried forward (see below).

Student Loan Interest Credit (Quebec & Federal)

Eligible Loans: Interest paid on official Quebec or Canada government student loans (Aide financière aux études, Canada Student Loans) is eligible for a non-refundable tax credit. Private or foreign student loans do NOT qualify.
Credit Rate: 20% for Quebec (line 385 of TP-1) and 15% for federal (line 31900 of T1).
Claiming: Only the student (not parents) can claim this credit. Unused interest can be carried forward up to 5 years.
Documentation: Save annual loan statements or interest receipts issued by your loan provider.

Tip: Claim the interest in the year paid if you owe tax—otherwise, carry forward until you have tax payable.

Scholarship, Bursary & Grant Exemptions

Tax-Free Amounts: Most scholarships, bursaries, and government grants are tax-free in Quebec if you are enrolled full-time in an eligible program. The exemption applies to the full amount for most undergraduates and graduates.
Reporting: Report all scholarship income on your Quebec and federal tax returns, but claim the exemption (line 295 of TP-1). Only excess amounts above the exemption are taxable.
Special Cases: Part-time students may be able to exempt up to the cost of tuition/required program expenses. Review T4A/RL-1 slips for reporting.
OSAP/AFE Grants: Quebec and federal student grants are not taxable. Repayable loans are not reported as income.

Transferring & Carrying Forward Quebec Tuition Credits

Transfer Rules: Unused current-year tuition/exam credit (up to $5,000) can be transferred to a parent, grandparent, or spouse/common-law partner. Complete the transfer section on your Relevé 8 or TL11, and have the student sign it.
Carryforward: Any amount not used or transferred is automatically carried forward by the student for future years, to be claimed when they have tax payable.
Claim Order: Students must reduce their own Quebec tax to zero before transferring credits. Carryforwards can only be claimed by the student, not transferred later.
Supporting Documents: Keep all Relevé 8/TL11 forms, signed transfer sections, and copies of tax returns for audit purposes.
Federal Coordination: Federal tuition credit transfers/carryforwards follow similar rules—be sure to match claims between returns.

Pro Tip: If you anticipate higher income in a future year, consider carrying credits forward for a bigger tax reduction (especially for co-op or new grad years).

Advanced Claim Tips & Optimization Strategies

In families with multiple students, optimize who claims tuition transfers for the best refund (e.g. higher-income parent).
If you have both tuition and medical expense credits, coordinate which spouse claims each to maximize returns (consider the 3% income threshold for medical credits).
If you paid tuition for an exam (e.g., CFE for CPAs, bar exams), check if the fee is eligible for the tuition/exam credit and save your receipts/certificates.
Students working part-time may also qualify for the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)—claimable in addition to tuition credits.
If you missed claiming credits for a previous year, file a TP-1 adjustment online ("Relevé de situation fiscale") or submit a T1-ADJ for federal returns—up to 10 years back.

Frequently Asked Questions: Quebec Education & Student Credits

Can I claim Quebec tuition credits for studying outside Quebec?

Yes. Tuition paid to recognized Canadian (and some foreign) institutions is eligible if you receive a valid TL11 form and meet the program requirements. Check Revenu Québec for the recognized list and keep all supporting documents.

Can parents claim tuition credits if the child is 18+?

Yes, but only if the student completes the transfer section on Relevé 8 or TL11 and does not need the credits to reduce their own tax to zero. Otherwise, the student must carry forward the unused amount.

Are CEGEP and professional program fees eligible?

Yes, most CEGEP, university, and recognized professional program tuition and certain exam fees are eligible. Check that the institution/program is recognized by Revenu Québec, and that fees are mandatory for obtaining the credential.

Can I split tuition credits between parents?

No. Only one parent can claim a transferred tuition credit per student, per year. However, different parents can claim for different children if there are multiple students in the family.

Are online courses eligible for tuition credits?

Yes, if the online course is part of a recognized program at an eligible institution and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. The same documentation and minimum fee requirements apply.

What if I missed claiming a student credit in a previous year?

You can file a TP-1 adjustment ("Relevé de situation fiscale") or a federal T1-ADJ for up to 10 previous years. Attach all relevant slips and documentation.

Related Quebec & Canada Student Tax Guides

For official forms and eligibility lists, visit Revenu Québec Student Credits.