If you're deciding between a private specialized college (an AEC program, like ours), a CEGEP audio/multimedia program, or a university degree, the honest answer is that they're built for different things:
- Length & focus — AEC programs are typically shorter and industry-focused (our NNC.0S/NNC.0N run 960 hours); CEGEP and university programs run longer with more general education alongside the technical training.
- Government recognition — confirm whether a program is ministry-recognized (an AEC, DEC, or accredited degree); it affects loan/bursary eligibility and how employers read the credential.
- Equipment & studio access — ask what you'll actually train on: console type, DAWs, shared lab time vs. dedicated studio hours.
- Outcomes data — ask for a real placement rate and where recent graduates work, not just a list of notable alumni from any point in the school's history.
- Industry connections — who teaches the program, and what's their current industry standing?
We can only speak confidently to our own numbers — 39+ years operating, ministry-recognized AEC programs, an 80% graduate placement rate, and alumni at places like Ubisoft, Eidos, Radio-Canada and Netflix — but these are the questions worth asking whichever schools you're comparing.
