CÉGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel - College of General and Vocational Education, pronounced say-jep [fr/en] or see-jip [en]) is a type of educational institution in Quebec.
Students in the university stream, finishing secondary school after Grade 11 (Secondary V, ages 16-17), attend CEGEP for two years; in consequence, Quebec universities offer bachelor's degree programs lasting three years instead of the usual four to students from Quebec. These students can choose from a variety of provincial government-established courses of study including both required courses and options.
Successful completion of a pre-university program at CEGEP results in the granting of a provincial government-issued diploma, the DEC (Diplôme d'études collégiales).
CEGEPs also offer vocational programs of two or three years.
CEGEPs themselves vary from large, publicly funded institutions serving thousands of students to small, expensive private ones.
