Are you a wine and spirits enthusiast? Would you like to pursue a career in this industry? Immerse yourself in this fascinating world today!
Admission
Mid-January to March 1, 2025
September 15 to November 1, 2026
Course start date
August 2025
January 2026
Duration
5 months full-time
Format
In-person
Schedule
Full-time
Language of instruction
French
Compulsory internships
No
Diploma
Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS)
Overview
This intensive program is intended for graduates or professionals in the food and beverage services industry who want to acquire a solid foundation in sommellerie.
Key elements of the program
- Exclusive training at the ITHQ leading to an AVS in sommellerie in 5 months
- Visits to microbreweries, distilleries and vineyards
- Hands-on learning at the Restaurant de l’ITHQ
- Access to the ITHQ sensory analysis laboratory
- Master classes with wine experts
- Participation in competitions and major industry events
- Experienced and passionate instructors
Quench your thirst for knowledge!
What you will learn
Tasting, analyzing, advising
Partners
Program structure and courses
Duration and schedule
- Program starting in the fall and winter of each year
- Spread over 5 months on a full-time basis (ministerial program totalling 450 h)
- Daytime courses and practical applications in the evening
- Schedule, dates and course order are subject to change.
- The ITHQ reserves the right to cancel a course or program if there are insufficient registrations to justify its offering. In such cases, program and registration fees will be refunded in full.
Hands-on experience
Practical applications:
- Practical courses at the Restaurant de l’ITHQ
- Participation in sommelier competitions and a gastronomic banquet
Diploma
- Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) in Sommellerie from the Ministère de l’Éducation
- ITHQ Signature certificate in Sommellerie
- Recognition by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers
All students are required to follow certain basic rules regarding professional image.
Admission
Admission application periods
Québec and Canadian applicants
Mid-January to March 1, 2025 (course start date in August, 2025)
September 15 to November 1, 2026 (course start date in January, 2026)
International students
November 2, 2024 to February 1, 2025 (course start date in August, 2025)
March 2 to June 1 (course start date in January)
To be eligible for this program, you must:
- Hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in Food and Beverage Services or have received equivalent training, OR
- Have relevant and recent work experience in restaurant services (for more details on this subject, please contact the registrar’s office).
You must also:
- Demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written French. Refer to the Required Language proficiency page for more details.
Selection interview
If your application file is eligible, you will be invited to a selection interview, which will take place either in person or remotely, depending on your place of residence.
In-person interview dates for Canadian applicants:
- Programs starting in Winter 2025: Wednesday, November 27 and Thursday, November 28, 2024
- Programs starting in Fall 2025: Wednesday, April 9; Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11, 2025
Required documents
- Applicants must ensure that they meet the program’s admission requirements before submitting their application.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
- For your admission file to be considered complete, it must contain a copy of all the official documents required by the ITHQ in accordance with your status, as listed below.
- These documents must be legible and saved in PDF format. Documents in a language other than French or English must also be accompanied by a certified translation into French or English.
- Important notice! Some documents required by the ITHQ may not be requested automatically on the admission platform. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that all the documents on the list in accordance with your status have been uploaded to your file before submitting your application.
Important
The ITHQ will accept only one application per applicant for its vocational training programs. Although the SRAM admission platform allows you to submit up to 3 applications, only your 1st choice of program will be considered. Your 2nd or 3rd choice will automatically be rejected.
Application based on studies
- Transcript (achievement record) of the DVS in Food and Beverage Services
- Diploma obtained in Québec
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, , if applicable
Application based on relevant work experience
- Secondary or post-secondary education transcript (achievement record)
- Diploma obtained in Québec
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
General documents
- Birth certificate
- Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
Application based on studies
- Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Food and Beverage Services for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 10, 11 and 12)
- Diploma obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, if applicable
Application based on relevant work experience
- Complete transcripts from grade 10, 11 and 12.
- Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
- Diploma(s) obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
General documents
- Birth certificate
- Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
- Canadian citizenship certificate OR permanent resident card
- Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), if applicable
Application based on studies
- Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Food and Beverage Services for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Diploma obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, if applicable
Application based on relevant work experience
- Complete transcripts of or the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
- Diploma(s) obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
General documents
- Birth certificate
- Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
Application based on studies
- Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Food and Beverage Services for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Diploma obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, if applicable
Application based on relevant work experience
- Complete transcripts of the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
- Diploma(s) obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
Costs and financial aid
Program fees
Upcoming in Fall 2024
Financial aid and scholarships
Looking for financial support for your study project? Find out about the different options available to you.
Future prospects
A short program with big rewards!
Training in sommellerie is a definite asset for anyone working in the food and beverage services industry. With this diploma, you’ll not only be able to give better advice to your customers, but you’ll also have access to better positions in a wide range of establishments, as well as being able to explore new job prospects in the advising or sales fields.
Careers to discover
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