Back to school! 6 tips for starting your semester at Collège Nordique

A new semester, new courses and maybe a new routine to settle into! Whether this is your first semester at Collège Nordique or you already know our educational institution well, the beginning of the semester is the perfect time to build a few good habits.

From organization and digital tools to resources and student life, here are six practical tips to start the semester on the right foot and make the most of your experience at Collège Nordique.

1. Take a quick look around the Student Portal

Before the semester gets busy, take a few minutes to log in to the Student Portal and familiarize yourself with this essential tool for your studies.

The Student Portal gives you access to important information related to your student record. You can also register for new courses, discover upcoming workshops and activities, and depending on your courses, access the learning platform.

If your course uses the learning platform, you’ll find course content, activities, assignments, and various resources shared by your instructors. At the beginning of the semester, take some time to explore each of your course space, review your course outline, and make note of your first deadlines.

Quick tip: add the important dates from all your courses to one calendar. Assignments, assessments, meetings and other deadlines will be much easier to keep track of.

2. Get to know the people who are here to support you

At Collège Nordique, your student experience goes beyond your courses. Your instructors and the members of our team are here to support you throughout your studies.

At the beginning of the semester, take a moment to find the contact information for your instructors and familiarize yourself with the different resources available to you. If an instruction is unclear, you have a question about your studies or something is making it more difficult to keep up with your coursework, reach out to us.

Not sure who to contact? Get in touch with the Collège Nordique team, and we’ll help connect you with the right person or resource.

3. Plan your studies around your reality

Work, family, school, appointments, activities… weeks can fill up quickly, especially when you’re balancing several responsibilities.

At the beginning of the semester, look at your schedule as a whole and identify the times you can realistically dedicate to your studies. Setting aside a few specific blocks of time each week is often more effective than waiting to “find time” between other commitments.

It also helps to look a few weeks ahead. If several assignments or assessments fall within the same period, you can start certain tasks earlier and avoid having everything pile up at once.

A paper planner, digital calendar, phone reminders or a good old-fashioned checklist: choose the method that works best for you!

4. Make use of the resources available to you

Having difficulty with a course? Have an administrative question? Need some support getting organized or continuing your studies? It’s much easier to explore possible solutions when you reach out to our team early.

Depending on your situation, the Collège Nordique team can answer your questions, support you through different processes or connect you with the appropriate resources.

So don’t wait until the night before a deadline or the end of the semester to ask for help. Reaching out for support is part of the learning process too.

5. Connect with your student community

Studying in the North can mean learning alongside people who live in different communities, sometimes hundreds or even thousands of kilometres apart. But distance doesn’t have to mean isolation!

Take advantage of opportunities during your courses to join discussions, ask questions and get to know the other members of your group. Collège Nordique’s workshops, activities and events are also great opportunities to meet other members of the Francophone and Francophile community.

These connections can make your experience even more rewarding. Someone you meet in a course could become a person to exchange ideas with about an assignment, share resources with or simply chat with after a busy week.

6. Make a little room for the North

The September semester begins at a very particular time in the North: the days are getting shorter, temperatures are starting to change and winter is never too far away.

Between study sessions, make the most of the last beautiful days to get outside, go for a walk, move your body or simply take a break from screens. As your schedule gets busier, making time to eat, sleep, spend time with the people you care about and rest is just as important as making time for your assignments.

A successful semester isn’t just about submitted assignments and met deadlines. It’s also about finding a rhythm that allows you to learn, grow and take care of yourself throughout your journey.

The start of a new semester marks a new chapter, and the entire Collège Nordique team is happy to welcome you back.

Have a great start to the semester!

Published on September, 15th 2026