Bootcamp financing remains one of the main barriers for people looking to attend our course. To better understand the available options, we met with Chantal Cyr, Director of Business Development at Caisse Desjardins des Technologies, who sheds light on the student loans offered to learners at Le Wagon Montreal campus.
“The big difference is that most financial institutions reserve their student lines of credit for government-recognized programs, like CEGEP or university,” explains Chantal Cyr. For private training programs like bootcamps, these products are generally not accessible. Students often have to turn to personal loans or regular lines of credit, which offer less favorable rates.
“At Desjardins, we chose to adapt our offer to address this reality,” she specifies. The proposed student line of credit covers bootcamp fees and, in some cases, an additional amount for purchasing a computer. The objective, according to Chantal, is to allow students to focus on their learning without worrying about immediate financial constraints.
The eligibility criteria are relatively simple. “To be eligible, you must meet a few criteria. First, be 18 years or older and reside in Quebec. Second, be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen,” explains Chantal. As with any line of credit, credit approval is required.
Regarding financial requirements, Chantal clarifies: “There is no income requirement to obtain the student line of credit. We know that many students don’t work full-time during their training. However, we do look at credit management: having a good score and a responsible history is important.”
For candidates who already have student debt, Chantal indicates that Desjardins conducts “a comprehensive analysis of each student’s financial situation.” She adds: “If you already have a student loan elsewhere, for example $30,000 in debt, this can make the file more sensitive. There are no fixed criteria on this subject, but we want to avoid over-indebtedness.”
Chantal details how this line of credit works: “During your bootcamp, you only pay interest, which lightens your budget. After the end of your training, you benefit from a grace period of up to one year before you start repaying the principal.”
Then, the line of credit is consolidated into a loan, and the borrower begins repaying both principal and interest according to a schedule adapted to their situation. “The idea is to give you time to establish yourself professionally before taking on larger payments,” she specifies.
Regarding rates, “the interest rate is very simple: it corresponds to Desjardins’ preferential rate, to which we add 1%,” explains Chantal. She emphasizes the transparency of the offer: “There are no additional fees related to the student line of credit. No opening fees, no monthly fees.”
“I’ve been thinking of taking the AI software bootcamp for almost a year but I was not sure how to finance it. Now I just finished it with the support of my Desjardins loan.” – Sherline, AI Software bootcamp alumna
When asked about advice she would give to people considering this financing, Chantal first emphasizes the importance of seeing the loan as a strategic investment: “Rather than liquidating your investments, our student line of credit at an advantageous rate allows you to finance your training while letting your investments continue to grow.”
However, she recommends being proactive at the end of training: “As soon as your income stabilizes after the bootcamp, we advise starting to repay the principal quickly. Ideally, plan for a 5-year repayment: this keeps your payments affordable, while leaving you the option to repay faster if you wish.” She specifies that this is an open loan, allowing additional payments or full repayment at any time, without penalty.
To facilitate budget management, Chantal suggests synchronizing repayments with paycheck deposits: “If you’re paid every two weeks, you can schedule a withdrawal on those same dates. This facilitates budget management and reduces surprises.”
Chantal also shares some strategies for maintaining and improving your credit score:
Respect deadlines: “Always pay your creditors before the due date. A late payment can have a negative impact on your score.”
Manage revolving credit balances: “For your cards or lines of credit, try to keep your usage below 75% of the authorized limit. This demonstrates good management and improves your score.”
Avoid multiple credit applications: Chantal highlights a particular advantage of Desjardins: “Each application can affect your score. When you’re shopping for a house or car, it’s unnecessary to authorize multiple external verifications. Desjardins offers you a real-time 360° view of your credit via AccĂšsD, including your Equifax and TransUnion data. You can therefore show your score directly to dealers or brokers to negotiate a rate, without them having to make a credit application.”
Monitor your file regularly: “Check your credit bureau at least once a month on AccĂšsD. This allows you to quickly detect any irregularities and maintain control over your financial health.”
According to Chantal Cyr, the partnership between Le Wagon Montreal and Caisse Desjardins des Technologies goes well beyond a simple loan offer: “We want to offer a complete experience that supports students in their professional journey.”
Concretely, this partnership translates into:
“This year, I started my business. I’m leveraging my background as an electrical engineer in renewable energy and electrical grids to develop innovative solutions for the energy transition. I’m going to invest the prize I received in my business.” – Riad, alumni Data Science & AI bootcamp, recipient of the 2025 Tech Engagement Award by Desjardins.
“Our goal is to create an environment where financing is just one lever among others to help you succeed,” Chantal summarizes.
When asked about concrete examples of this partnership, Chantal shares the story of Lena Gagnon, an alumna of Le Wagon Montreal: “We met Lena at one of your career breakfasts* in December 2023. She was looking for an internship and we started by connecting her with a few recruiters.”
The story doesn’t stop there. “A few months later, we were looking for a young administrator for our board of directors. Lena applied⊠and she was selected! Her profile stood out remarkably during our members’ votes.”
Chantal concludes: “This story illustrates our vision well: going beyond financing to create concrete opportunities. We believe that supporting Le Wagon learners also means opening doors to professional experiences and strategic roles.”
The partnership between Le Wagon Montreal and Caisse Desjardins des Technologies represents an interesting option for financing your intensive training in AI Software Development, Data Analytics, or Data Science & AI in Canada. Whether you’re aiming for a full-time or part-time course, this line of credit adapted to private training programs, with flexible terms and support that goes beyond simple financing, aims to remove the financial barriers that often hinder career transition paths in Quebec.
To learn more about bootcamp financing terms and verify your eligibility, you can contact a learning advisor from the Le Wagon Montreal team to discuss.
*Career Breakfasts Networking are events organized by Le Wagon Montreal several times a year, inviting companies from all sectors to meet alumni from our AI Software, Data Science and AI & Data Analytics bootcamps.
Quick links:
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