色狐入口
In 2024, Quebec will be implementing changes to the post-secondary education system that will have a 鈥渄irect impact [on Quebec鈥檚] ability to attract and retain the best talents.鈥�
Recent reports from multiple outlets confirm Quebec鈥檚 intention, beginning in 2024, to implement several changes to the post-secondary education system 鈥� as well as connected immigration programs 鈥� across Canada鈥檚 only majority French-language province.
Tuition fees set to double for out-of-province students attending any of Quebec鈥檚 three English universities
Incoming international students (as well as domestic Canadian students from outside of Quebec) set to attend any of the province鈥檚 three English universities 鈥� Bishop鈥檚 University, McGill or Concordia 鈥� will that is twice as high as current rates starting in Fall 2024.
According to Premier Fran莽ois Legault, the upcoming tuition hike is being implemented as 鈥渙ne more gesture to reverse the decline of French in Quebec鈥�, tuition for out-of-province students attending any of the three designated schools is set to rise 鈥渇rom 鈥� $8,992 to about $17,000 per year.鈥�
Reports say that the tuition hikes will only impact undergraduate and graduate-level students after the Fall of 2024. This means that neither 鈥渟tudents already in the system鈥� nor 鈥淧hD students and researchers鈥� will be impacted by the increase in tuition.
According to Quebec鈥檚 Higher Education Minister, Pascale Dery, this move is being made in an attempt to 鈥渂oost funding of French universities and to protect French鈥�, although she says that Quebec understands 鈥渋ncreasing 鈥� tuition fees 鈥� will [cause] a drop [in enrollment] at Concordia, Bishop鈥檚 (and) McGill.鈥�
New immigration rules will fast-track immigration for Francophone students
Quebec is set to alter its popular (PEQ) immigration pathway by specific to foreign students who are francophone and those who completed their studies in French. This change will mean that eligible international students, instead of having to acquire 鈥�12 to 18 months of work experience [prior to applying] for a certificate leading to permanent residency, can [make this request immediately after completing] their studies.鈥�
Benoit Dubreuil, Quebec鈥檚 commissioner of the French language, notes that this change is being made for a similar reason as the tuition hike set to begin next Fall. 鈥淲e have decided to render the knowledge of French a requirement for practically all the economic (immigration) programs 鈥� [because] we want people who live in Quebec to integrate, in French.鈥�
What is the expected impact of these changes on international students?
These changes to Quebec鈥檚 post-secondary education system, and connected immigration pathways, are expected to have a notable impact on international students. This is due to the fact that most international students who come to Canada arrive from countries that do not speak French.
Impact of tuition hikes
From the time they enter Canada, Quebec-bound international students destined for English universities will now face tuition expenses that were already heavily advantageous to domestic Canadians.
In fact, according to Statistics Canada data , the average international student tuition in Quebec at the undergraduate level ($31,887) is already over 9x more than the tuition expenses of domestic undergraduate students ($3,461). The difference is 5.5x at the graduate level, as international student tuition averages $20,034 while domestic tuition is just $3,633.
Undoubtedly, this tuition hike at Quebec鈥檚 three anglophone post-secondary institutions, will only further exacerbate the strain faced by foreigners coming to study in this region with respect to tuition fees.
Impact of changes to PEQ
Further, the changes coming to Quebec鈥檚 PEQ will impact the post-graduation immigration prospects of many international students who would otherwise live in Quebec.
According to Concordia University, one of only three English universities across Quebec, (93.3%) of its international student graduates obtained citizenship via the PEQ in 2017.
Now, many stakeholders across the province believe that such systemic changes to one of Quebec鈥檚 primary immigration programs 鈥渇oreign students without sufficient French knowledge 鈥� from applying [for permanent residence in Quebec] and eventually becoming part of the workforce.鈥�
For international students, this may mean their Canadian immigration options 鈥� which many explore with the intent of staying in Canada after graduation 鈥� become even further limited, as these changes effectively remove the PEQ as a potential immigration pathway for those without the requisite French-language skills.