(Montreal) An English-language university exempted from Quebec’s controversial tuition fee hike is nevertheless seeing a drop in enrollment from students from outside the province.
Bishop’s University in the Eastern Townships says enrolment from students in the rest of Canada has fallen by 10 per cent.
The institution’s principal and vice-chancellor, Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, says the Quebec government’s decision to increase tuition fees for out-of-province students by $3,000 has created a “chilling effect” that discourages students from coming to Quebec.
Bishop’s University is exempt from the tuition fee increase, but Lebel-Grenier said the university is still facing a $2.6 million deficit, largely due to declining enrolment.
He adds that international student enrolment has dropped by about 40 per cent, which he says is because the federal and provincial narrative about temporary immigrants makes them feel like they won’t be welcome.
Montreal’s Concordia University announced earlier this week that out-of-province student enrollment is down nearly 30 per cent and international student enrollment is down 11 per cent, costing the university $15 million.