(Montreal) McGill University announced Tuesday that it will offer an annual scholarship of $3,000 to new undergraduate students from other provinces, in order to compensate for the $3,000 increase in tuition fees imposed by the Quebec government.
The English-speaking Montreal university says that approximately 80% of Canadian undergraduate students who apply to McGill will be eligible for this scholarship, which will be offered starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. The new “Pan-Canadian Scholarship” of $3,000 will be paid for a maximum of four years of study.
The university is trying to maintain its registrations in the face of François Legault’s government’s plan to increase tuition fees for students from outside the province.
The Quebec government announced on October 13 that Canadian students who begin their studies in English in Quebec in the fall of 2024 would pay the equivalent of what their training costs the government, i.e. $17,000 per year, rather than $9,000.
The CAQ government thus wants to slow down the anglicization of Montreal and correct the imbalance in the financing of English-language establishments compared to French-speaking universities. The new tuition fees would be reinvested in the French-speaking university network, to welcome more French-speaking international students.
But on December 14, the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, reduced the increase imposed on students from outside the province who study in English in Quebec from $17,000 to $12,000.
The minister will also require McGill and Concordia universities to ensure that, starting in 2025, 80% of new enrollees in an English study program reach “level 5” orally on the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels. , at the end of their first cycle.
The president and vice-chancellor of McGill, Deep Saini, explained Tuesday in a press release that the success of the Montreal university was based on its ability to attract talent from Quebec, Canada and around the world. He says this scholarship will allow McGill to remain “one of the greatest universities in the world.”
Mr. Saini says the Canada-wide scholarship will require the university to make certain financial sacrifices, but he adds that welcoming students from across Canada is part of McGill’s DNA.
The scholarship will be awarded to Canadian students in arts, agricultural and environmental sciences, music, education sciences, architecture, nursing and most science programs.
“We are doing everything in our power to make McGill and Montreal degrees accessible to students across Canada,” said Fabrice Labeau, first vice-principal of studies and student life at McGill.
At Minister Déry’s office, the spokesperson indicated Tuesday that McGill was “free to grant scholarships to its students from its funds.”
“That being said, the minister wishes to be able to count on their collaboration in order to implement the announced measures,” wrote Valérie Chamula, chief of staff to the Minister of Higher Education.