(Quebec) The Legault government confirms an increase in tuition fees for students from other Canadian provinces and makes part of the funding for McGill and Concordia universities conditional on the francization of 80% of their non-Quebec students.
In a letter sent to the rectors of the three English-speaking universities of Quebec, the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, informs them that tuition fees for students from other Canadian provinces will ultimately increase from $9,000 to $12,000 per year, an increase of 33%, as The Press had revealed it. It abandoned its intention announced earlier this fall to almost double these fees so that the bill would reach $17,000.
Students from other provinces who attend a French-speaking university will not have to pay more: “they will remain at the current rate of $9,000 and, eventually, we will see if we are able to lower the rate,” said the minister. in interview.
In a change from the October 14 announcement, Bishop’s University is spared. Because “the demographic and linguistic situation in the Estrie region [est] distinct from that of the greater Montreal region,” she says. This Sherbrooke institution will be able to continue to welcome a fixed number of students from other provinces at the current rate of $9,000 “for a total of 825 rate exclusions in the long term.”
“In other words, there will be no increase in tuition fees for students from the rest of Canada who come to Bishop’s,” rejoiced the principal and vice-chancellor of Bishop’s University. , Sébastien Lebel-Grenier.
On the other hand, the new pricing for foreign students “will result in a loss of revenue of $1.8 million for the University.”
Because Pascale Déry is moving forward with this other measure announced on October 14. It sets a floor rate of $20,000 for foreign students, out of which the government will collect $3,000.
The additional funds raised thanks to the new rates, approximately $125 million per year, will be used to increase funding for French-speaking universities. The president of the University of Quebec, Alexandre Cloutier, welcomed this measure which will “ensure a better balance of income generated by international students between universities”.
Francisation
In return for a less marked increase than expected in tuition fees, Quebec is imposing new requirements on English-speaking universities.
From 2024-2025, Quebec wants them to “begin their efforts to develop skills in French and modify their language policies in order to clearly include their commitment in this regard.”
Above all, the government is asking them that from 2025-2026, “80% of new non-Quebecer enrollees in an English-speaking study program reach level 5 orally according to the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels at the completion of their undergraduate degree program.
The government will “support the achievement of these objectives via the funding policy” of universities. “However, part of the funding for non-Quebec students will be subject to the evaluation and development of French skills by establishments.” The terms will be determined later.
Bishop’s University will also have to Frenchify 80% of its non-Quebec students, but unlike McGill and Concordia, “its funding will not be conditional on achieving this target,” specifies Pascale Déry.
What is level 5?
Oral level 5 of the Quebec Scale of French Proficiency Levels corresponds to an intermediate level. The ladder has 12 levels. According to this scale, “the person understands the gist of conversations on current topics”. It is capable of understanding, for example, “the information transmitted by a neighbor concerning the activities organized on the occasion of a neighborhood party” or even “the information given to the television news concerning an international sports competition”. Additionally, “the person communicates on common topics in conversations or short presentations.” She can “describe a health problem over the telephone to a nurse from the Info-Santé service” or even “interact by telephone with a hotel receptionist to reserve a room and find out about the services offered”.