Quebec funds English universities to boost French learning
CAQ government offers $20 million annually to Concordia, McGill and Bishop's to help out-of-province students reach intermediate French proficiency.
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Quebec is investing up to $20 million a year to help boost French-language learning at the province's three English universities over an eight-year period.
Concordia, McGill and Bishop's will share the provincial funds to support out-of-province students developing French skills. The agreement was announced Tuesday morning in Montreal by Quebec's minister of higher education, Martin Biron, alongside representatives from all three institutions.
"This agreement guarantees international students an enriching experience that will allow them to develop skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Learning French is an asset," Biron said.
The goal is ambitious: by the end of eight years, 60 per cent of non-Quebec undergraduates in on-campus programs should reach level-four proficiency in French — the highest level of the beginner stage on Quebec's language scale. The target applies to students starting this fall, with first oral proficiency tests scheduled for the end of the 2029-30 academic year.
The province framed the measure as voluntary, meaning a student can still graduate if they don't achieve level-four French proficiency. However, universities will face penalties if targets are not met. Each institution will determine its own learning pathways, expanded French course offerings and immersion programs while maintaining institutional autonomy.
The three universities are expected to report annually on their progress to Quebec's Ministry of Higher Education.