There is an urgent need for manpower in several regions of Quebec. This is prompting the province to resort to rare migration strategies. The province recently proposed to attract a greater number of students from abroad, allowing them the opportunity to study at the same cost as Canadian residents and citizens. This policy will be established from next year.
But to take advantage of the program, students will have to meet two essential conditions:
- They will have to go to remote regions where there is a high demand for labor
- They will have to take one of the few specific programs.
Therefore, if your desire is to study at a CEGEP or at one of Montreal’s universities, whether French or English, this policy would not apply. Those interested in taking advantage of this opportunity will have to do so by enrolling only in a French-speaking higher education institute located in the selected regions.
In addition, the curriculum they choose should be related to sectors of the economy where there is a shortage of labor.
In other words, the Quebec government wants to kill two birds with one stone: meet labor needs in the regions and lure immigrants away from Montreal.
The province hopes to attract 1,200 foreign students with this new policy over the next four years. Currently, three-quarters of foreigners who come to study in Quebec settle in Montreal.
The government thinks that studying outside Montreal increases the possibility of settlement in Rimouski, Saguenay or Sherbrooke permanently is more viable.
People create roots, fall in love, and decide to stay. It’s that simple.
Quebec has about 90,000 students of foreign origin and issued 62,000 study permits last year.
The program will be available from September 2023 and will not be applied retroactively. For Quebec, the bill is estimated at $80 million which will be spread over four years.
For example, a $24,000 CAD course would be approximately $3,000 CAD. The price difference is significant.
For example, the current average annual cost for a foreign student interested in studying in Quebec is close to $17,000 annually at the technical level and about $24,000 at the university level.
As soon as the program goes into effect and until they graduate, eligible foreign students will pay the same basic tuition fees annually as Quebecers in the province.
French, Belgian and Canadian students from other provinces already enjoy special status, paying annual tuition fees of $8,186 at the undergraduate level and $2,623 at the master’s level.
If they agree to go to the regions and go to the target sectors, the program will also apply to them.
Priority areas of study will be information technology, engineering and health and social services, as well as the area of education, including the training of early childhood educators.
The government guaranteed to provide assistance to facilitate their regional integration and promote the continuation of the French language.
If you are interested in studying in the province of Quebec you can book your educational consultation here:
