The province of Quebec has introduced exemptions on international tuition fees for students seeking post-secondary education in the province.
Usually, international students come to Quebec via a study permit to obtain a college degree or attend a public college and are required to pay tuition fees for international students.
The fee will vary depending on the program type. As an estimate, the international students will need to pay around $1,7000 annually at the college level and $24,000 at the undergraduate level.
The costs will exclude admission fees, health insurance, registration, and the subject materials. Consequently, Quebec’s education costs can prove to be expensive and restrictive.
Interestingly, Quebec offers beneficial incentives to international students who seek to study here.
A few have existed for years while the rest have only been recently introduced. A specific group of students can get exemptions from paying higher tuition fees usually meant for international students seeking to study in Quebec.
Exemptions in study fees for areas outside Montreal
A recent initiative was declared in May 2022 and its objective is to encourage international students to live and settle in Quebec regions in the long term.
The government of Canada has attempted to motivate international students to pursue post-graduation education in French in Quebec regions by making large investments with $80 million allocations in the last four years.
If the international students qualify for the eligibility criteria, they will get an exemption from the additional tuition fee charge, that applies to them otherwise.
The international students (if eligible) and Quebec students will only have to pay the basic tuition fee, around $3,000 (usually applicable for a full-time undergraduate).
Students will get to work for 20 hours every week while they continue with their studies to meet the labor market requirements of their region.
Students need to qualify for the eligibility criteria. They must visit the regional institution of higher education that is outside the Montreal Metropolitan area. They must also study under a full-time study program in French in significant sectors, such as health and social services, engineering, early childhood education, information technology, and education.
This newly introduced measure will be implemented during the fall season in 2023.
French and Belgian students get an exemption from tuition fee
Apart from the above initiatives, Quebec has specific agreements with France and Belgian in the context of tuition fees while the students of Belgian and France Francophone come to the province.
Students of France and Belgian Francophones pay fees similar to the students in Canada, while they are enrolled in undergraduate programs.
Suppose, a French and Belgian student is enrolled in any Master’s or Doctoral program, or even in a training or vocational program, they will pay the tuition fee of Quebec.
To qualify for its eligibility, students must demonstrate a valid passport from France or Belgium. They must also possess a work permit that is aligned with the rules of the immigration system in Canada.
The student will also require an acceptance letter (Certificate of Acceptance) from the province of Quebec.
Students to get tuition exemptions from other countries
Suppose international students belong to a country or an international organization that acts as a signatory (signed any treaty or agreement) for an International Mobility Program. In that case, they are exempted from paying any extra tuition fees.
The selection parameters will depend upon the country and agreements. Therefore, checking the exemptions with the government authorities is recommended beforehand.
Quebec has a French-speaking culture, with a strong presence in North America. International students get highly motivated to experience the province’s rich culture due to the extraordinary tuition fee exemptions. They have a chance to become a part of the internationally recognized education system, with exposure to renowned scholars and professors.
