French and English Universities in Quebec

QUESCREN Research Brief No. 11, February 2024

By Shannon Bell and Patrick Donovan

“Of the 19 universities in Quebec, three provide instruction primarily in English: McGill and Concordia in Montreal, and Bishop’s in Sherbrooke. Critics have long accused them of being “overfunded” and contributing to the decline of French. They claim that English-language universities receive a disproportionate share of infrastructure funding; attract more income through international students, who moreover are said to accelerate the “anglicization” of the province; and receive more funding per capita in relation to the size of Quebec’s English-speaking minority. These criticisms, which are not always supported by evidence or communication of the broader context, have had an impact on policy. The present brief aims to unpack these claims, identify possible sources of confusion, and provide some clarity.”