French-speaking students continue choosing Canada in 2025 for reasons that show up clearly in national data: strong French-language institutions, bilingual learning environments and a growing demand for graduates who can work in both official languages. When you walk across campuses like the Université de Moncton, Université de Montréal, the University of Ottawa or Campus Saint-Jean, you see the impact of that demand right away – French is used in classrooms, residences, student services and community spaces.
IRCC reported that more than 16,000 French-speaking international students held valid study permits in Canada in 2024, with further growth projected in 2025–2026.
The momentum is visible across provinces, and it reflects both educational and demographic priorities set by governments and institutions.
Why Canada Is a Leading Destination for Francophone Learners
Canada offers one of the most diverse French-language ecosystems outside Europe. Québec remains the main hub, but French-speaking communities in Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta continue expanding their programs and services. Many institutions now combine French-only programs with bilingual options, giving students flexibility in how they build their studies.
Federal policy plays the biggest role here. Ottawa’s 2025–2029 Francophone immigration targets aim to increase the share of French-speaking permanent residents outside Québec from 8.5% in 2025 to 12% by 2029 (IRCC, 2025). This shift encourages provinces and institutions to strengthen French-language pathways in colleges, universities and professional programs.
Statistics Canada’s 2024 labour update highlights that bilingual professionals often access broader employment opportunities across public administration, education, health and community services.
Students benefit from a wide range of academic routes, from technical diplomas to applied science degrees and graduate research.
Main Scholarship and Funding Programs for Francophone Students
Funding options for French-speaking students vary by province, institution and academic level. Many applicants combine several forms of support to reduce study costs.
Institutional Scholarships from Canadian Universities
Most French-language and bilingual universities offer entrance scholarships, merit awards and research-based funding. Examples include:
- Université de Montréal’s exemption program for international students (renewed through Winter 2027)
- Université Laval’s excellence and leadership awards
- Université d’Ottawa’s French Studies bursaries and differential tuition advantages for qualifying programs
- The Université de Moncton network’s financial aid for international Francophone applicants
- Graduate research awards across the UQ network (UQAM, UQTR, UQO, UQAR)
Master’s and doctoral students often receive additional departmental funding through research collaborations or graduate teaching roles.
Federal and Pan-Canadian Initiatives Supporting French Studies
A major national initiative is the Bursaries for Postsecondary Studies in French as a Second Language, a 3,000 CAD award funded by the Government of Canada and administered by the ACUFC. It encourages Anglophone students to pursue higher education in French and supports the federal goal of strengthening bilingualism.
The program forms part of the Government of Canada’s Official Languages Support Programs under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023, with continued implementation in 2025.
Provincial and Regional Scholarships in French
Funding options also differ quite a bit by province. Québec remains the most generous because it has long-standing tuition-exemption agreements with France, Belgium and several other countries across the Francophonie, which lets many students pay the same rates as local learners.
Ontario takes a different route and supports French-language higher education through a mix of regional bursaries and institutional awards, especially at bilingual universities and colleges. New Brunswick, with its bilingual education network, also provides targeted financial support to students who choose French-language programs.
Manitoba offers its own pathway through institutions like Université de Saint-Boniface, which maintains several scholarships geared toward Francophone and Francophile students. Together, these programs shrink the cost gap between domestic and international tuition and make it easier for students to consider studying in French across different regions of Canada.
International and Multilateral Scholarships
Many Francophone students use additional funding from:
- AUF (Agence universitaire de la Francophonie)
- International mobility and development scholarships
- Overseas research funds tied to specific fields
- Government-to-government educational cooperation programs
These sources support mobility and research engagements across the Francophone world.
Funding Options Beyond Traditional Scholarships
Beyond scholarships and exemptions, students often rely on university-based financing.
Research Assistantships (RA)
RA positions support work on faculty-led research projects. They are common in engineering, social sciences, health, environment, public policy and technology fields.
Teaching Assistantships (TA)
TA roles allow students to support undergraduate instruction in labs, tutorials or discussion groups. On bilingual campuses, French-speaking assistants often support both French and English programs.
Graduate Fellowships and Competitive Research Grants
Graduate fellowships come from universities, external foundations or Canadian research councils such as NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR. These awards help cover tuition and living expenses for high-performing students.
Professional Training Grants, Co-op and Paid Internships
Many colleges and universities integrate paid co-op terms or internships into their programs. Engineering, computer science, business, community health and environmental studies offer strong placement opportunities.
Popular Study Paths for Francophone Students in Canada
Between 2023 and 2025, several academic fields saw sustained interest among French-speaking applicants:
- Education and pedagogy
- Engineering and applied sciences
- Public administration and public policy
- Health sciences (community health, public health, lab sciences)
- Environment and sustainable development
- Technology, data science and AI
- Law, justice and social services delivered in French
OECD’s 2025 Education Snapshot ranked Canada highly for STEM and health-related graduate training, contributing to increased enrolment in technical and scientific programs among Francophone students.
Admission Requirements for Francophone and Francophile Students
French-speaking applicants typically need to demonstrate French proficiency. Universities use TEF, TCF, CEFR-based assessments or internal language tests.
Some bilingual institutions also ask for English-language results (IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent), especially when students complete part of their program in English or attend campuses where French is a minority language.
Academic documentation usually includes:
- Transcripts
- Statement of interest
- Curriculum vitae
- Reference letters
- Portfolios or writing samples for research programs
Language results matter beyond admission. IRCC’s 2025 updates confirmed that French proficiency can add up to 50 points in Express Entry, which motivates many students to maintain bilingual language training throughout their studies.
Living and Studying in Francophone Regions of Canada
Living costs differ widely between regions. Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto sit on the higher end, while cities like Moncton, Saguenay, Edmundston, Rimouski and Saint-Boniface offer lower housing and transportation costs.
Estimated monthly expenses (2025):
| Category | Average Range (CAD) |
| Housing | 650–1,400 |
| Food | 300–450 |
| Transit | 50–120 |
| Phone/Internet | 50–90 |
| Miscellaneous | 150–300 |
These estimates vary depending on lifestyle, location and program structure.
Student Support Services on French-speaking and Bilingual Campuses
Most universities offer a full set of support services designed for Francophone and international students, ranging from orientation for new arrivals to language assistance in both French and English. These campuses usually run intercultural programs, writing and tutoring centres, mental-health and counselling services, as well as peer mentoring networks that help students settle into academic and social life.
Institutions with established French-speaking communities – such as Université de Moncton, Université de Saint-Boniface and Campus Saint-Jean – make sure these services are available entirely in French, which tends to make the transition smoother for those studying in minority-language settings.
Study, Work and Longer-Term Immigration Pathways
Students with valid study permits may work during their studies under IRCC rules, with program-dependent limits. After completing their program, graduates can apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows them to gain Canadian work experience.
Canada’s 2025 policies also include pathways that support French-speaking graduates:
- The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP), launched in 2024, supports settlement and creates a streamlined route to long-term residence for students in designated regions
- French-language advantages in Express Entry
- Provincial nominee programs with Francophone-focused streams
These tools help strengthen the presence of French-speaking professionals across Canadian provinces.
How to Find the Right Scholarship in 2025
Reliable sources remain the safest place to search for funding:
- University financial aid portals
- ACUFC directories and French-language program listings
- Government of Canada and provincial education funding pages
- AUF and international mobility platforms
Applicants should track deadlines carefully, since some scholarships close months before program start dates.
Avoiding Scholarship and Immigration Scams
Universities and organisations such as ACUFC continue to warn students about fraudulent messages circulating on social media.
Basic verification steps:
- No legitimate Canadian scholarship requires payment.
- Always cross-check details on an official university or government website.
- Contact financial aid offices when in doubt.
- Verify foreign scholarships through embassy websites or official registries.
ACUFC’s 2024 security notice confirmed an increase in fake online accounts impersonating scholarship programs.
Why Francophone Students Choose Canada
French-speaking students succeed in Canada because the environment supports their full academic path – from the classroom to community life to long-term career development. The combination of strong French-language institutions, bilingual workplaces and expanding immigration pathways creates a foundation that feels stable and promising for both short-term study and long-term plans.
National data, campus offerings and policy trends all point in the same direction in 2025: Canada plans to welcome more Francophone learners, broaden French-language services and strengthen the presence of French-speaking professionals across the country. Scholarships, research opportunities and community-based support help students build that future step by step.
Helpful Resources for Francophone Students
- Government of Canada – Study in Canada
Application steps, permits and work options
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html - ACUFC – Francophone Colleges and Universities in Canada
Directory of French-language and bilingual postsecondary institutions
https://www.acufc.ca/ - FSL Bursaries (3,000 CAD)
Eligibility and participating institutions
https://acufc.ca/fslbursaries/ - Québec Government – Financial Aid and Tuition Exemptions
Information for studying in Québec
https://www.quebec.ca/en/education/study-quebec - Université de Montréal – International Tuition Exemption
Details on one of Canada’s largest exemption programs
https://admission.umontreal.ca/en/scholarship-for-international-students/ - EduCanada – Scholarships and Study Programs
Government scholarships and mobility opportunities
https://www.educanada.ca/scholarships-bourses/index.aspx?lang=eng
This website is not affiliated with the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program (CFSP/PCBF) or the Government of Canada. We do not award scholarships, accept applications, or provide individualised funding services. This platform is an independent source of general information about Francophone education and development opportunities.