Concordia, along with McGill University and Bishop's University, has signed an agreement with Quebec's Ministry for Higher Education to support French-language learning among new international and out-of-province students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
"Concordia is committed to promoting and advancing the French language as part of an inclusive and enriching student experience," says Concordia President Graham Carr.
"This agreement supports our ongoing efforts to help students develop linguistic skills that enhance their studies and create additional opportunities to engage more fully with the cultural, professional and community life of Quebec, all while opening doors to the rest of the world."
Under the terms of the agreement, Concordia will receive funding to enhance existing programming and to develop initiatives to promote French-language proficiency. The goal is to ensure that 60 per cent of international and out-of-province students demonstrate a Level 4 on the Quebec Scale of French Proficiency Levels by the time they graduate.
There is no impact on admissions or graduation requirements for the students. Participation in courses, activities and assessments will be entirely voluntary.
A centralized approach
In response to the agreement, Concordia will launch Oui Can Help, an initiative that will highlight and promote courses, activities and support services available to the students targeted by the measure.
The Oui Can Help website will serve as a coordinated entry point to existing and expanded learning opportunities across the university, including access to standardized testing, courses, and peer-to-pear conversation groups.
Support and advising services will also be enhanced to guide students on their French-learning journey.
Concordia's commitment to the promotion of French
Concordia's long-standing commitment to French-language learning is reflected in the programs and opportunities it has developed to help students thrive and prepare to live and work in the province.
These include flexible French credit courses designed to integrate language learning into academic pathways, a French-language and artistic immersion experience in Baie-Saint-Paul, a specialized French program supporting researchers in Quebec's electrification sector, and a regional career fair connecting students with employment opportunities outside Montreal as part of broader regionalization and workforce integration efforts.
"Students choose Concordia for an exceptional academic experience designed to prepare them for the real world, and developing French-language skills alongside their studies can become an important complement to the degree they earn here," says Effrosyni (Faye) Diamantoudi, Provost and Vice-President, Academic.
"By making French learning accessible, flexible and connected to student life, we hope to help students build confidence in French, and graduate with an additional asset that can support their future careers."
Oui Can Help is expected to launch ahead of the fall 2026 academic year. More information will be made available soon.
