The number of French students in Canada has increased fivefold in 20 years, climbing from around 5,000 in 2,000 to 23,850 in 2023. That makes them the fifth most represented nationality among international students in Canada today. The vast majority of them, 16,000, study at Québec universities.
What’s driving this increase? What motivates French citizens to pursue their studies in Canada? What factors influence the path they choose to follow after university, and what benefits do they get from the experience?
These are the questions we sought to answer in a research project carried out in 2023 and 2024 in collaboration with the French Embassy in Canada. Our research was based on an online survey of 219 French students and graduates in Canada (75 per cent in Québec and 22 per cent in Ontario), as well as 30 qualitative interviews.
Dynamics and motivations of departures
One factor driving the increase of French students coming to Canada is the way Canada is presented to them. Canada is perceived as a “kind and peaceful” country, in contrast to the United States, which is associated with “gun culture” and inequality.
These perceptions are fuelled by relationships, friends and family members who have had experiences in Canada. The ideas are also shaped by institutional sources. Starting in high school, both teachers and guidance counsellors describe Canada as an accessible and attractive academic destination.
Some aspects of student life in France are perceived as restrictive. This encourages students to leave and study in Canada. The French education system, often described as rigid and top down, is frequently compared to the Canadian model, which is considered less hierarchical and more vocational.
Vanessa, for example, who completed a master’s degree in urban planning at the University of Québec in Montréal (UQAM), was disappointed with the university environment in France. That prompted her to come to Canada. “I didn’t like the environment at all, or the other students, and sometimes I felt the professors infantilized us.”
Many French overseas citizens also come to Canada to pursue more varied courses of study compared to what is available in French Polynesia or Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean.
Other decisive factors in the decision of many French students to study abroad include easier access to funding at the master’s and doctoral levels, and tuition discounts at some Canadian universities (particularly in Québec).
The Canadian model of society, in particular the values of openness and inclusion, also appeals to many French students. Some feel that social immobility in France is forcing them to leave. Others see studying in Canada as an opportunity for personal development and discovery.
Studying in Canada as a cultural experience
Beyond academic and professional ambitions, French students often describe studying in Canada as an opportunity for personal transformation and a way to see the world.
Bilingualism also motivates them. Many share the goal of learning or perfecting their English. Some institutions with a bilingual curriculum, such as the University of Ottawa, are seen as environments where they can achieve this.
Many students create their own social circles in Canada. This can include other international students, both anglophone and francophone, as well as their own compatriots. Several respondents mentioned the phenomenon of “French sticking together.” Exchange students in particular brought this up.
French students widely praise the Canadian model of integration. They commend Canadian society for its openness towards LGBTQ+ and racialized people, contrasting this to identity debates in France.
French students also praise accessibility to various support services and close relationships with educational teams in Canadian universities. Involvement in student life and campus activities plays a key role. Those who invest more time and effort find it easier to fit in.
Career opportunities are another major asset. Internships, specialized courses and student jobs are all ways for students to familiarize themselves with the local working world and start building a professional network.
Estelle, who studied business at ILAC International College in Toronto, noted that this immersion allowed her to acquire valuable skills for the job market, such as “Canadian-style customer service.”
Stay or go back?
For many French students, their Canadian adventure starts out as a temporary project. According to our survey, only 21 per cent consider settling permanently in Canada from the outset. However, among the graduates, 56 per cent end up choosing to stay in Canada, compared with 38 per cent who return to France.
Many factors influence the decision to stay in Canada after their studies. More than three-quarters explain their choice by the career opportunities that are available, and their appreciation of Canadian culture and lifestyle. Estelle said she was motivated to stay in Toronto after her studies by the prospect of earning a better salary and “being able to advance quickly in her field.”
However, France remains an essential emotional and cultural reference point for some, even if they settle permanently in Canada. Isabelle, a former exchange student at the University of Ottawa now living in Toronto, explains that she postponed her plans to return to France, but still has “the idea of returning to France in the medium term.”
Other students plan to go to a third country, such as the United States, or to another European country after studying in Canada. These myriad goals suggest respondents see the issue as one of mobility in a globalized space, rather than as simply a choice between France and Canada.
Beyond ‘brain drain’
Canadian officials have been encouraging higher education institutions to accept more French students for many years. Global Affairs Canada ranks France as one of its “priority” countries. Encouraging French-speaking immigration is also part of a language policy strategy, with the particular objective of reaching eight per cent of French-speaking newcomers outside Québec by 2027.
In France, meanwhile, the increasing number of students in Canada and the prospect of their long-term settlement are prompting fears of a brain drain.
But it’s overly simplistic to view students “voting with the feet” in favour of Canada or against France. Instead, this movement of students and graduates is evidence that transnational pathways and mobile study experiences are becoming the norm.
This study on the trajectories of French students in Canada was co-financed by the Chair of Excellence in Migration and Integration of the Metropolitan University of Toronto and the French Embassy in Canada.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
