Bill 96 for English-language education in Quebec

Act 14 concerns legislation on the official and common language of Quebec, French. It is the result of Bill 96, which was passed in May 2022.

This act makes changes to the Charter of the French Language (better known as Bill 101) as well as several other acts, such as the General and Vocational Colleges Act.

Among other things, the Act:

(i) Fixed Cap on Admissions in English-language programs in Quebec's CEGEPs and colleges; and

(ii) Requires students enrolled in English-language programs to take the French Exit Exam (épreuve uniforme de français (EUF)) in order to graduate, with the exception of those who hold certificate of eligibility to receive instruction in English (COE).

Since the earliest roots of this bill, LaSalle College has worked closely with the Quebec government, along with the English CEGEPs and colleges in the Montreal area, to reduce the impact of Bill 96 on our current and future students.

At the college level, any student who is eligible to study in Quebec can study in an AEC or DEC English program.

However, English colleges and CEGEPs have been limited in the number of spots they can offer and must give priority to students with a certificate of eligibility to receive instruction in English (COE) as of the winter 2024 semester.

The admission caps for students wishing to study in English at LaSalle College are 1724 for DEC and 693 for AECs.

These quotas are higher than the average for other Francophone institutions offering training in English.

DEC

Beginning in the Fall of 2023, students who begin a Diploma of College Studies (DEC) program in English, without a COE, will be required to meet the following requirements to graduate:

• Pass the French Exit Exam (épreuve uniforme de français (EUF)) at the end of the college program; and
• Pass three courses specific to their program given in French (as of Fall 2024), excluding language of instruction and second language courses as well as physical education courses.

Note that students who continue their college education in a program in English begun before June 30, 2023, do not have to take the EUF.

However, the graduation requirements described above do apply to students who change programs after July 1st, 2023.

Students who have a COE will not need to take the EUF. They will, however, be required to take the English Exit Examination (EEE), as they do now. However, starting in the Fall of 2024, these students will be required to take and pass three French language courses or three courses from their program in French. These French courses will be in addition to the French as a Second Language courses.

AEC

Beginning in the Fall of 2023, a student without a COE who begins an AEC program in English will be required to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of French, as defined by the regulations of the Ministère de la Langue française, in order to graduate.

Students who hold a COE will be exempt from this requirement.

This document allows a student to receive instruction in English.

There are several factors that determine who is eligible to receive a certificate of eligibility to receive instruction in English (COE). Among other things, a student may obtain a certificate if he or she, or a member of his or her immediate family, received most of his or her elementary or secondary education in English in Canada.

International students are not normally eligible, but there are exceptions.

For more information, visit the ministère de l’Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur Website.

If you are eligible, the ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur will provide your COE to LaSalle College as it will automatically appear in your student file.

Note that only preschool, elementary or secondary students who are eligible for English-language instruction and who do not have a certificate of eligibility for English-language instruction, for example a student who studied in French at the elementary and secondary levels, must take steps before completing Secondary V. For others, the declaration of eligibility automatically appears in the student's file.

As the largest combined French and English college in North America, LaSalle College has all the expertise and bilingual environment necessary to support your success. Our teachers have been supporting and mentoring students whose first language is not French for over 60 years.

LaSalle College has support centers for the practice and improvement of French:

• LAB (Languages Across Boders)
• CAF (Centre d’aide en français)
• FLASH (French Language Assistance, Support and Help)
• The Homework Club

The College is actively working to improve its services, measures and extracurricular activities to support its students in learning the required language in French.

International students may study in an English-language AEC or DEC program.

The graduation requirements mentioned above for students who do not hold a COE apply.

We are currently working on a French language immersion program: Programme d'intégration au Québec: culture et langue française, to help our international students learn the French language more easily.

This program will be available for registration as of the end of March 2023.

This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace any statutory or regulatory requirements. Each application for admission or issuance of a diploma or certificate is considered on its own basis.