Studying in English vs French in Quebec: McGill, Concordia, UdeM and Laval

Quebec has both English and French universities

Quebec is the province where higher education is delivered in two languages at scale. It has a small group of English-language universities and a larger set of French-language universities, and students choose primarily by the language they want to study in.

The main English-language universities include McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal, along with Bishop's University in Sherbrooke. The French-language universities include the Université de Montréal (UdeM), Université Laval in Quebec City, and the wider Université du Québec (UQ) network with campuses across the province. Each institution describes its own programs and entry requirements on its official admissions pages.

The English-medium universities

At Quebec's English-language universities, the main language of instruction is English. International students from English-medium backgrounds often find admission, coursework and assessment conducted in English.

That said, living, working and completing certain administrative steps in Quebec can involve French, so even at an English university some French ability is useful for daily life. An English program addresses the academic language question, but not necessarily the everyday one. Some programs at these universities — for example certain professional faculties — may consider French proficiency, so check the specific program.

The French-medium universities

At the Université de Montréal, Laval and the UQ network, programs are taught primarily in French. These are large, research-active institutions with a full range of disciplines, and studying at one is an immersive way to build advanced French.

For most French-language programs, you will be expected to demonstrate French proficiency for admission, and your coursework, exams and projects will be in French. Each university sets its own accepted French proofs and required level, so confirm them on the official admissions page. If your French is strong or you want to develop it, these universities open a wide set of programs that English-only applicants cannot access.

How to choose between them

Start with the language you can study in comfortably, then layer on program fit, location and cost. An English-medium university is the natural choice if you are not yet ready to study in French; a French-medium university suits students with the required French or those committed to studying in it.

Some French-language universities offer selected programs or courses with English components, and some English-language universities offer French courses — so check the specific program rather than assuming the whole institution is one language. Confirm the language of instruction and any language requirements on each university's official admissions pages.

• Choose your language of study first — it sets which universities are open to you
• Then compare programs, campus location and the tuition tier that applies to you
• Check the specific program's language, not just the university's main language
• Factor in that daily life in Quebec often involves French regardless of your university