BC student attends McGill University despite Quebec's tuition hike for out-of-province students

Daniel Jennings, who arrived from Vancouver Island in September, BC's new home base will be McGill University in Montreal.

Two weeks ago, the 17-year-old accepted the university's offer for the Commerce program, despite a $3,000 tuition hike for out-of-province students attending English universities starting this fall.

“Everything has its pros and cons, and I decided that wasn't enough of an obstacle to stop me from deciding to do it,” he said.

“It was a very complex thought process and it involved long conversations with family and teachers at school. I just take time to think about what I want,” he said. “Ultimately, after weighing the pros and cons of the other schools I applied to, I decided it was the right place for me based on location, lifestyle and academic factors.”

We first met Jennings when he was considering not coming to Montreal because the government was planning to nearly double tuition from $9,000 to $17,000.

But in December, they decided to raise 30 percent to $12,000, which Jennings was able to afford.

“The other schools I wanted to apply to were Ontario business schools, whose tuition is so high that I would have paid more regardless,” he said. “It's a bit frustrating and it changes over four years, we're paying an extra $12,000.”

McGill University has created a $3,000 award to help candidates cover expenses, but Jennings says his management faculty won't benefit from it.

(Courtesy of Daniel Jennings)

But he points out that McGill has assured prospective students that they will not be affected by the new French requirement rules this year. Those starting school in the fall of 2025 must pass a French proficiency exam to graduate.

“I know McGill is academically rigorous and I don't need to consider new required courses,” he said. “In my time, I'll probably try to learn some French, but it's been great not having to take mandatory courses and getting that exposure from school early.”

Last week, the head of McGill University said he met with Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Higher Education Minister Pascal Dery in Montreal to discuss ways to reverse the decline of the French language.

Jennings says students in cities like Montreal should be encouraged to learn French.

“Of course, I do not agree with the government's proposals to raise tuition fees for people trying to maintain their French language. “I think preserving the French language is not the right way,” he said. “I think a good way to go about it is to encourage people to take up and learn the language through positive incentives.”

Jennings says she's looking forward to studying in Montreal, but has some concerns about Quebec's approach.

“It's a new element of the college application process, having to keep your finger on the pulse of the politics of the area you're trying to go to,” he said. “Hopefully there won't be any sudden shocks or changes when I make the commitment. I don't want to have the rug pulled out from under my feet.”