Hundreds of international students woke up to find their schools no longer exist after the Quebec Ministry of Education refused to renew the licences of Collège Supérieur de Montréal and its sister campus in Sherbrooke. The decision, confirmed on July 14, affects 878 foreign learners—many of them months away from graduating—who had hoped a Canadian diploma would open a pathway to permanent residence. Students interviewed by CityNews said they had invested tens of thousands of dollars and years of effort only to confront a “dead end.” Because their Québec Acceptance Certificates (CAQs) and study permits are tied to a specific institution, they must now obtain new authorisations before transferring. Immigration attorneys estimate that re-issuance could take eight to ten weeks, jeopardising students’ ability to meet Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) deadlines. Quebec’s education ministry has promised to waive tuition at designated alternative colleges and to create an expedited transfer process in partnership with MIFI and IRCC. Still, questions remain about whether credits will be fully recognised and how students will finance unexpected living expenses during the transition. Employer groups worry the province could lose nearly 900 soon-to-be-qualified workers in fields from IT to early-childhood education—sectors already reporting labour shortages. For multinational companies recruiting graduates this autumn, HR teams should verify candidates’ enrolment status and adjust onboarding timelines. Immigration counsel may need to amend job-offer letters that referenced PGWP eligibility. Meanwhile, education agents are calling for tighter oversight of private colleges, warning that reputational damage could deter future cohorts from choosing Quebec. Affected students have been advised to keep proof of tuition payments and to monitor both the Education Ministry and the MIFI websites for detailed transfer instructions expected later this week.
Source: CityNews Montreal
