Bishop’s University calls Quebec plan to increase tuition ‘catastrophic’

The head of Bishop’s University says the impact of Quebec’s plan to double tuition for out-of-province students will be “catastrophic.”

Tuition for Canadians outside Quebec will jump from $8,992 to $17,000, the province announced Friday.

Quebec’s three English universities – McGill, Concordia and Bishop’s – are expected to be hit hard.

“We stand to be the most impacted university of all three English-language institutions,” Bishop’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Sébastien Lebel-Grenier told CityNews Saturday.

“As it is proposed, it would have a catastrophic impact on our institution. It really attacks the identity of the institution, which is a university that welcomes students from Quebec, but also all over Canada and around the world. So it might have a very detrimental impact on who we are and of course, a very detrimental impact financially.”

The Quebec government is arguing the new rate of $17,000 per year is closer to what it costs the province to educate a university student.

The province also said it will charge universities $20,000 for each international student they recruit, and direct that money only to francophone universities.

Quebec’s three English universities have far more international and out-of-province students compared to the French institutions.

WATCH: Quebec to raise tuition for out-of-province students

Lebel-Grenier remains optimistic something can be worked out with the provincial government to address the university’s concerns.

“I’m in constant communications with the minister of higher education (Pascale Déry), and I’ve had discussions with other cabinet members,” he said. “I think there is a growing understanding of how this might affect our institution, and I’m hopeful that the government will adapt their stance to take into account the real situation of Bishop’s University.”

The fee hike applies to undergraduate and graduate students who begin their studies in 2024; PhD and research students won’t be impacted. Students under international agreements are also exempt.

Bishop’s University is in Lennoxville, Que., east of Montreal.

–With files from The Canadian Press