‘Dead end’: Sudden closure of private colleges in Quebec leaves hundreds of international students stranded
Posted July 14, 2026 10:45 am.
Last Updated July 14, 2026 5:53 pm.
Several hundred international students have been left stranded after the sudden closure of two private colleges in Montreal and Sherbrooke.
Collège supérieur de Montréal and its sister campus Collège supérieur de Sherbrooke shuttered their doors after Quebec’s Ministry of Education denied the renewal of their licences last week.
A combined 878 international students who came to Quebec to study and for many, build a future, are left wondering what happens next.
“This leaves so many students at a dead end,” said Omar Guemadi, a student of Collège supérieur de Montréal. “We sacrificed so much, financially, emotionally and worked through a long, difficult journey that required a great deal of courage and patience. That’s why we don’t want those sacrifices to be for nothing.
“If this isn’t resolved very quickly, I honestly believe the overwhelming majority of students will be severely affected.”
The decision not to renew the licences followed “an analysis of their situation in light of the applicable requirements,” according to Bryan St-Louis, a spokesperson for Quebec’s Ministry of Education. The ministry has not publicly disclosed the specific reasons, citing ongoing administrative proceedings.
St-Louis added the ministry has notified affected students of options to complete their studies at other institutions in Quebec.
“Our priority remains ensuring the protection and well-being of students, the quality of educational services, and the continuity of their educational paths,” St-Louis told CityNews.
Many of those students, like Guemadi, were nearing graduation.
“I only have about a month-and-a-half, maybe two months left,” he said. “Most students are at the end of their programs. That’s why we refuse to give up, because we know the sacrifices we’ve made to earn this diploma.”
“Most of these students are at the very end of their programs,” echoed Wahid Megherbi, the founder of the Facebook group Les Algériens De Montréal. “They’re ready to enter Quebec’s workforce. In the end, it’s Quebec that risks losing skilled, educated workers who have received strong professional training.”
In a letter sent to students, the ministry said the government will waive tuition for students transferring to designated schools.
International students will need to apply for new study permits to continue their education in Quebec. Students can contact the immigration ministry (MIFI) for support.
But Guemadi says transferring won’t be an option for everyone. He explains that while students initially receive an open Quebec Acceptance Certificate, allowing them to study at different institutions, some who renewed their permits later in their programs were issued closed certificates, tying them to the college where they began their studies. Those students would have to apply for a new certificate before transferring, a process he says can be lengthy and uncertain.
“As students caught in the middle of all this, we feel like victims,” he said.
“Students are now asking if they can go to Ottawa, Calgary, New Brunswick or somewhere else,” added Megherbi. “Many no longer want to stay in Quebec because the rules keep changing.
“Not every year, but almost every month.”
