Application of the Charter of the French language in college

The Charter of the French language (the Charter) does not apply in the same way in college as it does in preschool, elementary school and secondary school.

In accordance with the Charter, colleges (CEGEPs and subsidized private colleges) offering programs in English must put measures in place to give priority to the admission of students who are declared eligible to receive instruction in English. However, access to college studies in English is not limited to this student population, as it is in preschool, elementary school and secondary school.

The Charter provides that, in order to obtain a Diploma of College Studies or an Attestation of College Studies, it is necessary to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge of French. However, students who have been declared eligible to receive preschool, elementary and secondary education in English are exempted from certain obligations.

To qualify for the exemptions and the prioritization measures provided for in the Charter, students must be educated in English in college and have been declared eligible for instruction in English before graduating from secondary school.

As such, only those students who are eligible for instruction in English in preschool, elementary school or secondary school and who do not have a certificate of eligibility, such as students who were educated in French in elementary school and secondary school, are required to take the necessary steps prior to completing Secondary V. For the other students, the certificate of eligibility automatically appears in their student file.

Unless they have already been declared eligible to receive instruction in English under the Charter, Indigenous students in Secondary IV or V who are pursuing their educational path in English at the following schools must apply for a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English before the completion of their secondary school studies:

• schools under the Cree School Board
• schools under the Kativik Ilisarniliriniq School Board
• Jimmy Sandy Memorial School (Naskapi School)
• schools in other Indigenous communities in Québec

For more information on eligibility for preschool, elementary and secondary education in English, including how to apply to a school body to obtain a certificate of eligibility, please consult the Instruction in English web page .

Individuals who begin their training on or after July 1, 2023, at an English-language college or at a French-language college offering programs in English will be required to pass the EUF to obtain their DCS. These colleges will offer three courses to prepare students to pass the EUF.

In French-language colleges, the requirement to pass the EUF is already in effect.

Objectifs préparatoires à la réussite de l’épreuve uniforme de français (PDF 206 Kb) (In French only) - Pour les programmes d’études offerts en anglais et conduisant au diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC)

• Individuals who hold a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English and who are enrolled in a program at an institution offering instruction in English will not be required to take the EUF. Instead, they will have to pass the Ministerial Examination of College English.
• Individuals who reside or have resided on certain Indigenous territories and who have received, during at least one year, elementary or secondary instruction in English, in an Indigenous language, or in English and an Indigenous language may receive an exemption if they submit an exemption request online  or by mail (PDF 372 Kb). They will not be required to take the EUF. Instead, they will have to pass the Ministerial Examination of College English.

Individuals who begin their training on or after July 1, 2024, at an English-language college or in a program offered in English at a French-language college will be required to pass three courses taught in French to obtain their DCS, such as history or chemistry courses given in French.

Exception: As an alternative to courses in French, colleges offering instruction in English will be able to offer individuals who hold a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English some French courses, i.e. courses for learning French. These French courses will be added to the courses in Français, langue seconde.

Objectifs de français, langue seconde (PDF 285 Kb) (in French only) - Pour les élèves déclarés admissibles à l’enseignement en anglais dans les programmes d’études offerts en anglais et conduisant au diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC)

Individuals who begin their training on or after July 1, 2023, and who wish to obtain an ACS will have to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of French. This requirement will be set out in the regulation enacted by the Minister of the French Language.

Any student may attend an English-language college or a French-language college offering programs in English. However, in order to obtain a DCS, they will be required to pass the EUF and three courses in French. In order to obtaining an ACS, they will be required to have sufficient knowledge of French, unless the student holds a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English.

Individuals who hold a certificate of eligibility for instruction in English and who begin a program in the Winter 2024 term or later will be able to benefit from priority admission measures put in place by English-language colleges as well as by French‑language colleges offering programs in English.