Ontario’s postsecondary education (PSE) system is home to a number of French-language and bilingual institutions across the college and university sector. These institutions play an important role in serving the education needs of Francophone and, more broadly, French-speaking students in the province. Ensuring French-speaking communities can study in their preferred language is a key priority in Canada, one that has received a $1.4 billion investment from the federal government. While Ontario has four French-language institutions to serve its significant French-speaking population, not all French-speaking students may choose to attend these institutions. Understanding which institutions French-speaking students choose and why is essential for determining how to better support these learners in Ontario.
In 2024, HEQCO explored French speakers’ PSE pathways through three surveys: one of French-speaking students who attended English and bilingual institutions, one of French-speaking students who attended a French-language institution and one of college applicants. This work helped us gain insight into the different PSE preferences and choices of French-speaking students in Ontario.French-speaking students in Ontario.
We can better support French-speaking students and their education pathways by understanding their postsecondary decisions.
The students we heard from reported different preferences for instructional or institutional language, but, in general, many preferred at least some level of French in their PSE studies when they were first considering their options. In fact, 38% of French-speaking respondents who attended English and bilingual institutions, as well as 49% of those who attended a French institution, initially preferred bilingual instruction for their PSE studies. Beyond this, half of those who attended a French institution preferred French-language instruction prior to beginning PSE. French-speaking college applicants in 2024 shared a similar preference, with 76% of survey respondents reporting they preferred a French-language over an English-language college.
While there were a number of factors that influenced different groups of French-speaking respondents’ PSE choices, we did find some interesting areas of overlap. For example, program offerings were an influential decision-making factor for most French-speaking students we surveyed, no matter which institution type they attended. And for those who attended a bilingual or French institution, the option to study in French (either partially or entirely) was an important factor. The same was true for French-speaking college applicants who were surveyed, most of whom said both of these factors were very influential in their college application choices.
Program offerings were an influential PSE decision-making factor for French-speaking survey respondents.
Collectively, our research suggests that supporting French-speaking learners in Ontario means ensuring they have access to their desired programs and can pursue PSE in their preferred language (which, for many, is French). These considerations are especially important as institutions navigate programming decisions in light of ongoing financial challenges.
Ensuring French-speaking students can access their desired programs in their preferred language is key to supporting these learners in Ontario.
Our work helps shed light on what French-speaking learners are looking for in their PSE studies, but more research is needed to truly understand their choices and experiences. Future research can help us learn more about French-speaking learners’ PSE pathways.
- Our surveys asked respondents about their decision-making process before they attended their first postsecondary institution. How would students describe their experience at these institutions after beginning their studies? If they transferred, why, and to what type of institution (i.e., to an English, French or bilingual institution)?
- Among the French-speaking respondents we surveyed, many chose to attend an English institution due to its program offerings. If a French or bilingual institution offered their desired program(s), would they have attended one of these institutions instead?
To learn more, check out HEQCO’s report on students who attended English and bilingual institutions as well as our infographic on those who attended a French institution. Read our report on French-speaking college applicants, too, to explore their top program choices. French-speaking college applicants, too, to explore their top program choices.