Trajectories of French students in Canada

In the 2021 census data, France was shown to be the eighth most frequently reported country as the place of birth of recent immigrants in Canada (at 2%, up from the position of ninth in the 2016 census), with 121,525 individuals, the majority of whom (93,160) reside in Quebec, followed by 15,240 in Ontario, 7,025 in Vancouver and the remaining in other provinces.

In 2022, French students represented 3% of the total of international students in Canada, with 16,725 students.  France is the fourth largest country of origin for international students, after the Philippines and before Nigeria. This number has seen a three-fold increase in the past two decades. Notably, at some Quebec-based universities, such as Université du Québec à Montréal and Université de Montréal, French students constitute more than half of the international student population. This pattern has been catalyzed by several bilateral agreements between France and Canada, particularly with Quebec, fostering a diverse mobility between the two nations.

In this context, it is important to examine what are particularly the drivers of international student mobility from France to Canada and what are the pathways that these students follow after their studies.

This study maps the different trajectories of citizens of France who come to Canada as international students. The main aim is to understand the motivations that bring them to Canada; the temporal intention of such mobility (short or long term); and their actual trajectories (whether they stay in Canada, return to France, or move to a third country). We are also interested in understanding the outcomes of the period spent in Canada in terms of additional human (education/professional skills); social (networks) and material (income/resources) capital acquired. This study is of particular importance as these movements may reflect dynamics related to brain drain and brain circulation.

The methodology included three initiatives:

1. Desk research reviewed policies, analyzed statistical data and relevant literature to map French student mobility in Canada since 2000.
2. An online survey of 219 French citizens aged 18-45, who are studying or have studied in Canada, provided a quantitative understanding of their motivations and decisions.
3. Qualitative interviews with 30 individuals from the same demographic, from Quebec and other provinces, provided insight into their experiences. Additional interviews with stakeholders from academia, government, and private sectors added context to the findings.

Article

Molho, J., Moghadam, A., Bouillard, E. (2025). Why French students are choosing Canada, not the United States, for their North American adventure (external link) . The Conversation Canada

Presentations

Triandafyllidou, A., Moghadam, A., Molho, J., Bouillard, E. (2025). Trajectoires des Etudiants Français au Canada [Trajectories of French Students in Canada]. CERC Migration and French Embassy in Canada.

Jérémie Molho and Emma Bouillard (2024). Les trajectoires des étudiants français au Canada, Presentation at the French Embassy in Ottawa, Ottawa 22 Octobre 2024.