Key Benefits:
President of the Republic,
On the report of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development,
Considering the Constitution, in particular articles 52 to 55;
Vu le Decree No. 53-192 of 14 March 1953 amended on the ratification and publication of international commitments undertaken by France;
Vu le Decree No. 65-259 of 31 March 1965 publishing the exchange of letters between France and Canada of February 27, 1965 relating to an agreement between France and Quebec on a programme of exchanges and cooperation in the field of education,
Decrete:
The agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Quebec on student mobility at the university level (two annexes), signed in Paris on 6 March 2015, will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development are responsible, each with respect to him, for the execution of this decree, which will be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
ENTENTE
ENTER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRANÇAISE REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBILITY ASSESSED TO THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL (WELF ANNEX), SIGNED TO PARIS ON 6 MARCH 2015
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC,
The following is called "Parties",
PRENANT APPUI sur l'Entente entre la France et le Québec sur un programme d'échanges et de coopération dans le domaine de l'éducation, conclue le 27 février 1965, qui a créé la Commission permanente de coopération franco-québécoise, et qui constitue le base et le cadre général de la coopération dans le domaine de l'éducation entre la France et le Québec ;
RAPPELANT THAT France and Quebec have maintained a direct and privileged relationship for over fifty years;
RAPPELANT also the close academic cooperation and the important student mobility that exist between France and Quebec;
WHERE TO increase cooperation in student mobility on both sides;
VU the Agreement by exchange of letters between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Quebec on tuition fees at the university level of 8 March 1978 and 1 June 1978;
AGAINST WHO ITS:
Article 1
General objectives
This agreement aims to encourage and promote student mobility between France and Quebec, in higher education for France and at the university level for Quebec, including through the implementation of measures in the field of tuition fees and accessibility to educational institutions at the university level on both sides.
Article 2
Field of personal application
This Agreement applies:
- to "French students" or any student of French nationality;
- to "Quebec students" or any Canadian citizenship student domiciled in Quebec.
For the purposes of this Agreement with the exception of sections 5 and 6, a French student with permanent resident status in Quebec is considered to be a Quebec student.
In addition, eligible French students benefit from the exemptions provided for in the tuition fees policy required by Quebec universities for students and foreign students.
Article 3
Exemptions from additional tuition fees at Quebec's non-resident Canadian rate
All French students enrolled in a program of study leading to an undergraduate degree or degree offered by a Quebec university-level educational institution, as defined by the Quebec Academic Schools Act (chapter E-14.1), are entitled to the tuition fees and lump sums applicable to non-resident Canadian students in Quebec, as described below as "exemption to the CNRQ rate".
The terms and conditions for the award of these exemptions are set out in Schedule I, Title I, of this Agreement.
Article 4
Exemptions from additional tuition fees at Quebec rate
All French students enrolled in a program of study leading to a second or third-cycle university degree or degree offered by a Quebec university-level educational institution, as defined by the Quebec Academic Schools Act (chapter E-14.1), are entitled to the tuition fee regime applicable to Quebec students, as described below as "exemption at the Quebec rate".
French students permanently residing in the territorial community of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon continue to benefit, during their undergraduate studies, from the exemption regime to the Quebec rate.
The terms and conditions for the award of these exemptions are set out in Schedule I, Part II, of this Agreement.
Article 5
Application of the French rate to Quebec students
All Quebec students enrolled in a program of study, proposed by a French higher education institution, leading to a national diploma of first, second or third cycle in the order taken each year by the French higher education minister, are entitled to the tuition fee regime applicable to French students, below referred to as the "French tariff application".
The terms and conditions for applying the French rate to Quebec students are set out in Appendix II to this Agreement.
The French Party is committed to making its best efforts to encourage other state-run institutions and private institutions to apply conditions as favourable to Quebec students as those offered to French students in terms of accessibility and tuition in relation to a curriculum leading to a national degree of first, second or third cycle.
Article 6
Financial support for Quebec students
Quebec students planning to follow a curriculum in France are eligible for a scholarship from the French government or a doctoral contract, under the conditions of attribution set by national regulations.
The French Party also takes the appropriate accompanying and advisory measures to facilitate the registration of Quebec students in French higher education, including in large schools.
Article 7
Advertising of measures
The Parties undertake to make known the exemptions, applicable rates and financial support measures provided for in this Agreement so as to allow their optimal use. To this end, the Parties shall promote this in their territory, with the various audiences that may benefit from it.
Article 8
Settlement of disputes
Parties shall, by consultation or negotiation, settle disputes that may arise in the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.
Article 9
Amendments
This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the Parties by means of an exchange of letters specifying the effective date of the amendments.
Article 10
Repeal of prior agreement
This Agreement repeals and replaces, from the date of its entry into force, the Agreement by exchange of letters between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Quebec in respect of tuition fees at the academic level of March 8, 1978 and June 1, 1978.
Article 11
Transitional measures
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, French students enrolled in the quarter of winter 2015 in Quebec academic institutions under the Agreement by exchange of letters between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Quebec on tuition fees at the university level of March 8, 1978 and June 1, 1978, continue to be submitted for the duration of the program in which they are enrolled.
Article 12
Final clauses
The annexes are an integral part of this Agreement.
This Agreement comes into force on the day it is signed for a period of five (5) years.
It may be renewed for an identical period by exchange of letters between the Parties in the last year preceding the end of the initial period.
No later than one year before its reappointment, this Agreement is subject to an assessment, both with respect to its content and its terms and conditions of application. The evaluation can take into account the success rate of recipient students.
A Party may terminate this Agreement by means of a written notice to the other Party at least six (6) months before the end of the Agreement.
In the event that this Agreement is not renewed, the Parties will make the necessary arrangements to ensure that students who benefit from the exemptions, the applicable rates and financial support measures provided for in this Agreement continue to benefit from the exemptions, the applicable rates and the financial support measures provided for in this Agreement for the anticipated duration of the curriculum in which they are enrolled.
DONE in Paris, March 6, 2015, in double copy.
For the Government of the French Republic: Manuel Valls Prime Minister
For the Government of Quebec: Philippe Couillard Prime Minister
Annex I
ASSESSMENT MODALITIES OF ASSESSMENTAL EXEMPTIONS
1. Nature
An exemption to the CNRQ rate attributed to a French student allows the French student to pay the same tuition fees and lump sums as those required by non-resident Canadian students in Quebec to pursue studies in a program of study leading to an undergraduate degree or degree in a Quebec university education institution, as defined by the Quebec Education Act (chapter E-14.1).
2. Eligibility conditions
To receive an exemption at the CNRQ rate, a French student must:
- holding a valid passport of the French Republic;
- hold a student residence permit in accordance with Canadian immigration regulations and a certificate of acceptance from Quebec.
1. Nature
An exemption from the Quebec rate attributed to a French student allows the student to pay the same tuition fees as those required by Quebec students in order to pursue studies in a program of study leading to a second or third-cycle university degree or degree in a Quebec university education institution, as defined by the Quebec Law on Academic Institutions (chapter E-14.1).
2. Derogation for French students residing in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
French students who have been able to justify permanent residence in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon for more than five years, by an official certificate of residence issued by the state services in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, are granted an exemption at the Quebec rate for a program of study leading to a degree or undergraduate degree in a Quebec university education institution, as defined by the Quebec Academic Institutions Act.
3. Eligibility conditions
To benefit from an exemption at the Quebec rate, any French student must:
- holding a valid passport of the French Republic;
- hold a student residence permit in accordance with Canadian immigration regulations and a certificate of acceptance from Quebec;
- if applicable, hold the official certificate of a permanent residence in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon for more than five years and be enrolled in a curriculum leading to an undergraduate degree or degree in a university school.
ANNEX II
MODALITIES OF THE APPLIANCE OF THE FRENCH TARIF FOR QUEBECTED STUDIANTS
1. Nature
An application of the French rate to a Quebec student allows the student to pay the same tuition fees as those required by French students in order to pursue a curriculum leading to a national undergraduate, second or postgraduate degree in the order taken annually by the French Minister for Higher Education.
The Quebec Party will be informed of the issuance of any new order setting the tuition fees for public higher education institutions under the Minister for Higher Education.
The application of the French tariff by institutions offering any other training is not systematic. As a result, the student in Quebec will have to take the responsibility of the institution concerned to clarify the amount of tuition fees to be paid.
2. Eligibility conditions
To benefit from an application of the French rate, a Quebec student must:
- holding a valid Canadian passport;
- hold a long stay visa or a student residence permit in accordance with French regulations.
Done on June 2, 2015.
François Hollande
By the President of the Republic:
The Prime Minister,
Manuel Valls
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development,
Laurent Fabius
