Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot
Are you a French-speaking student who is interested in studying in Canada? You may be eligible for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP)! This new IRCC program aims to attract more French-speaking international students to study and stay in Canada by offering a pathway to permanent residence soon after graduation. The University of Regina is one of the Designated Learning Institutions that is participating in the pilot program. There are specific citizenship, academic, and financial eligibility requirements for this program.
Country of Citizenship
To be eligible for the FMCSP, you must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
- Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia
- Middle East: Egypt, Lebanon
- Americas: Dominica, Haiti, Saint Lucia
Academic Requirements
The University of Regina has two eligible undergraduate programs for applicants interested in the FMCSP:
Faculty of Education
- Bac en Éducation Après Diplôme (BEAD) (élémentaire ou secondaire) (2 Years)
| Degree Requirements |
Completed a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Applicants should have completed their most recent post-secondary education within the last eight years. |
| Minimum Cumulative GPA | 65% |
| Discipline | Preference will be given to applicants specializing in Sciences, Mathematics, and Social Sciences. |
| Letter of Intent | Outline your interest in Teacher Education in Saskatchewan. |
| Resume (CV) | Provide a detailed and updated CV highlighting relevant experience and qualifications. |
| English Language Proficiency |
Review the English Language tests we accept and our required scores here. We recommend the IELTS Academic test for the FMCSP. |
| French Language Proficiency |
You must demonstrate French Language Proficiency. This can be met through previous secondary or post-secondary studies where the primary language of instruction was French. |
| Proof of Identity |
Submit a copy of your passport bio-data page. |
| High School Applicants |
Required Courses:
Courses listed above must be at the grade 12 level or equivalent. Minimum 65% average using the required courses. |
| Post-Secondary Applicants |
Applicants who have attempted 15 credit hours or more of approved post-secondary education must have a minimum AGPA of 60% on all post-secondary courses attempted. If applicants have attempted fewer than 15 credit hours, their admission will be based on high school admission requirements. |
| English Language Proficiency |
Review the English Language tests we accept and our required scores here. We recommend the IELTS Academic test for the FMCSP. |
| French Language Proficiency |
You must demonstrate French Language Proficiency. This can be met through previous secondary or post-secondary studies where the primary language of instruction was French. |
| Proof of Identity |
Submit a copy of your passport bio-data page. |
Admission to the above programs through the FMCSP stream is competitive. If you are not selected for the FMCSP stream, you may still be eligible for a different program at the U of R.
How to Apply
To submit an application to the U of R for one of the above programs, your first step will be to create your account on our Student Application Portal. Start your application for admission and carefully follow the steps on each page.
On the Program Selection page of your application, you will need to select one of the above approved programs and select "Yes" to the question "Are you applying to the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program?". After submitting your online application, you will then need to provide your required supporting documents before the deadline outlined below. We will then review all complete applications and release decisions to students in early April 2025.
Conditions of Admission: If you are conditionally accepted to the FMCSP, you will be required to reply to your offer and pay a tuition deposit of $26,000 CAD by April 25, 2025. The tuition deposit is the cost of one year of studies and is fully applied toward tuition fees. In the event that your study permit is refused, we will refund your tuition deposit minus $500 CAD for administrative fees. To request a refund, you will need to email us and submit a copy of your refusal letter from IRCC.
Financial Support & Language Requirements
When you apply for a study permit under the FMCSP, you will need to provide proof of financial support and French language proficiency. In addition to showing your proof of funds for tuition fees, you must also demonstrate you have enough funding for your living expenses for the duration of your program. The amount of required funding for living expenses can increase if you plan to bring a spouse or dependent. The University of Regina is in Group B of IRCC's funding scale. Remember that you will need to prove you have the required amount of funding for each year you will be studying.
To meet the study permit language requirements, you will need to provide your French language proficiency test results with a score of at least 5 for each of the four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing) according to the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens scale. You can submit either of the following tests to meet this requirement:
Study Permit Application
If you are fully accepted to the FMCSP program at the University of Regina, your next step will be to apply for your study permit as soon as possible. Visa processing can take up to three months, so it is important to apply soon after acceptance so that you can make it for the Fall 2025 intake. Before applying for your study permit through the FMCSP stream, please ensure the following:
- You have a valid U of R acceptance letter to one of the eligible programs above and your letter states that you are accepted to the FMCSP.
- You fully review the additional IRCC requirements for the FMCSP program.
Note that you do not need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) to apply for a study permit through this pilot.
What's Next?
After you are approved to study in Canada, you can start preparing for your arrival! Our team will be ready to support you and can provide service in English or French! We are excited for you to join our francophone community at the University of Regina!
International Enrolment Services