Students on the stairs at Tabaret

Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP). Eligible students can apply for a study permit through the program, which provides a faster route to permanent residence.

Eligibility requirements

To apply to the University of Ottawa under the Francophone Minority Student Pilot (FMCSP) for the fall 2025 intake, you’ll need to meet certain requirements:

Meeting the program criteria doesn’t guarantee admission to the University of Ottawa. You must also meet all University-specific admission requirements and provide the necessary documentation for your application to be processed. 

To participate in the program

  • You must have an offer of admission from uOttawa to a French-language program for fall 2025.
  • You must be aware of the total amount needed for living expenses to qualify for a study permit. If you don’t provide proof of this amount to IRCC, your study permit may be refused.
  • You must be aware of the cost of education and the cost of living at uOttawa. The estimated tuition fees for your first year of studies are indicated on the last page of your offer of admission (Document B). The table below provides an 8-month cost estimate for various types of housing, food, and other expenses.

Cost of living at uOttawa

Type of expenseCost range estimated for 2024-2025
Residence fees per person including mandatory meal plan$14,828 to $19,400
Residence fees and groceries per person (with access to kitchen)$12,217 to $15,589
Off-campus shared apartment and groceries$10,000 to $14,000
Ancillary fees (includes U-Pass)$1,363 to $1,631
Textbooks and school supplies$1,600 to $2,300
Mobile and internet services$800 to $1,600
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) – 12 months$756
  • You must pay your full first-year tuition fees in advance. The estimated tuition fees for your first year of studies will be indicated on your letter of admission (Document B). Pay the estimated fees through our uoZone portal and print a receipt.
  • You must send your confirmation of payment to [email protected] and express your interest in being part of this program. 
  • If you’re selected for the pilot program by the University of Ottawa, your offer of admission will be revised to confirm that you have been selected to participate in the program.
  • You can use this revised offer of admission to apply for your study permit. 

You might be asked by IRCC to provide additional documents when you apply for a study permit. See the IRCC list of required documents for further details. Receiving an offer of admission from the University of Ottawa doesn’t guarantee that your study permit application will be approved.

Note: Students admitted to the University of Ottawa under the FMCSP don’t need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) when applying for a study permit. To avoid processing delays, we strongly encourage all applicants interested in the FMCSP to apply for admission by December 15, 2024. 

The number of letters of admission the University of Ottawa can issue under this pilot program is limited. Once all the available letters have been issued, uOttawa will provide eligible candidates with a letter of admission as a regular international student. This does not affect your ability to apply to remain in Canada after you graduate.