IMPORTANT NOTE:ĚýThe Government of QuĂ©bec is the authoritative source for this program. In case of discrepancy between the content below and , the latter prevails.ĚýĚý
The Government of QuĂ©bec program,Ěý“Programme de bourses Perspective QuĂ©bec”Ěý(PBPQ) encourages students to pursue postsecondary study in fields deemed a priority to the province’s workforce planning. The priority fields include health and social services, engineering, information technology, and education.
Application Process
- The Summer 2024Ěýapplication is now closed. The deadline to apply was October 31, 2024. Applications for the Fall 2024 semester will begin in January, 2025.
- Submit your application as soon as possible, even if you have incomplete or pending grades at the time of application.ĚýThe term deadline to apply is firm even for students who have incomplete grades on their record (such as K, KE, L, LE) at that time. Incomplete or pending grades must be resolved swiftly so as not to negatively impact a student’s eligibility for PBPQ funding. Note that approved Deferred final exams (for which interim L grades have been recorded) will be scheduled as per normal university practices. In some cases the review of an application can be delayed if a student has credits pending due to a student exchange, deferred exam or enrolment in a full-year course.
- Students must submit an application after each full-time or deemed full-time study term that they successfully complete in their program.
- The normal deadlines areĚýFall term: February 28;ĚýWinter term: July 31;ĚýSummer term: October 31
- Full details regarding the government application procedure are available on the .
Value
- Undergraduate programs:
- If enrolled in 3-yr program (eg. 120cr): $2,500 per term, up to a total of $15,000 (i.e. 6 terms x $2500/term*); or
- If enrolled in 4-yr program (eg. more than 120cr): $2,500 per term, up to a total of $20,000 (i.e. 8 terms x $2500/term*).
*Undergraduate students in a freshman (U0) program may be eligible for PBPQ if they successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits at the U1 level in a given term.
- Master's programs:
- $2,500 per term, up to a total of $12,500 (i.e. 5 terms x $2500/term**)
**terms in which a Master’s student is registered as a Qualifying student are not eligible for PBPQ funding
- PhD programs:
- $2,500 per term, up to a total of $37,500 (i.e. 15 terms x $2500/term***)
***terms in which a PhD student is registered in Year 1 are not eligible for the PBPQ funding
The per term amounts will be awarded to students after each successful completion of a full-time term of study, starting in Fall 2022. The Fall 2022 term will be paid out in the subsequent term (i.e. Winter 2023), and so on.ĚýThe PBPQ funding will not be awarded retroactively for terms completed prior to Fall 2022.ĚýWith exceptions as noted above, students may be any year of their degree program to apply for the scholarship (eg. newly admitted, at the midpoint of the degree or about to graduate), as long as all other eligibility criteria are met.
Eligible Programs
are posted at the . Click “See the list of eligible programs” to view McGill-specific eligible programs.
Student eligibility criteria
Students must meet the following eligibility criteria for the term for which they are applying for PBPQ funding (assessed by the Government of Quebec at the time the application is reviewed for that semester):
- Registered at McGill as a Quebec Resident according to theĚý. Please also see McGill's Legal Documents page.ĚýĚý
- Note: To view whether you are currently listed as a Quebec Resident at McGill, please seeĚýAccess to fee information. Only Canadian citizensĚý(including Canadian First Nations) and Permanent Residents are eligibleĚýfor Quebec residency. All other categories of students (International, Refugee, Diplomat, Visitor's Visa, etc.) are ineligible, according to the Ministry of Education's directives.
- PossessĚýa validĚýQuebec Permanent Code.
- Note: To view whether your Quebec Permanent Code has been validatedĚýat McGill, please see the instructions listed on the Permanent Code page.
- Studying on aĚýfull-time basisĚýfor the semester in questionĚý(or deemed full-time with at least 6 credits for students with a documented disability, certain family situations such as a young dependent child, etc. to be defined by the Government of QuĂ©bec).
- Has successfully completed the stipulated minimum number of credits in an eligible program.
- Note: Per the : "You are considered to have successfully completed your study term if you have obtained the minimum number of hours or credits required by the scholarship program. Consequently, you will be entitled to the scholarship provided you achieve this minimum number, even if you failed one of your courses."
- Undergraduate students in a freshman (U0) program may be eligible for PBPQ if they successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits at the U1 level in a given term.
- Master’s students must be registered in a degree program and not as Qualifying students.
Ěý
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This page will be updated when more information on this funding opportunity becomes available.
Additional information about the program can be found here:Ěý QuĂ©bec Perspective Scholarships.
Why is my application status pending confirmation from McGill?
Applications are generally reviewed within 5-7 working days. If your application remains open longer than this, it is possible that you have not successfully completed the minimum credit requirement for the term you have applied. This could be because you have incomplete grades (i.e.: you deferred an exam, participated in a student exchange or completed the first half of a full year/spanned course). If these circumstances apply to you then your application can only be verified once you’ve received the minimum credits required in the applicable term.
What is "deemed full-time" status?
You are considered a full-time student if you are registered in and successfully complete:
- at the undergraduate level, a minimum of 12 credits
- at the master’s level, a minimum of 9 credits
- at the doctoral level, a minimum of 9 credits, or full-time thesis status
The Quebec Government may also deem you to have full-time status if you were registered part-time, earned at least 6 credits and meet one or more of the following requirements during the study term relevant to the application:
- You are at least 20 weeks pregnant
- You live with at least one child (yours or your spouse’s) who is under age 6
- You are a single parent and live with your child who is under age 12
- You live with at least one child (yours or your spouse’s) who has a major functional disability or a mental health disorder
- You are a participant in the or be a beneficiary of the
- You have a disability and benefit from academic accommodations related to attendance
- You have a serious mental or physical health disorder that occurs irregularly and prevents you from pursuing your studies full-time for more than one month
Note that the Ministry dictates that students have to start and end their term studying part-time. A student who begins their term in full-time status and then withdraws from a course for personal reasons, even if it is one of the personal reasons indicated above, will not be eligible for the award in that term.
Students who wish to study part-time and be deemed full-time for PBPQ purposes, need to:
- Register part-time. Any changes to registration would need to take place before the add/drop deadline.
- When submitting their application on the AFE site, students need to identify that they wish to be deemed full-time.
- Submit supporting documents for the ministry’s review – complete the section of the form below that pertains to the student’s personal situation.
- Website where documents will be updated for each academic year:
- Form:
The ministry will review students’ applications and supporting documentation and determine if the student is eligible to be deemed full-time for personal reasons. The university will then be able to verify PBPQ eligibility based on the other established eligibility criteria.
Am I eligible to apply for PBPQ for the Summer term?
Yes, if you meet all the eligibility criteria above, including being registered full-time, i.e. 12 credits.
Do I need to submit supporting documents as part of my application for the PBPQ to be considered a Quebec Resident?
No, as long as you have already been recorded at McGill as a Quebec Resident, your status will be confirmed to the government. To view your current McGill tuition status, please see Access to fee information.
I'm already billed at the Quebec rate of tuition at McGill. Will I automatically be considered a Quebec Resident for the PBPQ?
Your Quebec Resident tuition status itself isn't the only consideration; you must also be a Canadian citizen or Landed Immigrant. If your McGill record reflects this, then this information will be transmitted to the Quebec Government on your behalf. To view your current McGill tuition status, please see Access to fee information.
If I obtain Quebec Resident status after the end date of a given term, am I still eligible for the PBPQ retroactively?
No. For tuition status changes to take effect for the current term, all proofs of citizenship and requests for Quebec residency must be submitted no later than the last day of classes for that term. Claims/documents submitted after that date will only serve to update your status for the following term, meaning that you will not be eligible to request PBPQ funding retroactively.
I have received my Convention Refugee letter, but my CSQ is still pending. Am I still eligible for the PBPQ?
No, you must have valid Canadian Landed Immigrant status and a valid CSQ in order to be considered eligible.
If I take a leave of absence for a semester, or other study interruption, am I still eligible for the PBPQ?
No, you must be registered on a full-time basis in the term in which you are applying for funding.
Why isn't my degree program eligible for this funding program?
The Government of Québec is the authoritative source for this program, and is the ultimate authority with regard to eligibility.
I'm an undergraduate student in my first year of studies, am I eligible?
Undergraduate students in a freshman (U0) program may be eligible for PBPQ if they successfully complete a minimum of 12 credits at the U1 level in a given term. Students in the Faculty of Science will have to declare their major in an eligible program to be eligible for PBPQ.
How will the PBPQ affect my Quebec Aide financière aux études (AFE) loans and bursaries?
A student can receive up to $7,500 in combined scholarships, awards and/or bursaries in a calendar year with no impact on their AFE assessment for the academic year. Example: up to $7,500 in scholarships/awards/bursaries received in 2023 will have no impact on a student’s 2023-2024 AFE assessment. However, 100% of the income from scholarships/awards/bursaries that exceeds $7,500 in a calendar year will be included in AFE’s calculation of a student contribution. Example: a student receives $10,000 in combined scholarships/awards/bursaries in 2023. The student contribution in their 2023-2024 AFE assessment will include $2,500 from scholarships/awards/bursaries. For more information, please refer to “Calculation of Your Contribution” in the .
I am considered a Quebec resident for the PBPQ, but I receive government student aid from a different province/territory/country. Will this negatively impact my eligibility for PBPQ?
No, the government aid program you are participating in has no impact on your PBPQ funding eligibility.
I am considered a Quebec resident for the PBPQ, but I receive government student aid from a different province/territory/country. How will my government aid be impacted?
The PBPQ funding is not based on financial need so most government aid programs will consider these awards as part of your resources. Some jurisdictions will shelter up to a certain amount of all awards from their need assessment. You are advised to inform yourself about how your specific government aid program may treat institutional awards.
How is the PBPQ paid out?
Per the Government of Quebec's : "After we receive confirmation from your educational institution that you completed your study term based on the criteria of the program, we will send you the scholarship amount. This will be paid by direct deposit, which means deposited directly into your bank account."
Is the PBPQ taxable?
Per the Government of Quebec's : "You will receive a tax slip which you must attach to your income declaration (tax return). This slip will be available in your Student Financial Assistance File. Revenu Québec does not consider the scholarship to be taxable income."
If I change my degree/major, will this impact my eligibility?
The Quebec government will determine your eligibility based on, among other things, the academic program in which you are enrolled for the term for which you are applying for funding. Accordingly, if you change into or out of eligible programs, your PBPQ funding eligibility may be impacted.
If I repeat a course, can I still qualify for funding?
Per the Government of Quebec , "Some activities cannot be used in calculating the hours or credits required for eligibility under the scholarship program, such as... a course for which the credits have already been earned." Accordingly, if you repeat a course, your eligibility in the semester in which you enrolled for that repeated course may be negatively impacted (eg. due to it being excluded from your total credit count for that term).
If I change levels of study, can I continue to qualify for funding?
Per the Government of Quebec, "Students who have reached the maximum number of scholarships for their level of study will no longer be eligible for scholarships at the same level. This is provided for in the system developed by the Ministry and the student will be automatically refused, and the reason will be transmitted to them. For example, a person who has already received six CEGEP PBPQ scholarships will not be able to obtain a seventh CEGEP PBPQ scholarship. However, they could be considered for PBPQ scholarships for their undergraduate program, or considered for the PBPQ scholarships provided for graduate studies."
What are considered to be eligible academic activities in order to qualify for funding?
Per the Government of Quebec, "The activities (courses) that are considered in the calculation of teaching periods or credits for eligibility for the PBPQ must contribute to obtaining the desired diploma. For example, it may be an internship or a session abroad (exchange), the credits or periods of which completed contribute to obtaining the diploma.... Cooperative internships as they are defined by the Canadian Association for Cooperative Education are not considered in the calculation of teaching periods or credits under the scholarship program."
Will my income influence the amount I receive?
No, your PBPQ funding is based on the eligibility criteria, not on your personal income.
Will failing a course impact my PBPQ application?
Failing a course will not affect your PBPQ funding application as long as you have successfully completed the minimum credits required to maintain eligibility for that term.
Am I eligible for PBPQ funding while away on a student exchange?
Yes, assuming you are a resident of Quebec and meet the program criteria, however, an exchange could lengthen the processing time of your PBPQ funding application.
If I'm readmitted to McGill, will this impact my PBPQ application?
Your PBPQ eligibility could be negatively impacted for the term in which you are readmitted if the terms and conditions of your readmission limit you to less than full-time status.
Am I eligible if I am completing a concurrent Bachelor of Music/Education program?
Students in the concurrent Bachelor of Music/Education program have to be registered in a minimum of 12 credits for the term in question, the majority of which must come from these courses (following the Education curriculum) to qualify.
Students in this program are also eligible to apply for PBPQ in the Spring/Summer of Year 1-2 when they are taking the First and Second Field Experience courses (7 credits).
EDEA 206 (1 cr)
EDFE 205 (2 cr)
EDEA 208 (1 cr)
EDFE 208 (3 cr)
I'm the recipient of the Quebec Excellence Scholarship for Students in Education Programs, am I also eligible for the PBPQ?
No, students receiving the Quebec Excellence Scholarships for Students in Education Programs are not eligible to apply for PBPQ funding.