Students demand path to finish studies after permit suspension
More than 100 students gathered outside a private college in Montreal on Sunday, protesting the sudden shutdown of their programs after the Quebec government declined to renew the institution’s operating permit. The demonstration, made up largely of international students, underscores the precarious position of learners who are now unable to complete courses or legally work while their study status is in question.
Organizers said the closure was communicated a little over a week ago, triggering an urgent scramble for options. The Collège supérieur de Montréal is among four private, publicly subsidized colleges whose permits were suspended in recent weeks, a list that also includes Herzing College and Veritas College of Technology in Montreal, and the Collège supérieur de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke.
‘We don’t know what to do’
Several students said they were near the end of their studies when the decision landed, leaving graduation plans—and in many cases, immigration timelines—in jeopardy.
“I basically stay up at night crying because my papers will expire on Aug. 31,” said Samia Chraibi, a Moroccan international student who had been set to finish at the Collège supérieur de Montréal this summer. “I don’t have the right to work, and I don’t have the right to study.”
Another student, Ouazar Ghenima from Algeria, said she had a single exam and an internship left in a medical secretary program before everything paused.
“We were all in shock, all of a sudden,”she said, describing classmates who had planned for graduation and job searches.
“We don’t know what to do.”
March to immigration offices, calls for transfers
After gathering in front of the college, protesters marched to the offices of Quebec’s immigration ministry. Their appeal was straightforward: enable automatic transfers so students can carry their credits to another institution and complete their programs without losing time or legal status. Demonstrators also called for clear guidance on how to preserve or extend their right to study and work while the situation resolves.
The closures strike at the intersection of education policy and immigration rules. For international students, a school’s permit status can determine their eligibility to be enrolled and, by extension, to work the limited hours allowed under study authorization. When a program halts abruptly, learners can be left without a viable path to graduation before key documents expire.
Four colleges affected in recent weeks
According to students, the following institutions have had their permits suspended, triggering program disruptions:
| Institution | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Collège supérieur de Montréal | Montreal | Permit suspended |
| Herzing College | Montreal | Permit suspended |
| Veritas College of Technology | Montreal | Permit suspended |
| Collège supérieur de Sherbrooke | Sherbrooke | Permit suspended |
Students from impacted programs say they are seeking a direct mechanism to move into comparable courses at other institutions without losing credit for completed work. They are also asking for a transition period to safeguard their legal status while they secure a new place of study.
Strain on students and community
Montreal’s student population includes a sizeable international cohort enrolled across public and private institutions. When a private, subsidized college ceases instruction, the disruption extends beyond classrooms: students report lost wages from part-time jobs, uncertainty around rent and living expenses, and the risk of having to exit the country before finishing diplomas or certificates. Those nearest to graduation—weeks or even days from the finish line—face the sharpest consequences.
For the city’s education and settlement ecosystem, abrupt closures also push pressure onto receiving institutions, advising services and legal clinics, which often step in to help with document checks, credit assessments and timelines. Students marching on Sunday emphasized they want the government to facilitate credit portability and provide definitive instructions so learners do not fall out of status while waiting on decisions.
What students say they need now
- Credit recognition: a process to transfer completed coursework to a new institution without repeating classes.
- Status continuity: clarity on how to maintain the right to study and, where applicable, work while transfers are arranged.
- Timely communication: prompt updates on next steps to minimize academic and financial harm.
On Sunday in downtown Montreal, the message from protesters was consistent: with the academic clock and immigration deadlines running, students want a rapid, reliable way to complete what they started.
