French Requirements for Healthcare Professionals (Professional Programs)

Undergraduate Programs and Inter-Faculty Transfer Students 

The language of instruction at McGill University is English. However, certain McGill programs include a mandatory internship, or ‘stage’, which will be completed in a hospital, clinic, or school setting or social service centre where the ability to communicate proficiently in French is essential.

French is the official language in Québec and thus health and social services administered by the Ministry of Health are bound by the Charter of the French Language. In order to provide essential and safe care to all patients within a Québec-based healthcare setting, students must achieve an appropriate level of French before entering their respective health program’s clinical affiliations where they integrate their knowledge, skills and attitudes. This will ensure all students have every opportunity to maximize their learning with all patients, families, and fellow health care workers they meet during their studies at McGill University.

Criteria to Meet French Proficiency Requirements: 

Applicants will be exempted from testing for French language competency if they meet at least one of the following requirements. If you answer 'yes' to at least one of the following questions, send to undergrad.spot [at] mcgill.ca a single page with your full name, McGill ID, the question to which you answered ‘yes’, and your signature.

1. Secondary school, CEGEP and/or pre-university experience

1.1 Completed both secondary school and CEGEP in Québec in either French or English
1.2 Completed secondary school in an institution where French was the primary language of instruction.
1.3 Completed CEGEP in Québec in a francophone institution.
1.4 Completed a pre-university diploma from a program where French was the primary language of instruction (e.g., Baccalauréat d'une académie de France, certificat d'enseignement secondaire supérieur de Belgique, Certificat de maturité de Suisse).

2. Certificates of French Proficiency

2.1 Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française (DALF)
2.3 McGill Certificate of Proficiency in French (School of Continuing Studies)
2.4 McGill Certificate of Proficiency in French for Professional Communication
2.5 Other equivalent (specify)2.2 Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF)

3 University equivalency

3.1 Completion of at least 60 credits in an undergraduate program in a francophone university in Québec
3.2 Completion of at least two consecutive years in a full-time undergraduate program, whose primary language of instruction is French, in a university outside of Québec

For applicants who do not meet the requirements above, proof of French language competency may be demonstrated with any one of the following tests, at a level equivalent to B2 (mid-intermediate) on the Common European Reference Framework in oral (speaking and comprehension) and written (reading and writing) communication:

• Test de connaissance du français (TFC – France éducation international)
• Test de connaissance du français – Québec (TCFQ – France éducation international)
• Test de connaissance du français pour la demande d'admission préalable (TCF DAP - France éducation international)
• Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test d’évaluation de français – Québec (TEFaQ)
• Test d’évaluation de français – Canada (TEF Canada)
• Online test with McGill School of Continuing Studies: Part 1: Written assessment. Part 2: Communication Skills assessment.

Testing Locations and Availability

TCF, TCFQ, and TCF-DAP Location Finder

TEF, TEFaQ, and TEF Canada Location Finder 

Assessment of Written and Verbal Communication Skills - McGill School of Continuing Studies