Dawson takes initiative to communicate on Law 14 (Bill 96) and its impact for Fall 2023

Over the last two weeks, Dawson College has engaged in a variety of activities to ensure that the impact of Law 14 (Bill 96) on Fall 2023 admissions is well understood by prospective students.

In the first week of February, one English and one French webinar was hosted for guidance counsellors from across the Greater Montreal area on the topic of Law 14 (Bill 96) and its impact.  Attended by about 200 guidance counsellors and co-hosted by the Directors General, Registrars, Academic Deans and Heads of Communication of John Abbott College and Vanier College, the webinars were identical in content.

In addition, Dawson College provided interviews and quotes on the topic to La Presse and CBC Daybreak.

All presentations and interviews focused on emphasizing the following facts:

  • All students who are qualified to study at a college in Québec can be admitted to an English-language college, regardless of their high school of origin or their eligibility to receive instruction in English in an elementary or secondary school in Québec.
  • For Fall 2023, Round 1 admission decisions will be based on academic record
  • The government has a set a deadline of Winter 2024 for English colleges to define how priority to certificate holders will be applied. However, in order to begin ensuring no certificate holder is left without a spot in an English college, Dawson, John Abbott and Vanier will be working together and with other English-language colleges to admit all qualified certificate holders who have applied before the March 1 deadline. If a certificate holder’s application is refused in Round 1 due to lack of space, they will receive priority in Round 2. It is important to note that priority admission does not mean a guarantee of admission to the program of first choice.
  • This priority mechanism applies for the Fall 2023 admissions only. How priority is to be applied will be further defined for Winter 2024 admissions.


Last Modified: February 8, 2023