Role of the Félix-Goyer Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Félix-Goyer Foundation is a Quebec-based non-profit founded in 1958 to support access to post-secondary education for disadvantaged and geographically remote students. Its core activity is the annual distribution of study scholarships to college (CÉGEP), vocational (DEP) and university students who must live away from home to pursue their studies in Quebec. By targeting young people from modest backgrounds and distant regions, the foundation helps reduce the additional costs associated with housing and studying far from their community.
Funding approach and types of support
The foundation offers individual bursaries calculated per full-time session. According to the selection criteria page, typical reference amounts are around $700 per university session and $350 per CÉGEP or DEP session, subject to adjustment based on the annual budget and analysis of applications. Bursaries are not available for master’s or doctoral studies; the focus is on initial college, vocational and undergraduate university training. Funding is awarded directly to students who meet the foundation’s criteria, primarily Quebec full-time students who must relocate to attend a recognized post-secondary institution.
General eligibility and assessment criteria
To be considered, applicants must be Quebec students enrolled full time: at least 12 credits per session at university, four successfully completed courses in the previous year at CÉGEP, or enrollment in a DEP program. A key condition is being significantly distant from the attended (or intended) CÉGEP or university, requiring residence in student housing or an apartment. Applications must be submitted exclusively via the prescribed online Google Forms application, with all sections completed.
Candidates must attach a complete transcript for all full-time sessions (or the most recent academic year), showing the institution’s identification, the student’s name and permanent code, the program, sessions and full list of courses with grades. Incomplete transcripts lead to automatic rejection. Applications are first reviewed by the student aid committee (CAE), then submitted to the board of directors for final approval or refusal. Decisions are communicated by email towards the end of September, and tax slips (Relevé 1 and T4A) are issued for bursaries.
Application cycles and geographic scope
The foundation operates with a clearly defined annual application window, generally from May 1 to August 15, with the possibility of closing earlier if a high volume of applications is received. The programs are aimed at Quebec students attending post-secondary institutions located in Quebec, reflecting a primarily provincial scope. The foundation does not maintain a permanent physical office and can be contacted by email, which underlines its lean, volunteer-driven governance while still maintaining clear and transparent rules for the allocation of funding.