An international recruitment programme in Quebec, Canada aimed at addressing the labour shortage in healthcare is falling short of expectations. Almost two years after its launch, dozens of African students are facing difficulties in adapting to their new life, failure in their exams and even racist abuse. Promises of academic equivalence and support sometimes appear unfulfilled, pushing some to accept lower-paid jobs in retirement homes or risk deportation to their country of origin. The provincial government insists that everything is being done to ensure the candidates' success. Our correspondents report.