Nova Scotia’s 10 universities have signed new agreements with the province that outline funding, accountability requirements and stipulations the schools must abide by to access some of the money.
The two-year agreements, which have not yet been publicly posted, do not allow universities to increase tuition for Nova Scotia residents in undergraduate programs, but come with a two per cent increase in operating funds.
However, there are no restrictions on funding increases for students coming to Nova Scotia universities from other provinces, international students or graduate students, a spokesperson for the department of advanced education told CBC News.
“Our government is freezing tuition for Nova Scotian students to improve affordability for post-secondary so they can get the education they need to start their career,” said Minister of Advanced Education Brendan Maguire in a news release.
“We want our universities to thrive. Through these longer-term agreements, we are providing more financial predictability for universities to help ensure that they are financially sustainable now and in the future.”
According to the news release, the 10 universities will see a boost of $7.7 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and $7.8 million the following year.
Funding holdbacks
However, some of that operating grant will be held back if certain universities don’t meet certain targets.
Those targets include filling at least 97 per cent of health program seats, ensuring housing is available for 15 per cent of students and that on-campus housing has a maximum vacancy rate of five per cent.
The agreements also continue the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary program, which reduces tuition by $1,283 for Nova Scotian students with a full-time course load. Nova Scotian students will also be given preferred admission in undergraduate health and bachelor of education programs beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Universities will be required to increase work-integrated learning opportunities to ensure students have job-ready skills, the news release said.
Program reviews
Universities have previously expressed concern about Bill 12, legislation that would increase government oversight of schools, forcing them to align academic programs with the government’s social and economic priorities, and allowing the minister of advanced education to appoint up to half of members on the board of governors.
It appears that some of those priorities are reflected in the agreements.
The news release says the agreements include a stipulation that universities must undergo a program review to ensure they “meet current educational standards, respond to labour market demands and are economically viable.”
An internal memo from Acadia University president Jeffrey Hennessy that was obtained by CBC News this week called program rationalization — which he said involves reducing or discontinuing programs with low labour market need, low utilization and high program costs — was “perhaps the most sweeping and impactful section of the agreement.”
The agreements also impose new financial reporting requirements that will be reviewed each year.
Reaction
The executive director of Students Nova Scotia, G Saleski, says the tuition freeze for Nova Scotian undergraduate students is “a really big win for students,” as tuition in the province is “staggeringly” above the Canadian average.
According to Statistics Canada, the average undergraduate tuition for domestic students at Nova Scotia universities was $9,762 in the 2024-2025 academic year. The Canadian average was $7,362.
Saleski also lauded the housing accountability measures and the increase in work-integrated learning opportunities mandated in the agreements.
They said the tuition freeze will be challenging for universities to navigate.
“I don’t think that it’s impossible by any means,” Saleski said. “This has happened in the past and it’s just going to require, I think, a bit of innovation.”
