Province Signs New Funding Agreements with Universities
New two-year funding agreements with the province’s 10 universities replace the current one-year agreements, which expired on March 31, and include a tuition freeze for Nova Scotia students. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
New two-year funding agreements with the province’s 10 universities will freeze tuition for Nova Scotia students, boost operating grants and further strengthen accountability and sustainability.
The bilateral agreements for 2025-26 and 2026-27 replace the current one-year agreements with universities that expired on March 31.
“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 Brendan Maguire, Minister of Advanced Education. “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.”
The two-year agreements provide universities with a two per cent increase in their operating grant each year. Some of the grant will be held back until universities achieve specific targets within their agreements.
Some highlights of the new agreements include:
- no increase to tuition for Nova Scotian residents in undergraduate programs, with the option for universities to decrease tuition
- continuation of the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary program
- preferred admission for Nova Scotian students in undergraduate health and bachelor of education programs that start after January 1, 2026
- a requirement for universities to continue to expand access to work-integrated learning opportunities, ensuring students have job-ready skills
- a program review that ensures university programs meet current educational standards, respond to labour market demands and are economically viable
- performance-based funding and accountability measures, including:
- a requirement to fill health program seats to an average enrolment rate of at least 97 per cent
- a requirement to advance plans to increase student housing to ensure that housing is available for at least 15 per cent of a school’s student population and that on-campus housing has a maximum vacancy rate of five per cent
- continuation of the three committees established under the previous bilateral agreements (academic programming committee; financial sustainability and accountability committee; and research and innovation committee).
New financial indicators and benchmarks, as well as financial reporting, will be implemented to assess the financial health of universities, which will be reviewed annually and over five years.
Quick Facts:
- the increase in operating funding to the 10 universities is $7.7 million in 2025-26 and $7.8 million in 2026-27
- the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary provides a reduction in tuition of $1,283 for each Nova Scotian student attending a Nova Scotia university, based on a full-time course load
Additional Resources:
News release – Agreements with Universities Prioritize Student Needs, Government Priorities: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/02/02/agreements-universities-prioritize-student-needs-government-priorities
2024-25 bilateral agreements with universities: https://novascotia.ca/lae/HigherEducation/documents.asp
Report from the Auditor General – Funding to Universities: https://oag-ns.ca/sites/default/files/2025-02/2025%20Funding%20to%20Universities%20Interactive.pdf