University of Regina raises tuition and cuts staff amidst budgetary challenges

Students at the University of Regina will be paying more for tuition in the 2025-26 academic year. 

The university's board of governors has approved the 2025–26 operating budget, which includes budget reductions of about two per cent.

"Given the financial situation, cost-saving measures will be implemented across the University in alignment with our core mission of teaching and learning, research, community connection and student support,"  the university said in a news release Wednesday.

Those measures include a four per cent tuition increase for new and returning students, as well as job losses. So far, the university has confirmed five layoffs.

In its release, the university cited several factors behind the financial pressures: a drop in international students, flat domestic enrolments and tensions from the United States.

"Along with ongoing financial pressures related to inflation, universities are encountering challenging financial times," Wednesday's release said.

Jeff Keshen, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Regina, confirmed that the university has had a 59 per cent drop in new international student enrolment for the 2025 winter semester. 

"That's mainly due to what's been a real glacial pace of processing by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)," Keshen said. "So that has resulted in millions of dollars in lost revenue for our institution, and colleges and universities across Canada." 

Recent IRCC changes include a reduction in the number of study permits issued in Canada. Keshen said this has created apprehension among prospective international students, who fear being rejected by Canadian immigration.

"The problem is that those students are no longer applying in those same numbers because Canada's reputation abroad has been so sullied because of all these rule changes, and because the students know that there's been such delays in processing and such high rejection rates," Keshen said.

A counry-wide challenge

Keshen noted that other institutions across the country are experiencing similar drops in international enrolment.

"I will say that our 59 per cent drop is not out of line with what other institutions have experienced," he said.

He added that the university had a multi-year funding agreement with the provincial government, an arrangement many other post-secondary institutions do not have.

"We were thankful because a lot of places, they're either freezing it completely or they're cutting it," he said.

That funding agreement expired last year, but was extended for one additional year. Keshen said it's unclear whether the province will continue supporting it amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

The university says it does not take tuition increases lightly and will continue efforts to attract international students to Regina.

Keshen echoed that sentiment, encouraging students in need of financial support to contact Student Affairs.

"We don't want to see [students] fall off and not be able to complete their studies because of financial strains."