Steep drop in international graduate student enrolment at Laurentian University projected for the fall

Laurentian University's Board of Governors has approved a balanced budget for the 2025-26 taking into account a steep decline in international graduate students and financial instability posed by American trade policy.

Both factors have created additional costs, resulting in academic units and administrative departments being asked to contract their non-salary spending from last year's levels, although staffing levels remain stable.

"The next fiscal year will be a significant one for Laurentian University in a number of historic ways," wrote President Lynn Wells.

"First, the University continues to make important progress on its obligations under creditor protection. By November 2025, Laurentian University is planning to complete the sales of the designated properties to the province, another critical step in building the future of our Institution."

Because the university is still working through its insolvency, it cannot borrow money until it exits creditor protection and builds up its credit rating.

Tuition continues to be the big source of revenue for the university and Wells said the news there is not good.

Laurentian's consolidated budget projects a total enrolment for next year of 6,040, down from 6,332.

While domestic undergraduate enrolment is expected to increase by about 80 students, there is a projected drop in international graduate students who pay three times the domestic tuition.

She says they expect a 55 per cent hit in the number of foreign students, if everyone who has been admitted, follows through.

"You never really know how many students you're going to have until September comes and classes open and you see who's who's sitting," she said.

"But that's the early indication that we have is that admissions are down about 55 per cent."

That's not to say that the seats aren't available, said Wells, but rather that students from other countries aren't choosing Canada.

 "We've been able to work within our allocation pretty easily, but what really is having an impact is the reputation that Canada now has abroad as a very difficult place to enter for university study," she said.

Wells said Laurentian university is taking steps to deal with less revenue, such as deferring some new position requests and the hiring of non-critical faculty and staff until at least September.

Small surplus expected

Overall, the budget allows for a $1.7 million dollar surplus, as well as setting aside an amount for pay raises expected after the Laurentian University Faculty Association negotiates a new contract, with the current agreement set to expire in June.

Wells said the university is forging on and meeting its obligations.

"I always like to emphasize the fact that despite a really challenging set of circumstances that are affecting all Canadian universities, Laurentian, continues to be very much on the path to recovery and strength," she said.

"We're doing a great job of serving the people of the Greater Sudbury region, but also northern Ontario and Canada and that will continue."