free post secondary education ontario

End post-secondary tuition freeze, Ontario expert panel urges

Freeze forced post-secondary institutions to depend more on international student tuition, panel says.

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Ontario should end its post-secondary tuition freeze and increase per-student funding to its universities and colleges, a government-commissioned report has found. 

The Progressive Conservative government introduced a 10-per-cent tuition cut in 2019, as it cancelled the former Liberal government's free tuition program for low- and middle-income students, and has frozen fees at that level since then.

The freeze has forced post-secondary institutions to increase their dependence on international student tuition, which is considerably higher than for domestic students.

The report released Wednesday by an external expert panel said ending the tuition freeze and boosting per-student funding would greatly help post-secondary institutions. 

"A foundational recommendation of the panel, if implemented, would increase direct provincial support for colleges and universities, providing for both more money per student and more students," the report said.

The Council of Ontario Universities has said those institutions receive the lowest amount of operating grant funding per full-time student of all the provinces. The level in Ontario is $8,647 compared to a Canadian average of $12,215 in 2020-21, the council said earlier this year.

Before agreeing to any tuition increases, Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop said she needs to ensure those institutions are operating as efficiently as possible.

"It's my expectation that we will work with post-secondary institutions to create greater efficiencies in operations, program offerings and sustainability of the sector," Dunlop wrote in a statement Wednesday.

She said that work with colleges and universities will take place "in the weeks ahead."

The report, entitled "Ensuring Financial Sustainability for Ontario's Post-secondary Sector," also recommended sufficient financial aid for students based on need. 

It found the institutions' dependence on international students, especially the province's colleges, needs to be recognized as a "financial risk."

"Data shared with the panel confirm that colleges and universities have come to rely more and more on international student tuition fees to the point where the revenue from this source is fundamental to the sector's financial sustainability," the report said.

"This increased reliance raises the post-secondary institutions' risk exposure."

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The panel also recommended a one-time "significant" adjustment in per-student funding due to skyrocketing inflation over the past few years. It additionally recommended a government commitment to "more modest annual adjustments over the next three to five years."

The panel recommended a one-time tuition fee increase of five per cent effective next September, followed by tuition fee increases of two per cent or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater.

Situation 'increasingly untenable,' universities say

Colleges Ontario, which represents the province's colleges called the report "a good first step."

"Creating more opportunities for students to pursue rewarding careers greatly depends on getting this right," president Marketa Evans said in a statement. 

"Ontario's students and businesses deserve nothing less."

Ontario's universities called for government action immediately.

"The situation is becoming increasingly untenable, as universities can no longer continue to absorb cuts and freezes amidst rising inflation and costs, and many are facing deficits, with the growing risk of insolvencies," Steve Orsini, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, wrote in a statement.

He said the demand for universities continues to grow. Applications have increased by 11 per cent over the past two years and are forecast to grow significantly over the next several years. 

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Higher Education Strategy Associates called the report's recommendations a "modest step in the right direction."

"It doesn't quite undo all the real cuts that have occurred under the Ford government," said Alex Usher, president of the strategy firm, who has long called for more provincial funding for post-secondary institutions.

"This was as bold a move as the panel felt it could take and still be taken seriously by the government."

He called Dunlop's initial response to the report "tepid."

"I suspect one of the reasons it's tepid is because the government never asked them to look at funding, they asked them to look at tuition," he said. "And so what the blue ribbon panel did was they looked at the overall situation and said, 'look, the root problem here is that government funding in Ontario is ridiculously low.'"

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Student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries

Where to find money that can help you pay for a college, university or apprenticeship program after high school.

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Ontario student assistance program ( osap ).

OSAP is Ontario’s flagship student support program, offering a mix of grants and loans to thousands of students each year.

Ontario Learn and Stay Grant

Learn about postsecondary student funding to cover the costs of tuition, books and other direct educational expenses.

Financial aid from schools

You can check with a college or university directly to see what financial aid programs they offer.

You could be eligible for:

• scholarships
• work-study programs
• summer employment opportunities

These are all sources of money you don’t have to pay back.

Emergency loans

Most schools also offer emergency loans. For example, you could be eligible for a short-term loan (90 days) to cover tuition, if you’re waiting for OSAP to arrive.

Start with your financial aid office to learn what is available.

Scholarships and bursaries

Find out about other scholarships and bursaries through:

• StudentAward$
• ScholarshipsCanada.com

Graduate students: apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship or the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology at your school’s graduate office. You can get $5,000 per term, to a maximum of $15,000 for an academic year.

Banks, trust companies and credit unions offer student loans and lines of credit. Talk to your financial institution for information.

Self-funded

It’s a good idea to save money from a summer job or job you hold throughout the year to help pay for your education.

Your parents or other relatives might also be able to contribute to education costs.

Another option is to consider investing savings through a bank/financial institution – so that money can earn interest – if you plan to attend college or university in the future.

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Colleges, Universities and Institutes

• Financial Assistance for Post-Secondary Education

What kinds of financial help can I get for my education?

There are a number of sources of financial assistance for students. These sources include educational institutions, the government, private companies, charities and community organizations.

NOTE: For financial assistance during the COVID-19 crisis please visit the Canadian Emergency Student Benefit(CESB) page from the government of Canada to see if you qualify.

Universities and Colleges

Many universities and colleges have scholarships and bursaries . Scholarships are generally based on academic achievement, but some scholarships also focus on community involvement (such as volunteering) or work in a specific field of study or work. Scholarships usually have very particular criteria that you must meet to qualify, and many students might compete for the same scholarship. Many scholarships are open to international students as well as domestic students. You must apply for some scholarships, but some are awarded automatically.

Bursaries are usually based on both financial need and academic achievement. Normally, bursaries are open to domestic students only.

Most colleges and universities have a financial aid office . An advisor from this office can help direct you to funding options. Usually, you can also find this information on school websites and in academic calendars.

Community Organizations

Some charities, foundations and private companies give out scholarships. Here are some examples:

• Scholarships Canada and Student Awards - Resources that will help you find scholarships and awards according to university, or your own personal profile. You need to register for these sites, but the search service is free.
• TD Canada Trust Scholarships - Awarded to Canadian Students based on leadership in the community.
• RBC Royal Bank Scholarships - Various scholarship programs awarded to Canadian citizens or permanent residents, including a program specific to medical and dental students.
• Canada Student Loans and Grants - The federal government provides student financial assistance in the form of loans and grants.
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) - OSAP is the main source of financial aid for post-secondary education in Ontario. The website includes information on loans and listings of eligible institutions. It also has an online application form and allows students to check the status of their application online. You can use this online calculator to help you see how much you may receive from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety - The Dick Martin Scholarship recognizes a student in an occupational health and safety-related course or program. It is awarded once a year.

Many students work in order to pay for their studies. You may wish to study part-time so that you can work full-time. International students are restricted in their right to work or volunteer while in Canada. Detailed information for international students is available from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

You can contact a community agency for more information. To find help in your area, go to Services Near Me .

For More Information

• Studying in Canada - Information for people planning to come to Canada as international students. From Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
• Information for Students Educated Abroad Applying for Admission to Canadian Universities and Colleges - Answers to some basic questions and links to relevant organizations and resources.
• International Students - This webpage has information about coming to Ontario as an international student, and working while you study and after you graduate. From the Ontario Immigration website.
• Benefits Wayfinder - This bilingual one-stop portal lets you search for federal, provincial, and territorial benefits, as well as COVID-19 related resources. From Prosper Canada.

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• Information for Foreign Students

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