Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security confirmed on 15 October 2026 that it will finance more than 3,600 new post-secondary seats at Queen’s University in Kingston. The allocation is part of a $1.7 billion provincial plan to add over 70,000 seats across Ontario’s public colleges and universities by 2030. The new places will be concentrated in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), health care, education and skilled trades—fields singled out by employers as chronic shortfalls. International students account for roughly 25 % of enrolment in these disciplines at Queen’s; the seat expansion therefore holds particular relevance for foreign applicants seeking study permits and eventual post-graduation work permits (PGWPs). For global mobility managers, the announcement is a labour-market signal: Ontario is aligning higher-education funding with sectors that feed both the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s priority streams and the federal Express Entry categories in STEM and health occupations. Graduates of newly funded programs stand to benefit from smoother pathways to permanent residence. Prospective students should track program launch dates and admission requirements closely—Queen’s expects phased roll-out beginning fall 2027. Employers may also wish to deepen campus recruitment ties in anticipation of a larger pipeline of STEM and health-care graduates.
Source: IRCC.com
