November 10, 2025

The Government of Canada has announced provincial attestation letter exemptions for international master’s and doctoral students, while also excluding them from federal study permit caps. The policy, which goes into effect in January 2026, is designed to ensure that universities will continue to have access to the world’s top graduate talent. Doctoral students enrolling in public institutions will benefit from expedited application processing times. A government webpage has also been created to highlight the changes and detail the benefits of studying in Canada, while also providing prospective graduate students with guidance on applying to study in Canada.

Université Laval will be establishing the Institut des matériaux durables. This $1.2M project will bring several materials-focused research centres together, including centres in key areas such as wood, plastics, aluminum, and optical fibres. The institute will be a hub where research, industrial partnerships, and training will come together to inform those addressing the challenges of the future. The hub will develop solutions that will improve the performance, durability, and environmental impact of materials in strategic sectors. QC will provide $450K to support the institute’s creation.

Though part-time teaching can often feel precarious, one adjunct professor argues that it is possible to build a sustainable and rewarding career in the role. Erik Ofgang (Western Connecticut State University, Post University) argues that despite challenges such as limited job security and few full-time benefits, adjunct instructors can still thrive by following five key strategies: relying on professional networks to identify fair-paying institutions, refusing to take on unpaid labour, contacting department chairs directly instead of applying through open calls, supplementing teaching with other income sources, and embracing the flexibility of adjunct work. Ofgang says this approach allows instructors to “stay laser-focused on the best part of being a college professor—working with students.”

A student project at Western University has identified nearly 100 Victorian-era books in the university’s library system that contain traces of arsenic. Third-year English student Karen Wen discovered the toxic green-covered volumes—nicknamed “poison books”—while studying materials from Western’s library system. Working with Western’s Earth and Planetary Materials Analysis Laboratory, Wen confirmed the presence of copper and arsenic using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Western Special Collections Librarian Deborah Meert-Williston said the books are safe if handled with care and preserved in polyethylene bags: “I would say you wouldn’t want to take one of these books home and have a toddler chew on it,” said Meert-Williston “[b]ut, for the most part, they’re not really dangerous.”

Memorial University is considering the future of its Harlow campus in the United Kingdom, reports CBC. Memorial President Janet Morrison told CBC that the university is evaluating the cost of operating its assets, including the Harlow campus, and that “[a]t this stage, everything is on the table.” She said that the campus, which was opened in 1969, reportedly costs around $1M to maintain, and has $2M in deferred maintenance. Morrison noted that immigration laws have changed, which means most classes are delivered online from NL; additionally, other international opportunities are available for students. CBC reports that a decision on the Harlow campus will not be made until the end of the spring academic term in August 2026.

Emily Carr University of Art + Design and Arts Umbrella have partnered to create an admissions pathway for emerging artists. The Arts Umbrella Intensive Program with ECU Pathway Option allows eligible students to earn ECU credits at Arts Umbrella and receive a portfolio waiver for direct entry into the university’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program. The initiative aims to expand access to postsecondary art and design education by recognizing students’ prior studio experiences. “The ECU Pathway Option creates a natural continuation between our institutions, supporting students as they take their next step into post-secondary study and their future in the creative and cultural sectors–and beyond,” said ECU President Dr Trish Kelly.

Bishop’s University will be strengthening its Indigenous student support and initiatives thanks to a four-year $200K funding commitment from BMO. With the donation, Bishop’s will strengthen its commitment to providing Indigenous students with safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces. The fund will be used to reduce student financial barriers through bursaries and emergency funding and support land-based programming and cultural activities. “Thanks to partnerships like the one with BMO, we are able to offer students enriching experiences that strengthen their connection to their culture, support their personal development, and reinforce their commitment to their identity and heritage,” said Bishop Principal Sébastien Lebel-Grenier.

A new global survey of more than 3,000 researchers from 113 countries suggests that pressures to publish are increasing even as time and resources for research shrink. The Elsevier 2025 Researcher of the Future report found that 68% of respondents feel greater pressure to publish today than they did two years ago, while only 45% say they have enough time for research. Overall, one-third expect funding in their field to grow, but this figure drops to 11% in the North American context. Nearly 30% of respondents said they are considering relocating for their careers, citing better work–life balance, stronger funding, and political factors as key motivators. The survey also found that 58% of researchers are now using AI tools in their work, though fewer than one-third report having adequate training or institutional guidance.

McMaster University and Université TÉLUQ have launched online programs that will address emerging professional training needs. McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business, in partnership with the McMaster Equity-Based Co-Creation Hub, has introduced a suite of micro-credentials focused on equity-based co-design for health and social system leaders, service providers, and advocates. The short, stackable courses emphasize inclusive collaboration and lived experience in policy and service innovation. Meanwhile, TÉLUQ and the Canadian Red Cross have partnered to develop an asynchronous training program to help psychotherapists and other health professionals better treat post-traumatic stress disorder. The 24-hour, 10-module program offers clinical simulations and continuing education credits recognized by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec.

The Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has signed a strategic partnership with the University of South Africa and iThemba LABS/NRF to strengthen academic and scientific collaboration between Québec and South Africa. The agreement will support researcher and student mobility, joint training activities, and collaborative projects in fields such as nanoscience, advanced materials, energy, health, and quantum technologies. INRS stated that the partnership will enhance Québec’s international research presence and foster stronger ties between the Global North and Global South.