November 28, 2025

The Siebel Institute of Technology—which has operated in Chicago since 1868—has announced that it is relocating to Montréal. The institute cited recent regulatory changes in the United States, explaining that it has become difficult for its international students to attend class in person. “This relocation of North America classroom operations to Montreal allows us to pivot without sacrificing the student experience,” said SIT Director of Education John Hannafan. Several members of Québec’s growing craft beer industry praised the announcement as an opportunity for Québec to acquire new technical knowledge and boost its reputation. They also pointed to how SIT’s offerings will complement existing brewing training in Canada, such as that offered by Niagara College. The institute plans to move in January 2026.

The Government of Canada has announced the provincial and territorial allocations under the the international student cap for 2026. IRCC plans to accept a maximum of 309,670 study permit applications under the cap for 2026, with a final target of issuing 180,000 study permit targets. The largest allocations are seen in Ontario (104,780 applications, 70,074 permits), Québec (93,069 applications, 39,474 permits), and British Columbia (32,596 applications, 24,786 permits). Nunavut has not been assigned any allocation spaces under the cap, as it does not currently have a DLI. The exemptions from the PAL/TAL requirement for 2026 now include master’s and doctoral degree students at public DLIs, as well as existing study permit holders applying for an extension under certain conditions, certain priority groups and vulnerable cohorts, and K-12 students.

The University of Victoria’s Faculty of Law has launched a new research initiative focused on helping Indigenous communities renew and rebuild their legal systems, with the support of a $10M investment from the Law Foundation of BC. The Next Steps: Rebuilding Indigenous Law initiative will help Indigenous communities rebuild their legal orders and revitalize and apply their own legal traditions to respond to today’s realities. The university states that this process will serve as a model of Indigenous self-determination that could inspire other initiatives around the world. “What we’re doing is making visible and cognizable Indigenous ways of Indigenous legal thought, Indigenous legal processes and ways that people hold each other accountable, and ways that we can take care of one another,” said UVic Next Steps project lead Val Napoleon.

Memorial University has received a $2.25M gift from Cenovus Energy that will be used to support students and programming at its St John’s campus and the Marine Institute. The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science will receive $1.5M towards its Student Design Hub and the creation of new engineering student scholarships. The remainder of the funding will be used to create awards and support competitions at the Marine Institute, provide financial aid for student participation in field courses at the Department of Earth Sciences, and support the Limitless Leadership program. Memorial VP of Advancement Lisa Browne emphasized the importance of donations like this, “because they allow us to do things other than perhaps our regular operational things that we do day-to-day.”

Simon Fraser University has announced that it will be applying to return to the Canada West conference of U SPORTS for Fall 2027. If successful, SFU will leave the NCAA and US competition and retire its softball, golf, and outdoor track and field teams, as U SPORTS does not offer a national championship for these sports. “The decision to pursue an application with U Sports was not made lightly, but in the long run, will help support sustainability for the athletics program and the university at large, while deepening our sense of community for students and future student-athletes,” said SFU Provost and VP, Academic Dilson Rassier. Rassier also committed to supporting affected student-athletes as they continue their athletic careers.

Several postsecondary institutions have announced new programs. Humber Polytechnic has partnered with youth organization TakingITGlobal to launch the Project Design for Community Impact micro-credential for the organization’s 2025 Sprout Fellows. St Thomas University has launched a new interdisciplinary major called the Disability, Aging, and Human Rights program, which focuses on health and aging. The University of Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert campus will now be offering the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy Certificate, providing students with a way to gain a foundation in scientific and traditional knowledge without having to travel. “Students who live in and near Prince Albert have their support systems nearby and the community benefits with graduates skilled in Indigenous land and resources management,” explained USask AgBio Strategic Senior Officer Jordie Gagnon

McGill University’s recent athletics cuts have drawn attention from athletes and athletic organizations from across Canada. Athletics Canada, Athletisme Québec, Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse, Olympian Bruny Surin, and Canadian Olympic head coach Glenroy Gilbert were among those who publicly urged the university to reverse the cuts. “Track and field at McGill has […] been an inclusive pathway, a community and a place where athletes of all levels could grow, dream and excel,” wrote Surin. “We absolutely need to find a solution to avoid this situation.” U SPORTS CEO Pierre Arsenault and Olympian Philippe Gagnon both commented on the broader circumstances of the cuts, with Arsenault stating that these types of cuts typically occur when universities have no viable alternatives. Canadian Running reports that student athletes have started a petition to fight the decision.

The University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have announced that funding for their international hub for vision science has been extended through to 2030. During this time, the InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) will continue to research vision loss and develop technologies to prevent, detect, and treat it. The centre is currently investigating 16 projects with strong potential including an “eye on a chip” and an anti-myopia screen for children. “This new funding will allow our companies and technologies to mature and for our research to be brought into use in clinics, at companies and perhaps in patients’ homes,” said UWaterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science Director and CEVR CEO Dr Ben Thompson.

Faculty, staff, and students in British Columbia have recently shared their hopes and concerns with the recently announced review of the postsecondary sector. Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC President Brent Calvert expressed that the federation is glad the government is undertaking the review, but took issue with the short timelines and the lack of new funding. North Island College Faculty Association President Jen Wrye also expressed concern about the review’s implications for institutions in small communities. Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union Executive Director Nathan Lane noted the ways that this review could yield improvements for institutions and students, but was wary of potential cost increases for students.

Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick and Queen’s University have each opened new facilities. CCNB’s INNOV innovation centre has unveiled its new advanced manufacturing laboratory. The lab will provide local businesses with access to technology and expertise with the goal of supporting economic growth. The unveiling included a discovery workshop where manufacturing companies from across the province could explore opportunities with the lab. At Queen’s, the Faculty of Arts and Science Department of Psychology has officially opened its Psychology Clinic, which replaces the university’s community clinic. The new clinic will provide the Kingston community with low cost, accessible clinical services while offering experiential learning for Queen’s students.