Dalhousie projects $13.1 million deficit for 2026-27 academic year

Dalhousie University is projecting a $13.1 million deficit for the next academic year.

On Jan. 29, the university’s Budget Advisory Committee released its proposed operating budget for 2026-27 and projections 2028-29.

The report anticipates the university returning to a balanced budget by the 2028-29 academic year, a year later than the university’s previous target of 2027-28. Dalhousie projected a $20.6 million deficit for the 2025-26 academic year. 

Dalhousie’s six undergraduate faculties with guaranteed international student tuition rates will see proposed tuition increases of six per cent for new international students. Students in these programs pay a fixed tuition price each year of their degree. Other international student fees are projected to increase by an average of 6.9 per cent next year. 

There is no proposed change to domestic undergraduate student tuition, but domestic graduate and professional program tuition will increase by two per cent. Undergraduate tuition rates for students from Nova Scotia are currently frozen in the province, but aren’t frozen for students from outside the province. 

Dalhousie is set to reduce spending across every faculty by 6.3 per cent — offset by increased revenue or the reduction of expenditures — following 2025 salary agreements with unions that represent most of the university’s teaching staff and employees

The university will also cut spending on agents used to recruit international students from $1 million to $500,000 to reflect the decrease in international enrolment.

The report projects enrolment for the 2025-26 academic year to total 21,104 students. Domestic enrolment increased by more than 900 students, while international enrolment fell by nearly 750 students in the fall semester. Enrolment statistics for this academic year will be finalized after March 1. 

The committee also projects a decrease of $5 million in facilities renewal spending in each of the  2027-28 and 2028-29 academic years. Nearly $46 million is budgeted for facility maintenance in 2026-27.

The budget committee will collect feedback on the proposed budget before submitting it to the board of governors for approval in March. The final operating budget is set to be released in June.