Western's 2025-26 budget emphasizes research excellence, student support and growth across campus, providing significant funding to sustain key programs despite financial challenges in the higher education sector.
The Board of Governors approved plans to invest $943.1 million over the next year to advance the university's strategic plan, Towards Western at 150, while managing rising costs and funding constraints - including the years-long freeze on provincial operating grants and tuition rates as well as federal caps on international student visas.
Though financial pressures hitting the country's post-secondary institutions are impacting Western's bottom line, with a projected $7.7-million in-year deficit, the university's history of strong fiscal management has helped retain stability. A $44-million operating reserve is forecast for the end of 2025-26, well above the mandated threshold of $10 million.
"We are focusing on our strategic priorities and are fortunate to be able to invest in academic and research excellence and student support despite budget pressures," said Western President Alan Shepard.
"We have always and will always invest in the academic mission of the university." - Western President Alan Shepard
Cutting-edge research
Building on allocations from last year's budget, additional funds in 2025-26 will support expansions in programs that fill pressing societal and labour market needs, such as tackling the nursing shortage.
More than $4.6 million in base and one-time funding is designated for expansion in the Faculty of Engineering, and $2 million in provincial funding to increase enrolment in the Arthur Labatt School of Nursing. The investments will support the construction of a new engineering building and additional staff and faculty for a growing nursing program, among other expansion priorities in both disciplines.
Western graduates from those fields respond to urgent needs, said Florentine Strzelczyk, provost and vice-president (academic).
"The expectation is that we, as a university, contribute to the economic prosperity of our region and province," she said. In her role as provost, Strzelczyk is Western's chief budget officer.
"We safeguard education as a public good, while also responding to the needs around us. Meeting those needs is an investment in Canada's research and innovation potential for the future."
Additional one-time investments reflect the university's focus on driving impact:
- $30 million for the endowed chairs matching program to support the creation of additional research chairs
- $6.2 million in recruitment awards for international undergraduate students
- $3.4 million for university-wide research initiatives
- $2.8 million for undergraduate and graduate student bursaries
- $2.17 million for upgrades to instructional spaces
The budget also earmarks an additional $2 million to expand the Undergraduate Student Research Internship program, which offers full-time, paid summer positions for undergraduate students, working with Western faculty members.
"We are a top U15 research-intensive university on the rise, with teaching and learning environments enriched by the knowledge of our world-class researchers," Strzelczyk said.
"Success is about investing in the researchers of tomorrow, who will solve the grand challenges of our era." - Florentine Strzelczyk, provost and vice-president (academic)
The university is also investing in new space and equipment to bolster the research, teaching and learning environment.
A total of $252.6 million in capital spending is budgeted for 2025-26, with almost $130 million dedicated to new construction. Investing in Western's long-range space plan, capital funding next year for ongoing projects includes $61.6 million for the new undergraduate residence on University Drive, $32 million for the new engineering building and more than $14 million for the Pathogen Research Centre, an expansion to the state-of-the-art biocontainment facility for research on infectious disease spread and treatment.
Building a thriving, diverse campus
With tuition rates frozen for in-province students since 2019 and the cap on international student study permits restricting enrolment from outside the country, Western - like all Ontario institutions - is navigating a more challenging fiscal environment than ever before.
The university is seeking additional streams of revenue to ensure investment in strategic priorities can continue into the future.
It's one reason Western is examining a potential partnership with Navitas, an experienced third-party education provider, to help increase international student enrolment.
"We are committed to identifying and nurturing talent, and that includes recruiting international students to our campus," Strzelczyk said. "As a global university, we want to become more internationally diverse to strengthen our thriving community."
Partnering with Navitas would create a first-year pathway program, providing an additional stream of international students to progress into Western programs for years two through four.
Upholding Western's high academic standards, the program would offer students the same courses and curriculum as direct-entry students, but with extra supports including English language proficiency resources and additional classroom time to ensure they are fully prepared for future studies.
The potential partnership with Navitas would support Western's multi-pronged approach to international recruitment, augmenting current efforts to recruit promising students from around the world into first-year programs.
Supporting students, staff and faculty at Western is a top priority amid declining revenues, making new ideas and partnerships essential, Strzelczyk said.
That includes the university's ambitious fundraising campaign, with a public launch in the coming year. Western's 2025-26 budget allocates $5 million to support the campaign.
"In times of financial constraint, philanthropy plays an even bigger role, because it enables us to start and accelerate research and student success," Strzelczyk said.
"We are an extremely well-managed university, deeply committed to our strategic priorities even amid funding challenges in the sector. Western remains focused on driving impact at home and around the world."
