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- calendar_today October 14, 2026
Ontario Expands Postsecondary Seats at Queen’s University
The Ontario government has announced a $104 million investment to support the creation of 3,604 additional postsecondary seats at Queen’s University in Kingston. This allocation is designed to help more students train for in-demand, good-paying careers across the province. The new funding forms part of a larger $1.7 billion investment by the province aimed at adding a total of 70,000 new seats at publicly assisted colleges and universities.
Focus on High-Demand Areas: STEM, Education, and Health
The additional postsecondary seats at Queen’s University have been earmarked for fields with high workforce demand. Of the 3,604 newly funded seats:
- 2,496 seats are for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programs
- 836 seats are for education programs
- 272 seats are for health programs
These new seats are slated to be available for student enrollment as early as the fall of the 2026 academic year, broadening access for those entering critical sectors in Ontario.
Workforce Development and Economic Growth
This seat expansion—part of Ontario's largest in more than a decade—is intended to equip students with the skills required for rapidly evolving labour market needs. The investment also supports Ontario’s objective to create a skilled workforce capable of maintaining a competitive economy. Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn emphasized the importance of training workers at “world-class colleges and universities” and described the investment as the largest seat expansion in the province in over a decade.
Patrick Deane, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, stated that the institution welcomes this significant investment, which aims to prepare more students for rewarding careers in sectors vital to Ontario’s future. Deane added that Queen’s is committed to developing highly skilled talent and contributing to the province's prosperity.
Province-Wide Commitment to Postsecondary Investment
The investment at Queen’s is part of a broader $6.4 billion initiative impacting Ontario’s entire postsecondary sector. This includes the $1.7 billion earmarked for over 70,000 additional postsecondary seats in high-demand areas. Ontario’s new funding model is set to increase annual operating funds at colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes to $7 billion—a 30 percent rise and the highest level in the province’s history.
Ontario’s postsecondary investment is also supporting growth in Indigenous Institutes, with $57 million dedicated province-wide and $33 million of that to expand up to 780 seats in in-demand programs at these facilities.
Collaborative Planning and Community Support
In determining where seats should be allocated, the province called for proposals from colleges and universities. Publicly assisted institutions submitted Priority Growth Plans reflecting institutional strengths, local economic trends, and labour market needs. Over 1,000 letters from employers supported expanding seats in high-demand programs. Ontario evaluated submissions based on institutional capacity, local industry requirements, and student demand to maximize impact on workforce development.
Outlook: Preparing Students for In-Demand Careers
Programs in STEM, healthcare, education, and skilled trades have been demonstrated to produce graduates with higher employment rates, stronger wages, and significant contributions to key sectors of Ontario’s economy. Through this expansion, Queen’s University students in Kingston will have expanded opportunities to gain education and skills for the province’s evolving workforce needs.
For more on education strategies and postsecondary seat expansion in Ontario, visit the official releases and the Ontario government education and apprenticeship portal.
Source: news.ontario.ca.
