Frequently asked questions
Toronto Metropolitan University funding
More than 90 per cent of our operating revenues are related to enrolment. Approximately 55 per cent of our operating revenue comes from tuition fees, 36 per cent from grants, and 8 per cent from other income-generating activities.
The majority of our expenditures are for academic and student support operations, with remaining funds supporting activities such as building maintenance, campus computing and technological services, research services, and administrative functions.
Over three-quarters of our operating expenditures are for salaries and benefits. The majority of these costs are determined by negotiated collective agreements with our three main unions: the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
In 2019-20, the Government of Ontario required universities to reduce domestic tuition fees by 10 per cent relative to 2018-19 levels. This brought fees back to approximately 2015-16 levels. Fees have remained frozen at that reduced level. Forgoing a tuition increase for even one year has a cumulative impact that will last for years to come. In every year following the freeze, any increases will be based on a lower tuition amount, meaning there will be a continued gap between inflation and incremental revenue. Fees for international enrolment and cost-recovery programming, activity not supported with government grants, are not subject to this policy.
In terms of enrolment, the number of domestic students for whom we receive government grants has been capped at 2016-17 levels, which means that additional enrolment since that period does not generate incremental government funding.
The federal government’s new cap on international student visa applications limits TMU’s ability to enroll international students and makes Canada a less attractive destination for potential international students. Lower international enrolment further limits fee revenue for the university.
At the same time, non-salary costs, salaries and benefits are subject to inflation.
In 2024 the provincial government announced limited short-term funding to assist colleges and universities with financial pressures. However, these funds are insufficient to offset financial pressures related to reduced fee revenue and increased costs.
As of February 2025, we are awaiting the final report from the third-party reviewers in relation to the Efficiency and Accountability assessment that has been recently undertaken at TMU. Reviewers have spent a significant amount of time learning about the operations of our university and will provide recommendations to address budget shortfalls. This review was required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities as one of the conditions required in order for us to receive one-time top-up funding in 2024-25.
Toronto Metropolitan University will continue ongoing conversations with our sector partners and take part in discussions with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities regarding these policies. Toronto Metropolitan University will continue to develop plans and options to address potential revenue shortfalls.
Toronto Metropolitan University’s 2025-2030 Academic Plan incorporates extensive feedback from students, faculty, and staff. In an environment of constrained funding, it is essential that allocations be targeted to our highest priorities. The five priorities identified in the Academic Plan will guide the direction of the university:
- Enhance the learning journey for greater student success;
- Create positive impact through SRC excellence and local and global collaboration;
- Support people and community;
- Continue our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation; and
- Ensure future readiness.
Toronto Metropolitan University has also undertaken broad internal and external consultations on a range of foundational strategies that will help guide and shape our institution. A developing blueprint, these four complementary plans (including the Academic Plan) articulate our academic and strategic directions:
Uniting these plans is the Strategic Vision 2020-2030. This overarching framework serves as the foundation or roadmap, moving Toronto Metropolitan University toward the same vision and goals.
Donations tend to be directed to support designated student bursaries, short-term initiatives or specific projects such as capital, rather than being available for general operating purposes.
For permanent staff positions and long-term commitments (e.g., maintenance of buildings, utilities), the university cannot rely on short-term donations or other one-time-only funds such as short-term grants or contracts.
The School of Medicine will be supported by new, incremental revenue that is not related to our current enrolment. The Government of Ontario announced its support for the school, including funding for 94 undergraduate and 105 postgraduate seats that are resourced separately from TMU’s existing enrolment. The City of Brampton donated an existing building along with funds to support renovations to establish the physical site for the school, and TMU is working with the federal and provincial governments and private donors to seek additional funding to support capital development.
Ontario is facing a shortage of primary care physicians who are unevenly distributed across communities, contributing to growing unmet care needs. For example, Brampton is one of Canada’s most culturally diverse and fastest-growing cities. Despite this, Brampton residents experience significant challenges with access to appropriate, high-quality primary care. TMU has the opportunity to engage with the community and the surrounding region to develop a model for health care that can be adopted throughout Ontario and beyond.
Audited financial statements are available online.
Detailed information, including estimates of annual revenues and expenditures, can be found at the following locations on Toronto Metropolitan University’s website:
The federal government sets a cap for each province, and individual provinces decide on the allocation among their institutions. TMU’s allocation for international student visa applications may result in reduced international enrolment in the coming years. The implementation of caps has also created a challenging environment for recruiting international students to study in Canada.
Our university has taken a measured approach to international enrolment, with roughly 10 per cent of our enrolment accounted for by international students in recent years, compared to a system average of about 20 per cent.
Students and enrolment
We understand the financial burden faced by many students. Student support expenditures by the university for 2024-25 to date (as of January 31, 2025) total $47.3 million.
In addition, the Government of Canada has suspended the accumulation of interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans as of April 1, 2023.
More information about financial support is available on the Student Financial Assistance website.
As demonstrated in past years, Toronto Metropolitan University is focused on our core values throughout the budget-planning and consultation process – especially protecting and enhancing the student experience. The 2025-26 budget cycle will continue to prioritize the student community. In the past year, the university has made significant investments in student wellness and international student supports, for example, student aid is funded through a combination of tuition fees and additional revenue streams, such as donations. In some cases, specific bursaries are funded through allocations made from department/faculty budgets.
TMU participates in the Student Access Guarantee as required by the provincial government, covering direct costs for unmet need as assessed by OSAP through scholarships, bursaries or work-study employment.
Given student demand for Toronto Metropolitan University programs, we are on track to meet domestic enrolment targets for Fall 2025. It is important to note that Toronto Metropolitan University is unable to significantly increase domestic enrolment because the provincial government has capped the number of funded spaces.
The federal government’s cap on international student visa applications presents significant challenges with international enrolment planning. Our current level of international enrolment is low relative to other Ontario universities, and increasing this is an important objective.
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education offers a combination of degree-credit and certificate-credit courses. Degree credit enrolment is counted as part of our enrolment that is funded by the government, which is capped at the overall university level. Other Chang School enrolments that are not degree-credit are not subject to limits and we will work to increase enrolment in these courses.
More than 90 per cent of our operating revenues come from tuition fees and grants associated with enrolment. In other words, our financial health as an institution relies on enrolment. Demand for Toronto Metropolitan University programs is strong. That said, funded domestic spaces are capped by the provincial government, which precludes us from increasing the number of domestic students to generate additional revenue.
