News Release

MONCTON (GNB) – The provincial government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Université de Moncton that is meant to provide stable tuition for students and predictable multi-year funding for the university. The agreement represents an investment of almost $15 million over four years and is in addition to the university’s existing operational funding.

“Your government is committed to making post-secondary education in our province accessible and affordable for all students,” said Post-Secondary Education Minister Roger Melanson. “With the signing of the memorandum of understanding today, we are continuing to make students a priority by also ensuring that tuition rates are predictable and stable for years to come. I am proud of the memorandum that was reached today with the Université de Moncton, and want to recognize the quality education that the institution provides to its students. Supporting our publicly funded universities is vital to the social and economic well-being of our province, and we will continue to make students a priority.”

Following are some highlights of the memorandum, which covers the 2017-18 to 2020-21 academic years:

• Increases to the university’s operational funding will be one per cent in each of the first three years, followed by two per cent in 2020-21.

• Tuition increases will be capped at two per cent per year for the duration of a degree in which a New Brunswick student is already enrolled in 2018-19 or earlier.

• Universities may undertake a tuition review for which results would only be implemented in 2019-20 and apply to new students enrolled in 2019-20.

• Funding for pilot projects aims to increase enrolment and allow for more research and development opportunities.

• The university agrees to appear before a committee of the legislative assembly.

“The memorandum of understanding we signed today is a step in the right direction,” said the university president and vice-chancellor Raymond Théberge. “It will provide stable funding for the Université de Moncton for the next four years while ensuring stable and predictable tuition for our students. This memorandum illustrates that the provincial government understands very well the economic, cultural and social impact of our institution.”

This announcement is in keeping with the government’s commitment to invest an additional $45 million over four years in the province’s four publicly funded universities.

The government introduced the Free Tuition Program and Tuition Relief for the Middle Class to make post-secondary education more affordable and accessible for students. More than 6,200 students have qualified for the Free Tuition Program and more than 1,400 students have qualified for Tuition Relief for the Middle Class for the 2017-18 academic year.