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A program offering tuition relief to Ukrainian post-secondary students studying in Saskatchewan will continue until 2030.
According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, the tuition relief measure allows students who arrived in the province through the federal government’s Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program to continue paying the same rates charged to domestic students rather than the higher rates typically charged to international students.
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The ministry said more than 35 students have taken advantage of the relief program since it was first launched back in 2023.
The program has now been extended to March 31, 2030, and the ministry said a review will be completed 2029 to determine if the relief program is still needed, the ministry added.
“When I arrived in Saskatchewan as a high school student, I hoped to continue my education here, but paying international tuition would have made that impossible for my family,” said Anton Merzliakov, a University of Regina student quoted in a statement from the provincial government.
“The tuition relief program made university possible for me, and extending this support gives me confidence that I can complete my degree and continue building my future here.”
The continuation of the program was also welcomed by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan.
“Allowing displaced Ukrainians to pay domestic rather than international tuition fees will have a lasting impact on the lives of young people navigating extraordinary challenges as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine,” Elena Krueger, the organization’s president, said in a statement.
“Investing in educational support ensures that displaced Ukrainian students can meet their potential and contribute meaningfully to society, both here in Saskatchewan and, one day, in Ukraine’s recovery. We look forward to a continued partnership and dialogue between the provincial government and Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian community.”
Ken Cheveldayoff, Saskatchewan’s advanced education minister, said the government has seen the way that tuition relief is helping students who are seeking refuge from the war since the program was first launched back in 2023.
“Extending this support to 2030 ensures learners have the stability, opportunity and encouragement they need to complete their education and potentially contribute to Saskatchewan’s future.”
