The Queen’s Music Theatre program, offered in partnership with St. Lawrence College (SLC), has suspended admissions.
St. Lawrence College suspended admissions to its Queen’s collaborative Music Theatre program on Jan. 28, when the college simultaneously suspended admissions to over 40 per cent, or 55 of their programs. The program follows a two-plus-two structure, with students spending two years at SLC before completing their studies at Queen’s DAN School of Drama and Music. However, SLC Chief Executive Officer Glenn Vollebregt it was suspended after the federal cap on international students led to declining enrollment.
Current students in the program, held at St. Lawrence’s Brockville campus, will complete their studies as planned at both SLC and the DAN School. However, no new students will be admitted. In a statement to The Journal, Vollebregt said current applicants were communicated options, including redirecting their applications to other Queen’s programs.
According to a statement from the DAN School, 2025-26 St. Lawrence Music Theatre applicants have been invited to transfer their applications to the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program, with the option to major in drama, music, or both after their first year. Applications for Queen’s programs have been extended until March 1 to accommodate for the suspension of admission to the SLC joint program.
The international student cap was implemented in January 2024 with international enrollment at the college down by over 60 per cent this year. The cap means that there will be no increase in international students over the next two years.
READ MORE: International student restrictions tighten across Canada
“The confusion and uncertainty caused by adding steps and increasing the complexity for students to come to Canada, and the restricted eligibility for post-graduate work permits for many [St. Lawrence College] programs has drastically reduced the number of students able to study with us,” Vollebregt said.
According to Vollebregt, the profit made from international students in the program was used to keep the program afloat, with international students paying up to $10,000 per semester in tuition last year for the program according to the St. Lawrence website, without that funding, the college decided to suspend the program.
“Without the boost to operating costs international student tuition provided, programs that aren’t financially sustainable on their own have had to be suspended,” Vollebregt said.
Multiple students currently enrolled in the program were contacted but didn’t respond in time for publication.
Tags
Admission Suspension, DAN School, Dan School of Drama and Music, Music Theatre, Queen's, St. Lawerence College
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