nternational tuition fees soar
International students continue to flock towards a Canadian degree
KSENIA PRINTS, CUP CENTRAL BUREAU CHIEF
WINNIPEG (CUP) — While international students pay up to 180 per cent more than their Canadian counterparts, few are complaining. In fact, the higher the price tag, the more seem to be willing to pay.
Peter Tan, a third- year applied environmental studies student at the University of Winnipeg, came to Canada from Malaysia in 2005 because of its relative affordability. He chose Winnipeg because of a local five month Grade 12 completion program and later enrolled in the University of Manitoba.
“Winnipeg was quite affordable at the time,” Tan said.
When he arrived, the differential between domestic and international students was only 100 per cent.
This changed in the summer of 2006, when differential fees for all international students increased to 180 per cent over domestic tuition.
“It wasn’t even posted online, but only on signs throughout the university,” Tan said, noting that overseas students only heard the news upon their return to Canada.
“The hike was so ridiculous, my parents thought I was lying,” he said.
Tan quickly transferred to the University of Winnipeg, opting for a similar degree at only a 125 per cent differential.
His cousin and a friend had planned to join him until the University of Winnipeg also announced its intent to hike their differential fee to almost 175 per cent the following September. One gave up on the idea entirely, while the other moved to similarly priced Australia.
“Not many can afford a $1,000 three -credit -hours course,” Tan said.
But despite the high price tag, there’s no shortage of international students arriving every year.
In 2006, there were 156,955 students from abroad studying in Canada. International tuition ranges from $6,207.44 for 30 credit hours in the fFaculty of aArts at Brandon University, Man.itoba, to $18,698 for aArts in the University of British Columbia.
Strangely enough, price tag seems to be linked to population, but not in the way that most would expect.
Despite having the lowest tuition fees for international students, Manitoba hosted only 4,815 of international students in 2006. British Columbia, whose schools average the highest international tuition fees in the country, was home to 44,799, a close second to Ontario’s 58,308.
Don Wehrung, executive director of international student recruitment at the University of British Columbia, suggested that low tuition can lead to a lower reputation on the international stage.
“A large number of students attach price tag with quality,” said Neil Besner, associate vice-president international at the University of Winnipeg.
Tan sees some truth to this, adding good reviews from peers and international visibility would help improve the first impression.
That equation worked for the University of British Columbia. When the university opted to remove an international tuition freeze in 1996 in favour of more aggressive overseas recruitment and better services for international students, international tuition jumped from $5,700 to $13,700 the next semester.
International enrolment also increased by 30 per cent.
“We signaled to the external community we were open and accessible,” he explained.
Beyond individual universities, the provinces are also desperate to attract international students.
According to Darcy Rollins, director of the Manitoba International Education Branch, they provide unique perspectives academically and enrich the multicultural student body. They also help strengthen international ties and increase the labour pool.
Even students who leave Canada after graduation are seen as potential “informal ambassadors,” Rollins says. They can help inform the international community about Canada, thus contributing to future relations and business.
“A university is better if it’s more international,” said Besner.
International tuition is more expensive because provincial subsidies do not cover non-citizens, explained Rollins. It is up to individual students to make up the difference.
“[Schools] set their own tuition in the context of their institutional priorities and available services,” Rollins said.
And international students seem willing to pay the price for a foreign BA, in exchange for adequate services.
“I agree [that we] should pay more because we’re using someone else’s resources,” Tan said.
Canadian universities are also recognizing that it takes more than the promise of a Canadian diploma to lure international students. Many are working on improving recruitment efforts abroad and their local services.
In Manitoba, post-secondary institutions have discussed possible changes to their programs with the provincial government and several new bursaries and scholarships for international students will become available next year.
The University of Winnipeg will use 90 per cent of the differential fees for different programs and financial awards targeted towards international students. New housing initiatives and improved international advising are already in the works.
Yet for middle-class students like Tan, it is not the question of improved services or additional peers that matters the most. Amid the flurry of tuition increases, Tan seeks consistency.
“We should aim for an international tuition freeze,” he said.
“If I have a constant number, I can budget [for the year] and know I can support myself.”
