Tuition fees for some international students could rise by over 50 per cent in the next five years at the University of Toronto (U of T).
The university is set to raise tuition for new international students in the Faculty of Arts and Science by 10 per cent May 1.
If approved by U of T’s Governing Council, incoming undergraduate international students will pay $35,280, rather than the $32,075 paid by new students in 2013-14. Fees for international students currently enrolled will rise by about five per cent, consistent with U of T’s Fee Level Commitment for students who entered in 2012-13 and onwards.
But for incoming students, fees rose by about 13 per cent between 2012-13 and 2013-14. If this rate continues, fees could rise by over 50 per cent in the next five years.
While domestic tuition increases are subject to a three per cent cap by the Ontario government, international tuition increases are not. The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) said they believe U of T is tapping into international students as a result.
“They’re doing it to make a profit off of students because international tuition fees are unregulated,” CFS-Ontario chairperson Alastair Woods said. “They create this loophole where international students aren’t protected. Most international students are often seen as cash cows.”
Agnes So, UTSU vice-president (university affairs), and an international student, said she agreed.
“It’s a trend that international students are becoming a target,” she said.
A decrease in public funding for post-secondary institutions is another factor that explains international student tuition fee increases, according to So and Woods.
“Increasing our fees can be an easier avenue for them to support their operation budget,” So said.
Woods said this strategy reflects the Ontario government’s “growing lack of responsibility for public funding of colleges and universities.”
“Over the last two decades we’ve seen a steady chipping away of public funding,” Woods said. “The Ontario government should absolutely re-regulate international student tuition fees and reduce tuition.”
High tuition fees have been a source of discontent among international students.
“This university seems to treat international students as cash cows, intending to milk out our savings to satisfy their profits,” Arnie Yung, a first-year U of T student from Hong Kong said via email. “There are voicing concerns of the rapid rise in tuition fees, which are deterring many potential students.”
So said she believes that not enough people are aware of the contributions of international students.
“We contribute $3 billion dollars every year to the economy . . . have to pay consumer taxes, and many take up jobs, so we have to pay income tax too,” she said. “It’s hurtful to think that international students are so much different than domestic students.”
