Rationale

Issue

International students at the University of Waterloo face challenges in accessing an affordable and meaningful university experience and quality education due to unpredictable and rising tuition fees, financial strain, and limited support services.

Our Research

  • Unpredictable Tuition: International student tuition has grown at a disproportionate rate since deregulation in 1994, making it difficult for students to plan and manage their finances.
  • Vulnerability: International students are increasingly relied upon for university revenue, with their tuition often making up a significant portion of institutional budgets.
  • Affordability: Limited financial aid options and high living costs, particularly for housing, add to the financial burden of international students, leading to increased stress and mental health challenges.

  • Unstable Tuition Increases: Students face difficulties predicting tuition fees, with fluctuations from semester to semester.
  • Exploitation: International students are vulnerable to exploitation, both financially and through unscrupulous immigration services.
  • Mental Health Impact: The financial and social pressures of high tuition and living costs can lead to severe mental health challenges for international students, including instances of suicide.

  • Tuition Growth: International tuition increased by 68.61% between 2006 and 2017 in Ontario (Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, 2020).
  • Affordability Concerns: 55% of surveyed international students reported difficulty affording tuition (Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance).
  • Housing Burden: 79% of international students are concerned about the cost of accommodation (Canadian Bureau of International Education, 2018).

Our Position

WUSA advocates for reforms to ensure that international students can access affordable and predictable tuition, equitable support services, and stable financial resources during their studies.

  • Operational Funding Reform: Advocacy for the provincial government to take primary responsibility for university operational funding, reducing the burden on international students.
  • Tuition Funding Framework: Push for the reworking of the Ontario tuition funding framework to account for international students.
  • Diversification of Revenue: Encourage post-secondary institutions to diversify funding sources, ensuring that no more than one-third of the operating budget comes from international student tuition.
  • Sustainable Growth: Advocate for policies that support sustainable growth in international student admissions, complemented by adequate support services and accommodation.

Read the full Advocacy Position Statement here.

Student Resources

Legal Services

Access to legal advice for issues related to student rights, immigration, and financial challenges.

Learn more about legal services.

Empower Me

Confidential mental health support for international students facing mental health challenges due to financial and social pressures.

Learn more about Empower Me.

Financial Aid

Resources and information on available scholarships and financial support for international students.

Learn more about student financial aid.

Campaigns

  • Two women engaged in a financial discussion on a laptop, surrounded by illustrations of money and a calculator. The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association logo is prominently featured in the corner, symbolizing their commitment to enhancing financial literacy through workshops.
    Financial Literacy Workshop

    Take Charge of Your Financial Future! Ready to make sense of your

Articles

  • A person in a yellow jacket stands confidently with arms crossed, embodying the determination seen in candidates during a general election. In the office setting, colleagues bustle in the background, while doodles overlayed capture the lively essence akin to WUSA debates.
    WUSA General Election: Meet Your Candidates

    Here is the final list of candidates running in the 2025-26 WUSA

  • Person typing on a laptop at a white desk with the text "Co-op Fee Rolled Back Update.
    Co-op Fee Increase Rolled Back
  • A student is diligently writing on a paper at a wooden desk, with a steaming cup and an open notebook nearby.
    Towards Equity: Addressing the Challenges of International Tuition

    WUSA understands that international students at the University of Waterloo face challenges

  • A decorated Christmas tree stands in a room with a large window showing a snowy outdoor scene. Text on the image reads, "Ruby Hong, 3A Environment & Business." The logo of WUSA International Digest is in the lower left corner.
    International Student Digest – Ruby Hong; 3A Environment & Business

Education

Further Reading and Resources