Towards Equity: Addressing the Challenges of International Tuition
WUSA understands that international students at the University of Waterloo face challenges in accessing an affordable and meaningful education. It is important to address the struggle with high tuition fees, financial pressure, and limited support services. By working with OUSA (Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance), WUSA researched these issues and helped form policies that advocate for international students.
WUSA aims to make international tuition more accessible and affordable. By working with OUSA, three main concerns were identified:
- Unpredictable increases to international tuition fees
- Domestic tuition freezes, which forces institutions to raise international tuition
- Lower financial aid opportunities for international students compared to domestic students
To address these concerns OUSA, with the support of WUSA, recommends the following policies:
- The Ministry of Colleges and Universities should limit international tuition increases to 5% per year
- The provincial government should limit international tuition increases to 3% per year
- The provincial government should increase funding to institutions to reduce the reliance on international tuition
The policy paper also highlights the need for more financial assistance, such as scholarships and bursaries, for international students. Additionally, issues such as employment opportunities, immigration, health services and more are discussed in the paper.
To learn more about International Students and International Education stance, read OUSA’s policy paper.
Anusha Akella
Communications Coordinator Co-op
