Fairness For International Students

In every single province across Canada, it is a condoned practice to charge exorbitant differential tuition fees for international students. We demand fairness.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, international students are facing skyrocketing tuition. Recently, Memorial University announced a doubling of tuition that increase the cost of an undergraduate degree by 97%, making Newfoundland and Labrador the most expensive place in Atlantic Canada for international students to study.

On average, international students pay $25,589.00 per year for a general arts degree in Canada; an amount close to four times more than domestic students. In most provinces, international students are not covered under provincial health insurance and must rely on expensive private health insurance programs. Recently, the Government of Canada made it harder for international students to stay in Canada after graduation.

International students are excluded from many employment opportunities provincially and nationally. We advocate for more employment opportunities for international students, better pathways to permanent residency, and healthcare for all.

Food and retail work, common jobs for students, were unlisted as valid Canadian work experience that would count towards a permanent residency application. Many international students are also confronted with racism and xenophobia in daily interactions in their classrooms and communities. The Federation represents all members of our organization, including international students, and believes that the country only benefits when we make education more accessible to all.