"...do they actually expect me to do that? "
I am an international student; it is a reality that I’m exposed to every time I have to look at my bank account, being well aware of the fact that paying a lot more than domestic students is part of our job as a student; however, it’s beyond 1300 CAD per course at present, with expectations of it being unexpectedly increased at any given point in time.
Even though I am allowed to work more than 20 hours, do they actually expect me to do that? I still have to study, to manage my tuition each semester, and to remain emotionally sane in a place away from home. There have been weeks where I’ve seen people not even work for an hour just due to the sheer amount of stress international students go through and the college turning a blind eye to it.
The campaign which took place in the gathering place – Fairness for International Students – informed me about another piece in this puzzle which I wish to forget about every single day: the college has a 2% cap on tuition increases for domestic students, while there is none in practice for international students. Just tell me what I should do with tuition being increased each year? It is a feeling which keeps surfacing alongside pain.
"Just tell me what I should do with tuition being increased each year? It is a feeling which keeps surfacing alongside pain."
“Inflated and predatory tuition fees” is how BC Federation of Students would phrase the situation. In BC and most of Canada, international tuition fees are unregulated and can increase at any time, with no notice. Domestic student tuition fee increases are capped at 2% annually under the BC government’s Tuition Fee Limit Policy. Meanwhile, tuition fees for international students in BC are not covered in this policy and have increased by 64% since 2006 and by 594% since 1991.
Students are encouraged to sign the petition for a tuition fee cap for international students and support the international students. It’s time for Fairness for International Students.
