Advocating for Fairness: VIUSU Calls for Action on Unpredictable International Student Tuition Fees and the Risk to VIU’s Budget

On February 27, 2020, McKenzie Hutchison, Director of External Relations, and Jessica Orcutt, Organizer for Campaigns and Communications, from the Vancouver Island University Students' Union (VIUSU), presented to the VIU Board of Governors, outlining key issues regarding international student fees and the Students’ Union’s ongoing campaign for fairness.

The Fairness for International Students Campaign

The focus of the presentation was to address a critical issue for international students at VIU and beyond: unpredictable and unregulated tuition fees. This campaign, which has been a priority for students across BC since 2018, is calling for a cap on tuition fee increases for international students. The Students’ Union is asking the Board of Governors to commit to this cap and continue the current practice of a two-year tuition fee schedule, which has provided some stability for international students.

International students contribute immensely to VIU and the wider British Columbia economy. In fact, international education in BC brought in $4.19 billion in annual spending in 2017, creating over 31,400 jobs. Without regulation, however, this source of funding is volatile and could leave institutions like VIU at risk.

The Issue with Unregulated Tuition Fees

The current system for international students is concerning. While domestic students are protected by a 2% annual cap on tuition increases, international students have no such safeguard. Without a cap, international students at VIU—and across BC—can face unexpected tuition hikes within a single academic year, making financial planning nearly impossible.

Moreover, international students often face restrictions on their ability to work while studying, which makes absorbing sudden tuition increases particularly challenging. As many international students come from families who pool their resources to send them abroad, these unpredictable costs put additional financial strain on both students and their families.

Economic Impact and Future Uncertainty

International students are one of BC’s largest economic contributors, but this stability is threatened by the unregulated nature of international tuition fees. British Columbia hosts a quarter of Canada’s international students, and should the cost of education become too unpredictable or too high, many of these students may choose to leave, taking with them their significant economic contributions.

One of the concerns the VIUSU raised during the presentation was that relying on international tuition fees to fund institutions is not only unsustainable but also dangerously unpredictable. What if unforeseen global crises or changes to Canada’s international relationships impact students’ ability to pay these fees? External factors like international financial instability, geopolitical shifts, or changes in immigration policies could create sudden barriers for students and lead to a sharp drop in international student enrollment, destabilizing the university’s finances and undermining its ability to provide quality education and services.

VIU’s Leadership in Post-Secondary Education

Despite these challenges, VIU has positioned itself as a leader in post-secondary education in BC. The university was the first in the province to offer a Youth in Care Tuition Waiver program, providing free tuition to young people aging out of foster care. VIU is also a national leader in Indigenous education, consistently working to widen access to higher education for all students.

VIUSU believes that VIU can continue to lead the charge in making post-secondary education both accessible and fair for international students. By implementing a cap on international tuition increases, VIU would set an example for other institutions in BC and across the country.

What’s Next?

Students are asking the Board of Governors to commit to an institutional cap on international tuition fee increases and to maintain the two-year tuition fee schedule. This change would help protect international students from the uncertainty of rising fees and ensure that VIU remains a welcoming, affordable institution for students worldwide.

VIUSU has already mobilized student support for this campaign through a variety of events, including Fairness Week in January 2020 and solidarity actions with international students. They have also brought the issue to the provincial level through advocacy with MLAs and MPs.

Conclusion

The issue of international student fees is not just a financial concern—it’s an issue of fairness and stability for students who contribute so much to the academic and economic landscape of British Columbia. VIUSU’s presentation to the Board of Governors marks an important step in advocating for the rights and wellbeing of international students at VIU. As the campaign progresses, the hope is that the university will continue to lead by example and create a more stable, equitable environment for all students.

For more information on how you can support this campaign, visit the here, or attend upcoming events and discussions.