Could international students be the solution to financial woes at Canadian universities?

Attempts at herding as many students as possible to campuses has increased, spurring international enrollment to reach roughly 178,000 students across Canada in 2008.

In his President’s Priorities Report for fall 2009, Western president and vice-chancellor Amit Chakma reiterated the University’s interest in bolstering internationalization by setting targets for enrollment. There are currently 600 to 700 undergraduate students attending Western who pay upwards of $16,000 a year in tuition fees, due to provincial deregulation.

John Doerksen, vice-provost academic programs and students, noted Western would like to increase this by an incremental 100 students yearly.

“International students bring a great deal of enrichment to our campus community. One of the main considerations that Western needs to make in regards to the support of international students is to ensure that we provide sufficient support services, such as the International Exchange Student Centre,” Doerksen said.

Additionally, high tuition fees create a sizeable hurdle for prospective students looking at Ontario schools.

“We’re fortunate at Western to have an administration that’s been supportive of affordable international student tuition,” Dan Moulton, University Students’ Council vice-president university affairs, said. “But that’s not the case across Ontario — a lot of institutions use international students as a cost centre to subsidize domestic tuition.”

Doerksen acknowledged while the revenue from international tuition plays a factor in recruitment, the broader goal is the enrichment of the campus, both cultural and academic.

Tristan Cartwright, a second-year science student from Bahamas, expressed his frustration at having to pay almost three times the Canadian tuition fee.

“I think it is ridiculously unfair that international students have to pay so much more to receive the same education as everyone else. The price alone is a large hindrance for many people who wish to study abroad, but simply can’t due to financial problems.”

Cartwright remarked Canada was a very popular destination with students from his high school, as well as across the Caribbean.

“The reason I didn’t go to university in Bahamas is because the education system at home is unfortunately inferior to universities abroad. Despite the increased cost, the education received is overall simply better so it’s worth it in that sense,” Cartwright said.

While Canadian universities invest extensively in foreign recruitment and the promotion of Canadian campuses, many students are left floundering when it comes to financial aid.

However, major financial adjustments are underway at Western. Doerksen announced that as of fall 2010, admissions scholarships will be available to international students:

“They don’t have to apply for it — it’s based on their average,” He also explained grades would be converted to the Western scale to ensure equivalency.

Doerksen expressed hopes some of the revenue generated from international students would be re-invested into support services and other forms of financial aid.

Moulton believes diversification is a good investment for Canada.

“Students who attend from abroad to learn and to live, by-and-large end up staying in Ontario and contributing to the economy. It’s important that we look at new ways to further internationalize our province as we move towards a global economy.”