UBC's cost calculator shows jaw-dropping tuition difference for international and domestic students

Oct 31 2024, 9:25 pm

The University of British Columbia has an interactive cost calculator that lets students plan their first-year budget, and the difference between the costs for domestic and international students is eye-opening.

The calculator lets prospective students see how much they’d pay for housing, food, and other expenses depending on which campus they attend. For international students, the main difference is their tuition cost.

Daily Hive tried the calculations for a first-year student getting a Bachelor of Arts. Domestic students’ tuition came to about $9,500 per year, but for international students, that jumped to $50,600.

UBC cost calculator

Total living expense estimate for a first-year student studying for a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia (University of British Columbia)

 

UBC cost estimate

Total living expense estimate for an international student studying for a Bachelor of Arts in their first year. (University of British Columbia)

The exact costs differ by degree, but international students pay approximately five times what domestic students do for education costs. It’s a similar story at universities across Canada.

International students don’t have the same protections against tuition increases as domestic students. Currently, the BC government limits tuition increases for Canadian students to 2% per year. Other provinces have similar protections.

Provincial and federal governments also don’t subsidize the cost of education for international students, whereas universities receive government money to offset the cost of education for Canadian students.

UBC spokesperson Thandi Fletcher explained that, like other Canadian universities, UBC receives government funding every year to enroll a set number of domestic students. That government money subsidizes the cost of educating domestic students, but there’s no government help for international students.

“Undergraduate international students pay higher tuition rates that align the value of a UBC education with market conditions,” Fletcher said. “This helps support academic programming, faculty salaries, campus facilities, and essential student services.”

Fletcher added that UBC assesses domestic and international applications in separate pools, and international students don’t displace domestic students.

Approximately 17,000 international students attend UBC’s Vancouver campus, and another 2,600 or so attend the Okanagan campus. Together, they make up about a quarter of UBC’s student body.

International students’ tuition accounts for a quarter of revenue for UBC’s total operating budget, whereas domestic students’ tuition accounts for 16%.

“International students bring diverse perspectives that enrich the educational experience for everyone at UBC,” Fletcher said. “In short, international students offer significant benefits to UBC, the community, and the broader B.C. economy.”

UBC’s cost calculator budgets $18,000 for living off-campus

In addition to tuition, all UBC students also have to pay for their living expenses. Every student’s budget is different, but the online calculator includes options for living in campus housing or an off-campus rental. Students living in shared accommodations on campus are looking at paying just under $6,000 in their first year.

The calculator budgeted $9,500 in rental costs for those living off-campus, which falls below average rents for apartments in Vancouver. Zumper estimates the average two-bedroom apartment costs $3,770 per month — or $1,885 each split between two roommates. UBC’s estimated budget is $1,185 for monthly rent during the eight months of classes in the fall and winter semesters, or just $791 per month if that $9,500 is supposed to stretch the whole year.

The calculator also includes resources for students to fund their education, including certain awards and scholarships.

Are you a student in Vancouver navigating financial pressure? Email us at [email protected]

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