STUDENTS

GENERAL

Why has Memorial implemented a change to the current tuition framework?

Adjusting tuition fees is not a decision that was made lightly. It was a necessary change given the provincial government’s planned $68.4-million cut to the university grant over the next five years, ending government support for the tuition freeze. This cut represents approximately 20 per cent of Memorial’s operating budget.

The increase has been planned to minimize impact on current students and to provide prospective students with the information they need.

What is the new tuition framework?

• Effective fall 2022, new domestic undergraduate courses (Newfoundland and Labrador and other Canadian students) will be $600 per course.
  • The differential for Canadian students will be discontinued.
• Effective fall 2022, international undergraduate tuition will be $2,000 per course.
• Effective fall 2022, domestic Marine Institute diploma of technology/technician diploma, advanced diploma and post-graduate certificate courses (Newfoundland and Labrador and Canadian students) will be $600 per course.
  • The differential for Canadian students will be removed.
• Effective fall 2022, international Marine Institute technology/technician diploma, advanced diploma and post-graduate certificate tuition will be $2,000 per course.
• A four per cent increase will be implemented every fall, beginning in 2022, to the domestic and international rates.
• Current students (including students who will be registering in the 2021-22 academic year) will pay tuition at the current price per course plus a four per cent annual increase between fall 2022-2025.
• Other fees are not included.
• The Faculty of Medicine is not included in this plan.

What consultation has happened to support this tuition framework change?

Tuition, and the idea of changes to the tuition framework for Memorial, has been a topic of open discussion in our university community for several years.

The provincial budget released on May 31, 2021, included a planned $68.4- million cut to the university grant over the next five years and the end of the government-supported tuition freeze. This change in public policy around the tuition freeze – which was recommended by both the Public Post-Secondary Education Review and the Premier’s Economic Recovery Team – was not unexpected and required Memorial to act both quickly and carefully to ensure the university could respond to its changing financial situation.

President Vianne Timmons has met with student unions to share information and Memorial will continue to work closely with student leaders.

For more information on budget planning, visit: https://www.mun.ca/vpacademic/what-we-do/budget.

How did Memorial determine the model for the redefined tuition framework?

There were several principles that helped define the revised tuition framework:

• Remaining accessible to Newfoundland and Labrador students with financial needs via more bursaries and scholarships.
• Remaining the most affordable university in Atlantic Canada.
• Ensuring students currently enrolled, and those incoming in the 2021-22 academic year, have a grace period before the full increase is applied to them.

Who is responsible for setting tuition rates?

Tuition rates are reviewed each year as part of the annual university budget process. Changes to tuition are proposed by the university administration for consideration and decision by the university’s governing Board of Regents, which under the Memorial University Act is responsible for management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the university.

The board is currently comprised of 30 members, including students, senior administrators, members appointed by the provincial government and members elected by the university’s alumni. The board meets several times a year to address a wide range of governance matters. Observers may request to attend the open portions of the meetings. Parts of the meetings dealing with confidential matters such as human resources, finances and legal matters are closed.

Will the revenue generated be invested back into the university? How will the revenue be used?

There are just two main sources of funding available to support provision of university education at Canadian universities: government grants and student fees. This tuition framework adjustment is necessary given the provincial government’s planned cut of $68.4-million from its annual operating grants to the university over the next five years, ending government support for the tuition freeze in place for the past 20 years. These tuition changes are intended to offset the reduction in government funding. They are not designed to provide additional resources to the university.

In addition to increasing tuition fees, Memorial is also focused on reducing its costs. Since 2016, Memorial has implemented $42 million in efficiencies in order to balance its operating budget as required under legislation. This work to find efficiencies will continue.

What percentage of the Memorial student body are undergraduate students? Of that percentage, how many are from NL, out-of-province, international?

74.6% (14,382 out of 19,270) of Memorial’s students are undergraduate students.

There has been a one-third decrease in the number of 15-19-year-olds in Newfoundland and Labrador between the years 2000 and 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Despite these declines in provincial high school student numbers, Memorial continues to have strong provincial representation with 75 per cent of the undergraduate student population hailing from Newfoundland and Labrador.

When was the last time Memorial implemented an increase to undergraduate tuition fees?

Since 1999, the provincial government has supported a tuition freeze for students by providing a grant in aid of tuition. In 2018, the freeze was maintained for students from Newfoundland and Labrador, while tuition fees for other Canadian and international students increased.

Why not a phased approach for the tuition framework?

The five-year schedule and significant size of the government funding reductions announced in May meant that the university had limited tuition fee options that would preserve the high-quality program offerings and student experience.

The tuition increases have been planned to minimize impact on students, particularly current students and those who register for the 2021-22 academic year. There are no changes to tuition fees for this fall semester, or for the winter 2022 and spring 2022 semesters. We understand that changes such as these require time for preparation and adjustment.

Beginning in fall 2022, tuition fees for current students will increase by four per cent. Between fall 2022 and fall 2025, they will continue to increase by four per cent annually. We have built in this four-year grace period to provide students time before the full tuition increase is applied effective fall 2026.

Making this decision now ensures that prospective students have the information they need about the tuition rates they can expect at Memorial, while giving students who are currently enrolled certainty about costs in the coming years.

This tuition increase was very purposefully set to keep Memorial’s tuition fees below the Canadian average. This includes keeping the cost for international students below the Canadian average.