UCalgary tuition increases and full residences raise concerns for students this fall

Some tough news for UCalgary students this fall — tuition is going up again, adding to the financial strain many already face. With increasing costs and limited on-campus housing, the pressure is mounting for some students.

According to the university, tuition fees are set to rise between two and four per cent this September, adding financial strain to an already costly post-secondary education.

“Students who already can’t really afford the gross increase of tuition like happening every two years,” said student Autumn Cramb.

Both domestic and international students in undergraduate studies and those doing a course-based master’s degree are affected by the increase that will take effect this semester.

“I have friends who are international students, and they are definitely going to feel a pinch, and they already are as it is and it’s going to be a bit worse for them now. In this current job market, a lot of us are kind of concerned that we won’t find a job as quickly as we like and that could impact how soon we are able to pay back our student loans,” Erich Chan, a UCalgary student, said.

At the same time, student residences will be operating at full capacity.

This leaves many students scrambling to find affordable housing off campus.

“Last year where the university had to put the students up in hotels as a cast study of what potentially could happen, we don’t know if that is going to happen yet, but we are afraid that it might,” said UCalgary Student Union VP External, Julia Law.

In a statement to CityNews, the university confirmed that all student housing will be full this upcoming school year and that 183 people are on the waitlist as of July 23.

“The university will continue to manage the waitlist over the next month as there will be cancellations and offers going to students on the waitlist,” the school added.

UCalgary’s board says the decision to raise tuition comes due to rising inflation pressures.

Students, however, say they aren’t receiving enough support when it comes to tuition and housing.