30% tuition hike rumoured for some MUN students

An editor with Memorial University of Newfoundland's on-campus paper says it's rumoured graduate and international students will soon pay 30 per cent more for tuition.

Memorial University has suffered a $20-million cut to itsoperational budget grantas outlined in the provincial budget.

While the university has not confirmedany change to tuition, Laura Howells news editorwithThe Muse, said she has been told there will be a tuition hike of 30 per cent for graduate and international students.

Howells said that figure was mentioned during a meeting between student union representatives and MUN president GaryKachanoskiearlier this week.

• $20M cut to MUN's operating grant may mean tuition hike for some students

In the House of Assembly Thursday, NDP education critic Lorraine Michael suggested any increase to student tuition willjeopardizethe university's ability to attract new students.

Howells said international students already pay more for tuition than their Canadian counterparts.

"They are also the students who make the most use of the campus food bank, so Ithink any rise in tuition is going to hit international students hard," she said.

Even if the hike is30 per cent, Howells said, the changes still need to be passedin the university's budget.

'It's a bit disappointing'

Mohammed Rahman, who came from Bangladeshto study business administration, said cheaper tuition was the main reason he came to MUN.

Rahman said he has recommended people from his home country to come to the province to study but will rethink that if MUN does indeed increase tuition.

While it will be a struggle, he acknowledges that tuition would still be cheaper at MUN, even with the tuition hike.

Memorial University could not confirm on Friday that a 30-per cent increase to tuition is being proposed.