International students face rising costs, housing pressures

International students studying in Brandon say financial pressures, housing shortages and limited work opportunities continue to shape their academic experience, even as universities, colleges and student organizations work to provide support.

Balancing higher tuition with everyday expenses can be overwhelming, particularly for students without strong financial support from home, Brandon University student Sophia Dande-Ayasuk told the Sun.

“International students have higher fees and more bills to pay, but then they’re also restricted in the number of hours they can work,” she said. “That restriction feeds into a lot of other issues.”

Federal limits on off-campus work hours, introduced in recent years, have made budgeting more difficult for some students, she said.

“I think students should be allowed to work as many hours as they can, as long as it doesn’t affect their school activities,” Dande-Ayasuk said, suggesting academic performance could be monitored instead of imposing a blanket limit.

Housing is another recurring concern.

Finding accommodation in Brandon has become increasingly competitive, particularly for international students, Dande-Ayasuk said.

Housing and finances often intersect with demanding academic schedules, Brandon University nursing student Bukunmi Bantale told the Sun.

In programs with heavy course loads and clinical placements, working enough hours to cover tuition and living costs can be difficult, he said.

“In nursing, you’re juggling classes, clinicals and long shifts,” Bantale said. “Sometimes the advice is not to work at all, but at the same time, tuition still has to be paid.”

Bantale added that while scholarships and bursaries exist, they often cover only a fraction of international tuition costs. “If you’re paying around $20,000 a year and you get a $4,000 or $5,000 scholarship, it helps, but you still have a lot to figure out,” he said.

International student representatives say awareness, rather than availability, can also be a barrier to accessing financial aid.

Many scholarships and bursaries go unclaimed each year because students are unaware of them or unsure how to apply, Brandon University International Student representative Tosin Salau told the Sun.

“There are so many scholarships and bursaries that students don’t even know about,” Salau said. “The university now uses a centralized application system that allows students to apply for multiple awards at once. Once students submit one general application, it can apply to several scholarships they qualify for.”

Salau said student groups and the Office of International Students also help address food insecurity and winter preparedness through initiatives such as food banks and the distribution of jackets and gloves. “These supports are there, but sometimes students don’t realize they can access them,” he said.

At Assiniboine College, international students report similar challenges.

Working within the 24-hour weekly limit makes it difficult to meet tuition deadlines, social service worker student Toyosi Babalola told the Sun.

“Working 24 hours a week cannot cover half of our tuition, not to mention all of it,” she said.

Babalola said health-care costs is an added stress, explaining that insurance often requires students to pay upfront and file claims later.

“If you’re in an emergency and you don’t have the money at that moment, it’s very difficult,” she said.

The Assiniboine College Students’ Association continues to advocate on behalf of international students, particularly around scholarships and health coverage, social duties representative Hannah Martins said.

“The role of the association is to advocate,” Martins said. “Many of the available scholarships are donor-funded, but it’s something we continue to raise with the board.”

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