International Student Fee Setting Should be Fair

18 August 2004

International Student Fee Setting Should be Fair

Auckland University Student’s Association today expressed concerns at University of Auckland’s decision to increase international students’ fees by 4.5% over the next year and to remove current grand parenting provisions.

“This just goes to show that the University only sees international students as cash cows and has no intention of treating them fairly” said Kate Sutton, AUSA President. “4.5% is a large increase and the University has given little explanation on why this is necessary, without which increases above inflation seem like pure profit grabbing” she went on to say.

“International students have the right to know how much their fees will be before they come to New Zealand. Removing grand parenting for these students means that they have no ability to plan financially for their degrees here,” said acting Overseas Students Officer and Education Vice President Joseph Randall.

“These increases in International Student Fees coupled with an uncertainty about further rises in subsequent years will exacerbate the welfare problems International Students currently face. We’ve already seen the beginnings of severe poverty for these Students, both in Auckland and around the country, and these moves will do nothing to alleviate them” said Xavier Goldie, AUSA Welfare Officer.

AUSA calls on the University of Auckland to reconsider these recent changes.

ENDS

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