Tuition Increase Proposal: Q&A with Melissa Padfield, Deputy Provost (Students and Enrolment)

Q: What tuition increases can I expect?

We’ve proposed the following tuition increases for 2026-27. The Board of Governors will review the proposals on March 27, 2026 and following the meeting, approved increases will be communicated to students. 

The 2026-27 tuition proposals were shared with students as part of a months-long consultation process in Fall 2025 and Winter 2026. View the proposal.

FALL 2026: DOMESTIC STUDENTS

*Starting in Fall 2024, domestic tuition increases are restricted by provincial legislation to a maximum increase equivalent to 2 per cent across the institution. 

FALL 2027: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 

*The 2026-27 cohort tuition for international undergraduate and graduate students was approved in March 2025.

Q: Why do tuition increases happen? 

It comes down to wanting to ensure we can maintain the quality students deserve and expect.

To continue delivering quality programs, and based on available government support, we assess remaining budget needs and determine what proportion must be covered by tuition as a source of funding for instruction and program delivery.

Q: I heard the U of A got an increase from the Government of Alberta in the recent budget. Will that change the tuition proposals?

While this year’s provincial budget increased our operating grant to help cover rising compensation costs, this was the first grant increase in seven years and does not match inflation. Our operating grant was stagnant between 2022 and 2026, and was preceded by several years of cuts. At the same time, legislation limits how much domestic tuition can increase, often below the rate of inflation.

This creates a gap for the university in terms of being able to afford a status quo environment. However, our priority remains safeguarding the student experience while responsibly managing financial realities.

Q: Will there be additional resources allocated to financial support for students in response to the increases?

The university will continue to provide $8.5 million each year to support student financial aid through its tuition offset funding. However, because domestic tuition increases are now limited to 2 per cent, the university faced a $3 million revenue shortfall in 2025. For this reason, it is not financially possible to increase the offset funding beyond its current amount. 

This 2 per cent increase is proposed to apply to all domestic tuition, including the exceptional tuition increase (ETI) portion of those programs with approved ETIs. Increases to ETI tuition amounts will continue to be applied towards improvements in program quality, as per the approved ETI proposals. 

The international tuition offset of 8.55 per cent of all international tuition revenue continues. 

Q: Can you describe the flexible tuition payment plan that will be piloted for international students in Fall 2026?

Through a proposal submitted by the Students’ Union during the tuition consultation process, the university will launch a pilot program in Fall 2026 introducing a flexible tuition payment plan for international students. The pilot aims to provide more manageable tuition payment options, helping international students better navigate financial pressures while maintaining their academic progress. 

Students who receive financial support such as student loans, scholarships, bursaries, or awards are increasingly challenged by rising living costs, which can delay the timing of available funds and make lump-sum tuition payments difficult. Similarly, students enrolled in specialized programs are often self-funded or supported by family members and face additional program-related expenses that add to their financial strain. International students relocating to Edmonton also incur significant upfront costs, including relocation and living expenses, further impacting their ability to meet tuition deadlines.

More information on tuition payment options will be shared with international students when tuition assessments are issued in Summer 2026. 

Q: Have any Exceptional Tuition Increases been proposed for Fall 2026?

The University of Alberta is constantly improving its programs to ensure our students get the best education possible, setting them up for success now and in the future. This sometimes requires an exceptional tuition increase (ETI), which enables us to improve specific programs outside of the normal tuition increase cycle. An exceptional tuition increase ensures the U of A’s programs remain world-class, providing students with high-quality learning and research opportunities.

ETIs require consultation with the students’ council, defined as the council of a student organization that represents the students enrolled in the program for which the ETI is being sought.

For Fall 2026, the university has proposed ETIs in two faculties. These proposals have not been approved by the government at this time. 

• In the Faculty of Education, a 50 per cent increase is proposed for the Master of School and Clinical Child Psychology.
• In the Faculty of Nursing, a 75 per cent increase for course-based and thesis-based Master of Nursing programs, and a 20 per cent increase to PhD programs in Nursing are proposed.

No other faculties or programs will be impacted, and the increases will only apply to new students admitted for the Fall 2026 academic year. ETIs are approved by the Board of Governors prior to submission to the Minister of Advanced Education for final approval. ETIs can only be granted once every five years for a program.

A high-level report of ETIs and financials from 2024-25 is available here. 

Q: How often do tuition increases occur? Is this something that happens regularly, or is it something that happens in response to external factors?

Tuition consultations happen yearly as part of annual budget planning and are implemented only once per year. We are guided by what’s allowable under the Government of Alberta’s Tuition Framework. 

Tuition is determined for domestic students in March before the upcoming academic year, following consultations and governance processes. For incoming international students, increases are decided a year in advance, so we’re able to provide them with a tuition guarantee for the duration of their program.

It’s important to note that international tuition is not regulated the same way as domestic tuition is. It must at least cover the total cost of delivering the program and cannot be augmented by any government funding.

Q: Is this something all post-secondaries do?

Yes. Every year, all post-secondary institutions will review and make decisions in the winter or spring before they’re implemented.

Q: How does the U of A decide what percent increase needs to happen?

Prior to instituting the 2 per cent cap, provincial legislation capped domestic tuition at the consumer price index (CPI). In 2025, the difference between a 2 per cent increase and a CPI at 3.2 per cent created a $3 million revenue gap for the University.

For cohort-based tuition for incoming international tuition, it’s a little different - we research a likely inflationary model and assess market conditions to guide the development of a proposal and ensure the rate established is competitive and feasible for the standard length of the program, typically four years. We are working to at least cover the costs of delivery for international students and remain competitive in attracting international students to study with us.

Q: Were there consultations with students? What did it look like?

Tuition proposals were informed and enriched by a robust consultation process. The Tuition Budget Advisory Committee (TBAC) is the university’s official mechanism for consultation with students on tuition. With the agreement of student leaders on TBAC, this year’s consultation process included discussions at the Council on Student Affairs, the Students’ Union (SU) Council, the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) Council and the International Students’ Association Council (ISA). The consultation process also included two townhalls organized by the SU and the GSA and were open to all students.

Q: Where does my tuition go?

Tuition covers all expenses related to instruction at the university, including: 

• Instructor salaries 
• Creation and maintenance of classrooms 
• Creation and maintenance of study spaces 
• Disposable supplies for teaching, activities and labs (materials owned or leased by students are covered by other fees) 
• Utilities 
• Research that supports instruction and discovery
• Libraries 

Your tuition goes to fund anything associated with the delivery of your program. This includes financial support for students as well. $23.2 million (5.5 per cent) of tuition revenue goes directly to student financial supports (2024-25).

Q: Can we expect increases to Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees? 

Mandatory Non-instructional Fees (MNIF) are fees that all students pay for specific goods or services agreed to with the student body that enhance the student experience and student success. They are overseen by a Joint University Student Oversight Committee, governed by an agreement between the university and student associations that describes how fee increases are managed.

MNIFs increase annually by a board of governors approved cost-driver formula, known as the Academic Price Index (API). In Fall 2026, MNIFs will increase by the Academic Price Index of 3.56 per cent, in accordance with the Joint University Student MNIF Agreement. 

The naming of the MNIFs has recently changed to more accurately reflect the services they fund. The MNIFs are: (1) the Athletics and Recreation Fee, (2) the Student Health and Wellness Fee, (3) the Academic Success Fee, (4) the Student Experience Support Fee and (5) the Enrolment Support Fee. This change in naming does not represent an increase to the fees beyond the normal inflationary adjustment or a change in the services the fees support.

Q: Who can I go to for help understanding my fees or paying for my education?  

For information on financial assistance, money advice and related support for U of A students, visit the finances, funding and support webpage. The Student Service Centre can help connect you to resources for tuition and financial support. Advisors will also be able to help you understand your fee assessments.

Most importantly, we know tuition is not an insignificant expense, so we’re always looking at how to support students with additional financial support and other initiatives. Through the Student Experience Action Plan, we’re making investments in areas that students told us matter to them, including:

• Renovating three classrooms in the Tory building
• Increasing cleaning standards in learning spaces and common areas
• Increasing the number of counsellors and clinicians
• Saving money on textbooks through the Zero Textbook Cost initiative 
• Improving the advising model for students and those who support them through the Enhancing Advising Project 

For more information on the proposed increases and an expanded list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit the Tuition Increase web page.