Tuition Increases

Tuition increases are an important part of ensuring the U of A continues to provide students with world-class, high-quality learning and research opportunities; and in turn, our programs and our graduates will remain not only competitive, but also leaders in their fields.

APPROVED Increases FOR 2023/24

The University of Alberta has approved a 5.5% tuition increase for 2023/24 for the following categories of students:

  • domestic undergraduate students 
  • domestic graduate students (with a rebate for thesis-based students admitted prior to 2020 to 2.67%)
  • international undergraduate students admitted prior to 2020
  • international graduate students admitted prior to 2020 (with a rebate for thesis-based students admitted prior to 2020 to 2.67%).

Tuition for international graduate and undergraduate students admitted in Fall 2020 or later (under the new cohort-based model) was previously approved for Fall 2023. The university has also approved an increase of 6.5% for international cohort-based tuition for 2024/25.

A portion of the approved 2023-24 tuition increases will continue to fund the university’s suite of student financial aid: 15% of domestic tuition increases and 7.55% of total international tuition.

Undergraduate Tuition

Fall/Winter Tuition for Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents 2023-24 

Fall/Winter Tuition for International Students 2023-24

Dentistry, Medicine, and PGME Tuition and Fees 2023-24

Undergraduate Tuition Model

Graduate Tuition

Graduate Instructional Fees


TUITION GOVERNANCE

In Alberta, post-secondary education is a shared cost between students, post-secondary institutions, and government. The Government of Alberta regulates most student tuition and fees at 20 institutions across the province via its tuition regulations and the Alberta tuition framework .

Tuition consultations happen annually as part of the U of A’s budget planning, and follow a rigorous process. Any proposed tuition increase must receive approval from the University of Alberta Board of Governors.

Tuition Budget Advisory Committee (TBAC)

The University of Alberta’s official mechanism for consultation with the student councils, as required in the regulation and framework, is the Tuition Budget Advisory Council (TBAC). This committee includes senior administration and the presidents of the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and Students’ Union (SU).

Consultations for the 2023/24 increases

In 2022, the University of Alberta implemented an extended consultation process, developed in partnership with the Students’ Union and the Graduate Students’ Association.

The university administration engaged in discussion with the Students’ Union (SU) and the Graduate Students’ Association,  including two discussions at the Council on Student Affairs and discussions at both the Students’ Union Council and the Graduate Students’ Association Council. This year, at the invitation of the SU, the U of A administration attended an International Students’ Association meeting and consulted with that group.


Tuition Increase FAQ

Review the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the proposed tuition increase.

What is driving the tuition increase? 

  1. A desire to maintain the quality of instruction and our academic mission 
  2. Increases in our cost drivers
    • Salaries and benefits — per negotiated collective agreements (80% of costs) 
    • Materials and supplies (13% of costs)
    • Utilities (4% of costs) and maintenance (3% of costs)
  3. Gaps in our revenue
    • Government grants are not expected to increase to support instruction 

What will the additional tuition funds be used for?

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

  • Instructor salaries 
  • Creation and maintenance of classrooms 
  • Creation and maintenance of study spaces 
  • Supplies related to instruction that are consumed during instruction and not retained by the student (materials owned or leased by student are covered by other fees) 
  • Utilities 
  • Maintenance of research enterprise that supports instruction 
  • Libraries 

A portion of total tuition revenue goes directly into student financial support - in 2022-23, this was approximately $17M.

Why doesn't this increase apply to new international students starting their programs in 2023?

In 2019, the University of Alberta moved to a  program-based tuition model for incoming international students. Under this model, tuition is assessed based on an annual and total program tuition guarantee. This guarantee means the total cost of program tuition is calculated based on the requirement to complete the program and remains in place for the standard length of the program as defined by the government plus one additional year.

While tuition consultations happen annually throughout the fall and winter for the following academic year, the rate for cohort-based tuition for new international students is set one year in advance so we can provide the guarantee at the time of admission. 

Will the Government of Alberta’s announcement on a domestic tuition cap impact tuition for next year?

In February 2023, the Government of Alberta announced plans to limit domestic tuition increases to 2% annually, starting in 2024-25 and continuing for future academic years. Should that become regulation or legislation, this will impact the U of A’s tuition process in future years. There will be no impact on the tuition increase for 2023-24.

Are there increases coming to Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees?

Mandatory Non-instructional Fees (MNIF) are fees that all students must pay for specific goods or services agreed to with the student body that enhance the student experience. Examples include fees for student athletics and recreation, health services, academic services, and student services.

They are not related to instruction in a specific program and are not optional. 

For the coming year the Joint Oversight Committee on MNIF (a committee comprising students and administration) has come to a consensus on the following proposals:

  • 4% increase in Athletics and Recreation Fee
  • 0% increase for the Health and Wellness Fee and the removal of the off-campus fee category
  • 2% increase for the Academic Support Fee and the removal of the off-campus fee category.

Where can I get help paying for my education?

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students can visit the Office of the Registrar’s  Scholarships, Awards, and Financial Support web page for additional information and support options. 

The University of Alberta awards over $40 million in undergraduate scholarships to continuing students each year. Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2023, for the upcoming 2023/24 academic year. Visit the  Undergraduate Scholarships web page for more information and to apply.

Applications for the  University of Alberta Students' Union Awards will open in March 2023.

Graduate students

Graduate students can visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research’s  Scholarships and Awards web page  for information on awards, funding opportunities and more. 

The  Graduate Students’ Association offers four types of funding to support graduate students during their degree programs. These funds are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Who is impacted by the proposed tuition increase?
  • Domestic undergraduate students 
  • Domestic graduate students (with a rebate for thesis-based students admitted prior to 2020 to 2.67%)
  • International undergraduate students (admitted prior to 2020)
  • International graduate students (admitted prior to 2020) (with a rebate for thesis-based students admitted prior to 2020 to 2.67%).
Why is the proposed tuition increase necessary?

A proposed increase aligned with Consumer Price Index (CPI) provided by the Government of Alberta at 5.5% will support the U of A in maintaining its quality as a top five university in Canada.

What is driving the tuition increase?
  1. Increases in our cost drivers
    • Salaries and benefits - per negotiated collective agreements (80% of costs) 
    • Materials and supplies (13% of costs)
    • Utilities (4% of costs) and maintenance (3% of costs)
  2. Gaps in our revenue
    • Government grants are not expected to increase to support instruction 
  3. A desire to maintain quality of instruction and our academic mission 
What will the additional tuition funds be used for?

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

  • Instructor salaries 
  • Creation and maintenance of classrooms 
  • Creation and maintenance of study spaces 
  • Supplies related to instruction that are consumed during instruction and not retained by the student (materials owned or leased by student are covered by other fees) 
  • Utilities 
  • Maintenance of research enterprise that supports instruction 
  • Libraries 

A portion of of total tuition revenue goes directly into student financial support — in 2022-23, this was approximately $17M.

Why does this increase not apply to new international students starting their programs in 2023?

In 2019, the University of Alberta moved to a program-based tuition model for incoming international students. Under this model, tuition is assessed based on an annual and total program tuition guarantee. This guarantee means the total cost of program tuition is calculated based on the requirement to complete the program and remains in place for the standard length of program as defined by government plus one additional year.

While tuition consultations happen annually throughout the fall and winter for the following academic year, the rate for cohort-based tuition for new international students is set one year in advance so we can provide the guarantee at the time of admission.

Has this tuition increase been approved?

At this time, the tuition increase has not been approved. 

Does the Government of Alberta’s recent announcement on a domestic tuition cap impact tuition fees for next year?

In February 2023, the Government of Alberta announced plans to limit domestic tuition increases to 2% annually, starting in 2024-25 and continuing for future academic years. Should that become regulation or legislation, this will impact the U of A’s tuition process in future years.

Are there increases coming to Mandatory Non-Instructional Fees?

Mandatory Non-instructional Fees (MNIF) are fees that all students must pay for specific goods or services agreed to with the student body that enhance the student experience.They are not related to instruction in a specific program and are not optional. Examples include fees for student athletics and recreation, health services, academic services, and student services.

For the coming year the Joint Oversight Committee on MNIF (a committee comprising students and administration) has come to consensus on the following proposals:

  • 4% increase for Athletics and Recreation Fee
  • 0% increase for the Health and Wellness Fee and the removal of the off-Campus fee category
  • 2% increase for the Academic Support Fee and the removal of the off-campus fee category.
Where can I get help paying for my education?

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students can visit the Office of the Registrar’s Scholarships, Awards, and Financial Support web page for additional information and support options. 

The University of Alberta awards over $40 million in undergraduate scholarships to continuing students each year. Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2023 for the upcoming 2023/24 academic year. Visit the Undergraduate Scholarships web page for more information and to apply.

Applications for University of Alberta Students' Union Awards will open in March 2023.

Graduate students

Graduate students can visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research’s Scholarships and Awards web page for information on awards, funding opportunities and more. 

The Graduate Students’ Association offers four types of funding to support graduate students during their degree programs. These funds are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.