University Tuition Fees In New Brunswick

In 2016, the Canadian province of New Brunswick introduced free tuition for low-income students, with Premier Brian Gallant calling the move an historic moment. The scheme was designed to cover the difference between federal grants and the cost of tuition for students from families with an annual income of $60,000 or less, attending publicly-funded universities or colleges in the province. However, in 2024, changes to the scheme were announced, which will result in more students having access to less financial aid. The changes include the reintroduction of a tuition tax credit and the elimination of the timely completion benefit. While the scheme will now be available to those enrolled in private universities and colleges, the lack of additional funding means that low and middle-income students will be worse off.

Free tuition for low-income students

In April 2016, the New Brunswick government announced free tuition for low- and middle-income students, to be implemented in the 2016-17 academic year. The Tuition Access Bursary program was designed to offer financial assistance to students from families with an annual income of $60,000 or less who attend a publicly-funded university or college in New Brunswick.

The premier at the time, Brian Gallant, called the decision an "historic moment" for the province, stating that it would help those who needed it most and reduce the burden of student debt. The program was expected to benefit about 7,100 students, representing 23% of New Brunswick students attending post-secondary institutions.

However, in 2017, the government confirmed that the program helped 2,000 fewer low-income students than predicted. Despite this, the free tuition program still had a significant impact on the lives of many students. For example, Renée Arseneau, a second-year nursing student at the University of New Brunswick, stated that she would not have attended university without the program.

The Tuition Access Bursary program was replaced in 2019 by a new program introduced by the Blaine Higgs government. This change caused concern and uncertainty among students, particularly those who were already midway through their degrees.

Tuition Access Bursary

In 2016, New Brunswick's Premier Brian Gallant announced the Tuition Access Bursary (TAB) program, which offers free tuition to low- and middle-income students attending publicly funded universities and colleges in the province. The program aims to increase affordability and access for New Brunswick students to pursue post-secondary education within the province, encouraging them to stay and study in New Brunswick.

The Tuition Access Bursary provides upfront, non-repayable financial assistance to students from families with gross household incomes of $60,000 or less. This initiative ensures that university and college tuition is free for eligible low-income and middle-class families, with the provincial government covering the difference between the federal grant and the remaining tuition fee.

The TAB program was estimated to benefit about 7,100 students, representing 23% of New Brunswick students attending post-secondary institutions. However, in its first year, only 5,100 out of 9,000 applicants received free tuition through the program, according to a tweet by Minister Donald Arsenault. Despite this, the government defended the program, stating that it is working as intended to help those who need it the most.

The TAB application process involves submitting applications through Student Financial Services at the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, or via their website. The program does not cover graduate or international students, and students must be enrolled in a publicly funded institution within New Brunswick to be eligible.

The Tuition Access Bursary is a significant step towards improving accessibility and affordability of post-secondary education in New Brunswick, providing financial relief to eligible students and their families.

Tuition fees at the University of New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) offers free tuition to students from low-income families. In 2016, the New Brunswick government announced the Tuition Access Bursary, which provides financial assistance to students from families with an annual income of $60,000 or less who attend a publicly-funded university or college in New Brunswick. This initiative was designed to make university and college tuition free for low-income and middle-class families in the province.

For students who do not qualify for the Tuition Access Bursary, the University of New Brunswick charges tuition fees. The cost of tuition at UNB varies depending on the student's program and level of study (undergraduate or graduate). As of 2023, the undergraduate tuition fees for full-time students range from $7,459 to $8,177. For part-time students, the fees are different and students can contact the university for more information. Graduate tuition fees for full-time students are $8,001.

Additionally, international students at UNB pay higher tuition fees than domestic students. As of 2023, international undergraduate students can expect to pay between $18,429 and $19,148 in tuition fees, while graduate students will pay $14,325.

It is important to note that tuition fees do not include additional fees for goods and services supplied to students, such as student association fees, sports fees, and health fees. These extra fees can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Late payment of tuition fees incurs a $75 fee.

Changes to the tuition bursary program

In 2016, the New Brunswick government introduced a new Tuition Access Bursary program to provide free post-secondary education for low- and middle-income students. The program was designed to cover tuition fees for students from families with an annual income of $60,000 or less who attended publicly-funded universities or colleges in the province.

However, in 2019, the government announced changes to the tuition bursary program, which caused concern among students and universities. The maximum amount a student could receive from the program was reduced from $10,000 to $3,000, and the program was expanded to include students attending private institutions. While the government argued that these changes would level the playing field for New Brunswick students, making bursaries accessible to more of them, critics argued that the changes would result in more students receiving less money.

The New Brunswick Student Alliance and public universities expressed worry that the Progressive Conservatives may have acted too quickly in replacing the tuition relief programs, as there was not enough data collected before the changes were made. They argued that the changes would hurt the most vulnerable students, potentially leaving them with more debt and no relief when they graduate.

The government maintained that they were not getting rid of the tuition programs but simply modifying them to increase accessibility. They estimated that 9,500 New Brunswick students would be eligible for the program for the 2019-2020 year, an increase from 7,800 the previous year. However, critics pointed out that the budget for the program remained the same at $19.2 million, stretching the funds thinner across more students.

The changes to the tuition bursary program in New Brunswick sparked a debate between those who supported the increased accessibility and those who were concerned about the potential negative impact on vulnerable students. While the government aimed to provide financial aid to a larger number of students, there were worries about the reduced support and potential increase in debt for those who relied on the previous programs.

The impact of free tuition on enrolment

In 2016, the Canadian province of New Brunswick introduced free tuition for low- and middle-income students, with the government setting up bursaries for students from families with an annual income of $60,000 or less who attend a publicly funded university or college in the province. The scheme was expected to benefit about 7,100 students, or 23% of New Brunswick students attending post-secondary institutions.

The decision was described by Premier Brian Gallant as an "historic moment" for the province, adding that:

> We are doing this so university and college tuition can be free for low-income and many middle-class New Brunswick families. As New Brunswickers, this is what we do: we help those who need it most.

The move was expected to boost enrolment, with the province's Post-Secondary Education Minister Francine Landry saying:

> We have significant demographic challenges that will continue to affect enrolment at our universities and colleges. This program will incentivise New Brunswickers to study here at home, thus helping our publicly funded universities and colleges.

The president of the University of New Brunswick, Eddy Campbell, also predicted that the scheme would increase enrolment at his university, particularly among students from low-income backgrounds who were deterred by the cost of tuition.

> To the extent that we hope and expect to be able to attract more students from the kind of background that is currently feeling — there is this phenomenon known as sticker shock. When we are trying to recruit students from low-income backgrounds, they are particularly concerned at the cost. This is aimed right at them.

However, critics of the scheme suggested that it was introduced too quickly and that not enough data was collected before changes were made to tuition relief programs. The New Brunswick Student Alliance said that the changes would mean more students would get less money, and that this could discourage New Brunswick students from getting degrees.

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