Vancouver Island University's international student count is down around 34 per cent from January 2020, which comes with a substantial drop in tuition revenue. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

REVENUE LOSSES

VIU expects budget deficit amid diminished international student revenue

Jan 27, 2021 | 5:22 AM

NANAIMO — COVID-19 restrictions preventing many, valuable international students from attending classes is having ripple effects for VIU’s bottom line.

The university’s international student headcount is down around 34 per cent in January 2021, compared to the same time last year.

Dr. Carol Stuart, VIU provost, told NanaimoNewsNOW federal and provincial travel restrictions forced many students from over 90 countries to defer their offers until at least the fall.

“They’re hoping to be able to travel at that time but we have to make that determination based on the federal guidelines and the ability of students to actually get into the country. They are interested in being in Canada and experiencing the Canadian culture.”

Around 55 per cent of VIU’s international students come from India and China, while Germany, Japan and Vietnam also factor heavily.

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Tuition fees from international students account for a sizeable portion of VIU’s income.

According to Statistics Canada, graduate and undergraduate programs at B.C. universities cost international students between two and four times more than their domestic counterparts.

Course costs from both domestic and international students account for 40 per cent of VIU’s total income.

Stuart said the university will run a deficit this year, however the amount is still unknown. A majority of the deficit is resulting from a reduction in tuition along with losses on campus from the book store and cafeteria.

Planning continues for the university on how to escape COVID-19 once restrictions ease and students can more freely study on campus.

Stuart said they’ve conducted surveys to gauge levels of apprehension around travel and international studies post-COVID.

“There is still a high desire for students to be here and be part of what we’re doing at the University but of course they are concerned both about personal safety. [They want] to be part of the campus culture.”

Students who arrived at VIU for the fall semester were required to quarantine for 14 days, with the option of doing so at the university’s residence. Some students elected to remain in their home countries and begin their studies online.

As a revenue stop-gap measure, the university is looking at ways to provide more short-term programming relevant to the pandemic.

VIU recently received funding from the province for 72 new seats to train health care support workers at its Nanaimo, Powell River and Duncan campuses.

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alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley