The College Finance Committee has voted to increase non-EU tuition fees by 3 per cent.
At a meeting held this afternoon, the committee also voted to introduce a minimum increase of the same proportion next year. An increase of at least five per cent for all courses was implemented for this academic year.
The committee, chaired by the Provost, made the decision having weighed the financial benefits of the move against the unseemliness of increasing an already disproportionate fee contribution.
Students from non-EU countries do not qualify to have their tuition costs covered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and as such between €16,500 and €35,000 per annum to attend classes. Unlike EU undergraduate fees – which are a matter for regulated state policy – the College has the authority to set its own non-EU fee levels.
Furthermore, a report to Board in the last academic year highlighted that the College was failing to achieve its targets for non-EU student recruitment. The figures presented reflected statistics for the 2013/14 academic year, prior to the implementation of planned fee increases.
Katie Byrne, Education Officer for Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union said this evening:
“The increase of 3% is hardly surprising, when one considers that college continues to use international students as a revenue stream. Whilst this is a continuing trend, it is not one that should be encouraged – as a college, we need to value our international students and protect their finances, now and continuing into the future.
“The Union remains opposed to fees increases to all students, and this includes international students, who are frequently targeted.”
Since 2009, the College has prioritised the recruitment of non-EU students in order to offset an escalating deficit in exchequer funding. A ‘global relations strategy’ has been in place since 2012 and seeks to manage, promote, and enhance the College’s image in the market for this band of student.
Last week’s strategic plan launch confirmed that College plans to double its non-EU student numbers over the next five years.
