Computer Science, Bioinformatics, and Data Science students at the University of Toronto currently pay $11,420 in tuition fees (domestic students), which is 87% higher than the $6,100 domestic tuition rate charged in general for degrees in the Faculty of Arts and Science.  International students also pay thousands of dollars more in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, and Data Science as compared to all other science programs in the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Despite the fact that these programs are part of the Faculty of Arts and Science, and despite the fact that these students still earn a regular Honours Bachelor in Science degree, Computer Science students are made to pay this higher fee.

This higher tuition makes a degree in Computer Science less accessible, and access to it less equitable. It acts as a systemic barrier that prevents marginalized students from entering this field. It increases the financial and emotional pressure on Computer Science students to compete for grades and high-paying internships, just to be able to afford their degree; this has contributed to a mental health crisis in our department.

We believe that Computer Science students should be treated the same way as all other students in our faculty, the Faculty of Arts and Science, and charged the same fees for what is at the end of the day the same degree (a HBsc).

There’s a common misconception that these programs are “deregulated” programs -- this is not true. Computer Science, Bioinformatics, and Data Science have been regulated by the provincial government for over 15 years (Source). Some Ontario Universities, like the University of Western Ontario, charge Computer Science students the same tuition fees as all other science programs.

It’s up to the University of Toronto Administration and Governing Council to change their policy. 

We’re asking the University of Toronto Administration and Governing Council to make tuition for students in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, and Data Science more equitable -- to charge these students the same fees as our peers in other science programs.

Please sign this petition to be a part of our campaign for equitable fees for Computer Science students. Please also share this petition with your friends and family, so we can show the administration how important this is.

#SameDegreeSameFee

P. S. Are you a student at UofT? Please share your experience with tuition through this survey: https://forms.gle/3q6hinZ27t9R76RFA