As shown in Table 1, tuition fees for international graduate students in 2008-2009 vary dramatically between provinces and institutions. Overall, tuition fees for international graduate students tend to be highest at some institutions in Ontario and the Maritimes, where ten universities charged user fees of at least $12,000 for the 2008-2009 academic year. At less than $2,000, Newfoundland and Labrador currently has the lowest tuition fees in Canada for international graduate students, followed by students in Saskatchewan who pay slightly more. In British Columbia, the fee differential between Canadian and international graduate students is lower than at the undergraduate level.

A similar phenomenon occurs at the University of Saskatchewan. In fall 2005, international undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan were saddled with a 38.4% fee increase, a un-subtle tactic used to circumvent the tuition fee freeze for domestic students in Saskatchewan. However, international graduate students were spared the hefty increase. Given the premium placed on importing great researchers, shielding international graduate students from the massive fee increase is an acknowledgement of the deterrent effects of high tuition fees.

Recently, students have successfully mobilised to defeat tuition fee increases for international students. In August 2008, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Human Resources, Labour and employment in Newfoundland and Labrador wrote a joint letter to the Board of Regents and suggested that Memorial University consult with the Canadian Federation of Students and shelve a proposed 10% fee hike. The Board agreed to stop the hike and study the issue further.

In Québec, students' unions at Concordia University successfully fought off international student tuition fee hikes at five successive Board of Governors' meetings. The Federation is currently collecting signatures on a petition to urge the Government of Québec to stop the increases.