RESEARCH

Informed, in-depth research on Ontario’s post-secondary education sector is a central pillar of our approach to representing and advocating for students in the province. Thorough research serves as the foundation of federation campaigns and policy recommendations to government. The federation conducts research on a variety of issues in the post-secondary education sector that affect students, including tuition fees, funding for colleges and universities, access for international students, sexual assault on campus, indigenous education, and more.

Reports

PSE Debt and Perceptions of Tuition Fees

Not in the Syllabus

Findings from the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario’s survey on graduate student mental health.

Fact Sheets

Education For All

Developed as a part of the Education For All campaign, this factsheet looks at Ontario’s exorbitantly high tuition rates, student debt and demographics of student populations who receive the least funding and face the most barriers, in the country.

Indigenous Education

This factsheet looks at financial barriers that prevent many Indigenous people from attending college or university.

Achieving Fairness in Student Employment

Developed as part of the Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign, this fact sheet reviews the ways that fair wages and legislative changes can improve conditions for low-wage, part-time, and temporary workers. This fact sheet also considers the specific impacts that minimum wage and labour legislation has on student workers.

International Students in Ontario

This factsheet looks at the role international students have in Ontario’s post-secondary education system and provides background on the financial barriers faced by international students through high and differential tuition fees. It also summarizes some of the challenges that international students face with regard to employment processes and health care coverage.

OHIP for International Students

This factsheet explores the challenges faced by international students as a result of being excluded from Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). It also reviews how other provinces incorporate international students into their healthcare plans and shows why extending OHIP to all students in Ontario is both possible and necessary.

Supporting Graduate Student Mental Health

This two-year research project outlines what the greatest impacts are on graduate students’ mental health, and the largest issues keeping graduate students from seeking support. This project also provides recommendations on how post-secondary institutions can improve support for graduate students.

Sexual Violence on Campuses

This factsheet examines the prevalence of sexual violence on college and university campuses, reviews sexual assault and reporting statistics, and looks at the gendering of sexual violence.

Free Post-secondary Education

This factsheet summarizes why tuition fees are regressive and how eliminating tuition fees is possible if government prioritizes access to post-secondary education. The factsheet also provides background on where tuition fees have been eliminated in Canada and around the world, showing that jurisdictions with varying demographics and economies have been able to prioritize access to post-secondary education.

Post-residency Fees for Graduate Students

This factsheet provides an overview of why reduced fees for graduate students are important, where post-residency fees currently exist in the country and the consequences of Ontario graduate students having to pay the highest fees in Canada.

The Impact of Government Underfunding on Students

This factsheet outlines the history of funding cuts to post-secondary education by the federal and Ontario governments over the past 20 years. The cutbacks have made Ontario the province with the lowest per-student funding in Canada, and subsequently, students in Ontario are faced with the highest tuition fees and worst student-faculty ratio in the country. Chronic underfunding and the burden on students to pay more and more for post-secondary education has had a particular effect on marginalized students, perpetuating existing inequalities and leaving many students without fair access to a college or university education.