International students make up a large portion of CUPE 3903’s membership, especially in Units 1 & 3 (Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants/unionized Research Assistants)! If you’re an international student who is a member of CUPE 3903, this webpage has information and resources to help support you as you’re working and studying in a new environment.
Funding
As international students, your funding package from York University is different than your domestic colleagues. This is both because of higher tuition and the protections in the CUPE 3903 collective agreements that were won over several years to mitigate those fees.
Click here to find a detailed breakdown of the different funding components.
While the parts of your funding that are tied to work (wages, vacation pay, Grant-in-Aid) are the same for both domestic and international students, there are three elements of your funding that are higher, in recognition of the higher tuition fees paid by international students:
- International Tuition Offset: This amount of $7,533 for Master’s students and $6,709 for PhD students was won in the 2015 strike to offset a large increase to international tuition fees. The employer cannot increase fees without also increasing this amount.
- Graduate Financial Assistance (GFA): All Unit 1 and 3 members get GFA, but international students get an increased amount in recognition of the much higher tuition fees. The exact amount depends on your year of study.
- York Graduate Fellowship: This amount is applied to the student account and applied directly to tuition, and is likewise higher for international students: $8,467 for Master’s students and PhD years 1-2, and $7,837 for PhD years 3+.
International Students & the Collective Agreement
Being an international student does not in any way, shape, or form impact your ability to assert your rights under the Collective Agreement. Under Ontario employment law, you cannot be discriminated against solely based on your immigration status. You should assume that all rights apply to you equally as domestic students, except in those cases where additions were explicitly made to benefit international students. On this page, you can read about some of the Collective Agreement rights and benefits that might be especially relevant to you.
UHIP Fund
UHIP is mandatory for all international students, and you have to pay for it. In recognition of the unfairness of international students paying for the kind of basic healthcare that domestic students take for granted, we have negotiated a UHIP Fund to help cover the cost of enrolling in UHIP.
Historically, the UHIP Fund has covered the full cost of UHIP premiums for members and their dependents. However, York has put us on notice that they don’t intend to keep topping up the UHIP Fund to cover everyone, starting September 2026. We are actively bargaining to protect this fund. The best way to make sure you and your dependents don’t have to pay expensive premiums for health care is to get involved in bargaining.
Priority for Summer Teaching Assistantships
Every Unit 1 member who is a PhD student has a guarantee of at least one full teaching assistantship or equivalent every year. However, all Unit 1 members can hold up to an extra half TAship; this usually takes the form of Summer TAships. There are not enough of these positions for everyone. In recognition of the added costs international students face, the priority for available summer TAships goes to international students in Unit 1.
Bursaries
There are several bursaries in the Units 1 and 3 Collective Agreements to help members make ends meet. Several of these bursaries prioritize international students in recognition of the higher cost of tuition, e.g. Graduate Student Bursary Fund, PhD Completion Fund. This advantage is automatically applied when you submit your student financial profile to be considered for bursaries.
Healthcare
International students who are CUPE 3903 members have two types of healthcare coverage: UHIP and Sun Life insurance.
UHIP (the University Health Insurance Plan) is international students’ equivalent of OHIP, which is the provincial healthcare coverage for Canadian citizens and PR holders in Ontario. Sun Life is private health insurance, which covers paramedical services, medications, dental, and optometrist visits with certain limits per year. UHIP and Sun Life complement each other to ensure a more comprehensive healthcare package.
You are automatically enrolled in UHIP as an individual, but need to manually enroll any dependents. You are also automatically enrolled in the Sun Life benefits, but again, need to manually enroll depdendents. You can find out more about your Sun Life benefits here. There is no cost to enroll for yourself or your dependents — do it now, even if you don’t foresee any healthcare costs, so you will be covered if you need it.
CUPE 3903 also has an Extended Health Benefits Fund which you can apply to to help supplement some of your healthcare-related costs. This fund is useful for costs that are not covered by the Sun Life plan, whether because you’ve exhausted your coverage or they’re outside of the coverage’s scope. Find more details on our website.
Student Academic Enrollment
Academic enrollment is mandatory for all graduate students throughout their degree. Departments generally encourage students to enroll in all academic semesters — winter, fall, and summer. This can lead students to have an outstanding balance on their student accounts. As a result, students cannot get reimbursement until their funding package is released and their balance is paid. To avoid some issues with these outstanding balances, it can be helpful for members to enroll for the following semester before the related deadline for that semester rather than all at once. In this way, members will only have the balance of that semester in their student accounts.
Banking
Banking options in your country of origin may differ from banking options in Canada. Make sure to do some research and ask peers about their banking experiences before committing to a bank. Banks may have special offers for students, so when you visit a bank, try to bring your student-related documents. It can be a good idea to schedule appointments at banks to learn about their systems specifically for international students.
Resources
CUPE 3903 Resources
CUPE 3903 has multiple resources for you as a member, so it’s good to take advantage of them! As a CUPE 3903 member, you have access to many funds that can materially support you with various needs that you may have. This includes the Ways and Means Fund, which provides monetary assistance to members experiencing both ongoing and emergency financial hardship.
There are also opportunities to find community in your union! Every year, CUPE 3903 members elect an International Graduate Students’ Committee (IGSC). The IGSC sometimes organizes events and coordinates community gathering spaces for international student members.
If you’re experiencing any equity-related concerns in your work at York University (e.g. you’re experiencing harassment or discrimination, need workplace accommodations, want to request a funding extension on the grounds of disability, etc.), please reach out to CUPE 3903’s Staff Representative Equity, Nadia Kanani. Her email is equity@cupe3903.org, and her role is to assist you with navigating these concerns.
Resources & Places to Know About on Campus
There are various resources on the Keele Campus that you might not be familiar with when you are first getting accustomed to York University. These resources may be useful for students who live or spend a lot of time on campus. Please note that that resources are listed here for informational purposes. Resources being listed on this page does not in any way constitute endorsement by the union; always do your own research!
Food Security: For international students, it may take some time to figure out groceries and where to buy essential food items. Even after figuring it out, the grocery prices can be quite high, which leads some students to be dependent on foodbanks. There are various food resources in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). There are also food resources local to York University. You can click here for a York-curated list of various food access resources, which contains further information.
The York Federation of Students’ Food Support Centre is located at the Second Student Centre. According to YUGSA, graduate students are also welcome at the Food Support Centre. One visit per week is allowed, enabling students to address immediate food insecurity. Students need to visit the Food Support Centre in-person and register with their student cards (either physical or digital cards). When registering, the Food Support Centre provides students with a member card. Students have to show that membership card when visiting the foodbank on campus.
York Lanes Mall: This is a small shopping centre on Keele Campus for shopping and dining. In it, there are cafes, restaurants, a pharmacy, banking options, the York University Bookstore, dental services, a hairdresser, and a mini grocery store. While there can be drawbacks to having so much shopping and banking integrated into an academic environment, knowing about these services can be useful for those who live on or are frequently at Keele Campus.
Appletree Medical Centre: This medical centre is located in York Lanes at Keele Campus. Appletree is a medical centre available in different locations in the GTA and provides services either as walk-in or by appointment. It is important to note that international students are not eligible to have a family doctor, therefore they can only benefit from walk-in services. Useful to know: Appletree accepts UHIP!
Tait McKenzie Centre: Winters in Canada are long, and certain outdoor activities may not be accessible during this chilly season! This sports centre on Keele Campus has various facilities for students and employees, including group sports sessions and individual activities. There are different membership rates for students, alumni, staff, and the public.
York University Graduate Students’ Association (YUGSA): While CUPE 3903 represents you at York University in your capacity as a worker, YUGSA represents you in your capacity as a York University graduate student. YUGSA’s office is located in 325 Student Centre on Keele Campus, and they have contact information on their website.
Resources Off Campus
Community-building becomes important during graduate school. It can be beneficial to connect with people who might be going through similar experiences, including issues like migration, graduate school, food insecurity, and uncertainty. There are resources off campus which may be good to reach out to!
Black Creek Community Farm: This farm near Keele Campus has a farm stand during the growing season, and also a yearly Community-Supported Agriculture vegetable subscription that operates on a self-identified sliding scale for payment. This local produce option can be good to know about for students and their families.
Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC): This coalition organizes and advocates for the rights and fair treatment of migrant workers. MWAC also has specific resources for migrant students.
Workers’ Action Centre: This local organization helps people fight for better working conditions and fair pay. As a member of the Migrant Rights Network, they have relevant events and resources such as a handbook guide to help migrants with knowing their rights.