Canadian universities are providing a range of supports to international students due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. These measures include deadline extensions, tuition payment flexibility, and increased access to mental health services and emergency funding.

Universities Respond to Student Needs

As the academic year nears its end, institutions across Canada are taking steps to assist international students with connections to affected regions, including Iran and Lebanon. Students are facing both emotional and logistical challenges as a result of the war.

Specific Support Measures

Queen's University is among the schools offering support, including extensions on winter tuition and fee payments without penalties, access to emergency bursaries, and expanded mental health resources. A university spokesperson stated that affected students are encouraged to reach out for assistance.

The University of Victoria is directly contacting students with ties to Iran to provide case-by-case support, such as special bursary funding and lifting registration holds related to overdue tuition. They are also offering flexibility to applicants struggling to meet admissions requirements.

Carleton University is providing flexibility on filing admissions documents and offering exam deferrals, while also reviewing requests for tuition relief. McGill University has sent an email to students from several countries – Iran, Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the UAE – detailing access to academic accommodations and mental health resources.

Student Voices and Calls for Systemic Change

Amir Moghadam, an Iranian international student and president of the University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union, acknowledged that extensions and tuition pauses are “positive steps.” However, he emphasized the need for a “broader, systemic framework” to support international students during crises.

Moghadam highlighted the difficulties faced by Iranian students, including communication disruptions and financial challenges. He called for dedicated emergency funding, tailored mental health services, and clear institutional policies. He stated, “Right now, Iranian students in Canada cannot contact their families…That is an extraordinary level of disruption, and it demands more than deadline flexibility.”

Advocacy and Fundraising Efforts

The University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union is collaborating with university administration to advocate for accommodations, including deadline extensions, leaves of absence, and adjusted research expectations. The union also offers an emergency grant program providing up to $1,000 to students facing financial hardship.

Numerous student organizations across Canada are organizing fundraisers, gatherings, and discussions to raise awareness and support those affected by the conflict. These initiatives aim to mobilize resources and foster a sense of community.

As of December 31, 2024, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows over 23,000 study permit holders from Iran and approximately 1,800 from Lebanon are currently in Canada.