Graduate Student Perceptions of Food Security in Kitchener-Waterloo Region

Abstract

This thesis examines the experiences of graduate students accessing food while attending the University of Waterloo. Food insecurity among post-secondary students has become an increasing concern in Canada, with students experiencing food insecurity at rates often higher than the national average. While university food insecurity has been studied, much of the existing literature focuses on undergraduate students or treats university students as a homogenous population. The purpose of this study is to explore how and where University of Waterloo graduate students access food in Kitchener-Waterloo and whether the food they do access reflects their individual needs This thesis adopts the Four Pillars of Food Security framework which includes availability, accessibility, utility, and stability. A mixed-methods approach was used to conduct this research. Data collection included an online questionnaire distributed to graduate students at the University of Waterloo (n=133) and semi-structured interviews with graduate students (n=20). A thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes across the data. The findings demonstrate that affordability is one of the most significant barriers influencing the ability of graduate students in the study sample to access food. Rising housing costs, limited funding, and financial instability often forced students to make trade-offs between food and other necessities.. International students and students with dietary restrictions reported difficulties with unfamiliar food environments and accessing foods that meet their cultural or dietary needs. Participants described a variety of coping strategies including budgeting, meal planning, attending events with free food, and accessing community or campus food resources. However, many participants also described feelings of stress, guilt, and stigma associated with food or seeking assistance. The research further highlights the importance of institutional responsibility in shaping campus food systems and ensuring that food initiatives reflect the diverse needs of graduate students. Overall, this thesis contributes to the growing body of literature on student food insecurity by centering the experiences of graduate students and situating these experiences within broader structural contexts. Policy interventions to support these findings include strengthening partnerships with community food organizations, retailers, and local producers. These policies can give graduate students more autonomy over their food choices and help to provide skills that can extend beyond their university experience. The findings emphasize that food insecurity among graduate students is not an individual issue, but one shaped by economic pressures, campus food environments, and broader systems.