First-year university students in New Brunswick are reaping the benefits of a Liberal government election promise, receiving $2,000 tuition rebates to help cut the cost of their education.

University of New Brunswick, Saint John student Cindy Cole was surprised to check her e-mail on Tuesday, and find that her outstanding tuition balance had shrunk from nearly $3,000 to just under $1,000.

Cole says prior to the rebate, she contemplated cutting back on her studies because of the high cost of school. "I was like, 'I'll just go part-time and make it up in intersessions or something' and [my] Mom was like, 'No, don't do that, just wait a few days,' and it's a good thing I did or I wouldn't have gotten the money.'"

Only full-time university students from New Brunswick qualify for the $2,000 rebate.  

Cole says the extra cash will allow her to work fewer waitressing shifts and concentrate more on her studies.

John Case, UNBSJ's vice-president external, says first-year students have told him they'll put the savings toward future tuition and books, but some may spend it in other ways. "We'll probably see students getting new laptops, or maybe new winter wardrobes, or taking up a new musical instrument."

Case says the rebate will help those entering university, but the change does nothing for students who are beyond their first year and may already have large loans.