Post-secondary students are joining forces Thursday to send a message to the province to put an end to budget cuts and tuition hikes at colleges and universities.

Hundreds of students gathered at the University of Alberta to start their march to the legislature grounds. They say they feel strongly about tuition hikes and a $550 mandatory tuition fee.

"It's very frustrating for this debt to be put onto the students," said Grace McNeely, second year arts student.

Local students were joined by protesters from across the province, including Calgary and Lethbridge.

"This voice is strong and it's definitely a step in the right direction. It's showing that students are not going to take this lying down," said Kay She with the University of Calgary Students' Union.

Students say post-secondary institutions are trying to increase the amount of money it gets from students without abusing Alberta's 1.5 per cent cap on tuition boosts.

Education Minister Doug Horner says fees of this nature are only allowed for non-academic costs, and are not implemented as a way to bypass the tuition cap.

The students held a rally on the legislature steps early Thursday afternoon. The board of governors is expected to vote on the proposals March 26th.

With files from Susan Amerongen and the Canadian Press