Some UBC students have a portion of their UBC fees paid by a sponsor such as an Indigenous community, employer, or government agency. This is called sponsorship billing.
To have an organization sponsor your studies at UBC, they will have to meet the required criteria and apply before the start of term. The Sponsorship Billing office should be notified by the student and sponsor right away if there are changes to the sponsoring agency or the coverage amount.
How the application process works
- Your sponsor must complete the online application form before the start of term. If your sponsor doesn’t have Internet, please have them submit the Sponsorship Third Party Billing Form (pdf) and return it by fax to 604 822 5816.
- Once the Sponsorship Billing office receives the form, they will update your account and let you know your next steps.
- By setting up or entering into a sponsorship agreement, you are agreeing to allow UBC to share information from your student account directly with your sponsor. Information that can be shared with your sponsor includes, but is not limited to, your registered courses, program information, tuition and fee assessments, awards, bursaries or scholarships, grade information, and any other items that may be associated with your study. Please email ubc.sponsorship@ubc.ca if you have any specific questions.
After you submit your sponsorship billing request
The Sponsorship Billing office will send your sponsor an invoice after the add/drop deadline of each term:
- Winter Session Term 1: late September
- Winter Session Term 2: late January
- Summer Session: late May or mid July
Your sponsor has one month to pay the invoice. The Sponsorship Billing office will send you a copy of the invoice by email, and you will also be able to view each invoice in your Student Service Centre (SSC) through the Message Centre.
Once the Sponsorship Billing office receives your sponsor's payment, they will apply it to your tuition and fees and email you an update.
It is your responsibility to pay any tuition and fees that your sponsor elects not to pay by the tuition due date. Check “Sponsorship Billing” under Finances in your Student Service Centre (SSC) to see what isn't covered by your sponsor. You will be responsible for the payment of any remaining balance by the tuition due date.
If your sponsor doesn't pay the invoice by the deadline, or if there is an outstanding balance on the portion for which you are responsible, your student file will be placed on financial hold. At that point, you won't be able to make changes to your registration, view grades, or order transcripts. There will also be late payment fees charged to your account.
Your responsibilities as a student
- Do not delay payment of fees in anticipation of sponsorship. If late payment charges accrue before a contract has been authorized, they will not be reversed. While sponsors typically do not cover late payment penalties, they may agree to do so if the fees are a result of the sponsor sending in a late application.
- You will need to pay for charges and student fees not covered by your sponsor, such as extended health and dental coverage. Please reach out to an Enrolment Services Advisor if you're unsure about the fees that you owe, or you may be assessed late payment penalties.
- If you have extended health and dental coverage elsewhere, you can opt out of the AMS/GSS plan. If you do not opt out before the deadline, you will be responsible for paying these fees by the deadline.
- If your sponsor requires more information, such as transcripts, you are responsible for providing it to them.
- Additional charges, such as shipping fees for textbook orders through the UBC Bookstore, are your responsibility, unless specified by the sponsor. Sponsors will not be invoiced for charges that haven’t been agreed upon in writing to the UBC Sponsorship Billing Office. For any questions, email ubc.sponsorship@ubc.ca.
