Tuition refunds

About tuition refunds

If you are planning to drop or withdraw from a course, you may be eligible for a tuition refund. The amount refunded depends on the date you drop or withdraw from your course.

Some fees are non-refundable, including the following:

How to get a refund

You are eligible to receive a full tuition credit if you drop or withdraw from your course by the course change date, also known as the add/drop deadline. The refundable amount decreases from the course change date. See the tuition refund dates below for the dates and refund amounts.

Tuition credit refund

If you've dropped a course by the specific date and you're eligible for a tuition refund, you will see a tuition credit showing in your student information system. This will appear in your account activity in Workday. Learn how to find your account activity

The credit will apply towards future tuition and student fees. Otherwise, you can request for eligible funds to be refunded. Update your direct deposit information and full mailing address, including your postal or ZIP code. Then, contact Enrolment Services to initiate the refund request.

Tuition appeals

If you've received an academic concession or withdrawn from a course under extraordinary and extenuating circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a tuition adjustment or refund after the course drop deadline.

Applying for a refund after the deadline due to extraordinary circumstances

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria:

You must also meet all of the following requirements:

  • You have applied for a refund or adjustment within one year from when the extenuating circumstances happened.
  • You have documentation of an extraordinary medical or personal circumstance that prevented you from attending classes or successfully completing the academic term or session, such as:
    • A doctor’s note
    • Hospital records 
    • Death certificate
    • Letter from a registered counsellor

Tuition adjustment appeals can also be made by students who have experienced trauma from sexual assault and have withdrawn from classes as a result. Please reach out to UBC's Sexual Violence Prevention Office (SVPRO) for support.

How to apply

If you meet the requirements above, please speak to an Enrolment Services Advisor to discuss your situation. If you do not have an advisor, you can contact an Enrolment Services Advisor by calling 604 822 9836 or submit your question through the online form.

Tuition adjustments or refunds are reviewed on a monthly basis by the Tuition Appeals Committee. Please allow at least 4 to 8 weeks for a decision.

If you are no longer a UBC student

If there is a tuition credit showing in your Student Service Centre (SSC) or Workday account and you are no longer a UBC student, contact Enrolment Services directly to request a refund.

Your tuition credits may be removed from the Student Service Centre (SSC) and/or Workday after 3 years of inactivity. If you believe you have a tuition credit but cannot locate it on the Student Service Centre, search for your name in the Unclaimed Tuition Credit Portal and follow the instructions provided. Note that credit balances of $5 or less will not be refunded, but they can be applied towards future UBC payments.

If your tuition credit is under $200, UBC will not notify you about it. If the credit is $200 or more and you have not requested a refund for 3 years, UBC will attempt to notify you using the email address you most recently provided. If you did not provide an email address, UBC will send a letter to your last known mailing address. Please update your personal information if it is incorrect. It is your responsibility for keeping your contact information up to date.

Under the BC Unclaimed Property Act, after at least 3 years, your tuition credit will be considered “unclaimed property”. You will then have an additional period of 6 to 30 years to request a refund for your tuition credit. The length of the period depends on the size of the credit.

Credit-based tuition refunds

The amount of tuition refund you are eligible for can differ depending on if you drop a course by a certain date.

The dates below apply to most courses, but some exceptions apply. If your course has a different start or end date, or if you're unsure of the refund deadline for your course, check your course information in the Course Schedule or talk to your Enrolment Services Advisor. Learn how to view your Course Schedule in Workday.

You must drop your course by 11:59 pm PT on the date listed on this page, or you may not be eligible for the refund.

Summer Session credit-based tuition refunds

Look for the refund dates and amounts for courses you take in the summer.

Two-term courses 

Course drop deadline Amount refunded
The last day to drop without W standing 100% of course fee refunded
The third Sunday after the course start date 50% of course fee refunded
The fourth Sunday after the course start date 25% of course fee refunded
After the fourth week of classes No refund

One-term courses

Course drop deadline Amount refunded
The last day to drop without W standing 100% of course fee refunded
The second Sunday after the course start date 50% of course fee refunded
The third Sunday after the course start date 25% of course fee refunded
After the third week of classes No refund

Winter Session credit-based tuition refunds for 2024/25

Courses during the Winter Session may be one-term courses or taken over two terms. Check which type of course you're planning to drop and see the refund dates and amounts.

One-term courses

Term 1

Course drop deadline Amount refunded
Until Mon, Sept 16, 2024 100%
Tue, Sept 17 to Mon, Sept 23, 2024 50% 
Tue, Sept 24 to Mon, Sept 30, 2024 25% 
After Mon, Sept 30, 2024 No refund

Term 2 

Please refer to the Course Schedule for specific course drop or withdrawal dates. In case of discrepancies, the dates listed in Course Schedule will be honoured. 

Course drop deadline Amount refunded

Until Fri, Jan 17, 2025

100% 
Sat, Jan 18 to Fri, Jan 24, 2025 50% 
Sat, Jan 25 to Sat, Feb 1, 2025 25% 
After Sat, Feb 1, 2025 No refund

Two-term courses

You must have an approved academic concession to request a refund for two-term courses in Term 2. Please visit the Academic Calendar for information on refund rates.

First instalment

Course drop deadline Amount refunded
Until Mon, Sept 16, 2024 100% of the first instalment
Tues, Sept 17 to Mon, Sept 23, 2024 50% of the first instalment
Tues, Sept 24 to Mon, Sept 30, 2024 25% of the first instalment
After Mon, Sept 30, 2024 No refund

Second instalment

Course drop deadline Amount refunded
Until Fri, Jan 17, 2025 100% of the second instalment
After Fri, Jan 17, 2025 No refund

Instalment-based tuition refunds

Some programs may pay instalment-based tuition, for which fees are paid in instalments instead of credit-based per term. 

Summer Session

Course drop deadline Amount refunded 
The second Sunday after the Summer Session start date 100% of the instalment
The fourth Sunday after the Summer Session start date 60% of the instalment
The sixth Sunday after the Summer Session start date 40% of the instalment
The eighth Sunday after the Summer Session start date 20% of the instalment
After the eighth week of Summer Session No refund

Winter Session

Course drop deadline Amount refunded
The second Sunday after the Winter Term start date 100% of the instalment
The fourth Sunday after the Winter Term start date 60% of the instalment
The sixth Sunday after the Winter Term start date 40% of the instalment
The eighth Sunday after the Winter Term start date 20% of the instalment
After the eighth week of Winter Term No refund

If you have questions