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:

• Acceptance deposits
• Student fees

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 reduces after the course change date. See the tuition refund dates below for more details about 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 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If you’ve received an academic concession or withdrawn from a course under extraordinary and extenuating circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a tuition adjustment or refund after the course drop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’ve received an academic concession from your faculty.
• You’ve withdrawn from the course(s) before the deadline to withdraw with a ‘W’ standing.

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Tuition adjustment appeals can also be made by students who have experienced trauma from sexual assault and have withdrawn from classes as a result.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 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 Workday after 3 years of inactivity. If you believe you have a tuition credit but cannot locate it, 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.

Summer Session credit-based tuition refunds

Courses during the Summer Session may be one-term courses or taken over two terms. Look for the refund dates and amounts for courses you take in the summer.

Courses that differ from standard term dates will be prorated from the schedule below.

Winter Session credit-based tuition refunds for 2025/26

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.

Instalment-based tuition refunds

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

If you have questions

If you have questions, please contact your Enrolment Services Advisor directly.

For general questions, please call 604 822 9836 or submit a question through the online form.