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If you’ve received an academic concession or withdrawn from a course under extraordinary and extenuating circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a tuition adjustment or refund after the course drop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’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- You’ve withdrawn from the course(s) before the deadline to withdraw with a ‘W’ standing.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Tuition adjustment appeals can also be made by students who have experienced trauma from sexual assault and have withdrawn from classes as a result.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 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.
Summer Session credit-based tuition refunds
Look for the refund dates and amounts for courses you take in the summer.
| 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 |
| 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.
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 |
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.
| 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 |
| 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
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.