University fees

Changes to Winter 2021 fees

University fees for the 2020-2021 academic year remain in line with the provincial framework. We appreciate that the current exceptional circumstances impose extra financial burdens on our students. This is why the University has examined all options and made the following changes:

Deadline: The deadline for paying your fees is now the same as for withdrawing from a course or an activity with a financial credit. This deadline for the winter 2021 term is Friday, February 5, 2021. Please see Important academic dates and deadlines for more information.

U-Pass: Prior to submitting an opt-in or opt-out request, check your statement of account to determine whether you have been charged the U-Pass fee. If you have not been charged, do not submit an exemption request. If you have been charged the U-Pass fee, you do not need to submit an opt-in request. If you submitted an opt-in request in the fall, you do not need to submit another request for the winter term.

• U-Pass credit: Ottawa City Council recently decided that due to COVID-19, the U-Pass rate for the 2020-2021 academic year will revert back to the 2019 rate of $212.71 per term.

  What does this mean for you? If you were charged the original cost of $218.03 for the Fall term U-Pass and are currently being charged $218.03 for the Winter term U-Pass, you will receive a credit of $5.32 per term. If you have already paid your fees, this credit will be applied toward payment of fees for future study at the University of Ottawa. We have adjusted your Statement of Account to reflect this change. You can check your Statement of Account in uoZone under the Finances and jobs menu.

  If you will not be attending the University of Ottawa in the future, you may request a refund of this financial credit. For more information on how to request a refund, visit the Student Accounts webpage. For more information, visit the U-Pass website.

Sports services: Given our reduced sports services offering, we also cut Sports Services fees by half for the winter term. We continue to offer a wide variety of courses online, and we have recently reopened our sports facilities.

Ancillary fees: The UOSU and the GSAÉD continue to provide services during the winter term. We will therefore collect the associated fees, with a few exceptions, such as certain fees for the Graduate Students Association. Please see Ancillary fees for a comprehensive list.

Changes to tuition fees for Fall 2020

University fees for the 2020-2021 academic year remain in line with the provincial framework. We appreciate that the current exceptional circumstances impose extra financial burdens on our students. This is why the University has examined at all options and made the following changes:

Deadline: We have extended the tuition payment deadline to Friday, October 2, 2020. In fact, from now on, the deadline to pay tuition fees will be the same as the deadline to withdraw from a course or an activity and receive a financial credit. This applies to both the Fall and Winter terms (see important dates and deadlines for details).

U-PASS: Only full-time students who are taking at least one in-person class in the Fall 2020 term will be charged the fee for the Fall/Winter U-Pass. 

Sports services: As of early September, we will open sports facilities (pool, gyms, intramurals, conditioning centre), albeit in compliance with public health guidelines. We will also offer an extensive list of virtual classes. For these reasons, we have reduced the sports services fee by 50% for the Fall term.

Ancillary fees: UOSU and GSAÉD will still be offering services in the Fall term; therefore, we will continue to collect appropriate fees. Some exceptions apply, such as certain Graduate Students Association (GSAÉD) fees. For a complete list, see Ancillary fees.

Tuition Fees for 2020-2021 announcement

On May 6, 2020, the University announced that tuition fees for international students for the 2020-2021 academic year will remain the same as for 2019-2020.

As directed in 2019 by the Ontario provincial government, tuition fees for Canadian students will also remain the same.

Note that some administrative, ancillary, and incidental fees may change.

Tuition fee decrease in 2019-2020

The Ontario government announced a 10% decrease in tuition fees for the 2019-2020 academic year for Canadian students enrolled in Ontario colleges and universities. At the University of Ottawa, this means a 10% reduction for students with the following legal status: Canadian citizens, permanent residents, exempt international students, and students who qualify for differential exemption. Moreover, tuition fees for these same students will remain unchanged for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Tuition for Canadian citizens applies to the following students:

• A.  Citizens or permanent residents of Canada and their dependants¹:
  • If you are in this category but were born outside of Canada, you must submit proof of your Canadian status to InfoService to qualify for Canadian tuition. A valid Canadian passport and, in most cases, a photo ID along with a social insurance number not starting with the number 9 can also be used. If you are in the process of obtaining your permanent residence status, we require a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) confirming it has received your application for permanent residency.
• B.  Members of the diplomatic corps and their dependants.²
• C.  Persons granted entry into Canada to come and work, and their dependants.³
• D.  Refugees and their dependants recognized by the Canadian government.¹⁺³

If you belong to category B, C or D, you must provide supporting documents to InfoService.

Notes

1. The term dependant includes your spouse, your common-law partner, your unmarried child or your spouse's unmarried child. Dependant status must be fully documented for the student to be eligible:
   • Spousal Status: A marriage certificate is required to verify spousal status.
   • Common-Law Status: An affidavit signed by both spouses, a lawyer, notary or commissioner confirming that they are living together in a conjugal relationship for not less than one year, or that they are living together in a conjugal relationship and are raising any children of whom they both are the natural or adoptive parent, is required to verify their common-law status.
   • Unmarried Child Status: To be eligible as an unmarried child, the dependant must be under age 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner when they begin their studies. An unmarried child can also be a person with a disability who has been financially supported substantially by his or her parents, and who is unable to be self-supporting because of the disability
2. You are excluded from this category if you are:
   • A visitor hired as a graduate teaching or research assistant;
   • An international student holding a work permit to complete your CO-OP or internship employment or medical training (resident or clinical or research fellowship);
   • An international student holding a work permit for post-graduate work (usually for up to three years of work opportunities upon graduation);
   • An international student whose spouse or common-law partner has received a work permit as a result of the international student holding a valid Study Permit; or
   • An international student holding an Off-Campus Work Permit.
3. Canada recognizes a person as a Convention refugee only after the second phase of the refugee claim assessment has been completed. You must also provide a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) confirming that CIC has received your application for permanent resident status.

Tuition for international students applies to persons:

• E.  Who do not belong to any of the groups described in A, B, C or D, or
• F.  Who, despite belonging to one of the groups in A, B, C or D, have not submitted their supporting documents before the enrolment deadline. Proof of Citizenship or Permanent Status must be submitted by these deadlines, otherwise Foreign Student Fees will apply. No retroactive status changes will be made:
  • October 31 for the fall term;
  • January 31 for the winter term;
  • June 30 for graduate students enrolled in the spring-summer term (May-August); and
  • July 31 for graduate students enrolled in the summer session (July-August), as well as for undergraduate students enrolled during the spring-summer term or the summer session.

Auditors (see definition below) pay a fixed fee of $100 per unit for each course taken. For example, a typical course of three units’ costs $300. If the student only takes courses as an auditor, ancillary fees do not apply. 

This concerns part-time undergraduate and graduate auditors in all programs except for the Undergraduate Medical Education program. 

Auditors: Persons who are enrolled in a course as either a regular or special student but are not required to complete work assignments or write exams and who will not receive units for the course.

For a full list, see Ancillary fees. Ancillary fees are non-refundable after the period for full refunds ends.

Health Services 

The University decided to impose these ancillary fees to provide students with access to health services that suit their circumstances and lifestyles. This fee is charged to all full-time and part-time students, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The cost of this fee is indexed to the CPI annually. The revenues generated by this fee fund convenient access to a wide range of health services on campus (such as family medicine, a drop-in clinic that is open seven days a week, immunization required for study programs and internships, mental health services, sports medicine services and other specialist medical care). It also funds a healthy lifestyles program that provides students with information on nutrition, stress reduction, mental health, sexual health, drug and alcohol issues, etc. 

Sports Services 

Current Sports Services ancillary fees were established through a referendum held among the entire University of Ottawa population in 2001. It funds sports facilities, such as fitness centres and sports fields, as well as student sports activities, such as group classes. It also funds student initiatives submitted and approved by the School Spirit Council, a committee that comprises representatives from the University, GSAÉD and UOSU. This fee is for charged to all undergraduate and graduate students, whether full time or part time. The cost of this fee is annually indexed to the CPI. The revenues it generates fund the administration, operation and maintenance of sports facilities and sports programs on campus. 

U-Pass transit pass 

This fee was established through a referendum held among the entire University of Ottawa student population in order to provide affordable transportation to all students. It allows students to use the public transit services provided by OC Transpo and the STO (Société de transport de l’Outaouais). The UPass program is governed by a contract between the University of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa, the UOSU and the GSAÉD. This contract specifies the cost of the transit pass, which only covers public transit. This fee is charged to all full-time University of Ottawa students (with certain exceptions) in order to minimize the cost of the U-Pass. 

University Centre 

This fee was established through a referendum held among the entire University of Ottawa population in 1966 with the aim of offering social, recreational and cultural activities to improve student life on campus. It is charged to all full-time and part-time students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Since 1973, a decision by the Board of Governors has linked the cost of this fee to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). An advisory committee composed of student representatives, along with members of the UOSU, GSAÉD and the University community, supervises the use of revenues raised by this fee. The University Centre (UCU) houses the legislative, executive and administrative branches of the student unions and provides spaces for student clubs, societies, associations, and related businesses. Its expenses include costs related to the administration, operation and maintenance of Jock Turcot University Centre and student wellness programs, such as the multi-faith space, services for nursing mothers, the Carrefour francophone, the Women’s Resource Centre, and all activities that enhance the student experience. 

Telfer School of Management Career Centre 

This ancillary fee was established through a referendum held among the student population of the Telfer School of Management. The Career Centre provides students with professional and personal support services, such as career counselling and coaching, CV critiques, aptitude test (MBTI) administration and scoring, networking events, job fairs and career information sessions. This fee is charged to all students enrolled in a Telfer undergraduate or MBA program because these services allow Telfer to meet the requirements of triple accreditation (AACSB, AQUIS, AMBA) and in order to fund a field in which career preparation is an essential job requirement. The revenue from these fees pays for events, trips, specialized programs, test administration and scoring, as well as for expenses related to staffing, software upgrades, and student initiatives. 

University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) ancillary fees 

Learn more about UOSU ancillary fees. 

Graduate Students Association of the University of Ottawa (GSAÉD) ancillary fees 

Learn more about GSAÉD ancillary fees. 

The University of Ottawa follows guidelines on digital learning material used in courses. These guidelines are in line with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ (MTCU) Tuition Fee Framework and Ancillary Fee Guidelines for Publicly-Assisted Universities 2013-14 to 2016-17. In this framework, MTCU permits, under certain conditions, the universities to ask students to purchase digital learning material.  

Digital learning material can include access to databases, access to online learning resources and access to mobile clickers. Digital test/assessment tools can include simulation tools, online quizzes and online exercises. 

Below are the University of Ottawa’s guidelines about fees for digital learning materials. 

Guidelines 

The University of Ottawa recognizes that digital learning material can enhance the academic experience of students. At the same time, the University is conscious of the potential financial impact of such costs for students.

Therefore, and in accordance with MTCU guidelines, the University has developed the following guidelines for the fees related to digital learning materials.  

1. The instructors should use digital learning material that is already available to students at the University. When such digital learning material is not appropriate, the instructor may ask students to purchase digital learning material that become the property of the students, which can include test/assessment tools. 
2. Instructors may use digital test/assessment tools to assess student performance, if the weight of the total course grade associated to its use does not exceed 25%. Exceptionally, the instructor can obtain written approval from the Dean of the faculty offering the course should the weight exceed 25%. 
3. The total cost of the digital learning material for a course of three units or less should not exceed $60. Exceptionally, the instructor can obtain written approval from the Dean of the faculty offering the course should the total cost exceed $60.  
4. When the test/assessment tools are bundled with other learning material (such as a textbook), the instructor must provide an option for students to purchase the test/assessment tool separately. The above threshold of $60 applies to the stand-alone digital learning material only. 
5. If the above provisions are not satisfied, the use of digital learning material can be proposed to students, but the instructor must also offer a no-fee alternative to students.  
6. It is expected that the course syllabus will indicate, if relevant: 
   • the digital learning material (required or optional), including test/assessment tools, 
   • the cost of such material, 
   • the weight of the total course grade associated with the use of the test/assessment tools, 
   • the details on how to obtain such material, and 
   • the details on the no-fee alternative 

Fee categories 

Tuition fees are set according to two categories: full-time studies and part-time studies. For details and conditions, see Student classification below. 

Student classification 

Undergraduate students 

• Full-time: Students enrolled in the equivalent of 12 or more units during a given term will be considered full-time students and must pay full-time university fees. For purposes of fee assessment and classification, courses taken as an auditor are not included in the student classification and special fees apply. 
• Part-time: Students enrolling in fewer than 12 units will be considered part-time students and must pay part-time tuition (on a per unit basis) and part-time ancillary fees. Part-time fees in the case of non-credit (N/C) courses are determined according to the number of weekly hours of formal lectures or equivalent. 

Graduate Studies 

• Graduate students declare their classification when accepting their offer of admission. If they wish to modify their classification, they need to fill out the Modification / Cancellation of Enrolment (Graduate Studies) form (PDF) and submit it to the Graduate Studies Office of their faculty before the deadline published on the Important academic dates and deadlines page. 

Fee amount and payment

Your tuition and ancillary fees depend on your program of studies, on your legal status in Canada and on the number of units you are taking. University fees are due by the dates indicated in the Important academic dates and deadlines.

Cancellation of enrolment

If you decide not to attend a course or to drop a course after your course selection has been approved, you must withdraw formally from the course in your Student Center by the date indicated in the Important academic dates and deadlines. From uoZone, go to Applications and select Enrol. Then select the Drop tab and follow the instructions. If you don’t do this, you will receive a grade of ABS (equivalent to an F). Regular rules for fee payment still apply.

Lean more about withdrawing from a course.