General Information

Payment of Fees

Tuition Deposit, Tuition Fees, and other fees.

International students: please see International Student Fees.

Tuition payments will be accepted by cash, money order, Interac direct payment, personal cheque, or via online banking. Credit cards are not accepted for payment of tuition, Students' Union fees, or student activity fees. Application fees, tuition deposits, and fees for registration services, e.g. transcripts, duplicate diplomas, etc. can still be paid by credit card. Additionally, parking, health and dental insurance, and residence fees can still be paid with a credit card. Students who are unable to pay tuition and cannot obtain financial assistance or sponsorship should check with the Financial Aid & Awards office for further information. VIU reserves the right to cancel registration or withdraw an offer of admission to students who do not pay fees when required.

All fees are subject to change without prior notice. Please refer to the web site for updated information.

Credit Based Undergraduate Programs (includes career and technical programs)

A $200 tuition deposit—$100 of which is non-refundable—is required from all who register for the first semester courses—students will be informed when deposit payment is due. This deposit is applied toward tuition for the first semester of studies (normally the Fall semester). Failure to pay the deposit will result in de-registration. In the case of programs with limited seat availability failure to pay the deposit will render the offer of admission null and void. If students decide not to attend VIU after they have paid the $200 deposit, a portion of it ($100) will be refunded, providing they notify the Registration Centre of the decision not to attend by the first scheduled day of classes for the semester. This deposit may not be transferred to another semester or program entry point.

The balance of tuition fees will be assessed at the end of the second week of classes, and students must pay for all courses in which they are registered at that time, regardless of whether they later withdraw.

Full payment of fees is due the first business day of October for Fall semester courses and the first business day of February for Spring semester courses. Students who do not pay their fees by the fee payment deadline will be withdrawn from their courses.

Continuing Education and English as a Second Language programs

Full fees are due and payable at the time of registration.

Career and Academic Preparation programs

No tuition fees are charged for Literacy and Adult Basic Education courses; however, students are required to pay Students’ Union and Student Activity fees. Fees are due prior to the fist day of classes.

Students enrolled in Access Programs pay a deposit of $200 by August 1; the balance of fees is due by October 1.

Trades and Applied Technology Programs

A $200 tuition deposit—$100 of which is non-refundable—is due and payable upon notification of acceptance into a program. This deposit may not be transferred to another semester or program entry point. Tuition fees are due in full prior to commencement of all Trades & Applied Technology programs. Students will be notified of the date when fees are due.

Graduate Courses and Programs

Students will be notified when fees are due.

Tuition Refunds

International Students: please refer to the Refund Policy for International Students.

General regulations regarding refunds

Refunds are calculated from the date on which the official withdrawal is received in the Registration Centre.
Unpaid fines and other amounts owing will be deducted from the refund.
Students required to withdraw due to violation of the Student Conduct Policy are not entitled to any refund.

Career and Technology, English as a Second Language, University courses, Trades and Applied Technology programs

Tuition refunds will be based on the following scale for Fall and Spring semesters:
- up to the end of the first day of the semester: 100% refund, less $100;
- up to the end of the second week of the semester: 100% refund, less $200;
- after the second week of the semester: no refund—full fees assessed and payable.
For purposes of definition, a 3-hour evening course is equivalent to one week of instruction.
Refunds for other academic sessions will be pro-rated based on the length of the session.

Continuing Education courses

Please refer to the Continuing Education (C.E.) refund policy published in the C.E. calendar for each campus.

Access Programs

Tuition refunds will be based on the following scale for Fall and Spring semesters:

up to the end of the first day of the semester: 100% refund, less $100;
up to the end of the second week of the semester: 100% refund, less $200;
after the second week of the semester: no refund—full fees assessed and payable.

Study Abroad

Different policies apply for Study Abroad programs. Please see viu.ca/educationabroad.

Updated: June 29, 2011