CIBC International StudentPay Frequently Asked Questions

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) is one of the largest financial institutions in Canada and has partnered with you’re the University of Waterloo to provide its students with an easy to use digital platform to make payments. By using CIBC International Student Pay, payments can be made in your preferred currency and payment method, along with access to preferred foreign exchange rates.

Using CIBC International Student Pay, you have access to:

•    Enhanced Student Experience: Easily make a payment in your preferred currency.
•    Access to Live Foreign Exchange Rates: With CIBC International Student Pay you’ll have access to the competitive foreign exchange rates CIBC is providing to University of Waterloo.
•    End-to-End Communication & Tracking: You will receive detailed instructions and have the ability to track the status of your payment through the CIBC International Student Pay platform.

Follow our five easy steps.

Please contact CIBC International Student Pay Support. They can be reached by:

• Calling from India (toll free): +1800121661661
• Calling from North America (toll free): +18446378898
• Calling from anywhere else in the world: +919071373838
• Email: Studenthelp@cibc.com

You can see the status of your payment anytime by selecting "track your payments" on the CIBC International Student Pay portal. Do not contact the university to inquire about your payment unless it has not appeared on your student account 14 days after your bank sent it.

You can use International StudentPay for any education-related costs assessed by your institution, including tuition, housing, and incidental (non-tuition) fees charged to your student account.

Yes. The full value of your payment is delivered to the University of Waterloo in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Once you have selected your country from the dropdown list, and the amount you want to pay in Canadian dollars (CAD), the quote will automatically display the amount due in your local currency.

If your currency isn’t available, you can complete your payment in another major currency including USD, EUR, GBP, etc. CIBC offers access to over 120 different currencies.

Yes. Including your student ID number ensures that your payment is easily identified and quickly posted to your student account.

If your bank forgot to include your payment reference number there is a possibility that your payment will be delayed. Please contact CIBC immediately by e-mail at studenthelp@cibc.com.

Please have the following information available:

• Student Name
• Student ID
• Transaction Reference Number
• Date of Transaction
• Amount

University of Waterloo has authorized CIBC International StudentPay to receive payments on its behalf. Once CIBC has received your payment, they will forward the CAD amount to University of Waterloo.  You will then receive an email notification from CIBC advising you that your funds have been received and processed to University of Waterloo.

CIBC is able to receive payments from any international bank. If you are experiencing problems, please contact CIBC International StudentPay for assistance:

• Calling from India (toll free): +1800121661661
• Calling from North America (toll free): +18446378898
• Calling from anywhere else in the world: +919071373838
• Email: studenthelp@cibc.com

You can also explore using University of Waterloo's alternate international payment option.

The Foreign Exchange market is dynamic and prices are changing continuously. To protect the you from this volatility, for bank wires, CIBC is able to offer protection for a period of 72 hours, not including weekends and Canadian holidays.

Yes. We recommend using your home currency because of the preferred foreign exchange rates CIBC offers, but you do have the option to make payments in USD, CAD and other major currencies.

Yes. You have an option to choose to pay in Canadian dollars (CAD) on the Payment Options page of the portal process. If you select CAD, you will be charged a 1.25% non-refundable administrative fee.

If you choose to select another currency on the portal and then decide at your local bank to have your local bank complete the foreign exchange conversion and pay the university in CAD, CIBC will still charge the 1.25% non-refundable administrative fee as the portal instructions were not followed and your payment amount to the University will be short. 

You will receive an email notification from CIBC advising you that your funds have been received and processed. Please allow 14 days for your payment to appear on your student account at the university.

You can see the status of your payment anytime by selecting "track your payments" on the CIBC International Student Pay portal.

You can view your instruction sheet by logging into the CIBC International StudentPay portal and clicking on the “Transaction History” page to send the instruction sheet. Your instruction sheet will then be emailed to the email address we have on file.

On average, transactions made online will be processed within 14 days. If the transaction time exceeds this, please contact us at studenthelp@cibc.com.

You can see the status of your payment anytime by selecting "track your payments" on the CIBC International Student Pay portal.

If you are making an online payment right on the portal, your transaction is final on the portal.

For bank wires, the Foreign Exchange market is dynamic, and prices are changing continuously. To protect the you from this volatility, CIBC is able to offer protection for a period of 72 hours, not including weekends and Canadian holidays. You have 72 hours to go to your local bank to submit the bank wire.

Yes. Please select the relationship of the payer as “Agent” and ensure the instruction sheet is delivered to the Agent to make the payment.