Incidental fees are non-tuition fees charged to all University of Waterloo students. The specific fees charged reflect the nature of each fee and the services associated with it, as well as ensuring you maximum flexibility and minimized exposure to the risk of not having critical services (eg. health & dental insurance coverage). To ensure a consistent, predictable and supportive student experience for all students, regardless of where and how you are taking your program:
- If you are enrolled as a full-time graduate student, you will be charged the full-time incidental fees.
- If you are enrolled as a part-time graduate student, you will be charged the part-time incidental fees.
- If you are enrolled in an "online only" program or in a program based on a campus outside Kitchener-Waterloo, you will be charged modified incidental fees.
You can choose to opt out of the term-specific optional and voluntary fees charged to your student account by the opt out deadline for each term. All other incidental fees are related to facilities and services of an ongoing nature, many of which are available remotely, rather than to access/use of those services and facilities during specific terms; these incidental fees are compulsory.
Incidental fees charged to your student account may change if you modify your course load, your part-time/full-time status or your program.
The University collects specific and limited personal information on behalf of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association and the Graduate Student Association. This information is used for membership administration, elections, annual general meetings, and the administration of student benefit plans and is disclosed to the two organizations and external plan providerssolely for those purposes. Students should contact the office of either group if they have any questions about this matter.
Term
A particular four-month period of course study or research. You are charged fees one term at a time. Due date is always prior to the start of term.
- Fall Term – September to December;
- Winter Term – January to April;
- Spring Term – May to August.
Compulsory incidental fees
Co-op fee - compulsory for most graduate co-op programs
- charged during work terms for specific co-operative education programs only
Graduate Student Association (GSA) fees - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of the GSA
- administration of core GSA services
- administration of wellness events & initiatives
- academic events & initiatives
- learn more
| Charge per term |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Grad Student Association |
$19.93 |
$$19.93 |
| Wellness Support |
$2.12 |
$2.12 |
| Academic Support |
$2.12 |
$2.12 |
Graduate Student Association (GSA) supplementary health & dental plans - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of the GSA
- coverage is supplementary to either a Canadian provincial health plan or UHIP
- Canadian or Permanent Resident students who are not covered by a Canadian provincial health plan must contact SFS to enrol in UHIP
- charged to all full-time and part-time graduate students enrolled in programs that are not considered "online" programs.
- students enrolled in an online program are not eligible for the GSA health & dental coverage
- students on a co-op work term or an Inactive term need to pay the GSA compulsory fees directly to the GSA office to self-enrol in the health & dental plans at www.studentcare.ca during the change of coverage period for that term
- you can enrol your eligible dependents who are already covered under OHIP or UHIP online at www.studentcare.ca
- you may opt out annually at www.studentcare.ca during the change of coverage period in September (or your first academic term in the year, if that is not Fall term)
- we will remove the corresponding charge from your bill for each term in that academic year (September 1 - August 31) if Studentcare confirms that you have successfully opted out
| Charge per term |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| GSA health plan |
$66.00 |
$66.00 |
| GSA dental plan |
$108.00 |
$108.00 |
Graduate Student Association (GSA) Legal Service fee - compulsory
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$9.33 |
$9.33 |
Grand River Transit UPass - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of the GSA
- assessed to all full-time students on an active term in programs associated with a campus in Waterloo Region
- allows unlimited access to Grand River Transit services
- apply for an exemption
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$113.30 |
not eligible |
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) - compulsory for students without provincial health insurance
If you are an international student who will not be in Canada for any part of Fall 2023, you can complete the declaration in the optional fees section on Quest between July 25 to August 22, 2023 to opt out of UHIP coverage for Fall term and have the UHIP charge removed from your bill.
UHIP is an annual plan. If you are enrolled in the plan for Fall, you will be charged for Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 and will not have an option to opt out of UHIP for those terms.
- an annual non-resident health insurance plan
- coverage is compulsory for international students regardless of their location each term during a policy year
- charged to eligible graduate students each term
- international students are automatically assessed the UHIP fee
- you will be automatically enrolled into UHIP after you have the registered status "Fees Arranged" each term
- international students must enrol dependents who do not have provincial health insurance, within 30 days of the date they become eligible for coverage (ie. arrival in Canada, marriage, termination of coverage under a comparable plan)
- submit a ticket to Student Financial Services to enrol dependents
- students will be charged a $500.00 penalty for enrolling dependents more than thirty days after they become eligible for coverage
- Canadians and Permanent Residents who do not have provincial health insurance must submit a ticket to Student Financial Services to enrol in UHIP for the three month waiting period for their provincial health insurance to become effective
- Cowan Insurance will e-mail a proof of coverage card to you
| |
Student |
Add one dependent |
Add more than one dependent |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$252.00 |
$252.00 |
$504.00 |
Health Services Building fee - compulsory
- assessed to all full-time and part-time students enrolled in a program associated with a campus in Waterloo or Kitchener
- excludes students affiliated with the Cambridge and Stratford campuses
- approved by student referendum in 2009/2010 and approved by the Board of Governors in April 2013
- pays for the addition to the Health Services facility
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$10.00 |
$3.00 |
SLC/PAC Expansion fee - compulsory
- assessed to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students enrolled in a program normally offered on a campus in Waterloo or Kitchener
- excludes students in programs based on Cambridge and Stratford campuses
- approved by student referendum in 2016 and approved by the Board of Governors
- pays for the additions to the Student Life Centre and Physical Activities Complex
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$19.90 |
$5.97 |
Student Services fees - compulsory
- assessed to all full-time and some part-time students, excluding some “online only” programs
- in accordance with the Student Services Protocol signed in March 1994 and approved by the Board of Governors in April 1994
Optional incidental fees
Graduate House - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of the GSA
- assessed to all full-time and part-time graduate students affiliated with the Waterloo campus
- a "members only" club for graduate students
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$24.50+ 13% HST |
$24.50+ 13% HST |
Student Association fees - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of the GSA
- assessed to all full-time and some part-time students, excluding some “online only” programs
- student's program and academic load determine which fees are charged
Voluntary incidental fees
Student Endowment Funds - voluntary; a tax receipt will be issued for payment
- assessed to all full-time students and some part-time students
- students who do not opt out of the Endowment Fund fee will receive a donation receipt in February of the following year
- supports updates to laboratory facilities and teaching equipment, and provides course enrichment not otherwise possible