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 course(s):
- If you are enrolled in 1.5 or more units, you will be charged the full-time incidental fees.
- If you are enrolled in fewer than 1.5 units, you will be charged the part-time 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 as a result of adding/dropping/swapping courses or changing your program (including co-op to regular, regular to co-op, work term to academic term)
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. Students are charged fees one term at a time. Due date is normally prior to the start of term.
- Fall Term – September to December
- Winter Term – January to April
- Spring Term – May to August
Compulsory tuition-related fees for students in co-op programs
Co-op fee - compulsory for students in co-op programs
- assessed to students in a co-operative education program who are enrolled in 1.5 or more units
- not directly related to specific work terms
- charged over a defined number of academic terms, which varies by program
- you will be charged the number of co-op fees associated with the co-op program you graduate from
- co-op fees are not negotiable or waived for any reason
- see the co-operative education website for more information on when the co-op fee will be charged for your program
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$756.00 |
- |
Work report marking fee - compulsory for students in Pharmacy, and Engineering programs (except Architecture)
- charged to students in co-op programs in accordance with the guidelines approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
- contributes to the cost of marking work reports, reflections, and other work term assessment tools, and tracking skills accomplishment during work terms
- contact Student Financial Services to confirm the number of co-op and work report marking fees required by your program
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$12.60 |
- |
Compulsory incidental fees
Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) fees - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Operations |
$38.35 |
$11.51 |
| Student Life |
$39.32 |
$11.80 |
| Academic Support & Advocacy |
$17.66 |
$5.30 |
| Undergraduate Student Capital Program |
$16.68 |
$5.00 |
Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) supplementary health & dental plans - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- 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 The Centre to enrol in UHIP
- charged to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students
- co-op students have coverage only during academic terms and official co-op work terms
- co-op students doing back-to-back work terms will not automatically have coverage during their second consecutive work term; contact www.studentcare.ca directly to confirm coverage
- 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(s) from your bill for each term in that academic year (September 1 - August 31) if you have successfully opted out
| Charge per term |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| WUSA health plan - regular - Fall |
$66.02 |
$66.02 |
| WUSA health plan - regular - Winter |
$132.04 |
$132.04 |
| WUSA health plan - regular - Spring |
not charged |
not charged |
| WUSA dental plan - regular - Fall |
$63.29 |
$63.29 |
| WUSA dental plan - regular - Winter |
$126.58 |
$126.58 |
| WUSA dental plan - regular - Spring |
not charged |
not charged |
| WUSA health plan - co-op |
$123.94 |
$123.94 |
| WUSA dental plan - co-op |
$118.65 |
$118.65 |
Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) Legal Service fee - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students
- provides students with access to legal representation for housing, employment, and academic discipline disputes and a legal hotline for students
- 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 you have successfully opted out
| Charge per term |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| WUSA Legal Service - regular - Fall |
$9.61 |
$9.61 |
| WUSA Legal Service - regular - Winter |
$19.22 |
$19.22 |
| WUSA Legal Service - regular - Spring |
not charged |
not charged |
| WUSA Legal Service - co-op |
$18.03 |
$18.03 |
Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) Student Assistance Program - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students
- provides students with access to enhanced mental health services, integrated with the WUSA Health plan and Campus Wellness
| Charge per term |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| WUSA Student Assistance Program - regular - Fall |
$1.63 |
$1.63 |
| WUSA Student Assistance Program - regular - Winter |
$3.26 |
$3.26 |
| WUSA Student Assistance Program - regular - Spring |
not charged |
not charged |
| WUSA Student Assistance Program - co-op |
$3.50 |
$3.50 |
Grand River Transit UPass - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all full-time undergraduate students enrolled in three or more courses (1.5 or more units)
- assessed to students in programs associated with campuses in Waterloo Region only
- allows unlimited access to Grand River Transit services
- apply for an exemption
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$118.97 |
not eligible |
University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) - compulsory for students without provincial health insurance
If you are an international student who was not in Canada for any part of Fall 2023 AND ALSO will not be in Canada for the Winter 2024 term, you can complete the declaration in the optional fees section on Quest between November 20-December 14, 2023 to opt out of UHIP coverage for the Winter 2024 term and have the UHIP charge removed from your bill.
UHIP is an annual plan. If you were enrolled in the plan for the Fall term you will be charged for Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 and will not have an option to opt out of coverage for Spring term.
- an annual non-resident health insurance plan
- coverage is compulsory for international students beginning with the first term they are in Canada each policy year (September - August), regardless of their location in subsequent terms in that policy year
- charged to eligible undergraduate students every term
- international students are automatically assessed the UHIP fee
- you will be automatically enrolled into the UHIP coverage after you have the registered status "Fees Arranged" if you are on an academic term, or once you've paid the UHIP charge on your account during a work term or "off" 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 your 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 undergraduate students enrolled in a program associated with a campus in Waterloo or Kitchener
- excludes students in programs based on 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 |
n/a |
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 part-time students enrolled in a program associated with a campus in Waterloo Region
- assessed to all outgoing University of Waterloo exchange students charged tuition at University of Waterloo
- not assessed to most incoming exchange students, in accordance with exchange agreements between University of Waterloo and other institutions
- in accordance with the Student Services Protocol signed in March 1994 and approved by the Board of Governors in April 1994
Student Society Fees - compulsory
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all undergraduate students in specific faculties who are enrolled full-time
- supports student society activities
- contact the society directly at the beginning of the term to inquire about their refund process
Optional fees
First Year Orientation fee - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all full-time undergraduate students who are in their first term at University of Waterloo during the Fall term only (except Optometry students)
- supports the special events offered during Orientation Week
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term - Fall only |
not charged |
not eligible |
Student Refugee Program fee - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students
- approved by student referendum in February 2008
- supports the University of Waterloo World University Service of Canada Student Refugee Program, beginning Fall 2008
- covers refugee students' academic and living expenses for two years
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$5.53 |
$5.53 |
UW Student Publications - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of Imprint
- assessed to all full-time and part-time students
- supports the official student media organization, Imprint
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$6.40 |
$1.92 |
Sandford Fleming Foundation - optional
- assessed to all full-time Engineering students
- supports development of co-operative engineering education
- provides funding for engineering team travel, awards and competitions
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$6.00 |
n/a |
Student Society Fees - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of WUSA
- assessed to all undergraduate students in specific faculties who are enrolled full-time
- supports student society activities
Renison Academic Student Council - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of Renison
- assessed to all full-time and part-time undergraduate students affiliated with the Renison campus
- advocates for students
- supports initiatives to enhance academic and social experience for Renison students
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
St. Jerome's Student Union - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of St. Jerome's
- assessed to full-time and part-time undergraduate students affiliated with the St. Jerome's University campus
- advocates on behalf of St. Jerome's students
- supports events, and initiatives related to student mental health, wellness, sustainability, food services, and academics
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$10.00 |
$5.00 |
St. Jerome's Development Fund - optional
- assessed by the university, on behalf of St. Jerome's
- assessed to full-time and part-time undergraduate students affiliated with the St. Jerome's University campus
- supports projects that benefit students
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
Voluntary incidental fees
Faculty of Science Foundation - voluntary; a tax receipt will be issued for payment
- assessed to all full-time Science and Optometry students
- students who do not opt out of the Science Foundation fee will receive a donation receipt in February of the following year
- learn more
| |
Full-time students |
Part-time students |
|---|
| Charge per term |
$3.00 |
n/a |
Student Endowment Funds - voluntary; a tax receipt will be issued for payment
- assessed to full-time students and as approved, to part-time students (see below)
- students who do not opt out of the Endowment Fund fee will receive a donation receipt in February of the following year.