Incidental and Fee-Related Notes
For the latest Graduate Studies Schedule of Fees, please refer to the Finance website at: Finance web site - Student Fees.
Graduate Student Association (GSA) Fees
A number of ancillary fees are automatically assessed on your tuition statement to pay for the services offered through the GSA. These include the GSA Fee, Health and Dental plans, and the Graduate House fee.
Details of GSA fees and possible refund procedures are available on the GSA website: http://www.gsa.uwaterloo.ca/governance/fees.
Graduate Studies Endowment Fund
The Graduate Studies Endowment Fund (GSEF) was created by a referendum of graduate students, and is supported by a voluntary contribution from each grad student each term. This fee is not for a service administered by the GSA but graduate students are involved in deciding how the endowment income is spent, and it is used to support a number of initiatives that are beneficial to all graduate students. The Graduate Studies Endowment fund fee can be refunded by placing a request with the GSA.
Study Permits
The Ontario Government has established a policy of higher tuition fees for international students studying in Ontario on Study Permits. The policy came into effect as of January 1, 1977 and was revised in June 1996. Beginning with the 1996/97 academic year, the higher fees apply to all students, except for those who qualify for exemption under on of the following categories:
-
A citizen of Canada within the meaning of the Citizenship Act, or a person registered as an Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act;
- A Permanent Resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act:
- a person who has been granted "permanent resident" status and has not had that status revoked; or
- a person who has met all the preliminary requirements for permanent residency status and presents a copy of his or her immigrant visa waiver letter, which confirms that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has accepted his or her application for permanent residency status. Such letters must be dated prior to the enrolment count date and presented prior to the enrolment report due date (Winter - February 1, Spring - June 30, Fall - November 1).
- *"Stage 1 approval" or "approval-in-principle" is applicable to applicants applying for Permanent Resident status from within Canada only, and they must present the original personalized "Stage 1 Approval" or Approval in Principle" letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (obtained from the local Citizenship and Immigration Centre or the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta) to the Graduate Studies Office. Applicants applying from outside of Canada must present evidence of Permanent Resident status (Imm 1000, IMM 5292 or PR card issued upon entry to Canada) to the Graduate Studies Office.
- A visitor who has been admitted to and remains in Canada with official accreditation from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, who has entered Canada, or is in Canada:
- to carry out her/his official duties as a diplomatic or consular officer; or
- as a Canadian government-accredited representative or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations or any of its agencies, of any intergovernmental organizations of which Canada is a member; or
- as a dependent* or a member of the staff of any such diplomat, consular officer, representative or official accredited to Canada by the Canadian government; or
- a member of a foreign military force or of a civilian component thereof admitted to Canada under the Visiting Forces Act, or any dependents* of such personnel;
- Visitors and their dependents* who are authorized to work in Canada having been issued a work permit. The following are excluded from this category:
- A visitor who is a graduate teaching or research assistant;
- An international student holding a work permit to complete his/her co-op or internship employment;
- An international student holding a work permit for post-graduation work (usually up to a year 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.
- An international student holding an "Off-Campus Work Permit"
- A person and his/her dependents* admitted to and remaining in Canada who:
- has been determined to be a protected person, including a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection, within the meaning of subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. A protected person document issued under section 31(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or a "notice of decision" issued by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada or by the IRB must be presented;
- is a refugee claimant who applied to the federal government for Convention Refugee Status prior to January 1, 1989, and can provide documentation from Citizenship and Immigration Canada to that effect;
- A person who is a participant in an Ontario government sponsored exchange agreement.
* A "dependent" of a person includes his/her spouse (the party to whom that person is joined in marriage), unmarried child, or spouse's unmarried child. Dependant status must be fully documented and must have been established for a minimum of three years for the student to be classified as eligible.
The foregoing is a condensed version of section 4:1.3 "Eligible International students" of the 2003-04 Ontario Operating Funds Distribution Manual. For further details, contact the Graduate Studies Office.
Qualifying Students
Qualifying students are assessed as undergraduate students. See Undergraduate Calendar for details.
Health Insurance and Dental Plans
Effective September 1, 2006 the student health and dental plans have combined, these plans are now under the joint administration of the GSA and FEDS. For further details visit www.studentcare.net or visit the Health and Dental Plan Office in the Student Life Centre, Room 1121A.
International Students
- International students on Study Permits are not eligible for coverage in the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). A Non-Resident Health charge (http://www.uhip.ca/) will be added to all International student fees.
- Dependant (family) Non-Resident Health coverage is compulsory. Dependants must be enrolled within 30 days of arrival in Canada and by payment of an additional fee in the Student Accounts Office, Needles Hall. Details available upon request from the Student Accounts Office.
Other Costs
The fees shown do not include the costs of text books, class notes, mandatory supplies, certain accommodation or other costs associated with field trips, etc.
Association Fees
A non-refundable association fee will be added to assessments of graduate students in the following departments:
|
Full-time |
Part-time |
| Kinesiology |
$5.00 |
$2.50 |
| Recreation and Leisure Studies |
$5.00 |
$2.00 |
| Geography |
$3.33 |
$3.33 |
A refundable association fee will be added to assessments of graduate students in the following departments (refunds can be arranged through Associations within three weeks of the start of lectures
|
Full-time |
Part-time |
| Architecture |
$10.00 |
|
| Chemical Engineering |
$3.00 |
$3.00 |
| English |
$5.00 |
$2.00 |
| Planning |
$5.00 |
$5.00 |
| Political Science |
$10.00 |
|
| Psychology |
$5.00 |
|
Student Services Fee
This non-refundable fee is assessed to all full-time and part-time students in accordance with the Student Services Protocol signed in March 1994 and approved by the Board of Governors in April 1994.
Services available to the students include the Writing Centre, the Art Gallery, Health Services (some services), Safety, Student Security Services, the Ombudsperson, Athletics and Recreational Services, Career Services, Personal Counselling and the International Student Office.
CanCopy Fee
This non-refundable fee is assessed to all full-time and part-time students to recover the student-related share of the CanCopy licence fee. The CanCopy licence provides for indemnity from civil claims related to copyright law so long as the members covered comply with the provisions of the licence. Details of the CanCopy licence are available in the Libraries, campus copy centres and academic departments.
Accountancy Student Endowment Fund
Effective Spring term 1999, this fee is assessed to all full-time Master of Accounting students in accordance with the Accounting Students Education Contribution Fund. This fee is a requirement of registration and is refundable within the first three weeks after the start of lectures of each term.
Environmental Studies Endowment Fund
In October 1997, the Board of Governors approved a $30.00 per academic term fee to be assessed to all full-time graduate students in the Faculty of Environmental Studies. This fee is a requirement of registration and is refundable within the first three weeks after the start of lectures of each term.
Graduate Co-operative Programs
A fee will be assessed to graduate co-operative programs in which students seek employment through Cooperative Education and Career Services. The fee per 4-month work-term is $485. The fee will be assessed on the student account for the co-operative work term following approval by the academic department for the enrolment status change: www.grad.uwaterloo.ca/students/current/forms.asp (See enrolment - Change of Enrollment Status/Degree_Completion/Voluntary Withdrawal form.)