Registration Deposit – FALL SEMESTER ONLY, Undergraduate and Diploma Students Only
To be able to add and drop courses for the Fall/Winter semesters, all undergraduate and diploma students are required to pay a minimum, non-refundable registration deposit of $500 by the registration deposit deadline, regardless of funding sources (e.g., OSAP, bursaries or scholarships, RESPs, etc.).
Your registration deposit payment will be credited to your student account. This deposit goes directly toward your first-term tuition; it is not an extra fee, and it plays an important role in ensuring a smooth start to your academic year.
All outstanding balances from previous semesters must be paid first or the $500 will be applied to the outstanding balance and will not be considered as a registration deposit. Please review your account on WebAdvisor and consult the preferred payment methods for the registration deposit.
Failure to pay the registration deposit will result in blocked access to course selection for the registering semester. Once your deposit is received on your WebAdvisor account, you will be able to register for courses when your course selection window opens.
International Deposit - NEW, First-Year International Students Only
To further show your commitment to attending the University of Guelph, new international undergraduate and diploma students are required to pay a non-refundable tuition deposit of $2,000 CAD by the deadline indicated on the Dates & Deadlines page. This deposit is only required for your first semester, whether that be the fall, winter or summer semester. Please consult the preferred payment methods for paying your deposit. This deposit is not an additional fee – it will be applied to your tuition balance.
Residence Deposit
Please see the Student Housing, Residence Fees and Deposits.
Registration Deposit FAQs
The $500 registration deposit is required in June to enable you to register for Fall/Winter courses when your course selection window opens.
Your deposit has been received successfully if you can see your $500 payment as a credit (negative) balance on your Fall 2025 semester in WebAdvisor's Account View. Online/bank payments can take 1 to 3 business days to be received on your student account. Other methods of payment may take longer to process.
All undergraduate and diploma students are required to pay the mandatory $500 non-refundable registration deposit by the deadline, even if you will be receiving funding from OSAP, scholarships or bursaries, etc.
The following groups of students will be exempted and do not need to pay the registration deposit:
- confirmed third-party sponsored students (e.g., students receiving Band Funding, such as First Nations community funding);
- students coming to the University of Guelph on exchange;
- students with an approved financial arrangement plan for their Summer semester balance (if registered for the summer semester);
- employees who have had an approved tuition waiver request in the past academic year (3 semesters); and
- senior citizens.
Yes – you can still pay your $500 registration deposit after the deadline; however, you will not be able to select courses until your payment is received on your WebAdvisor account and your course selection window is open. Your payment is not considered received until it is showing on your WebAdvisor account. Please note that it can take up to 3 business days for online banking payments to be received.
No – first-year international students who have paid their $2000 deposit in order to receive their Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) do not also need to pay the $500 deposit. However, all upper-year, returning students will need to pay the $500 deposit.
New, first-year international students paying the $2000 deposit should review the International Tuition Deposit Refund Policy for details in the event that your study permit is denied.
No - the registration deposit is non-refundable. The deposit will be applied against your tuition and fees in the Fall. If you are no longer attending, the deposit will be forfeited.
The changes to the deposit requirements aim to create a more efficient and less stressful registration process for students while improving enrolment management for the university.
The registration deposit has increased to $500—the first adjustment in over 10 years. Even with the increase, it remains under 10% of annual tuition (e.g., ~$6,100 for a BA program) and helps ensure students are committed when registering.
Previously, students could register without paying the deposit upfront. Those who missed the deposit deadline were removed from their courses, causing stress and uncertainty during re-registration, which could not always be guaranteed. Requiring the deposit upfront encourages commitment, reduces late withdrawals, and ensures seats are available for students who are committed to attending in the fall and winter semesters.
If you are experiencing unforeseen and extenuating emergency circumstances that are preventing you from completing the registration deposit payment, you may submit the Registration Deposit Exemption Form for review.