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Refunds & Appeals

Refunds

Dropping Courses or Withdrawing from a Semester

Students are financially responsible for all fees incurred by course registration. A student may drop a course or withdraw from all courses with no academic penalty within the period established each term as published in the Academic Calendar Schedule of Dates. However, withdrawals may have financial penalties; the portion of tuition and fees that is refunded will depend on the date of withdrawal and the refund schedule.

Students who drop one or more courses before the specified deadline date, and hold part-time registration status for the remainder of the semester, may receive a partial refund. Students who maintain full-time status (i.e. 2.00 credits and greater) after dropping a course do not qualify for a refund. For students with permanent disabilities, please refer to the tuition policy for students with permanent disabilities for details about course load, billing, and refunds.

Discontinuing attendance at classes, or notification to the instructor, does not constitute official withdrawal from a course or the University.

Students who are on financial sanction will not be able to drop courses directly on WebAdvisor; visit the Financial Sanction webpage for instructions.

Please refer to the Statement of Financial Responsibility.

Basis for a Refund

Dropping of courses or withdrawal from a semester may create a credit on your account as per the following examples:

  1. Official withdrawal from all classes as per the approved refund schedule.
  2. Classification changes from full time (2.00 credits and greater) to part time (less than 2.00 credits) as per the approved refund schedule. This does not apply to students with permanent disabilities; please see the tuition policy for students with permanent disabilities.
  3. Part-time course load reduction as per the approved refund schedule, e.g. 1.50 credits to 1.00 credit or 1.50 credits to 0.5 credit.
  4. International applicants whose study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may be eligible for a refund of their tuition and fees. Applicants must request a refund, drop their courses through WebAdvisor and forward a copy (PDF) of their IRCC denial letter to accquest@uoguelph.ca. This request must be received within 14 days of the denial letter date; otherwise, a refund will be denied.

Receiving a Refund

U of G has partnered with PayMyTuition to improve the refund process. If you have a credit on your WebAdvisor account, follow the steps below to receive your domestic refund (i.e., being deposited into a Canadian bank account) or international refund. Credits on student accounts will be automatically refunded throughout the semester after the tuition refund schedule for the term has ended. 

To expedite the refund, you can contact accquest@uoguelph.ca from your uoguelph.ca email account; include your full name and student ID number.  

Any credits not requested between $10-$300 will be transferred to the following semester. Refunds under $100 will only be issued if you are graduating and/or not returning for a future term. NOTE: Refunds will not be issued for amounts less than $10.00. 

Please know that PayMyTuition will not email you asking for your bank information.

Students who request refunds are subject to the following conditions and restrictions:

  • Payments received by the University of Guelph from an international country will only be refunded after a student is registered in two consecutive terms at the University of Guelph with a limit of $2,000. Only one refund will be paid out per registered semester. All refund requests that exceed $2,000 will be wired back to the originating bank account, subject to a wire charge of $30, or moved to a future registered semester.
  • Payments received by the University of Guelph directly from a CDN bank account will be refunded without these restrictions but are still subject to review.
  • OSAP students please refer to OSAP eligibility.

If your refund request is declined, you will receive an email to your uoguelph.ca email account containing an explanation of why your refund could not be processed.

  1. Upon approval of your refund request, you will receive a confirmation email from PayMyTuition (studentrefunds@paymytuition.com) to notify you that the refund is on its way.

    Screenshot of the refund confirmation email from PayMyTuition

  2. PayMyTuition will initiate the steps to begin processing your payment request to be paid by Interac e-Transfer. Once completed, you will receive an email from Interac (notify@payments.interac.ca) at your uoguelph.ca account stating you have received an e-Transfer for this refund.

    Email example 1:

    Screenshot of the email example from Interac

    Email example 2:

    Screenshot of the email example from Interac

  3. Click on the appropriate link in the Interac email:
    1. If you received email example 1 above, click the "Deposit your Money" button.
    2. If you received email example 2 above, click the logo of your financial institution or the "Select a different financial institution" button.
  4. Select which Canadian financial institution you’d like to deposit your funds with (unless already selected via email example 2), and sign in to your account for that institution.

    Screenshot of the Interac page where the financial institution is selected

  5. You will then need to enter a one-time refund authorization code to access your funds so that the payment may be deposited. To retrieve this code, log in to WebAdvisor. In the menu on the left-hand side, click on "Financial Information" and then select “Refund Authorization Code." Make sure to copy the code exactly (i.e., case-sensitive, no spaces). 

    Screenshot of the WebAdvisor homepage and menu on left-hand side with an arrow pointing at the Refund Authorization Code menu item

    Please note: You may be required to log in again when you click on the "Refund Authorization Code" link. If so, use your central login information (without @uoguelph.ca at the end) and ensure your username is all lowercase.

    Screenshot of the login page for the Refund Authorization Code page on WebAdvisor

  6. After entering your refund authorization code on your financial institution's website, the payment will be complete, and the funds will be visible in your bank account.

If you have auto-deposit set up with your banking institution, you will not need to retrieve a refund authorization code. You will immediately receive a second email from Interac indicating that your funds have been deposited.

If the e-Transfer is not accepted within 10 days, you will receive a follow-up email from Interac (catch@payments.interac.ca) reminding you of the e-Transfer refund. This email will be sent every 10 days for 30 days.

Domestic refunds of over $10,000 will be issued in multiple installments of a maximum of $9,999 each.

  1. Upon approval of your refund request, you will receive an email from PayMyTuition (studentrefunds@paymytuition.com). Please keep an eye out for this email which will provide you further instructions on how to complete your refund process.

    Screenshot of the international refund confirmation email from PayMyTuition

  2. Click on the "Click here to initiate your payment" link in the email.
  3. Enter beneficiary details: Complete the online refund beneficiary instruction form which requires currency, identification documentation (either passport or driver’s license), banking and beneficiary information. You may choose to deposit the funds into someone else's bank account. When you are directed to the PayMyTuition refund form, you will have the option within the Beneficiary Information tab to select "Someone Else" as the recipient and input their bank information.

    Screenshot of the Beneficiary Details section of the PayMyTuition refund form

  4. Complete verification: Upon receipt of your completed beneficiary instructions, PayMyTuition will verify your request for accuracy. They will complete fraud and compliance checks to comply with various anti-money laundering and compliance laws.
  5. Payment confirmation: PayMyTuition will send you a confirmation email once your beneficiary information has been verified and approved. You will receive a PDF summary that is password protected. This PDF can be accessed using the bank account number that you provided in Step 3 as the password.
  6. Refund processed: Once your refund has been processed, you will receive a notification that your refund is complete. Please allow 3-5 business days for the payment to be deposited to your account.

If you encounter any difficulties with the PayMyTuition tool, please contact support@paymytuition.com.

Undergraduate Refund Schedules

Please see the Undergraduate Calendar for the refund policy related to:

  • Cooperative Education
  • Dental Insurance premium
  • Medical Insurance premium

Undergraduate and diploma students on the Guelph campus who have documented extenuating circumstances and wish to appeal the tuition fee penalties calculated based on the refund schedule should review the Tuition Fee Appeal Process below.

Medical and dental insurance is refundable only on withdrawals within the 100% Tuition Refund period. The Distance Education Administration Fee for distance education courses is only refundable on withdrawals and drops within the 100% Tuition Refund period. The co-op academic fee is refundable in the 100% Tuition Refund period if the student drops all of their courses for the semester but remains in the co-op program. Please see the Co-op Fees section for more information.

Winter 2026

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 5 - January 11100%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 12 - January 1875%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 19 - January 2550%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 26 - February 125%
Tuition12 - WeekFebruary 2 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week January 5 - January 25 100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - WeekJanuary 26 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund

Fall 2025

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 4 - September 14100%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 15 - September 21 75%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 22 - September 2850%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 29 - October 525%
Tuition12 - WeekOctober 6 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week September 4 - September 24 100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - WeekSeptember 25 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Summer 2025

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekMay 8 - May 18 100%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 19 - May 2675%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 27 - June 250%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 3 - June 925%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 10 and later 0%
Tuition Session 1 (6 - Week) May 8 - May 18100%
Tuition Session 1 (6 - Week)May 19 - May 2650%
Tuition Session 1 (6 - Week)May 27 and later 0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week & Session 1 May 8 - May 28100%
Compulsory Fees* 12 - Week & Session 1May 29 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Winter 2026

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 5 - January 11100%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 12 - January 18 75%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 19 - January 2550%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 26 - February 125%
Tuition12 - WeekFebruary 2 and later0%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)January 5 - January 11100%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)January 12 - January 1850%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)January 19 and later0%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)March 2 - March 8100%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)March 9 - March 1550%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)March 16 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week and Session IJanuary 5 - January 25100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week and Session IJanuary 26 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*Session II (6-Week) March 2 - March 22100%
Compulsory Fees*Session II (6-Week) March 23 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Fall 2025 

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 3 - September 14100%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 15 - September 21 75%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 22 - September 2850%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 29 - October 525%
Tuition12 - WeekOctober 6 and later0%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)September 3 - September 14100%
Tuition Session I (6-Week) September 15 - September 2150%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)September 22 and later 0%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)October 30 - November 5100%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)November 6 - November 1250%
TuitionSession II (6-Week) November 13 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week and Session I September 3 - September 23100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week and Session ISeptember 24 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*Session II (6-Week)October 30 - November 19100%
Compulsory Fees*Session II (6-Week)November 20 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Summer 2025

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - Week   May 5 - May 18                     100%   
Tuition12 - WeekMay 19 - May 2675%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 27 - June 250%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 3 - June 925%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 10 and later0%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)May 5 - May 18100%
Tuition Session I (6-Week) May 19 - May 2650%
TuitionSession I (6-Week)May 27 and later0%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)June 30 - July 7100%
TuitionSession II (6-Week)July 8 - July 1450%
TuitionSession II (6-Week) July 15 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week and Session I May 5 - May 25100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week and Session IMay 26 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*Session II (6-Week)June 30 - July 20100%
Compulsory Fees*Session II (6-Week)July 21 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Winter 2026

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 12 - January 18100%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 19 - January 2575%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 26 - February 150%
Tuition12 - WeekFebruary 2 - February 825%
Tuition12 - WeekFebruary 9 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week January 12 - February 1100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - WeekFebruary 2 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Fall 2025

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 4 - September 14100%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 15 - September 21 75%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 22 - September 2850%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 29 - October 525%
Tuition12 - WeekOctober 6 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week September 4 - September 24 100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - WeekSeptember 25 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Summer 2025

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekMay 8 - May 18 100%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 19 - May 2675%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 27 - June 250%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 3 - June 925%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 10 and later 0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week & Session 1 May 8 - May 28100%
Compulsory Fees* 12 - Week & Session 1May 29 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund

Graduate Refund Schedule

Medical and dental insurance is refundable only on withdrawals within the 100% Tuition Refund period.

Winter 2026

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 5 - January 11100%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 12 - January 1875%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 19 - January 2550%
Tuition12 - WeekJanuary 26 - February 125%
Tuition12 - WeekFebruary 2 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week January 5 - January 25 100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - WeekJanuary 26 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund

Fall 2025 

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 4 - September 14100%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 15 - September 21 75%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 22 - September 2850%
Tuition12 - WeekSeptember 29 - October 525%
Tuition12 - WeekOctober 6 and later0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week September 4 - September 24 100%
Compulsory Fees*12 - WeekSeptember 25 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Summer 2025

Fee TypeCourse LengthDatesRefund 
Tuition12 - WeekMay 8 - May 18 100%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 19 - May 2675%
Tuition12 - WeekMay 27 - June 250%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 3 - June 925%
Tuition12 - WeekJune 10 and later 0%
Tuition Session 1 (6 - Week) May 8 - May 18100%
Tuition Session 1 (6 - Week)May 19 - May 2650%
Tuition Session 1 (6 - Week)May 27 and later 0%
Compulsory Fees*12 - Week & Session 1 May 8 - May 28100%
Compulsory Fees* 12 - Week & Session 1May 29 and later0%

* Students have 21 days from the start of classes for the compulsory fees refund 

Tuition Fee Appeal Process

Diploma and Undergraduate Students (Guelph and Ridgetown Campuses Only)

By registering for courses at the University of Guelph, students agree to pay all assessed tuition and fees as a result of this registration (see the Statement of Financial Responsibility). Students are responsible for the full fee for any courses added to their record, regardless of when in the semester they added them.

There are tuition penalties for dropping courses after the start of classes. The amount that the student is refunded depends on the date that courses were dropped or the student withdrew, as per the refund schedule, and does NOT include refunds for the student health or dental plans. Space in courses is limited, so the refund schedule is in place to reflect the resources used by students before they dropped courses or withdrew. Refunds are based on the student’s actual drop date as recorded in WebAdvisor.

Students who have documented extenuating circumstances and wish to appeal the assessment of tuition fee penalties relating to dropped course(s) or withdrawal from the University, must complete the following steps:

  1. fill out the online Tuition Fee Appeal form;
  2. attach official supporting documentation; and
  3. submit the completed package.

Tuition fee appeals must be filed with Student Financial Services no later than the 20th class day in the subsequent semester of the relevant term. (For example, the 20th class day in the winter semester for a fall semester appeal.)

Cooperative Learning, Special University Fees, Distance Education Resource and miscellaneous fees are not refundable. Compulsory fees are not appealable and follow the refund schedule. Refunds for the student health and dental plan fees are not considered in the tuition appeal. Students have the opportunity to opt out of the dental plan in the Fall, or in their first semester, prior to the payment deadline. The health plan fee is not refundable. If you have questions or concerns about the health and dental plans, please contact the Central Student Association (CSA).

Please review the following information prior to completing and submitting a tuition fee appeal.

You may submit a tuition fee appeal if you experience an unanticipated*, documented medical/psychological illness or on compassionate grounds such as the death of an immediate family member that causes you to drop courses. Immediate family shall mean: parent; stepparent; documented legal guardian; spouse; common-law spouse (including same-sex partner); child; stepchild; sibling; or stepsibling.

Please ensure that your supporting documentation references the date of the incident or onset of the situation because this will be used to determine the eligible tuition refund date and therefore the amount of the tuition refund entitlement.

*A tuition fee appeal will not be considered if the illness was present before the beginning of the semester.

International applicants whose study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may be eligible for a refund of their tuition and fees. Read more about how to request a refund on the Refunds webpage; the Tuition Fee Appeal form is not required.

Please do not submit an appeal if any of the following examples is the basis of your request for an adjustment. The tuition fee appeal will not be considered.

Not Attending Classes

Simply not attending classes or failing to drop unwanted courses are not sufficient grounds for a tuition fee appeal.

Being Unaware of the University Policies and Regulations

By completing the registration process, you become bound by the policies and regulations of the University of Guelph. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the general information, rules and regulations of the University.

Adding and replacing courses can result in additional charges to your student account.

Being Unaware of the Academic Versus Tuition Drop Deadlines

The deadline to drop courses without academic penalty is the last day of classes; however, the deadline to receive a full or partial tuition refund occurs earlier in the semester, as published in the refund schedule. Dropping a course at the point of zero refund and not being aware of the difference between academic and tuition penalties are insufficient grounds for an appeal.

Being Granted Academic Consideration for a Late Drop

A successful request for academic consideration does not guarantee a successful tuition fee appeal.

Financial Difficulties

The inability to pay your tuition and fees is not grounds for appeal. If you are experiencing financial difficulties with your student account, it is advised that you make an appointment with a Financial Aid Counsellor to discuss the financial resources available to you. In addition, Scholarships, Bursaries and Work Study are opportunities to consider.

Issues Pertaining to Faculty-Related Considerations

Tuition fee appeals will not be reviewed because of concerns with your instructor or the course structure, such as the organization of a course, your grades or conduct of the instructor.

Workload and Time Management Issues

If you've identified that the workload for a course(s) is challenging to balance with other commitments (e.g., work or volunteer commitments) or your overall academic course load, you are still responsible for the fees incurred until the date the course is dropped. This is not grounds for an appeal.

Concerns on Taking Incorrect Courses to Fulfill Program Requirements

Completing your program requires close attention to academic requirements, and we encourage students to work with their Program Counsellor or Faculty Advisors for guidance. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to complete your program requirements as per the details in the Academic Calendar. By completing courses that are not required for your program, you are not eligible for a tuition fee appeal.

  1. Drop the course(s)* for which you are requesting a credit/refund through WebAdvisor by the last day of classes of the current semester.
  2. Review the refund schedule to determine the refund that you are eligible for based on the timing of your course drop date in WebAdvisor.
  3. Complete a Tuition Fee Appeal form if you meet the acceptable grounds for an appeal. Include the following information/documentation with your form:
    • A clear explanation of what took place and why a tuition fee appeal is being requested. Describe the impact that the circumstances had on your ability to participate in courses. Please include information about who you interacted with because this is important in understanding the timing of the incident. Documentation not providing this level of detail will not provide support to your appeal.
    • Appeals based on medical/psychological grounds require a document from a physician or psychologist indicating the date of onset, severity and duration of your illness, as well as its impact on your ability to participate in courses. Appeals based on compassionate grounds also require documentation, where possible. This may take the form of a police report, a funeral notice, or a letter from a third party (such as a Residence Assistant, religious leader, landlord, or a friend or family member), depending on the circumstances. Documentation provided should support your statement.
    • Please do not attach documentation with personal identification numbers, such as a Social Insurance Number (SIN) or health card number. If the documentation crucial for your appeal contains these numbers or other confidential information, ensure that the information is redacted (covered up or fully blurred) prior to submission.
  4. Questions about the tuition appeal process can be directed to tuitionappeal@uoguelph.ca. If you have been working with a Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Advisor, we encourage you to reach out to them for assistance.

The Tuition Fee Appeals Committee meets monthly to consider submitted appeals. The decisions of the Tuition Fee Appeals Committee will be final. Given that the refund schedule is already established for cases of course drops and withdrawals, appeals are approved in only exceptional cases.

* If the last day to drop classes has passed (but it is prior to the 20th class day of the subsequent semester), you will need to contact your Academic Advisor to determine if it is still possible to submit a Request for Academic Consideration for a Late Drop.

In cases where a student has registered for courses but failed to make any tuition fee payments or attend any courses in a given semester (normally evidenced by having a 0% final grade in all completed courses in a given semester), the Office of Registrarial Services may, at its sole discretion, administratively drop a student’s courses for the given semester following the completion of the Tuition Fee Appeal process. In cases where an administrative course drop is not appropriate, students will be referred to the Academic Consideration process.

The tuition refund amounts are only used for appeals that have been approved by the Tuition Fee Appeals Committee. If course(s) are dropped or you withdraw, your tuition charge is effective as of the date of the drop or withdrawal. If an appeal is approved, the tuition refund amount is generally calculated based on the timing of the unanticipated circumstances relative to the partial/full refund deadlines. Approving a tuition fee appeal and pro-rating the fees may or may not result in an adjustment on your financial account. Review your account on WebAdvisor, and if you have any questions, contact Student Financial Services at accquest@uoguelph.ca.

If you are receiving financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), your OSAP application will be reassessed to reflect the actual number of weeks of study that were completed or the change from full-time to part-time status. Your tuition refund will be sent to OSAP to pay back your OSAP loans/grants.