OCAD - International Students - Tuition & Finances

NOTEWORTHY

What do I like best about OCAD? "The programs are so diverse and give you so much flexibility."

Can I give you piece of advice? "Don’t underestimate the work load. It’s a lot harder than you think, mentally and physically. Don’t be afraid to try new media and try all the different types of classes you can. Mix media!"

~ Aanchal M., Second-year Printmaking

International Tuition & Fees

Full details on tuition and ancillary fees for international students can be found on the International Tuition page.

Information on financial planning, including an estimate of your expenses, can be found in the Financial Planning section of the OCAD website.

As an international student planning to study in Canada, you must apply for a Study Permit from Canadian immigration officials. You must secure your own financial resources through your home country prior to your Study Permit being approved and being able to attend OCAD. Contact your own government to determine what avenues for financial assistance you can explore. In some cases, you can also check with your country's consulate located in Canada (if there is one) for more information, as sometimes they have specific local information such as host families, resource information, sponsors, etc.

International Student Emergency Bursary Fund

As an international student, you are expected to have a secure financial plan in place to make sure you can pay for all your education-related costs and living expenses. However, at some point during your studies, you may have an unexpected emergency situation that creates serious financial difficulties.

The International Student Emergency Bursary is a non-repayable award available to a limited number of international students who have unexpected financial difficulties due to an emergency situation that is beyond their control. The emergency bursary is not intended to supplement your income or pay for items which should be part of your regular budget for the school year.

If you have serious financial difficulties as the result of an emergency situation, please come to the International Student Services Office to discuss your situation. If you are eligible to apply for the International Student Emergency Bursary, ISSO staff will give you an application form and advise you on the process.

You may be eligible to apply for the International Student Emergency Bursary if you meet ALL of the following conditions:

You have a valid study permit and pay international student fees.
You are an undergraduate or graduate degree student (Incoming Mobility/Exchange Students and Special Students are not eligible).
You are enrolled as a part-time or full-time student in the academic year in which you are applying for the bursary.
You can to provide documentation to show that you have unexpected financial need due to an emergency situation that is beyond your control (ISSO staff will tell you which documents are acceptable).

As funds are limited, you should apply for this emergency bursary only after you have considered all other possible resources, such as financial assistance from your family or government sponsorships or scholarships from your home country.

Scholarships & Awards

International students currently enrolled at OCAD as full-time or part-time students are eligible to apply for OCAD scholarships and awards. Information on our Scholarship Program is posted on the Scholarships & Awards section of Financial Aid each February. A limited number of Entrance Scholarships are also available to incoming full-time students.

PLEASE NOTE: International students are not eligible to apply for government assistance through Canadian Federal and/or other Canadian Provincial programs, including the student loan and bursary programs listed on our web site.

Students from the United States:OCAD does not participate in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) through the U.S. Department of Education, including the Stafford Loan, DIRECT Loan, Parents PLUS loan, or other types of funding listed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application.

Taxes

If you earn income from Canadian sources during the tax year (May 1-April 30), the Canada Revenue Agency expects you to complete Canadian Income Tax forms. Tax-related receipts are produced in January and February for the previous tax year. The International Student Services Office offers a tax information seminar during March to assist international students with the process. For the specific date of our tax seminar, click on the OCAD Calendar of Events.

Even if you have not earned income from Canadian sources, you may choose to prepare a tax return, provided you have been or intend to be in Canada for 18 months or more. Doing so may qualify you for immediate and future tax credits worth up to $300/year depending on your particular situation. Students may total their eligible tuition and a monthly "education amount" for use as non-refundable tax credits in a future tax year. These credits can protect you from paying income tax in future years and can save you a lot of money. Completing your tax forms will confirm whether you qualify for these benefits.

All students should have the following documents for each year of tax forms that they are planning to complete:

T2202A - Tuition and Education Amount (Available from your
A record of rent paid
If you earned income from Canadian sources you should also have:

T4 - Employment Income (Issued by your employer)
T4A - Scholarship & Bursary income* (Issued by OCAD)
T3 or T5 - Investment or Interest Income (Issued by your bank)

Tax forms are available at the OCAD tax session, through Post Offices between January and April, and on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Sales tax is paid on most items in Canada. It is paid to both our Federal and Provincial Governments. In Ontario, the total sales tax rate is 13%. Of this amount, 8% is provincial and 5% is federal. Sales tax is not included in advertised prices (unless otherwise noted). A sales tax credit is available to those who complete a Canadian Income Tax return. Receipts are not required to claim this credit. Detailed information is available from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Banking

When choosing a bank in Toronto, there are a few points you should think about. You will need a bank that allows money to be transferred easily from your bank at home to your account in Toronto. Before leaving your home country, it would be helpful to ask your bank if they have connections with any banks in Canada.

You should look for a bank in Toronto that offers services at reduced rates for students. Be sure to contact a few banks to compare their services and fees before making your final decision. Talk to bank representative about the types of accounts available and the costs associated with each type of account to help you decide what is best for you.

All major Canadian banks have branches within walking distance of OCAD. These banks include:

Most branches of the major banks have automatic teller machines (ATMs) that allow you to make transactions, including money withdrawals, 24 hours a day.

When you visit a bank to open an account, you will need to bring the following items with you:

Your passport
A second piece of official identification
Your study permit
Your OCAD student identification card to be eligible for special student plans
Some money to deposit

Student Discounts

Students at OCAD are entitled to a variety of discounts at local businesses and services. The following student discount listing is not necessarilyendorsed by OCAD and the information is provided as a resource only. Students are required to show their OCAD Student Card at each location. Information is subject to change.

Last Modified:1/24/2012 12:57:11 PM

MY RECORDS

Google Apps at OCAD U (Student E-mail)

CANVAS (new)

Dashboard

Print Account