Skip to main content

OCAD University
Slug
tuition-and-finances
Content Group
Services

Tuition Fee Rates

OCAD University annually establishes two tuition fee rates, international and domestic. Fee rates may vary by program. Most international students pay tuition fees at the international tuition rates; international students who meet specific conditions are eligible to pay fees at the domestic rate.

 

Students who pay fees at the international tuition rate include:

  1. International students  
    International students must hold a valid study permit and pay tuition at the international tuition fee rates. A valid study permit must be presented before their studies begin.
  2. Students with unconfirmed status  
    Students who do not provide the documentation required to establish eligibility to pay tuition fees at the domestic rates are charged international tuition fees.
  3. Students in unfunded programs  
    Students registered in programs not approved for funding by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities must pay tuition for their program as determined and published by OCAD University.

Students registered in approved programs who meet one of the following conditions are eligible to pay tuition fees at the domestic tuition rates; these categories are as established by Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

1. Citizens

  1. A Canadian citizen
  2. A person registered as an Indian within the meaning of the Indian Act

2. Permanent residents

  1. A permanent resident; must present original Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292, IMM 5688), Record of Landing (IMM 1000) and/or Canadian permanent resident card.

3. Eligible international students

  1. An international student who presents a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirming that they have been approved "in-principle" for permanent resident status in Canada.
  2. An international student who is the dependent* of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada; proof of dependency required.
  3. An international student who presents a valid permit to work in Canada or is the dependent* of a visitor to Canada who holds a valid work permit (does not include graduate teaching assistants or students with work permits for internships, open work permits for post-graduate work or off-campus work permits or students whose spouse/partner was issued a work permit on the basis of the student’s study permit.)
  4. A visitor in Canada who presents proof of official accreditation as diplomatic or consular officer or Canadian government-accredited representative or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations or any of its agencies, or of any intergovernmental organizations of which Canada is a member.
  5. A dependent* or member of staff of an individual described in iv above; must present proof of dependency.
  6. A member of a foreign military force or of a civilian component admitted to Canada under the Visiting Forces Act or their dependent(s)*, must present appropriate documentation.

4. Protected persons

  1. A person or their dependent* who has been determined to be a protected person; must present original protected person document issued under section 31(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or “notice of decision” issued by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB);
  2. A refugee claimant who applied for Convention refugee status before January 1 1989; must present original documentation.

* Dependents include: a spouse (marriage certificate required), a common-law partner (3 years, affidavit required) and dependent children of a student and/or their spouse or common-law partner. Dependent children are either under the age of 22 and financially dependent on their parent or have been continuously enrolled at a university or college and financially dependent on their parent since before the age of 22. Proof of dependent status required.

In addition to the above exemptions, OCAD University recognizes the Jay Treaty of 1794 and includes exemption for:

5. American Indians

  1. Native Americans from the United States of America, must present documentation of tribal enrolment or membership.

Eligible and ineligible international students whose status changes during the course of their studies are eligible to pay domestic fees for the remaining courses required to complete their program. Documentation validating a change from ineligible to eligible status must be presented to the Office of the Registrar before November 1 in the fall term, before February 1 in the winter term, before June 30 in the spring term and before the midpoint of each summer course to qualify to have the fees for that term reassessed. Future terms will be assessed at the new rate.

The Office of the Registrar determines the documentation required to establish eligibility to pay fees at the domestic tuition rate. This documentation must be presented to the Office of the Registrar on request. International tuition fees will be charged to students who have not presented appropriate documentation establishing eligibility to pay fees at the domestic tuition rate.

 

International Tuition Fees

As an international student, you will have to apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. In order to obtain a study permit, you will be required to prove to Canadian immigration officials that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your tuition and fees and living expenses.

Payments made within Canada  
Online Bill Payments (making a payment from a Bank in Canada)  
Higher Ed Points

Payment made from Outside Canada  
PayMyTuition (PayPal, Bank Transfer or Online Bill Payment)  
Western Union GlobalPay  
Higher Ed Points

Please refer to the Student Accounts page for more information.

Tuition fee receipts are available online via MyOCADU Self-Service Portal. 

You can view your statement through MyOCAD U Records (Self-Service) in the 'Student Finance' section.  If you need help navigating the MyOCADU Self-Service Portal, please refer to the My OCAD U Records (Self-Service) Guide.

Funding options for international students are very limited, so it is extremely important to have a solid financial plan in place for your education-related costs and living expenses.  None of the federal or provincial financial aid programs are available to international students.  These student loan and bursary programs are government-funded and students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada to be eligible to apply. As an international student, you may be eligible for the following funding at OCAD U:

  • Scholarships and Awards (merit based, students are automatically considered)
  • OCAD U Bursary for International Students
  • International Student Emergency Fund

Please visit the Financial Matters section of our website for loan information for US students.

If you are having financial difficulty and cannot pay your tuition fees in full by the published deadlines, you may be able to enrol in the payment plan program.

Eligibility

  • Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate studies program with active registration and fees assessed for the term(s) covered by the payment plan.
  • Payment plan can only be set up for the current or future terms in which you are registered. Plans for retroactive terms are not permitted.
  • Must be in good financial standing with OCAD University and all past due balances are paid from the previous terms.
  • Receiving income from an approved funding source recognized by OCAD University that is equal or greater than your total fee assessment.

Completed application is due before payment deadline of the applicable term. For full details of a payment plan, please see the payment plan application form.

Questions regarding the payment plan should be directed to the Senior Student Accounts Clerk

Payment Plan Application Form

The International Student Emergency Bursary Program helps current undergraduate and graduate international students who are experiencing financial difficulties due to an unexpected situation beyond their control.  

These bursaries are short-term emergency solutions and are not meant to provide ongoing financial support. You may only receive one bursary per academic year.

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

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and, if approved, the amount awarded will depend on your individual situation.

Eligibility

You must meet ALL the following criteria:

•    Be currently registered in a degree program at OCAD U (exchange students and Special Students are not eligible)  
•    Have a valid study permit  
•    Be living in Ontario at the time of application

How to Apply

Students must complete the following 2 steps in order to apply for an Emergency Bursary:

  1. Schedule a 1-on-1 appointment with an advisor in the International Student Support office who will meet to provide a general overview about the emergency bursary and to determine if initial emergency bursary eligibility requirements are met.
  2. Complete the Emergency Bursary application form. Students will need to provide supporting documentation (bank statements, other relevant documents, etc.) and fill out a detailed budget form.

Tax Considerations

Bursary awards may be taxable. You will be issued a T4A slip by the Finance Office in February for all scholarship, bursary or award funds issued by the university in the prior tax year. It is your responsibility to check with Canada Revenue Agency and report all scholarships, awards and bursaries received in the tax year as per their guidelines. T4As will be available on the Student Finance section of your student portal.

 

For further information, please email International Student Services or visit us on Level 6 at 230 Richmond Street West.

International Student Tax Return Workshop: Click here to watch the recording

As an international student, do I have to file a tax return?

If you have been working in Canada, you are required to file a tax return with the government each year. The deadline to submit your tax return to the government is April 30 for the previous calendar year (January to December). As an international student, it is helpful to file an income tax return each year during your studies, even if you have not been working, as you may be eligible for government benefits, refunds, credits and to carry forward credits to reduce income tax owed in future years. The amount of credits/benefits would be determined by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) when they review your tax return.

To get a more detailed list of situations where you have to file a return or when you may want to do so, go to the CRA’s page called “Do you have to file a return?”.

How do I get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) or an Individual Tax Number (ITN)?

If you are going to work in Canada, either on-campus or off-campus, you will need to apply to the government for a Social Insurance Number (SIN). Your employer cannot pay you until you have this number.

You can apply for a SIN here. You need the following documents when applying for a SIN:

  • Your passport
  • Your study permit
  • Your post-graduation work permit (for those who have graduated)

If you are a non-resident of Canada and cannot obtain a Social Insurance Number, you can apply for an Individual Tax Number to file a Canadian income tax and benefit return.

To apply, use form T1261 Application for a Canada Revenue Agency Individual Tax Number (ITN) for Non-Residents.

Will I get my tuition fees back?

The tuition tax receipt (form T2202) in your MyOCADU record is one of the documents you will have to submit when you file your tax return. When you file a tax return you do not actually get any of your tuition fees back. However, it is helpful to have your tuition fee information on file with the Canada Revenue Agency as it may help you to reduce your taxes in the future if you stay in Canada to work after graduation.

If you have been working on-campus or off-campus, your employer will give you a T4 slip (Statement of Remuneration Paid) to use for your tax return.

How do I get my tuition tax receipt from OCAD U?

You can print your T2202 and/or T4A from myOCADU. T2202 forms are prepared for all students who have paid more than $100 in eligible fees for courses beginning and ending in a particular calendar year. If you have more questions, visit the Tax Certificates FAQ page on the OCAD U website.

Can someone help me complete my tax return?

If you need help with your tax return, you may want to go to one of the Canada Revenue Agency’s volunteer tax preparation clinics. These clinics are free, and a volunteer will help you complete and submit your tax return.

You can file your return online using one of several tax preparation software. You can find a list of NETFILE certified software at www.netfile.gc.ca/software. Some of the available software is free and relatively easy to use, such as WealthsimpleTax. There are also financial companies such as H&R Block that will complete your tax return for you. They charge a fee for their services, and it may be a bit expensive, so be sure to ask about fees ahead of time.

Does it matter whether I am a part-time or full-time student?

If you are a part-time international student in Canada, you are not eligible to work. If you are an undergraduate student, you must register for a minimum of 1.5 credits in each of the fall and winter terms to be considered full-time. If you are a graduate student, you are considered full-time unless you have specifically chosen a part-time program option. You can check your eligibility to work on the Government of Canada website.

References and Resources

 

Questions?

Fees & Refunds: studentaccounts@ocadu.ca 

International Fee Exemption: reghelp@ocadu.ca 

US Student Loans: financiala@ocadu.ca

Emergency Bursaries: international@ocadu.ca

IP Services Segment
international