Overview
Once an applicant accepts a place offered by FIC and pays fees, a binding contract is created between the student and FIC. A student may cancel their enrolment in a course or program at any point in time. Depending on the timing of that request a student may be subject to a cancellation charge as outlined in the tables below. For the purposes of this policy, cancellation charges for withdrawal from program will be based on semester fees which are defined as one full-time semester of study in any program at FIC (12 credit hours).
Notification of withdrawal from program must be made in writing to FIC via submission of a Withdrawal form. This can be obtained from the Academic Advisor. All withdrawals of current students must be done so in consultation with the Academic Director.
Notification of Withdrawal from a course must be made in writing to FIC via submission of a Change of Enrolment form and should be done so in conjunction with the program coordinator or academic advisor. FIC define a Course as a single subject of study which is completed in one semester. A Program is comprised of a number of courses which make up a qualification (eg UTP Stage I or UTP Stage II).
Timing of Refunds
A student who believes they are entitled to a refund of fees must complete a Request for Refund form available at the front desk. Where a student is entitled to a refund of fees under this policy, the refund will be paid within four (4) weeks of receiving the Request for Refund Form. Refunds will be paid in Canadian dollars. Refunds will be paid to the person who enters into the contract with FIC (normally the student), unless the person gives a written direction to FIC to pay the refund to another person. All students requesting refunds must provide evidence of being accepted by another education institution prior to the refund being issued. FIC reserves the right to contact CIC in the event this is not provided.
Students:
All students at FIC whether current or are due to start are subject to this Refund policy. Any student who withdraws from a program prior to the commencement of classes, or after the commencement of classes will be subject to cancellation charges calculated as outlined in the table following.
|
Notification period |
Cancellation fee |
|
Study Permit refusal (Proof of refusal necessary, for example, letter of Study Permit rejection from Canadian embassy) |
C$235 |
|
Notification received prior to commencement of classes (in any semester): |
|
|
More than 10 weeks |
C$500 (+ C$500 administration fee) |
|
More than 4 weeks and |
30% of semester fees (+ C$500 administration fee) |
|
4 weeks or less |
60% of semester fees (+ C$500 administration fee) |
|
Notification received after commencement of classes (in any semester): |
|
|
Weeks 1 - 4 |
70% of semester fees (+ C$500 administration fee) |
|
Weeks 5 - 14 |
No refund |
|
Withdrawal of single course(s): |
|
|
Weeks 1 - 4 |
No penalty |
|
Weeks 5 - 14 |
No refund |
|
Withdrawal from program: |
|
|
Weeks 1 - 4 |
70% of semester fees (+ C$500 administration fee) |
|
Weeks 5 - 14 |
100% of course fees |
Exceptional Circumstances
A student whose cancellation of enrolment was due to exceptional circumstances can request that cancellation charges be waived or reduced. Requests should outline the reasons for the withdrawal and include documentary evidence such as medical certificates to support the request. Requests must be made in writing within twelve months of the date of the withdrawal request or the conclusion of the semester in which the course(s) was undertaken.
Return to Studies
A student who has been subject to a cancellation charge and who subsequently returns to FIC may be entitled to a partial refund of cancellation charges. Where a student returns to their studies at FIC no more than two semesters since their withdrawal, the student may apply to have 25% of their cancellation charges credited to their account. Amounts will only be credited to the tuition account when the new application has been accepted and payment received of the initial fee amount. Should the student subsequently withdraw from FIC, the amount credited will be reversed and new cancellation charges will be calculated in accordance with the applicable fee refund policy.
Other Conditions
FIC reserves the right to withdraw a program or course(s) from offer at its discretion. If a student is unable to enrol in a similar program or course(s) at FIC and the enrolment is cancelled, all fees will be refunded. No refunds are given for tuition fees unless the student has completed, cancelled or withdrawn from their program. Any overpayment of fees will remain credited towards a student's account and applied against charges in a subsequent semester. No overpayment of tuition fees will be returned to the student unless (1) the student has graduated to SFU or (2) students has withdrawn from FIC or (3) the student has returned to their home country (proof is necessary)
Deferrals
If a student wishes to defer their admission until a later semester, FIC will hold the fees paid until commencement without levying a penalty. If the student subsequently withdraws, the Fee Refund Policy will apply as at the date FIC was advised in writing of their withdrawal. FIC reserves the right to apply the Fee Refund Policy to the date of the initial deferral
All refunds are paid in Canadia dollars. Where it is necessary for FIC to convert the refund into a curency other than Canadian dollars in order for the for payment to be made, it will be converted using the exchange rate on the date the payment is made. FIC will not be responsible for fluctuations in exchange rates.
A student whose enrolment is terminated by FIC during the course of a semester as a result of seriously breaching FIC rules will not be entitled to any refund of fees with respect to that semester.
A student whose enrolment is terminated by FIC at the end of a semester will be charged a cancellation fee of $500.
A student who fails to re-enrol in a semester by the last day to enrol will be deemed to have withdrawn from their program. Cancellation Charges will be applied effective of that date.
