Before considering withdrawing from a program, it is important to review the following details, and understand the financial and immigration considerations. If you have questions about immigration implications, please email [email protected].
- Dropping individual courses
- Withdrawing from a program
- Changing programs
- Requesting a refund
- Refund processing time
Dropping individual course(s)
As most programs at VCC are offered in a cohort model, it is not recommended to drop individual courses for the following reasons:
- No guarantee to re-enroll in the same course in the next semester due to space availability. Students need to verify with the program department.
- Must pay to re-take the course(s) in the future
- May affect program progression and graduation date
- May impact your immigration status (such as study permit status and PGWP eligibility)
If you still plan to drop individual courses, please discuss this with your program department and a Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor.
Withdrawing from a program
Students requesting to withdraw from a program must submit a written request with the following information. Refund eligibility varies depending on the date a formal request is received. Review the refund policy for details.
- Before you are registered at VCC: Email the International Refund Request Form (completed and signed) with your name, student ID, and program to [email protected].
- After you are registered or have started your program at VCC: Upload the International Refund Request Form with the course add/drop form to your myVCC account. Check out the Tutorial – How to Upload Documents at MyVCC.
Changing programs
Students wishing to change programs will be required to email [email protected] to request a program change.
Applicants will only be considered for one program per application. Applications for more than one program in the same intake are not accepted. Application fees are non-transferable and non-refundable .
After submitting your application and before accepting your offer, if you wish to change to a different program, you may be allowed one program change at no additional cost if your desired program and intake are open to accept applications. After your first program change, if you wish to change again, you must officially withdraw your initial application and reapply to a new program by submitting a new application form and paying another application fee.
Tuition deposits are program-specific and non-transferable.
After you accept your offer by paying the tuition deposit, changing programs may result in losing the non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit as outlined in the Refund Policy. If you wish to change to a different program, you must officially withdraw your initial application and reapply to a new program by submitting a new application form and paying another application fee.
Special considerations
u may request a one-time program change without having to reapply or losing the non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit if all of the following criteria are met.
- You meet the admission requirements of the new program.
- You agree to withdraw from the initially accepted program.
- The new program has space available.
- Your initially-admitted program is full or almost full.
Email [email protected] with your name, student ID, and initially accepted program name to confirm if you can change your program without having to reapply or losing the non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit.
Tuition deposits are program-specific and non-transferable.
If your program has already started, changing programs may result in losing the non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit as outlined in the Refund Policy. If you wish to change to another program, you will be required to withdraw from your current program by submitting a Program Withdrawal Form to [email protected] and to a new program.
There may be a study gap between your current program and the new program. To learn more about the implications of your status in Canada, email [email protected] or book a 20-minute meeting with VCC’s Regulated International Student Immigration Advisor.
Many popular programs fill up before the official application deadlines. Email [email protected] to confirm program availability prior to withdrawing and reapply.
A new application does not guarantee acceptance into your new program. Your request will be reviewed, and you will be notified in writing of the status of your request.
Refund request
All refund requests must be made in writing. Refer to the refund policy page for eligible refund amounts, notification deadlines, and other details, such as:
- Refund for study permit refusals
- Refund for full-time cohort program and courses
- Refund for full-time Continuing Studies programs
- Non-refundable fees
- Change of immigration status
To request a refund, submit the completed Refund Request Form with supporting documents:
- Before you are registered at VCC: email the completed Refund Request Form, supporting documents, and your student ID, name and program to [email protected].
- After you are registered or have started your program at VCC: upload the Refund Request Form and supporting documents to your myVCC account to submit the refund request. Check out the Tutorial – How to Upload Documents on myVCC.
Review the official Tuition and Fee Refund Policy and Procedures for details.
Refund processing time
Refunds are calculated based on the date a written notification of withdrawal and the Refund Request Form are received by the VCC International Education Office by email. The number of business days required for notification deadlines is based on the official working days as designated by the College and/or department, excluding statutory holidays, Christmas holidays, and unscheduled closures.
10 weeks (on average)
The refund processing time is approximate and estimated based on the date a complete refund request is received by the International Education Office and the date that VCC processes the refund.
Expected delays
- Statutory holidays and VCC campus closures may increase the refund processing time.
- Wire transfer refunds may take longer, as it can take up to two weeks of additional time for funds sent from VCC via wire transfer to be received at some international banks.
- There may be a delay in the refund processing time if the fees were initially made by someone who is not the student.
- Processing time for refund requests that accompany refund appeal requests does not follow the standard refund processing times listed on this page. Students will be notified of the refund appeal decision via email within six weeks of submitting the Student Appeal Form. Refund processing time starts at the time of the appeal decision.
- If it has been longer than the processing time listed here, students may contact [email protected] with a copy of the original, complete refund request email indicating the submission date. Please note that due to privacy reasons and the time required to look into each refund request, only email requests are accepted.
Refund appeals
Appeals are for extenuating circumstances, and appeal decisions are not guaranteed. Before submitting an appeal request by uploading the request form to your myVCC account, review the following important instructions.
- Appeals must be submitted within 30 business days of withdrawal to be considered.
- Appeals submitted after 75% of the course/program is completed are not entitled to a refund.
Here’s how to submit an appeal request:
- Before you are registered at VCC: email the complete Student Appeal Form with supporting documents to [email protected].
- After you are registered or started your program at VCC: upload the Student Appeal Form and supporting documents with certified translation (if not in English) to your myVCC account to submit the appeal request. Check out the Tutorial – How to Upload Documents at MyVCC.