Refund Policy

International Student

Check the refund policy and eligibility before paying tuition deposits.

Refunds are issued directly to the original payer and are processed based on the payment method used to make the original payment. It is not possible to request a refund by any other method.

Refund eligibility

Refund eligibility varies by program and other criteria, and is determined based on both the timing of your withdrawal and the reason for withdrawal, in accordance with VCC policy and procedures. Review the refund eligibility and criteria before considering requesting a refund.

How refunds work

  • Some fees are non-refundable (e.g., application fee, a portion of the deposit, and administration fee) 
  • Refunds are issued to the original payer using the original payment method
  • Refund amounts vary by program type and the timing of your request
  • To be considered for a refund, you must submit a written withdrawal request by email before the refund deadlines, including:

Refund for study permit refusals

International students who are denied a study permit by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may be eligible for a full refund (less the Administrative Fee) if the following documents are received a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the program start date at [email protected]. 

  • A completed VCC International Refund Request Form
  • A copy of the letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicating that the study permit application has been denied. This refusal letter must be received by VCC within 3 weeks from the refusal date indicated on the letter. 

Students denied a Study Permit due to misrepresentation, as defined by IRCC, may not be eligible for a full refund. Applications refused by IRCC on the basis of concerns about the accuracy, completeness, or truthfulness of information provided—including references to subsection 16(1) of the IRPA or concerns about the authenticity of documentation—are not eligible for a full refund. 

Students denied a study permit due to non-compliance with IRCC regulations, including references to R220.1 of the IRPR, are not eligible for a full refund.

Students who have their Study Permit application returned, not accepted, or refused by IRCC because of missing required items such as the PAL (Provincial Attestation Letter), biometrics, etc., may not be eligible for a full refund.

Refund for full-time cohort program and courses

For full-time cohort programs, VCC will refund course/program fees to students who withdraw (voluntarily or involuntarily) as follows. Refer to the for the list of full-time programs. Note that the refund eligibility for full-time Continuing Studies programs are different.

Prior to the start date of the program/course:

  • 100% refund of Tuition (Less administrative fee and non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit)
  • 100% refund of Student Fees
  • 100% of UPass fees (non-activated months only)

Up to and including the fifth (5th) business day from the start date of the program/course:

  • 50% refund of Tuition (Less administrative fee and non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit)
  • No refund of Student Fees
  • 100% refund of UPass Fees (non-activated months only)

After the fifth (5th) business day of the program

  • 100% refund of UPass fees (non-activated months only)
  • No refund of Tuition
  • No refund of Student Fees
  • Refunds are not provided when students are unable to complete a term or block of courses due to the failure of a pre-requisite course within that term or block, even if a course within that term or block has not yet started.

In the event a student is registered in a subsequent term or block of courses within that term but the block has not commenced, the student will receive a refund for this additional block if the request is received before the start date of the term/block.

Timing of written notification of withdrawal Tuition Student fees U-Pass fees
Prior to the start date of the program/course 100% refund of tuition (less administrative fee and non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit) 100% refund of student fees U-Pass fees refundable for non-activated months
Up to and including the fifth (5th) business day from the start date 50% refund of tuition (less administrative fee and non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit) 100% refund of student fees U-Pass fees refundable for non-activated months
After the fifth (5th) business day from the start date No refund of tuition No refund of student fees U-Pass fees refundable for non-activated months

Business days

Business days refer to official VCC working days, excluding holidays and closures.

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.

Refund for full-time Continuing Studies (CS) programs

For full-time Continuing Studies programs, VCC will refund course/program fees to students who withdraw (voluntarily or involuntarily) within each term as follows. View the list of

Three (3) business days prior to the start date of the program:

  • 100% refund of tuition (less administrative fee and non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit)
  • 100% refund of Student Fees
  • 100% of UPass fees (non-activated months only)

After three (3) business days prior to the start date of the program:

  • 100% refund of UPass Fees (non-activated months only)
  • No refund of tuition
  • No refund of Student Fees
Timing of written notification of withdrawal Tuition Student fees U-Pass fees
Three (3) business days prior to the start date of the program 100% refund of tuition (less administrative fee and non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit) 100% refund of student fees U-Pass fees refundable for non-activated months
After three (3) business days prior to the start date of the program No refund of tuition No refund of student fees U-Pass fees refundable for non-activated months

Refund for Continuing Studies (CS) and School of Instructor Education (SIE)

Students who are enrolled in part-time Continuing Studies and School of Instructor Education courses may contact those registration areas regarding refund eligibility deadlines.

Non-refundable fees

While students may be eligible for refunds, certain fees may not be refundable.

The non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit is $10,000.

  • The non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit is applied to the specific VCC program indicated on the official offer.
  • The non-refundable portion of the tuition deposit cannot be transferred to a different program.
  • The non‑refundable portion of the tuition deposit will not be returned, even if students are eligible for a refund. 
  • In most study permit refusal cases, a refund may still be available. Please see the study permit refusal section for details.
  • Students may need to pay the tuition deposit again if they wish to change to another program.

After the start of the programs, student fees are non-refundable, except for U-Pass fees.

U-Pass fees may be refundable for non-activated months.

Application fees are not eligible for a refund to reflect the college’s investment in time and resources to handle an application. Application fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Assessment fees are non-refundable.

An administrative fee is charged to students to cover the cost of processing a transaction. The administrative fee of $250 applies to all international student refund requests.

Appeals and program cancellations

  • Refund appeals: Students have the right to appeal a refund decision in accordance with VCC policy and procedures for extenuating circumstances. Review the appeal page for the process and requirements before submitting an appeal.
  • Program or course cancellation: If VCC cancels a course or program, a full refund of applicable fees will be issued.

Change of immigration status

If an international student’s immigration status should change to Permanent Resident while studying at VCC, appropriate documentation should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office so domestic fees can be charged for future terms. The only exception is students registered in international cohort programs, who, regardless of the change in their immigration status, pay international fees for the duration of the program.

For more information about international fees and payments, check Tuition and Fees and Payments and Receipts.

Refunds for overpayments

Overpayments may be refunded to students who have officially graduated from VCC, with a VCC credential. Here are some important steps to follow.

  • Students can only request a refund after officially graduating from VCC with a VCC credential. Students who are still enrolled, or have withdrawn before graduating, will not be able to request a refund of the overpayments.
  • To request a refund of overpayment, submit the International Refund Request Form.
  • Refunds for overpayments will not be provided if the amount is less than $20.
  • Refunds for overpayments will not be charged the $250 Administrative Fee.
  • VCC does not notify students about the unclaimed overpayments. If you have graduated from VCC, remember to check your myVCC account to see if you have a credit of unused funds.
  • You only have access to your myVCC account for 3 years after your last date of registration with VCC. If it has been more than 3 years and you no longer have access, email [email protected] to inquire if you have a credit before applying for a refund for overpayment.

Frequently asked questions

International students whose study permit application is refused by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may be eligible for a full refund (less the administrative fee) if all required documents are submitted on time. To qualify, students must:

  • Submit a completed Refund Request Form
  • Provide the original IRCC refusal letter
  • Ensure the refusal letter is submitted within 3 weeks of the refusal date, AND at least 30 days before the program start date

Exceptions

Students denied a Study Permit due to misrepresentation, non-compliance, missing documents, or applied within Canada while they are ineligible to do so, may not receive a full refund. For full details, review the study permit refusals section of the refund policy page.

Students whose study permit is refused due to misrepresentation (including concerns about accuracy, completeness, or authenticity of documents) are not eligible for a full refund. Review the study permit refusals section for details.

Students whose study permit is refused due to non-compliance with IRCC regulations are not eligible for a full refund. Review the study permit refusals section for details.

If your study permit application is refused, returned, or deemed incomplete due to missing required documents, such as a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL), biometrics, or other mandatory items, you may not be eligible for a full refund. In most cases, instead of requesting a refund, students are encouraged to correct the issue and reapply for a study permit. This may include requesting a new PAL, if required. However, a new PAL may not always be available. If you are unable to obtain a new PAL for reapplication, you may submit a refund appeal. In your appeal, you should clearly explain the circumstances surrounding the missing documents and why they were not provided in your original application. Each appeal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Appeals are not guaranteed for a refund.

If the withdrawal request and Refund Request Form are submitted after the applicable deadlines, students may not be eligible for a refund.

If you cannot get a study permit for your pathway program, this is not a valid reason for a refund under the VCC refund policy.

If you are taking a pathway program such as ILAC or ILSC, you are expected to complete the English requirement to enter your VCC program. You can do this by:

  • Continuing your English studies online with ILAC or ILSC, or
  • Taking another accepted English test

Refunds are only given based on the official policy rules, including withdrawal deadlines and study permit refusal conditions.

Refund eligibility depends on the program type:

  • Full-time Continuing Studies programs:
    • Withdraw at least 3 business days before the start date: eligible for 100% tuition refund (less the non-refundable fees, including the administrative fee and non-refundable deposit)
  • Cohort programs and courses:
    • Withdraw before the start date: eligible for 100% tuition refund (less the non-refundable fees, including the administrative fee and non-refundable deposit)

Student fees may also be refunded, and U-Pass fees are refundable for non-activated months

Refunds are limited once the program begins:

  • Cohort programs and courses:
    • Withdraw within the first 5 business days: eligible for 50% tuition refund (less the non-refundable fees, including the administrative fee and non-refundable deposit)
    • Withdraw after 5 business days: no tuition refund
  • Continuing Studies programs:
    • Withdraw after the 3-business-day cutoff before the start date: no tuition refund

Student fees are generally non-refundable once classes start, except for eligible U-Pass fees.

Disclaimer

This page is a summary. The official Tuition and Fee Refund Policy and Procedures apply in all cases.

Indigenous Territory Acknowledgment

VCC is located on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples who have been stewards of these lands since time immemorial. As a place of learning, we are grateful to be here while committing to respecting and honouring Indigenous knowledge, cultures, and communities.