Admission, Payment and Refunds

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Application and Admission

Admission Requirements

Students must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older.* 
  • Have a high beginner to advanced level of English.**
  • Be willing to participate in all classroom activities.

*If you are 17 and have completed high school, please contact us.

**See program pages for additional admission requirements for the Academic Communication Certificate and advanced placement into level 5 and 6 of the Semester Program

Visas/permit application

Most international students require an entrance document to enter and study in Canada — either a visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for shorter programs — or a study permit for programs of study over 6 months.

Check with your nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate for more information on applying for entrance documents and study permits

Application Fee

A $200 non-refundable application fee is required for admission into the English Language Program. This is a one-time fee.

Payment

Payment Information

All course fees are in Canadian dollars.

Visa, MasterCard, or American Express are the recommended methods of payment. If paying in person, cash or debit card are also acceptable.

Students can use Convera as an alternative payment method. International bank wire transfers are also accepted, but require a $60 processing fee. Bank wire refunds usually takes a minimum of 3 months and require a $60 processing fee. Please contact esl@ucalgary.ca for details if you want to pay by convera or bank wire.

Deposits

A deposit is required for each course at the time of registration. All course deposits are towards tuition, not in addition to it. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable (exceptions may apply if conditions are met).

  • ESL 100/EAP 200: $500
  • ESL101/111: $200
  • ESL 102: $150
  • ESL 102/103: $150 for package, see each course for individual activity deposit amount.
  • ESL 900/901/911: $275

Deadlines

Applications and non-refundable deposits must be received 30 days before the start of the course.

Full payment is due 15 days before the course begins; if full payment is not received, the student will be withdrawn from the course, forfeiting the course deposit. 

Two weeks after the course begins, students not present will be withdrawn in accordance to the refund policy. Please inform the office if you cannot start the course on time. 

Homestay Fees (for students registered in homestay)

A non-refundable $275 placement fee is required to apply for homestay. This fee is required each time a placement is requested. 

A $250 storage fee will be charged for periods where students are temporarily absent from homestay and intending to return to the same homestay within 3 weeks. Regular homestay fees will not be charged during this period.

Refund Policy

All withdrawals must be made in writing. All refunds will be made via the original payment method. Please note that program application fees and homestay placement fees are non-refundable under any circumstances. For courses without deposit, no transfer or refund will be given.

Tuition Refunds and Transfers

Tuition refund and course transfer eligibility is relative to the course start date. 

15 or more days before start date

Your full tuition less deposits will be refunded. For example, for ESL 100 ($4200) your refund would be calculated as follows: $4200-$500= $3700

2 – 14 days before start date

50% of tuition less deposits will be refunded. For example, for ESL 100 ($4200) your refund would be calculated as follows: ($4200-$500)/2=$1850

Less than 24 hours before start date

No refunds/transfers.

Tuition Refunds and Transfers Related to Visa/Permit Status

If you submitted an application for entry to Canada at least 3 months prior to your program start date and the Government of Canada does not provide you with the required visa/permit to enter Canada, your course tuition fees and deposits will be refunded/ transferred as follows:

15 or more days before start date

Your full tuition less administrative fee of $50 will be refunded. For example, for ESL 100 ($4200) your refund would be calculated as follows: $4200-$50= $4150

2 – 14 days before start date

50% of tuition will be refunded. For example, for ESL 100 ($4200) your refund would be calculated as follows: $4200/2=$2100

Less than 24 hours before start date

No refunds/transfers.

Refunds/transfer related to entry status require supporting documents from the Government of Canada Immigration and Citizenship:

  1. A copy of the visa/permit refusal letter 
  2. A copy of the visa/permit Application Status webpage indicating the application is still in progress

Please be advised that the policy above pertains to program applicants only, not family members or dependents.

Homestay Refunds and Transfers

A 14-day notice period is required to cancel homestay. Unused homestay fees and deposits will be refunded on a prorated basis, calculated after the amount of the 14-day notice period has been deducted.  Homestay refunds of two nights or less will not be processed. 

15 or more days before starting homestay

Full refund/transfer less placement fee. For example, for ESL 900 ($2925) your refund/transfer would be calculated as follows: $2925

2 – 14 days before starting homestay

Full refund/transfer less placement fee and two weeks notice. For example, for ESL 900 ($2925), if notified 7 days before homestay begins, your refund/transfer would be calculated as follows: $2925-$225= $2700

After starting homestay

Full refund/transfer less the number of weeks of homestay used, placement fee, and two weeks notice. For example, if notified 14 days after homestay begins, your refund/transfer would be calculated as follows: $2925 – ($225x4)= $2025

Homestay refunds can be transferred to future homestay. 

Change in Homestay Placements

A $275 non-refundable placement fee is charged per placement. To change hosts, appropriate notice and an additional placement fee is required. Placements are subject to availability. Additional placement fees are not required when the assigned host family is unable to host the student and a new homestay placement is required.