Finances

It is your responsibility to plan for the costs of your studies. Review the information below about fees, payment options, and tools for financial support.

Finances

Each term, there is a tuition and fee deadline. Unless you have arranged a payment plan with your department (graduate students only), your tuition and fees for the current term are due by these fee deadlines. After this deadline passes, any unpaid balance will accumulate interest.

  • Visit the Office of the Registrar’s website for more information about understanding tuition and fees.
  • You can view your specific program’s tuition and fees through your My UCalgary Student Centre (under My Financials).

There are several methods to pay tuition; however, you cannot pay tuition and fees with cash or international debit cards. The easiest payment option is through online banking (Canadian banks only).

To avoid late interest penalties, make sure you process payments in advance of any tuition and fee deadlines. 

You may be able to register for a Payment Plan if you meet eligibility requirements. Learn more here. 

Learn more here

The Study Abroad website provides details about mandatory exchange student fees, cost of living estimates, and helpful tools to plan for your expenses during your short-term studies at UCalgary.

Use a UCalgary cost calculator to help estimate upcoming university expenses:

We strongly recommend that you make a budget or plan for your expenses and income (either from working, scholarships, or savings) to maintain your financial health. It is important to consider the types of living expenses that you will encounter as a student, in addition to tuition and fees. Reviewing your income and expenses is an important habit to build early—and there are many resources to access to help along the way.

  • UCalgary MoneySmart: the Office of the Registrar program provides free workshops, resources, and one-on-one financial advising for students on budgeting, banking, saving money, filing taxes, using credit, and much more! Learn more here.
  • Budgeting Apps: there are lots of free phone apps you can use to help keep track of your spending. Examples include Acorns, Every Dollar, Wally, and Mint. Check your app store to see what works best for you!
  • Social & Wellness Events: Check out the newsletters, social media, and websites for these offices to learn about free-events:
    • Campus Community Hub
    • Faith and Spirituality Centre
    • International Student Services
    • Leadership & Student Engagement (Unwind & UCalgary Meet-Up)
    • Residence Services (if living on campus)
    • Sustainability
    • Wellness Centre
    • Women’s Resource Centre
    • Writing Symbols Lodge
  • Student Union & Associations: Learn about the services and events provided through the Students Union or Graduate Students Association. Some student clubs arrange discounts for events or services around Calgary.
  • UCalgary Services: You pay student fees each term! Make sure you take advantage of the services and programs that are offered to you for no additional cost: 
    • Active Living: access to fitness facilities (gymnasium, weight room, swimming pool, running track, racquet centre, climbing wall; students receive a $25 credit each year)
    • Career Services: advising and workshops to support your job search & success
    • International Student Services: immigration advising
    • Library: research support and access to academic resources
    • Student Success Centre: free advising and workshops

If you are eligible to work while you study, this is a great way to gain experience in a Canadian workplace and make money. Resources to support you:

  • International Student Services: To learn about your eligibility to work and any restrictions, visit ucalgary.ca/iss/immigration or contact a regulated UCalgary immigration advisor at issimmigration@ucalgary.ca. 
  • Career Services: attend a workshop or meet with an advisor for guidance on successfully finding a job and succeeding in the Canadian workplace. Visit https://careerlink.ucalgary.ca/home.htm to view workshop schedule or book an appointment with an International Career Development Specialist (select International Student Appointments). Drop-in (no appointment needed) throughout the academic year, Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

The Student Success Centre hosts a free workshop called “Awards, Scholarships, and Funding Opportunities” for UCalgary students.  This session provides an overview of competition processes, selection criteria, and common components of an award application. Register through ucalgary.ca/ssc (then choose “Register for an event or workshop”).

If you are experiencing financial insecurity, an ISS advisor can meet with you and help make recommendations to resources or supports on campus, such as emergency bursaries (through the SU or GSA), short-term emergency loans (through Enrolment Services), and food insecurity resources. Please contact us—we are here to help (iss@ucalgary.ca or in-person, MSC 275).

Planning and managing expenses may be a new experience for you—and can be a challenge for anyone! Make sure you access the resources on-campus to help along the way. It is also important that you take care of your overall well-being—offices like the Campus Community Hub, International Student Services, and SU Wellness Centre have many opportunities for individual, peer, online, or group supports.

Related links

Pay your International Tuition through your Educational Institution’s Website

Check out a downloadable pdf document on this topic!

Applying for a SIN Fall 2021.pdf