If you are a member of the Faculty Association, have emeritus status or an Academic Executive, your dependent children may be eligible to have their tuition fee waived for a maximum of 120 credits of UBC undergraduate courses at UBC.
This maximum is equivalent in credits to the requirements for a standard undergraduate degree and is a lifetime maximum per dependent child. This benefit covers tuition fees only and does not cover any other fees that may be associated with each course. Tuition Waivers can be used at UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
Is my child eligible for the tuition waiver?
Faculty Association members: your dependent children are eligible if you are a member of the Faculty Association and you meet the following eligibility rules:
- you hold an appointment of at least one year in length at 50% time, or
- you hold a Sessional Lecturer appointment of at least four months in length at 50% time OR hold an appointment less than four months or less than 50% and are eligible to maintain pension and benefits, or
- you are a General Librarian with an appointment of more than 12 months or more than 50% time.
You must continue to be in an eligible position to remain entitled to the benefit. For example, if you were working full-time or part-time, and switch to less than 50% part-time, your dependent children are no longer eligible for the Tuition Waiver for courses after you switch.
Emeritus Faculty: if you have emeritus status (and were previously a member of the Faculty Association) your dependent children are also eligible for the Tuition Waiver.
Academic Executive: if you are a member of the Academic Executive, your dependent children are eligible for the Tuition Waiver.
Eligibility dependent children: to be eligible for the Tuition Waiver, your dependent children must also be:
- unmarried,
- under age 25, and
- substantially dependent on you for financial support at the start of the session to which the Tuition Waiver applies (either Winter or Summer Session).
Your dependent child must meet UBC’s student admission requirements. Please contact Enrolment Services at the Vancouver or Okanagan campus to confirm that you meet these requirements.
Exclusions of eligibility
Your dependent children are not eligible for the Tuition Waiver if the start date of the course is:
- after the termination date of your appointment,
- during your unpaid leave, or
- during your medical leave without pay. However, if you are receiving benefit payments through the Income Replacement Plan, your children are eligible for the Tuition Waiver while you are receiving IRP benefits.
Your dependent children are eligible for the Tuition Waiver during your paid leave, such as a sabbatical leave or maternity/parental leave.
What courses are covered?
Your dependent can use the Tuition Waiver for the following:
- UBC undergraduate-level courses numbered 100-199, 200-299, 300-399 and 400-499
- UBC undergraduate-level courses and programs with specialized fees (Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Law and Dentistry)
How much is my child eligible for?
Your child is eligible for a maximum of 120 credits of UBC undergraduate credit courses per lifetime. This maximum is equivalent in credits to the requirements for a standard undergraduate degree.
The current tuition cost is $194.78 per credit for domestic students (effective May 1, 2023). International students are charged international tuition fees and as of May 1, 2017 these fees are covered under the Tuition Waiver. Refer to the current UBC Academic Calendar for international tuition fees.
What costs are not covered by the tuition waiver?
The Tuition Waiver does not cover the following costs:
- Any non-refundable deposit for undergraduate credit courses/programs that are paid prior to registration.
- Graduate credit courses and programs.
- Tuition fees covered by funding that is not repayable, such as scholarships and prizes, sponsorship by a third party, bursaries and grants.
- Application and student fees.
- International undergraduate tuition fees incurred prior to May 1, 2017. However, you can apply for tuition waivers up to the domestic undergraduate or graduate tuition amount for these courses/programs.
- Non-credit courses and certificate programs offered by UBC Extended Learning.
- Administration fees for certificate programs offered by UBC Extended Learning.
- Courses and programs that are not UBC undergraduate credit courses.
- Sauder School of Business courses and programs, such as Continuing Business Studies, Executive Education, Summer Programs, Real Estate, Business Families, Ch’nook, Aboriginal Business, Diploma in Accounting and Diploma in Marketing and Sales.
- UBC MOOC courses offered by edX.
- Courses offered by other institutions (including the Open University).
- Botanical Gardens or UBC Recreation courses, listed in the UBC Extended Learning calendar.
- UBC-sponsored courses through Human Resources.
Paying student fees and opting out of the Student Health Plan
Student fees are not covered under the Tuition Waiver. You or your dependent child must pay these fees.
Registered students taking UBC credit courses are automatically enrolled in and charged for the UBC AMS/GSS Health Plan (UBC Vancouver) of the UBCSUO Student Health Plan (UBC Okanagan). Your dependent child may be eligible to opt-out of the Student Health Plan if they are covered by another benefit plan, such as the UBC Extended Health and Dental Plan (Group No. 025205).
Learn how to opt out of the Student Health Plan.
How and when do I apply for the tuition waiver?
Your child will need a valid UBC student number to enrol for courses.
You should submit the Tuition Waiver application before tuition payments are normally due. If you submit your Tuition Waiver application after the tuition payment deadline, you will be charged late fees and/or interest that will not be covered by the Tuition Waiver.
- Register for the course(s) that you wish to apply your Tuition Waiver against. Once registered, do not pay for the course.
- Apply for the Tuition Waiver online through your Workday account. For step-by-step instructions for applying for the Tuition Waiver search the Knowledge Base or contact the Integrated Service Centre.
- Any fees not covered by the Tuition Waiver must be paid by the deadline specified in the UBC Academic Calendar.
After you have applied
- In most cases, the Tuition Waiver will be approved instantly.
- The waiver will be sent to Enrolment Services for you the following day.
- Enrolment Services will process the waiver as payment (you can verify this by logging in to the UBC Student Services Centre). Processing times will vary depending on the time of year.
The procedure and cost for auditing a course is the same as taking a course for credit.
How do I withdraw from a course?
If your child withdraws from a course before the deadline to do so without a “W” (withdrawal) standing, you can cancel your waiver online and have your tuition credits reinstated. Review the step-by-step instructions on cancelling a Tuition Waiver by searching for the job aid through the Knowledge Base.
If your child withdraws after the deadline, you will not be able to cancel the Tuition Waiver. The Tuition Waiver will be used to pay for the cost of the course and your Tuition Waiver credits will be reduced as if you took the course.
Is this a taxable benefit?
This is considered a taxable benefit for your dependent child, and UBC Enrolment Services will issue a T4A slip for your dependent child at year-end. If your dependent child meets certain criteria, he or she may be able to exclude the amount from income on his or her income tax return. For more information, please refer to the Canada Revenue Agency General Income Tax and Benefit Guide.
Questions?
If you have general questions about tuition waivers or your eligibility, please contact UBC Benefits. If you have submitted a tuition waiver application, and have questions about the processing, please contact the Integrated Service Centre.