Ancillary fee changes for the spring-summer 2023 term

As you know, most spring-summer term courses will be offered online in accordance with public health guidelines and the high-quality standards that have earned the University its world-class reputation.

Most student services remain available either in person or online. The portion of university fees that covers tuition will therefore remain the same. However, there are some changes to ancillary fees in the spring-summer 2023 term:

Sports Services: Given our reduced sports services offering, we cut Sports Services fees by half for the spring-summer term. We continue to offer a wide variety of courses online, as well as some in-person activities at our Health and Lifestyle Centre.

Ancillary fees: The UOSU and the GSAÉD will continue to provide services. We will therefore collect the associated fees, with a few exceptions, such as certain fees for the Graduate Students Association. Please see Ancillary fees for a comprehensive list.

U-Pass: Only full-time students taking at least one in-person course during the spring-summer term will be charged for the U-Pass. If you are not using a U-Pass in the Spring-Summer term, do not throw out the U-Pass that you have. It will be easier to top it up once things return to normal.

Changes to Winter 2023 fees

University fees for the 2023-2023 academic year remain in line with the provincial framework. We appreciate that the current exceptional circumstances impose extra financial burdens on our students. This is why the University has examined all options and made the following changes:

Deadline: The deadline for paying your fees is now the same as for withdrawing from a course or an activity with a financial credit. This deadline for the winter 2023 term is Friday, February 5, 2023. Please see Important academic dates and deadlines for more information.

U-Pass: Prior to submitting an opt-in or opt-out request, check your statement of account to determine whether you have been charged the U-Pass fee. If you have not been charged, do not submit an exemption request. If you have been charged the U-Pass fee, you do not need to submit an opt-in request. If you submitted an opt-in request in the fall, you do not need to submit another request for the winter term.

• U-Pass credit: Ottawa City Council recently decided that due to COVID-19, the U-Pass rate for the 2023-2023 academic year will revert back to the 2023 rate of $212.71 per term.What does this mean for you? If you were charged the original cost of $218.03 for the Fall term U-Pass and are currently being charged $218.03 for the Winter term U-Pass, you will receive a credit of $5.32 per term. If you have already paid your fees, this credit will be applied toward payment of fees for future study at the University of Ottawa. We have adjusted your Statement of Account to reflect this change. You can check your Statement of Account in uoZone under the Finances and jobs menu.

  If you will not be attending the University of Ottawa in the future, you may request a refund of this financial credit. For more information on how to request a refund, visit the Student Accounts webpage. For more information, visit the U-Pass website.

Sports services: Given our reduced sports services offering, we also cut Sports Services fees by half for the winter term. We continue to offer a wide variety of courses online, and we have recently reopened our sports facilities.

Ancillary fees: The UOSU and the GSAÉD continue to provide services during the winter term. We will therefore collect the associated fees, with a few exceptions, such as certain fees for the Graduate Students Association. Please see Ancillary fees for a comprehensive list.

Auditors (see definition below) pay a fixed fee of $100 per unit for each course taken. For example, a typical course of three units’ costs $300. If the student only takes courses as an auditor, ancillary fees do not apply.

This concerns part-time undergraduate and graduate auditors in all programs except for the Undergraduate Medical Education program.

Auditors: Persons who are enrolled in a course as either a regular or special student but are not required to complete work assignments or write exams and who will not receive units for the course.

For a full list, see Ancillary fees. Ancillary fees are non-refundable after the period for full refunds ends.

Health Services

The University decided to impose these ancillary fees to provide students with access to health services that suit their circumstances and lifestyles. This fee is charged to all full-time and part-time students, at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The cost of this fee is indexed to the CPI annually. The revenues generated by this fee fund convenient access to a wide range of health services on campus (such as family medicine, a drop-in clinic that is open seven days a week, immunization required for study programs and internships, mental health services, sports medicine services and other specialist medical care). It also funds a healthy lifestyles program that provides students with information on nutrition, stress reduction, mental health, sexual health, drug and alcohol issues, etc.

Sports Services

Current Sports Services ancillary fees were established through a referendum held among the entire University of Ottawa population in 2001. It funds sports facilities, such as fitness centres and sports fields, as well as student sports activities, such as group classes. It also funds student initiatives submitted and approved by the School Spirit Council, a committee that comprises representatives from the University, GSAÉD and UOSU. This fee is for charged to all undergraduate and graduate students, whether full time or part time. The cost of this fee is annually indexed to the CPI. The revenues it generates fund the administration, operation and maintenance of sports facilities and sports programs on campus.

U-Pass transit pass

This fee was established through a referendum held among the entire University of Ottawa student population in order to provide affordable transportation to all students. It allows students to use the public transit services provided by OC Transpo and the STO (Société de transport de l’Outaouais). The UPass program is governed by a contract between the University of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa, the UOSU and the GSAÉD. This contract specifies the cost of the transit pass, which only covers public transit. This fee is charged to all full-time University of Ottawa students (with certain exceptions) in order to minimize the cost of the U-Pass.

University Centre

This fee was established through a referendum held among the entire University of Ottawa population in 1966 with the aim of offering social, recreational and cultural activities to improve student life on campus. It is charged to all full-time and part-time students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Since 1973, a decision by the Board of Governors has linked the cost of this fee to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). An advisory committee composed of student representatives, along with members of the UOSU, GSAÉD and the University community, supervises the use of revenues raised by this fee. The University Centre (UCU) houses the legislative, executive and administrative branches of the student unions and provides spaces for student clubs, societies, associations, and related businesses. Its expenses include costs related to the administration, operation and maintenance of Jock Turcot University Centre and student wellness programs, such as the multi-faith space, services for nursing mothers, the Carrefour francophone, the Women’s Resource Centre, and all activities that enhance the student experience.

Telfer School of Management Career Centre

This ancillary fee was established through a referendum held among the student population of the Telfer School of Management. The Career Centre provides students with professional and personal support services, such as career counselling and coaching, CV critiques, aptitude test (MBTI) administration and scoring, networking events, job fairs and career information sessions. This fee is charged to all students enrolled in a Telfer undergraduate or MBA program because these services allow Telfer to meet the requirements of triple accreditation (AACSB, AQUIS, AMBA) and in order to fund a field in which career preparation is an essential job requirement. The revenue from these fees pays for events, trips, specialized programs, test administration and scoring, as well as for expenses related to staffing, software upgrades, and student initiatives.

University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) ancillary fees

Learn more about UOSU ancillary fees.

Graduate Students Association of the University of Ottawa (GSAÉD) ancillary fees

Learn more about GSAÉD ancillary fees.

The University of Ottawa follows guidelines on digital learning material used in courses. These guidelines are in line with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ (MTCU) Tuition Fee Framework and Ancillary Fee Guidelines for Publicly-Assisted Universities 2013-14 to 2016-17. In this framework, MTCU permits, under certain conditions, the universities to ask students to purchase digital learning material.

Digital learning material can include access to databases, access to online learning resources and access to mobile clickers. Digital test/assessment tools can include simulation tools, online quizzes and online exercises.

Below are the University of Ottawa’s guidelines about fees for digital learning materials.

Guidelines

The University of Ottawa recognizes that digital learning material can enhance the academic experience of students. At the same time, the University is conscious of the potential financial impact of such costs for students.

Therefore, and in accordance with MTCU guidelines, the University has developed the following guidelines for the fees related to digital learning materials.

1. The instructors should use digital learning material that is already available to students at the University. When such digital learning material is not appropriate, the instructor may ask students to purchase digital learning material that become the property of the students, which can include test/assessment tools.
2. Instructors may use digital test/assessment tools to assess student performance, if the weight of the total course grade associated to its use does not exceed 25%. Exceptionally, the instructor can obtain written approval from the Dean of the faculty offering the course should the weight exceed 25%.
3. The total cost of the digital learning material for a course of three units or less should not exceed $60. Exceptionally, the instructor can obtain written approval from the Dean of the faculty offering the course should the total cost exceed $60.
4. When the test/assessment tools are bundled with other learning material (such as a textbook), the instructor must provide an option for students to purchase the test/assessment tool separately. The above threshold of $60 applies to the stand-alone digital learning material only.
5. If the above provisions are not satisfied, the use of digital learning material can be proposed to students, but the instructor must also offer a no-fee alternative to students.
6. It is expected that the course syllabus will indicate, if relevant:
   • the digital learning material (required or optional), including test/assessment tools,
   • the cost of such material,
   • the weight of the total course grade associated with the use of the test/assessment tools,
   • the details on how to obtain such material, and
   • the details on the no-fee alternative

Fee categories

Tuition fees are set according to two categories: full-time studies and part-time studies. For details and conditions, see Student classification below.

Student classification

Undergraduate students

• Full-time: Students enrolled in the equivalent of 12 or more units during a given term will be considered full-time students and must pay full-time university fees. For purposes of fee assessment and classification, courses taken as an auditor are not included in the student classification and special fees apply.
• Part-time: Students enrolling in fewer than 12 units will be considered part-time students and must pay part-time tuition (on a per unit basis) and part-time ancillary fees. Part-time fees in the case of non-credit (N/C) courses are determined according to the number of weekly hours of formal lectures or equivalent.

Graduate Studies

• Graduate students declare their classification when accepting their offer of admission. If they wish to modify their classification, they need to fill out the Modification / Cancellation of Enrolment (Graduate Studies) form (PDF) and submit it to the Graduate Studies Office of their faculty before the deadline published on the Important academic dates and deadlines page.

Fee amount and payment

Your tuition and ancillary fees depend on your program of studies, on your legal status in Canada and on the number of units you are taking. University fees are due by the dates indicated in the Important academic dates and deadlines.

Cancellation of enrolment

If you decide not to attend a course or to drop a course after your course selection has been approved, you must withdraw formally from the course in your Student Center by the date indicated in the Important academic dates and deadlines. From uoZone, go to Applications and select Enrol. Then select the Drop tab and follow the instructions. If you don’t do this, you will receive a grade of ABS (equivalent to an F). Regular rules for fee payment still apply.

Lean more about withdrawing from a course.