Fees

Graduate tuition fee units are established by the Board of Governors of the University of Northern British Columbia at its March meeting. Tuition changes take effect at the beginning of the September Semester. In the event of a discrepancy between the present information and official documentation from the Board, the official documentation from the Board will take precedence. The fees presented here are for 2023-2024. 
 
Note: Students who complete their graduation requirements early are required to pay the minimum tuition fee units.

For graduate tuition fees, specific course fees, and mandatory student services fees for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students, please visit Tuition and Fees.

The minimum fee for the Master’s degree is three full-time tuition fee units.


Program Fees for Full-Time MBA Students

The MBA program consists of 5 semesters. For the first semester, a $2000.00 deposit is due within 30 days of admission with the balance due the first day of classes. Of the $2000.00 deposit - $500.00 is non-refundable after June 30. The $1500.00 balance is non-refundable after July 25. All future semesters, tuition, program fees and student fees are due prior to the first weekend of the semester. Non-payment of fees prior to the first weekend may hold up registration and access to the online platform. The pre-MBA program course fee is $672.92 for domestic students and $773.86 for international students.

Domestic students: Tuition is $7,414.66, plus $460.03 for the MBA fee per semester. Textbooks, course materials and student fees are not included in the above fees. 

International students: Tuition is $8,659.45, plus $460.03 for the MBA fee per semester. Textbooks, course materials and student fees are not included in the above fees. 

Some travel is required and may involve additional costs to the student.

Note: All fees are subject to Board of Governors approval. The tuition fees do not include UNBC student fees, cost of transportation or accommodation, cost of textbooks or course materials. Please refer to the UNBC Graduate Studies website (www.unbc.ca/graduate-programs) for more information on student fees.


Tuition Fee Units for Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design

Basic Tuition Unit: $5,521.60

The minimum fee for the Master's degree is three full-time tuition fee units.

The program fees do not include UNBC student fees, costs of textbooks, accommodation and transportation. Please refer to the UNBC Graduate Studies website (www.unbc.ca/graduate-programs) for more information on student fees.


Tuition Fee Units for Full-Time PhD Students

The full-time basic tuition fee unit is $1,820.14 per semester for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and $2,548.20 for international students. Students entering a Doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a Doctoral tuition scholarship for the initial two years of registration, renewable for a further two consecutive years if progress is deemed satisfactory.

The minimum fee for the Doctoral degree is nine full-time tuition fee units. See Admission to Doctoral Degrees in Admissions and Regulations.


Fees for Undergraduate Courses

Graduate students taking undergraduate courses will be charged on a per-credit-hour basis for those courses. The tuition fee unit payment schedule noted above does not include graduate or undergraduate courses taken as extra to the degree.


Tuition Fee Units for Continuing Students

Domestic Master’s students who extend their studies beyond two years (or beyond four years if enrolled part-time) or domestic Doctoral students who extend their studies beyond three years must pay a continuing registration fee of $641.00 per semester.
 
For graduate students enrolled in the MBA program, a $1,372.77 continuation fee for domestic students or a $1,578.68 continuation fee for international students will be charged according to the regulations for graduate programs should the period of study extend beyond five semesters.


Prorated Completion Tuition

This policy applies to students who are completing their degree via a thesis, project, dissertation, or practicum only. The MBA and MEng programs are not eligible for prorated completion fees or early completion.

A student will have their tuition fees prorated to the end of the month in which the Office of Graduate Administration confirms all degree requirements have been met (including submission of the final approved document) provided the student has paid the minimum instalments required for their degree. The prorated amount is calculated based on the student’s enrolment and fee instalment status:
 
  • Full-time Master’s students: Fees may not be prorated in semesters 1 through 3. Semesters 4 through 6 are prorated based on the full-time tuition amount. Semesters 7 through 15 incur continuing registration fees and are prorated on that basis.
  • Part-time Master’s students: Fees may not be prorated in semesters 1 through 9. Semesters 10 through 12 are prorated based on the part-time tuition amount. Semesters 7 through 15 (or 21 in Education) incur continuing registration fees and are prorated on that basis.
  • Doctoral students: Fees may not be prorated in semesters 1 through 9. Semesters 10 through 21 incur continuing registration fees and are prorated on that basis.

Prorated Defence Fee Reduction Schedule

The following fee prorating schedule is based on submission of a fully defended and revised thesis, dissertation, project or practicum with all committee signatures, formatted correctly for Library and Archives Canada submission (if applicable). Student fees are not prorated. Tuition fees must be paid in advance by the date due. Students must have paid the minimum required instalments based on their status as a full-time or part-time student to be eligible for fee proration.

Fall Semester Defences
Add/drop period:     Full refund
September 30:        75% of tuition refunded
October 31:             50% of tuition refunded
November 30:         25% of tuition refunded
December by grading deadline (varies): No refund

January Semester Defences
Add/drop period:     Full refund
January 31:            75% of tuition refunded
February 28/29:     50% of tuition refunded
March 31:              25% of tuition refunded
April by grading deadline (varies): No refund

May Semester Defences
Add/drop period:     Full refund
May 31:                  75% of tuition refunded
June 30:                 50% of tuition refunded
July 31:                  25% of tuition refunded
August by grading deadline (varies): No refund
 

Fee for Time Extensions

Students permitted to register on a time extension beyond the maximum specified in the general regulations of the calendar are normally required to pay the full-time tuition fee unit applicable to their program for each semester of registration.


Non-Degree Graduate Students

Non-degree graduate students are charged $1,012.39 (domestic) or $1,417.35 (international) for each course attempted.


Audit fees for degree and non-degree graduate students

Full-time and part-time graduate (degree) students auditing undergraduate courses will be charged the same per-credit-hour fee as part-time undergraduate students.

Graduate (degree) students who audit courses at the graduate or undergraduate level are responsible for all ancillary and applicable course fees (e.g., field trip fees). 
 
Non-degree students as defined in Admission to Non-Degree Coursework in Admissions and Regulations, will be charged $506.20 (domestic) or $708.68 (international) (half of the cost of taking one course as a non-degree student) for auditing any 3-credit-hour course. They are responsible for all applicable ancillary and individual course fees.
 

Miscellaneous Fees

International Tuition Deposit $1,500.00*
*due by the deadline specified at the time of admission offer. Please refer to UNBC Finance website for refund conditions and to the Office of the Registrar for conditions under which this fee may be waived.
International Student Fee $125.00 per semester
Late Registration Fee (if applicable)
$100.00 per semester
Application Fee - Domestic Applicants
$76.50* (non-refundable)
*to accompany application for admission if all post-secondary transcripts come from institutions within Canada
Application Fee - International Applicants
$153.00* (non-refundable)
*to accompany application for admission 
Re-Application Fee 
$100.00 
Medical Insurance for International Students $190.00 per semester (please refer to the following section on medical insurance for international students)
Graduation Processing Fee $42.46 per application for all graduating students (non-refundable)
Student ID Card Replacement $15.00 per lost card
Thesis/Dissertation Registration Fee      
$48.00 (Library and Archives Canada fee for inclusion in LAC Database and Dissertation Abstracts - per thesis submitted). 
Official Transcript Fee 
$10.20 per official transcript 
NSF Charge $15.00 per returned cheque
Graduate Admission Deferral Deposit $250.00

Outstanding accounts are subject to a monthly service charge of 2% on the outstanding principal (26.82% per annum).


Additional Information on Fees

BC Residents 65 Years or Older

BC residents who are 65 years of age or older, and who are eligible for admission, may register for courses and receive a waiver of tuition. Please note that in those areas where there is a limited number of spaces available or when programs/courses are deemed to be cost-recovery, students under this category of registration may not receive priority or be eligible for the waiver. Students are responsible for all ancillary fees.


Student Services Fees

The student fees are collected from full-time and part-time students registered for courses, and are utilized to augment services to students.


GSS Health and Dental Plan Fee

All GSS members registered in the September semester and paying GSS fees are automatically covered by the GSS Health and Dental Plan. This includes full-time and part-time students, and international students (Prince George campus only).

Your student plan provides you with health and dental coverage for 12 months, from September 1 to August 31 of the following year. If you are already covered by an equivalent extended health and dental plan, you may opt out online during the change-of-coverage period (typically within the first 3 weeks of classes; for exact deadlines visit www.ihaveaplan.ca). Your plan also gives you the option to enroll your family (spouse and/or dependents) by paying an additional fee. Most members that are not automatically covered, but who wish to have coverage, are able to enroll themselves for an additional fee. Students starting in January may enroll at a pro-rated rate for 8 months of coverage (January 1 to August 31). For more information, contact www.ihaveaplan.ca or 1-866-358-4431.


PGPIRG Fee

The PGPIRG fee is collected by UNBC on behalf of the Prince George Public Interest Research Group. The mandate of this group is to organize its members around topics of public interest, such as social justice and environmental issues. Please contact the group at (250) 960-7474 for further information. 


Payment Due Date

All student accounts are payable in full by the first day of the semester.


Financial Hold

Students who fail to pay the outstanding balance of their current account will be placed on financial hold. While on financial hold, no subsequent registration activity will be allowed, no official transcripts of the academic record will be issued, and a student will be denied graduation. The financial hold will be removed when the outstanding balance, including all service charges, is paid in full.


Failure to Notify

Any student failing to provide written notification to the Office of the Registrar of their complete withdrawal from a course or slate of courses will be assessed full tuition fee units for those registered courses and receive grades of F on their transcript.


Payments

Payments can be made by cash, debit card, cheque, American Express, MasterCard, Visa, wire transfer, or money order. Please ensure that the correct student number is written on the face of all cheques and money orders submitted. Fees may be paid by the following methods: 

  • by mail: cheques or money orders should be made payable to the University of Northern British Columbia and must reach UNBC by the due date. Cheques or money orders are requested in Canadian funds drawn on a Canadian bank. The  University is not responsible for payments lost in the mail. 
  • by wire transfer: bank-to-bank wire transfers can be arranged through your financial institution. Wire transfer instructions can be found on our website at: www.unbc.ca/finance/accounts-receivable/payment-options.
  • in person: at the Cashier’s Office during hours of operation. Tuition payments are also accepted at UNBC’s regional offices in Terrace, Fort St. John and Quesnel.
  • American Express, MasterCard, Visa, or Interac Debit Card will be accepted in person by the Cashier, or online at the UNBC website.

Any questions regarding making payments may be directed to the Cashier’s Office by telephone at (250) 960-5631 or by fax at (250) 960-5251. 

Payment inquiries can be addressed to cashier@unbc.ca.

Do not email credit card or banking information. For further information, please visit: www.unbc.ca/finance/accounts-receivable/payment-options.
 

Refund Policy Note

Due to the semester fee payment schedule, there is normally no refund of fees for graduate students who withdraw from courses. If no course registration exists, registration must be maintained by registering in either the thesis or project (except for students in course-based programs without course offerings in the May semester).


Fee Reduction Schedule for Course Revision Period: For Non-Degree Graduate Students

The fee reduction schedule will apply to non-degree graduate students who withdraw from courses. Refunds can be applied for at the Cashier’s Office after the revision period. Allow two to three weeks for processing. If there is a credit on a student’s account and no refund is requested, the credit will be applied to the next semester.

May Semester 2023
May 15, 2023 Last day to add/drop without financial penalty
June 20, 2023 Last day to add/drop without academic penalty, 50% tuition refund
September Semester 2023
September 20, 2023 Last day to add/drop without financial penalty
October 26, 2023 Last day to add/drop without academic penalty, 50% tuition refund
January Semester 2024
January 17, 2024 Last day to add/drop without financial penalty
February 22, 2024 Last day to add/drop without academic penalty, 50% tuition refund
May Semester 2024
May 15, 2024 Last day to add/drop without financial penalty
June 20, 2024 Last day to add/drop without academic penalty, 50% tuition refund

Note: Exceptions to the refund policy may apply, subject to approval by the UNBC Board of Governors. 

For condensed courses, the last day to revise registration is indicated in the course-specific documentation.


Medical Insurance Fee for International Students

UNBC has a compulsory medical insurance policy for international students. International students must provide proof of valid medical coverage for each semester that they register at UNBC. A hold will be placed on a student’s file if proof of valid medical coverage is not supplied.

A medical insurance fee of $190.00 will be assessed automatically each semester. If students have valid BC medical insurance or comparable private insurance, the fee can be waived. Students without medical insurance are asked to enroll in a university-sponsored plan which costs $190.00 for four months of coverage. 

Students must contact the International office to enroll in the private insurance plan or to receive a waiver of the medical insurance fee. Please note that simply paying the $190.00 fee does not fulfill the policy. The policy requires that international students have valid medical insurance while at UNBC, and that they demonstrate proof of such coverage. 

Note: Standards for accounts receivable billing and collection of student accounts receivable are subject to UNBC policy on student accounts. For further information on student accounts receivable, please see the Finance website at www.unbc.ca/finance.

Updated: June 29, 2023