Tuition and Fees

• The average tuition change for domestic students is about $380 for programs seeing increases.
• International students will see increases ranging from $380 to $1,200.
• Established programs with a high delivery cost and/or strong demand, including programs such as Respiratory Therapy and Mechanical Engineering Technology, saw the largest increases. 
• Increases will also apply to bring program costs in line with other programs or competitors, examples include Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant, and Chemical Engineering Technology.

Student Support Fee and Student Technology Fee

Introduced in 2020/21, the Student Support Fee and the Student Technology Fee were developed in consultation with Saitsa, and implemented with a phased cost approach over the first three years — $50 (2020/21), $75 (2021/22) and $100 (2022/23) each, per term.

For 2021/22, the fees will be $75 each per term.

The Technology Fee supports improvements to cybersecurity to protect student and institutional information, access to learning material outside the classroom and technology to enhance the student experience.

The Student Support Fee supports student services and resources to help students succeed throughout their academic careers, including Career Advancement Services, and Student Development and Counselling.

Other fee adjustments

Campus recreation fees will increase from $171.20 per year to $183.20.

Universal transit pass (UPass) fees will increase from $151/semester to $155/semester starting September 2021.

*Campus recreation and UPass fees will continue to be suspended until classes resume in large degree on campus.

Dates are critical in determining whether you receive a fees refund and how much you will get back.

The following refund procedure applies to students withdrawing from a program:

1. If you cancel prior to the program's start date, you'll receive a full tuition refund excluding the non-refundable tuition deposit. You must provide the Office of the Registrar with a cancellation notice — in writing or verbally — before the first day of class.  Note: The tuition deposit is only applicable to new students starting the first semester.
2. If you cancel on the first day of classes and before the end of the add/drop period for the applicable semester — fall, winter, spring or summer — you will receive a 50% tuition refund, excluding the ancillary fees and non-refundable tuition deposit. You must provide the Office of the Registrar with a cancellation notice in — writing or verbally — within this time frame.
3. If you withdraw after the add/drop period, you will not receive a refund unless there are extenuating circumstances, agreed on by the Registrar or designate. You must complete a Program Withdrawal form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar. If there are extenuating circumstances, make sure you include a letter indicating the reason for your withdrawal and any supporting documents, such as a doctor's note.
4. International students who have started classes while their study permits are pending approval by the Government of Canada (with Stage 1/ AIP approved) and whose study permits are subsequently denied before the end of the add/drop period will receive a full refund of tuition, but not a refund of ancillary fees and the non-refundable tuition deposit. If you receive a refusal in Stage 2 of your study permit application, email immediately  international@sait.ca with the following information:
   • Your full name
   • SAIT ID
   • Your program
   • Proof of refusal
5. International students who have started classes while their study permits are still pending approval by the Government of Canada (with Stage 1/ AIP approved)  and whose study permits are subsequently denied within 13 business days after the end of the add/drop period are eligible to be refunded 75% of tuition, but not a refund of ancillary fees and the non-refundable tuition deposit.  If you receive a refusal in Stage 2 of your study permit application, email immediately  international@sait.ca with the following information:
   • Your full name
   • SAIT ID
   • Your program
   • Proof of refusal
6. Credit balances, for students who are registered or plan to register in a future term, will be carried forward and applied as appropriate to that future term.  Refundable balances will also be assessed at the end of the academic year for refunding.

Any student expelled from SAIT for any reason is not eligible for a refund. Students who withdraw before completing their program will not receive a SAITSA refund for any academic term — fully or partially completed.

International applicants whose study permit is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may be eligible for a refund of their tuition deposit less a $250 administration fee.

Applicants must request a refund and forward a copy (PDF) of their IRCC denial letter to Freshdesk.

The study permit denial letter must be received by SAIT before the program start date as indicated in the letter of acceptance.

Applicants who have been conditionally accepted and do not meet the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline — or have had their offer rescinded based on anticipated final grades — may be eligible for a refund of their tuition deposit less the $250 administration fee.

Applicants must request a refund through submitting a ticket to Freshdesk.

If you need to cancel your registration, log in to your MyTradesecrets account and select 'cancel'. If you are cancelling after your class start date, contact the Office of the Registrar directly.

You'll be eligible for a refund if you cancel at least five business days prior to the class start date. All cancellations are subject to a $50 administrative fee.

To request a refund, contact the  Office of the Registrar.

Cancellations must be submitted by completing a refund request form. Under "please choose the type of inquiry", select refunds from the drop-down menu.

To request to drop a non-credit course, please submit a request through the Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies student portal.  A minimum $50 administrative fee, plus any applicable service costs, will apply.

For courses 18 hours or longer, notice is required no later than 4 pm prior to the second scheduled class.

For seminars, short courses or sports camps — less than 18 hours total, or five or fewer consecutive days — notice is required three business days prior to the class start.

Notice of course cancellation must be received by the Office of the Registrar before 25% of the original course time has elapsed in order for a student to receive a tuition refund.

SAIT will retain the minimum administration fee of $50, plus the shipping and handling fee charged on your order.

Please refer to the course package you received for information on whether or not you are eligible for a refund on unused materials. If you are, please return your materials to the Distance Education office — do not return materials to Office of the Registrar.

Students in the Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accountants (CAPPA) computer-based training courses are not eligible for a refund.

Students in the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) program, notice of cancellation is required 10 business days prior to the course start date. Administration fees and course materials are non-refundable.

e-Transfers are a fast and convenient way to receive a payment within the security of your online or mobile banking service.  

After your refund request has been processed, you’ll receive an email to your preferred email address. This first email is to advise you a payment has been initiated by SAIT. The email will come from PayMyTuition. 

Domestic students You’ll receive a second email to let you know when your payment is on the way. Once you receive the second email, you can expect a third email with the actual e-Transfer link from Interac within the next 24 hours.  

International students You'll receive a second email requesting your banking information.

If you’re unsure what we have on file as your preferred email, you can find out by logging into  mySAIT and selecting “Personal Information” on the mySAIT tab. 

Follow the instructions in the email.  

Domestic students will need a password to access the payment. You'll need to login to mySAIT and look for the "Refund Authorization ID" — follow these steps:   

• after you receive the email from  Interac, login to  mySAIT 
• click on the “myStudent” tab 
• click on “Finance information” 
• click on the link within the “Collect Refund, Award, Bursary or Emergency Funding” section 
• the “Refund Authorization ID” is the password referenced in the Interac email 

International students will need to click on the link in the email and enter their banking information to access the e-Transfer payment. Follow the instructions provided in the email from PayMyTuition. Refunds will be issued in Canadian dollars.  

Up to eight email reminders will be sent to advise an e-Transfer payment is available. After the eighth email reminder, the payment will be cancelled or reissued.   

In the rare case where a refund exceeds $10,000 the refund will be distributed over multiple transfers in $10,000 increments. For example, if the total refund is $25,000, three e-Transfers will be issued over three 24-hour periods and each transfer will have a unique Refund Authorization ID. 

Refunds for students with registered sponsors will continue to be issued directly to the registered sponsor by cheque. 

Refunds for non-credit courses purchased through the  Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies online system will be processed to the original method of payment through that system.  

• after you receive the email from Interac, login to mySAIT 
• click on the “myStudent” tab 
• click on “Finance information” 
• click on the link within the “Collect Refund, Award, Bursary or Emergency Funding” section 
• the “Refund Authorization ID” is the password referenced in the Interac email 

If you’re an international student, you don't need a password.  

If you’re unsure what we have on file as your preferred email address, you can find out by logging into  mySAIT and selecting “Personal Information” on the mySAIT tab. 

Domestic students You'll receive email notifications from PayMyTuition and the actual e-Transfer payment email from Interac. 
International students You'll receive emails from  PayMyTuition. 

Students are indebted to SAIT when monies for fees, or any form of material or service, has not been paid to the Institute or when library books or equipment — of any kind — have not been returned.

Indebtedness to the Institute will result in:

• Cancellation of registration
• Inability to register in further programs and courses
• Withholding of student's transcript and credential
• Withholding of student loan funding
• Withholding of any refunds — including SAIT Students' Association fee refund

SAIT may employ the services of a public collection agent to recover overdue amounts.