Tuition Refund Request

We do not require detailed medical records or the disclosure of a diagnosis, rather the University requires that the form confirm the specific dates on which the student visited the health professional and should include details on the following:

• The degree to which the health issue (or treatment, in the case of medication, for example) is likely to have affected the student's ability to study, attend classes, or sit examinations;
• The length of time over which the student's abilities were likely hampered by the condition;
• The fitness of the student to resume studies.

If the condition began prior to the term of the tuition refund request, documentation should include an explanation of how the condition has worsened or changed in an unforeseeable way that prevented the completion of the course(s).

Students with pre-existing conditions are expected to work with the resources and supports available to them to develop an academic plan to accommodate their condition and needs. This includes: Health and Counselling and the Centre for Accessible Learning for support services.

Required documentation:

• All medical requests must be accompanied by the Tuition Appeals Health Care Provider form.

Recommended documentation:

• A timeline of extenuating circumstances that you feel entitle you to a refund of fees, a brief description of the nature of the circumstances and how they affected your decision to withdraw from the course(s), and the dates when relevant events occurred. 
• Written communication with instructors, advisors, if applicable.

• Death of a loved one, including immediate or extended family member, or close friend. 
• A sudden change in personal or familial responsibilities, such as taking care of a sick loved one or taking over childcare responsibilities for a sick loved one. 
• Other unanticipated events not mentioned above will be considered, provided there is clear supporting documentation.

Required documentation:

• A death certificate or obituary in English (or an official or notarized English translation) is required as documentation. If these documents cannot be obtained, please contact our office at irreac@sfu.ca.
• A timeline of extenuating circumstances that you feel entitle you to a refund of fees, a brief description of the nature of the circumstances and how they affected your decision to withdraw from the course(s), and the dates when relevant events occurred

• Unanticipated transfers or deployments for military and first responder personnel.
• Administrative or system errors.

Required documentation:

• Official letters issued from employers or government organizations.
• Written communication with or from course instructors, academic or departmental advisors.
• Travel or flight documentation.
• Documentation relating to technical issues.
• A timeline of extenuating circumstances that you feel entitle you to a refund of fees, a brief description of the nature of the circumstances and how they affected your decision to withdraw from the course(s), and the dates when relevant events occurred.

Financial concerns alone are not considered an eligible reason for a refund request. For students facing financial hardship, we encourage connecting with Financial Aid & Awards for advising and support.

In order to enrol in courses, students must agree to the Student Declaration and Responsibility to complete enrolment actions. The Student Declaration and Responsibility states that students are responsible for knowing and adhering to all deadlines and policies in reference to enrolment and fees.

Failure to pay tuition by the tuition payment deadline will not result in an automatic course drop, and failure to pay tuition is not a valid reason for a refund. Students are responsible for all fees incurred by their enrolment actions. Similarly, failure to attend classes in which a student is enrolled is not a valid reason for a refund request

Please refer concerns and feedback to the relevant department.

It is the student's responsibility to manage their workload, difficulty level, and scheduling needs, and as such these are not considered eligible reasons for a refund request.

It is the student's responsibility to understand requirements and work with advisors if necessary to ensure enrolment decisions are suited to their academic plan.

Students should only enroll in courses they intend to take. Please note that students are responsible for tuition and fees for courses that they were enrolled in from the waitlist. For this reason, it is advised that students drop themselves from any waitlist for courses they no longer intend to take. Overenrollment to secure preferred enrolment opportunities is not a valid reason for a refund request