Post-secondary withdrawal and refund policy
Fanshawe College withdrawal and refund policy
The College's international student withdrawal and refund policy is developed in compliance with the Ministry of Advanced Education & Skills Development and Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) guidelines and policies.
Withdrawal and refund requests must be received within 10 business days of the beginning of the semester for a refund to be considered.
If a student submits a withdrawal request after the first 10 school days of the semester, only subsequent semester fees paid will be reimbursed. Any outstanding balances owing on a student’s account will be deducted from the refund.
Transferring to another institution
International students who arrive in Canada and wish to withdraw to attend another institution must request a withdrawal and refund within the first ten (10) business days of the semester by email to intrefund@fanshawec.ca. Refunds are subject to a $2300 administrative fee for NON-DEFERRAL students. Students who defer, see FAQ below.
Documents required include: copies of Fanshawe Letter of Admission, Study Permit, passport (photo page), Letter of Admission for other designated learning institution for the same start date*, bank wire receipt showing payment from your home country, and a copy of your email to your agent that you are leaving Fanshawe College.
* For students accepted to educational institutions in Quebec: only students who are in possession of a Certification of Acceptance (CAQ) will be approved for a withdrawal. Failure to provide this CAQ document before the withdrawal deadline will result in the denial of the withdrawal request and no refund will be issued. The CAQ must accompany the Quebec institution’s letter of acceptance.
Visa Denial
Students who are denied visas must complete the online withdrawal/refund form within 10 business days of the beginning of the semester. They will need to log in with their WebAdvisor user name and password, complete the form and upload a copy of their visa denial letter.
Please note that the denial must be dated after the latest Letter of Admission issued.
Visa denial refunds are subject to a minimum $250 administrative fee. Please note: If a student withdraws after the 10th day of class for any reason, all fees paid for that semester will remain with the College.
Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) Denial
Students who are denied a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) for any reason will be eligible to apply for a refund of fees paid less a $250.00 administrative fee. They must complete the online withdrawal/refund form to initiate the refund process.
Program and Campus Change
Program changes are actively discouraged. Any program changes are subject to seat availability. No program changes are allowed after a student has arrived in Canada. Change of campus or location is not allowed.
Other requests for refunds (excluding deferrals)
Level 1 refund requests are subject to a $2300.00 non-refundable fee. Refund requests will be considered complete upon receipt of either 1) a Letter of Admission from another Canadian institution for the same semester of study OR 2) a plane ticket and boarding pass showing that the student has returned to their home country OR 3) proof of an application for post-graduate work permit OR 4) proof of an application for a visitor permit.
Exception: If the program has been cancelled by Fanshawe College, you will receive a full refund.
Please note that Fee Appeals require a formal request. A request for the refund and supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar, Fee Appeal Committee. For assistance, please contact intrefund@fanshawec.ca.
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) withdrawals and refunds
Withdrawal and refund requests must be received within 5 business days of the beginning of the semester for a refund to be considered.
If a student submits a withdrawal request after the first 5 school days of the semester, only subsequent semester fees paid will be reimbursed. Any outstanding balances owing on a student’s account will be deducted from the refund.
Refund requests are sent to intrefund@fanshawec.ca and this form is required.
Transferring to another institution
Students must submit a copy of their Letter of Admission from an approved institution along with a completed International Student Withdrawal Form within five business days of the beginning of the semester. The letter of admission must be for the same semester for which the student has paid tuition. A copy of the passport and valid study permit will also be required. Refunds are subject to a $2300 administrative fee for NON-DEFERRAL students. Students who defer, see FAQ below.
Visa denial
Students who are denied a study permit must complete the online withdrawal/refund form within 5 business days of the beginning of the semester. They will need to log in with their WebAdvisor user name and password, complete the form and upload a copy of their visa denial letter. Visa Denial Refunds are subject to a minimum $250 administrative fee. The denial must be dated after the latest Letter of Admission issued.
Please note: If a student withdraws after the 10th day of class for any reason, all fees paid for that semester will remain with the College.
Frequently asked questions about withdrawal/refund
Q. How will I receive my refund?
A. Refunds will be issued in the same method of payment as the original payment (i.e. if paid by wire transfer, the refund will go by wire transfer back to the same bank account or if paid by credit card, the refund will be credited to the same credit card).
The refund will be processed within 90 days after Fanshawe College has received a fully completed application for a refund. This includes the bank wire details, if applicable.
If the original payment was made from a bank account within Canada and from someone other than the student, a Third-Party Release Form must also be completed.
Q. How will this affect my transcript?
A. If a student withdraws from a program within the first 10 days of term, there is no record of enrollment. If a student withdraws from a program after the refund date (the 10th day of term), but before the withdrawal without academic penalty date, the student will be assigned a "W" grade on the academic record in all their courses; there is no return of fees.
Q. What if I want to defer my program to a future start date?
A. Students are asked to make a comment in the Virtual Application System (VAS). If a student has applied to Fanshawe College through an education agency, the agency can make a comment in VAS. The request must be received on or before the first 10 school days (post-secondary) or the first 5 school days (EAP) of the semester that they were originally admitted for.
Students who defer to a future intake forgo the right to request a refund if they obtain a study permit and enter Canada. All fees paid for the first semester will remain with the College. If the student defers to a future intake and then later chooses not to apply for a study permit or enter Canada, a refund less $2300.00 will be applicable and immigration officials will be notified that the letter of admission is no longer valid for study permit application purposes.
Please note: that students who choose not to apply for a visa from the Canadian Embassy after receiving a letter of admission may be required to provide proof that no active application is on file with the Canadian Embassy.
Please note: if a student withdraws after the 10th day of class for any reason, all fees paid for that semester will remain with the College.
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