How fees are billed
The University reserves the right to modify the published scale of tuition and other student fees without prior notice, at any time before the beginning of an academic term. This document contains the most current information on the University's Financial Regulations and Fees and is the authoritative document regarding the University's financial regulations as well as the billing of tuition and compulsory fees.
A. How fees are billed
1. Master's and PhD program billing structure - overview
Each Master's and PhD program has a nominal number of academic credits that must be successfully completed in order for the student to graduate from that program. Master's degree programs have 45, 57 or 60 nominal credits; and PhD programs have 90 nominal credits.
Each program of study has an academic time limit which is a specified number of academic terms in which the student must successfully complete all degree requirements and apply to graduate. This information is available in more detail on the Graduate Calendar webpage.
2. How and when fees are billed - overview
Tuition and compulsory fees are billed when a student is enrolled in a Master's or PhD program and is registered for a credit course or a course notation, e.g. CIP, STOQ, etc. The first registration in a student's Master's or PhD program, in either a credit course or a Continuing in Program (CIP) course notation will trigger the start of the fee billing process.
Fees are billed on the basis of
- the student's enrolment in the degree program at the time of admission (i.e. full-time or part-time status), plus
- the total number of nominal credits in the degree program.
Tuition and compulsory fees are charged
- at a maximum rate of 11.25 credits per term for full-time students and 7.5 credits per term for part-time students; and
- until all nominal credits in the degree program have been billed.
The maximum number of credits billed per term may not change when a student applies for, and is granted, a change in their admission/enrolment status:
- Students who change from full-time to part-time status before one half (1/2) of the nominal course credits in their program have been billed will be charged fees at a maximum rate of 7.5 creditsper term until the unbilled nominal credits in their program have been billed.
- Students who change from full-time to part-time status after one half (1/2) of the nominal course credits in their program have been billed will continue to be charged fees at a maximum rate of 11.25 credits per term until all nominal credits in their program have been billed.
In both instances, the student's academic time limit will be adjusted.
3. Prerequisite and deficiency course fees
A deficiency course is a course which must be taken in addition to the nominal credits in a student's program and does not apply to the degree program. Deficiency credits may include graduate or undergraduate courses.
Tuition and compulsory fees are charged on each prerequisite and deficiency registered course credit, in addition to the nominal credits in the degree program.
4. Continuation fees
Once the tuition and compulsory fees for the nominal credits in a student's program have been billed, the student will continue to be charged "other" compulsory fees each term until the continuation fees are charged as follows:
| Full-time Students | Tuition & compulsory fees | Compulsory fees | Continuation & compulsory fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program level | |||
| 45 credit Master's programs | Term 1-4 | Term 5-6 | Term 7-12 |
| 45 credit Master's programs in JMSB | Term 1-4 | Term 5 | Term 6-9 |
| 57 credit Master's programs in JMSB | Term 1-6 | not applicable | Term 7-9 |
| 60 credit Master's programs | Term 1-6 | Term 7-8 | Term 9-12 |
| 90 credit PhD programs | Term 1-8 | Term 9-12 | Term 13-18 |
| Part-time Students | Tuition & compulsory fees | Compulsory fees | Continuation & compulsory fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program level | |||
| 45 credit Master's programs | Term 1-6 | Term 7-8 | Term 9-15 |
| 45 credit Master's programs in JMSB | Term 1-6 | Term 7-9 | Term 10-15 |
| 57 credit Master's programs in JMSB | Term 1-8 | Term 9-12 | Term 13-15 |
| 60 credit Master's programs | Term 1-8 | Term 9-12 | Term 13-15 |
| 90 credit PhD programs | Term 1-12 | Term 13-15 | Term 16-24 |
5. Time limit extension and other fees
Once the student has completed the total number of terms within the academic time limit and has not yet met the degree requirements in order to graduate, the student may apply to their Graduate Program Director for an academic time limit extension (TLE). If a TLE is granted, a TLE fee plus compulsory fees will be charged in each TLE term.
6. Balance of program fees charged at Graduation
Students who successfully complete their Master's or Ph.D. program degree requirements before all tuition and compulsory fees for their program of study have been billed will be charged the balance of their program's tuition and compulsory fees once they apply for graduation.
7. Courses that do not apply towards the student's degree requirements
Applicable to students admitted to a Master's or PhD program as of the 2010/1 summer term.
Master's and PhD students are permitted to register for a maximum of 3 course credits in addition to the nominal credits in their degree program without additional charge. All course credits "registered" above the nominal plus 3 credits will be charged tuition and compulsory fees on a "per credit" basis. These fees are charged in addition to, and concurrently with, the tuition and compulsory fees charged on nominal program credits, continuation and compulsory fees, or time limit extension and compulsory fees.
Courses with grades and other notations outlined in the Graduate Calendar, § Academic Regulations, as well as imposed sanctions requiring extra course credits, are counted as "course credits registered".
8. "Elective" and 'Hors programme' courses
Courses that cannot be applied to the student's degree program are considered to be "elective" or 'courshors programme' and are charged tuition and compulsory fees on a "per credit" basis. These fees are charged in addition to, and concurrently with, the tuition and compulsory fees charged on nominal program credits, continuation and compulsory fees, or time limit extension and compulsory fees.
9. Audit course fees
Courses not taken for credit are registered under a student’s Master’s or PhD program and an Audit grade is recorded to the student’s record. Audited courses are charged tuition and compulsory fees on a “per credit” basis. These fees are charged in addition to, and concurrently with, the tuition and compulsory fees charged on nominal program credits, continuation and compulsory fees, or time limit extension and compulsory fees.
10. Transfers between thesis and course-based programs
When students are granted an option change, their program time limit and the number of nominal credits billed are not adjusted. The academic time limit is not extended and continues to be counted from term of admission to the original program of study. All tuition and compulsory fees paid in the original option are transferred to the new program of study and are not forfeited.
This rule also applies to students changing between the following programs if registration is continuous and in consecutive terms:
- the Master’s of Engineering (MENG) and the Master’s of Applied Science (MASc) programs in the same concentration in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science;
- the Master’s of Engineering and the Master’s of Applied Science programs in Building and Civil Engineering; and,
- the Master’s of Computer Science and the Master’s in Applied Computer Science programs in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science.
Program transfers between the Master’s in Business Administration (MBA programs) and the Diploma in Chartered Accountancy are exceptions, provided the student has completed the Diploma program requirements and (that is, the degree/diploma has not been conferred.)
Upon official withdrawal from the Diploma in Chartered Accountancy programs, up to a maximum of 30 credits are transferred to the MBA program and are not forfeited. The transfer of program must be processed within 2 years (6 academic terms) from the last registration in the original program of study.
11. Special degree transfers (new admission)
When a Concordia graduate degree program student transfers to a different Master’s or PhD within Concordia, financial credits equal to the number of academic credits transferred to the new program but not exceeding the tuition and compulsory fees paid in the original program will be granted. This does not apply to transfers to or from graduate privatized programs.
12. Admission to a PhD program with an incomplete Master's degree
Accelerated admission (fast tracking) describes a process whereby exceptional students are admitted to PhD programs without a Master’s degree in the same discipline. Students who follow this process must show high academic performance or potential evidenced by an outstanding GPA, appropriate research publications in a field of study, a research topic at the Master’s level which is advanced enough for a doctoral thesis proposal, or other similar demonstrations of achievement. Students who are
- accepted for accelerated admission, and
- currently registered in a Master’s degree program
OR
- accepted for accelerated admission, and
- are admitted directly from a Bachelor’s degree
are expected to complete the course component of a Master’s (Thesis option) program in the same discipline in addition to the standard academic requirements for the doctoral program.
Since this is a new admission, the PhD program Academic Time Limit and nominal fees billed begin anew. All nominal fees billed in the Master's program are non-transferable and will not be applied to the PhD.
Students who have not completed a Master's degree and are admitted directly to a Concordia PhD program may be required to take a course(s) in addition to their PhD program requirements. All pre-requisite and deficiency course credits are registered under a Qualifying Program and are charged tuition and compulsory fees on a “per credit” basis.
13. Leave of absence from program
A leave of absence from a program of study may have implications for students receiving awards, loans and bursaries.
With respect to medical coverage while on an approved leave of absence:
- Canadian students do not pay fees for the Student Health and Dental Plan while on a leave of absence and are not therefore covered by (insured under) this insurance plan.
- International students do not pay fees for the Concordia Health Insurance Plan for International students while on a leave of absence and are not therefore covered by (insured under) any health insurance plan.
As the (study) visa status of International students may possibly be affected by a leave, they are advised to visit the International Students Office for further information.
Access to University services while on leave
- Leave without access. During a leave without access, a student will not have access to library, university or student services. No fees are charged for a leave without access.
- Leave with access. During a leave with access, a student will have access to library, university and student services. A flat service fee of $150 per term will be charged.
