Refund Policy: Vocational Programs

How to Apply for a Refund

The full refund process can take 20 to 30 business days. Incomplete forms are deleted by the system and must be submitted again, which takes longer. Refund requests are accepted only through the online refund request form, not by email.

Include the following with your request:

• A copy of the student’s photo ID.
• A request signed by the student to transfer the funds to the student’s own account, as a simple signed letter with ID; or, for a transfer to a third party, a verifiable affidavit with transfer instructions, notarized by a notary public, including the notary’s contact details and the third party’s photo ID.
• The complete address of the student or the person receiving the funds.
• If your visa was refused, a copy of the IRCC refusal letter. If you did not apply for a study visa or permit after January 22, 2024, state this in the notarized affidavit.
• Bank details: account holder name, account number, SWIFT code, and the receiver’s complete address. For a Canadian bank account, you may provide the account holder’s email address for an e-Transfer.

Refunds are paid to the student’s own account by the same method used for payment. For example, a credit card payment is refunded to the same card. If the card issuer rejects the refund, the College may transfer it by wire, bank transfer, or e-Transfer; provide the student’s banking details in a notarized letter. Refunds to third parties require the student’s original, notarized, verifiable written authorization.

International Student Program (ISP) Fees

The admission process fee (CAD $500) is non-refundable. It covers:

• Admission application assessment and processing
• The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) process for international students
• LOA verification with IRCC
• Pre-arrival and post-arrival support, if the study permit is approved

The standard response time for financial inquiries is 10 to 15 business days.

General Refund Policy

• Tuition is not refunded once the program has started or been completed.
• Tuition paid in advance is refundable if the study visa or permit application for in-person delivery is not successful.
• After a study permit is approved and the student has entered Canada on the College’s LOA and paid tuition in full or in part: a refund is subject to applicable laws and regulations, the registrar’s approval, and a deduction of $500 from the total, depending on the services provided after the LOA stage and during the visa and permit process, including travel-related matters.
• After the program starts, in any format, no refund applies.
• Refund due to PAL: if you applied for admission and received an LOA after January 22, 2024, and the College was unable to issue a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) by May 30, 2024, the College will consider refunding the LOA and admission application fees to eligible students who applied between January 22, 2024, and May 30, 2024. The request had to be received by July 30, 2024, through the refund form. There are no other exceptions.
• Admission application processing and LOA fees for vocational, short study, and bridge training programs are non-refundable.
• Legal fees: legal services for study permits are provided by an independent team of legal professionals outside the College’s business. Fees paid for these services are non-refundable once the process has started and the legal professional has accepted your matter.

Student Categories

A. New International Students

Prospective international students issued an LOA or a Conditional Letter of Acceptance (CLOA). The LOA fee is non-refundable.

1. Students who do not start any courses, in person or online, or who withdraw on or before the start date of the courses for that term, are eligible for a refund of all tuition paid if IRCC denies their student visa or study permit for in-person delivery, excluding a tuition refund processing fee (CAD $25 to $150) and bank charges.
2. Students who withdraw on or before the program start date for that term are eligible for a refund of all tuition paid if IRCC approves their student visa or study permit, whether or not they have entered Canada, excluding a tuition refund processing fee (about CAD $500).

B. Visa Refusals

International students with a visa refusal must submit the original paper refusal, or the original decision email with all electronic headers and routing. Refunds are not processed until the correct documentation is received.

C. Study Permit Approved, Student Will Not Study

International students whose visa or study permit is approved but who do not wish to study or maintain status in Canada in another category must give the Accounts Department either an LOA from another institution or an official flight ticket to their home country. Students changing colleges should also provide an updated study permit.

If the College does not receive the required response and documents before the program start date, it will cancel the enrolment and LOA and report the matter to the appropriate government authorities, including CBSA and IRCC.

Proof of Transfer or Departure

Under the DLI compliance regime administered by IRCC, designated institutions must report enrolment status and ensure that study permit holders associated with them meet their conditions of stay.

When This Applies

This policy applies to international students who have a Canadian study visa or permit approved, have paid tuition or fees to the College, and request a refund after approval. It covers students who obtained admission or enrolment to continue studies or extend their permit, then chose not to start or continue studies at the College, or to stay in Canada without legal status.

What You Must Provide

Refund eligibility depends on one of the following:

• A valid LOA from another Canadian DLI, confirming an authorized transfer; or
• Satisfactory evidence of departure from Canada: a confirmed commercial flight ticket or itinerary showing departure and, where available, a boarding confirmation or entry and exit stamps.

A withdrawal is not complete until the documents show a transfer to another authorized institution or departure from Canada.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy follows the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), including:

• IRPA s. 20(1)(b): foreign nationals must comply with the conditions of temporary stay
• IRPA s. 29(2): obligation to leave Canada by the end of the authorized period
• IRPA s. 41: inadmissibility for non-compliance with the Act
• IRPR s. 220.1: conditions on study permit holders, including active pursuit of studies at a DLI
• IRPR s. 222: when a study permit becomes invalid
• IRPR s. 182: restoration of temporary resident status

Under IRPR s. 220.1, study permit holders must remain enrolled at a DLI and actively pursue their studies. Non-compliance may lead to loss of status and inadmissibility. Requiring proof of transfer or departure helps the College meet its DLI reporting obligations, avoid facilitating non-compliance, and protect students from breaching their conditions.

D. Continuing Students

Continuing students who drop a registered course receive a refund less any non-refundable fees listed in the CCEC Academic Calendar:

• On or before the program start date: 100% refund of tuition paid for the term, less non-refundable fees.
• After the course starts: no refund.

Continuing international students with a valid study permit must give the Finance Department an LOA from another institution or an official flight ticket to their home country to be eligible for a refund.

OSAP Refunds

If you have a credit balance on your student account after receiving OSAP funding, a refund may be issued. It is reviewed by the Student Awards and Financial Aid Office and may be returned to the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). See Paying back OSAP.

Bank Fees and Processing Charges

• The refundable amount is the net amount the College received, after credit card charges and fees.
• Refunds by international or domestic wire transfer carry a bank wire fee of $50 to $75, plus any foreign currency conversion fees and rate differences, deducted from the refund.
• The standard refund processing administration fee is a minimum of $49 and a maximum of $175, depending on the refundable amount, the transfer effort, and any investigation needed.

Other Conditions

• International students outside Canada who request a refund must provide a visa refusal letter dated after their most recent LOA. A new LOA requires a new refusal letter to qualify.
• Allow 7 to 10 business days for a decision after you submit the form. You receive email updates as your request moves through each stage, and the Finance team emails you when a refund is paid.
• Refunds and withdrawals are not accepted by telephone, email, fax, or letter, or after the deadline. CCEC must receive a written Notice of Withdrawal through the online form before the applicable deadline.
• International students who violate the terms of their study permit or student visa are not eligible for a refund. Tuition paid is forfeited and retained by CCEC.