Drops, withdrawals and refunds

Financial Responsibility

Students are financially responsible for all fees incurred by course registration. A student may withdraw in good standing from a course within the period established each term as published in the academic calendar. Discontinuing attendance at classes, notification to the instructor, or stopping payment on a cheque does not constitute official withdrawal from a course or the University.  All students electronically sign and are bound by the statement of financial responsibility in order to register for classes each academic year:

By registering for classes at Brock University, I agree to pay all assessed tuition and fees as a result of this registration. I am responsible to properly cancel, adjust or drop my registration by the end of the online drop and add periods, in accordance with the course calendar.  I understand that decisions with respect to any request for course withdrawals, tuition refunds, tuition adjustments, or other fees shall be made at Brock University’s sole discretion and in accordance with the applicable Brock University policies and procedures. Furthermore, I agree to pay any additional charges I may incur, including, but not limited to: charges for residence, meal plans, class materials, other departmental charges, service charges and interest on overdue accounts. I understand that it is my responsibility to verify my student financial account on a regular basis.  I understand that, regardless of my eligibility for financial aid, I am personally responsible for the full amount assessed to me as a result of my registration and will be held accountable to Brock University financial policies and procedures.  I understand that having an overdue balance on my student financial account may have both academic and non-academic consequences, including, without limitation, the withholding of my degree and/or transcripts of grades.

Students are academically and financially responsible for all courses for which they register unless they officially withdraw by the specified deadline date for each term. Grades will be recorded on students’ transcripts for all courses in which they have registered and from which they have not officially withdrawn.  No Academic Penalty DOES NOT mean No Financial Penalty.  Withdrawals have financial penalties based on date of withdrawal.  Full details are provided in the links below.

Course drops

Students are free to add or drop courses through the online registration system without financial penalty (unless all courses are dropped-see below) while the system is open (see the appropriate registration guide for details). Dropped courses do not appear on the student transcript.

Students who drop all courses between the start of term date and the drop date will be charged a full drop fee calculated at $100 per credit dropped to a maximum of $500. This also applies to students who may be granted back dated drops through the registrar’s or Dean’s office.

Course withdrawals

After the posted drop date, students may withdraw from courses online via the student portal at my.brocku.ca. Withdrawn courses appear on the student transcript, along with the date of withdrawal. The final date to withdraw from courses without academic penalty is posted in the appropriate registration guide.

Please note that the final date to withdraw without academic penalty is not the same as the final date to drop without financial penalty. All withdrawals have financial penalties.

Tuition adjustments

All courses registered or withdrawn after the appropriate drop date count as attempts. Students who have attempted 4.0 or more are charged a flat fee for tuition and are not entitled to a refund of fees for courses withdrawn.

Students who have attempted fewer than 4.0 credits during a fall and winter session are charged per credit. If a per credit student withdraws from a course after the appropriate drop date, the applicable course tuition will be reversed and a withdrawal charge, based upon the recorded date of withdrawal, will be applied.

Withdrawal schedules by session

Please note that withdrawal schedules are only applicable if your tuition is charged per credit (3.5 credits or less). If you are assessed based on the flat fee tuition structure (4.0 or more credits) your overall fees will not change due to a withdrawal, however, the account will reassess fees based on actual credit weight in each term which may result in a change to the amount due or past due.  Students are responsible to monitoring their student account after any course changes and paying any new balance due immediately. Contact the finance office if you have any questions concerning the financial implications of withdrawing from a course.

Complete withdrawal

Students who withdraw from all courses after the appropriate drop date must contact the Student Accounts and Financial Aid office to ensure the complete withdrawal is processed correctly.

To assist students and ensure all considerations have been made the complete withdrawal checklist can be used as a guide.

Seniors

Students 60 years of age or older who opt for a tuition waiver will incur withdrawal fees if withdrawing from a course. Please refer to the withdrawal schedule to determine the applicable withdrawal fee.

Fee Appeal Process

In rare or unique situations, a student may be eligible for refund or reversal of fees, in whole or in part.  Please read, in full, the fee appeals process and follow the instructions.  DO NOT submit an appeal if you do not have grounds based on the procedure document as it will not be considered.  This process is effective 2018 academic year and onward only.  Fee appeals submitted for previous years will not be considered.  OSAP, Awards & Tax Documents:  Changes in tuition and fees may affect your OSAP assessment and create grant to loan conversions and/or overpayments or changes to repayment amounts.   Awards administered by Brock University may be reversed or reduced.  US Federal Loan eligibility may be reduced and Return to Title IV processes enacted.  T2202 and T4A tax documents will be adjusted for the tax year adjustments pertain to and amended tax documents filed with CRA.   It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of such changes and take appropriate action(s)

Refunds

Students with a net credit on account after all pending changes have processed may request a refund. The University pays students by electronic E-transfer.  Instructions are sent to your Brock e-mail account upon completion of the refund request.  Be sure to check your Spam/Junk/Clutter folders prior to contacting the University.  No refunds will be processed while changes are pending on a file, or during the add/drop period. In addition, no refunds are possible during any period that the registration system is closed to compile data for government reporting.

OSAP students, students in receipt of US Federal Loans and students who have received scholarships, awards, or bursaries, will have refund requests reviewed by a Student Financial Services Officer. Changes in course load, and other factors, may affect student eligibility for OSAP, US Federal Loans, scholarship or bursary funding.  OSAP overpayments must be returned to the National Student Loan Service Center and therefore, credit may not be payable to the student.  US Federal Loan unearned payments will be subject to Return to Title IV regulations.

Tuition refund percentageSpring 2024Fall 2024Winter 2025
100%May 5Sept 17Jan 17
50%May 6 - May 11Sept 18 - Oct 11Jan 18- Feb 14
NO REFUNDMay 12+Oct 12+Feb 15+

MA, MSc, MBE, MS, MPH, MPK, MAG, MEd Research route, and PhD programs

This fee is charged on a per term basis. Withdrawal notification, in writing, must be received by the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the dates noted below. Discontinuing attendance at classes, notification to the instructor or stopping payment on a cheque does not constitute official withdrawal.

The following percentages apply only to complete withdrawal from a term. Withdrawal from a course during the term will not result in a partial credit being issued. Note that applicable sessional ancillary fees are non-refundable after the free drop/add period.

Graduate students, who receive internal or external funding and completely withdraw from the university, will have their funding adjusted based on the following funding adjustment percentage chart. After the adjustment of tuition fees and funding it will be determined if a student will owe the university or be entitled to a refund. The funding adjustment percentage chart indicates the percentage amount of funding a student is required to pay back to the university.

Funding adjustmentSpring 2024Fall 2024Winter 2025
100%May 5Sept 17Jan 17
50%May 6 - May 11Sept 18 - Oct 11Jan 18 - Feb 14
25%May 12 - July 18Oct 12 - Nov 30Feb 15 - Mar 27
NO ADJUSTMENTJuly 19+Dec 1 +Mar 28+

MEd Course based route, MAcc, MBA,MADS and MN (Dual Degree Nursing BN/MN -Spring MN entry) programs:

This fee is charged on a per credit basis. Withdrawal notification, in writing, must be received by the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the dates noted below. Discontinuing attendance at classes, notification to the instructor or stopping payment on a cheque does not constitute official withdrawal.

Credits to tuition fees for withdrawn courses are based on various dates throughout the term and are calculated on a percentage basis. Please refer to the appropriate schedule below. The calculated credit is applied to your student account. Fees will be refunded if there are no subsequent registrations.

Students dropping all courses in any term become inactive and are required to pay the inactive fee.

Refunds

Fee Appeal Process

In rare or unique situations, a student may be eligible for refund or reversal of fees, in whole or in part.  Please read, in full, the fee appeals process and follow the instructions.  DO NOT submit an appeal if you do not have grounds based on the procedure document as it will not be considered.  This process is effective 2018 academic year and onward only.  Fee appeals submitted for previous years will not be considered.  OSAP, Awards & Tax Documents:  Changes in tuition and fees may affect your OSAP assessment and create grant to loan conversions and/or overpayments or changes to repayment amounts.   Awards administered by Brock University may be reversed or reduced.  US Federal Loan eligibility may be reduced and Return to Title IV processes enacted.  T2202 and T4A tax documents will be adjusted for the tax year adjustments pertain to and amended tax documents filed with CRA.   It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of such changes and take appropriate action(s)

Course drops

Students are free to add or drop courses through the online registration system without financial penalty prior to the published drop date. Dropped courses do not appear on the student transcript.

Course withdrawals

After the posted drop date, students may withdraw from courses online via the student portal at my.brocku.ca. Withdrawn courses appear on the student transcript, along with the date of withdrawal. The final date to withdraw from courses without academic penalty is posted in the appropriate registration guide.

Tuition adjustments

If an inservice student withdraws from a course after the appropriate drop date, the applicable course tuition will be reversed, and a withdrawal charge, based upon the recorded date of withdrawal, will be applied:

The course material/online support fee is not refunded for courses withdrawn. Please contact the Student Accounts and Finance Aid office for information on course durations other than those listed above.

Refunds

Students with a net credit on account after all pending changes have processed may request a refund. The University pays students by electronic E-transfer.  Instructions are sent to your Brock e-mail account upon completion of the refund request.  Be sure to check your Spam/Junk/Clutter folders prior to contacting the University.  No refunds will be processed while changes are pending on a file, or during the add/drop period. In addition, no refunds are possible during any period that the registration system is closed to compile data for government reporting.

OSAP students, and students who have received scholarships, awards, or bursaries, will have refund requests reviewed by a Student Financial Services Officer. Changes in course load, and other factors, may affect student eligibility for OSAP, scholarship or bursary funding.  OSAP overpayments must be returned to the National Student Loan Service Center and therefore, credit may not be payable to the student.

Course drops

Students are free to add or drop courses through the online registration system without financial penalty (unless all courses are dropped-see below) while the system is open (see the appropriate registration guide for details). Dropped courses do not appear on the student transcript.

Course withdrawals

After the posted drop date, students may withdraw from courses online via the student portal at my.brocku.ca. Withdrawn courses appear on the student transcript, along with the date of withdrawal. The final date to withdraw from courses without academic penalty is posted in the appropriate registration guide.

Tuition adjustments

If a Teacher Education student withdraws from a course after the appropriate drop date, the applicable course tuition will be reversed, and a withdrawal charge, based upon the recorded date of withdrawal, will be applied. Please consult the following schedules for the credit percentages by date for each session and duration of course.

Withdrawal schedules by session

Students who drop all courses between the start of term date and the drop date will be charged a full drop fee calculated at $100 per credit dropped to a maximum of $500. This also applies to students who may be granted back dated drops through the Registrar’s office/Dean’s office.

Refunds

Students with a net credit on account after all pending changes have processed may request a refund. The University pays students by electronic E-transfer.  Instructions are sent to your Brock e-mail account upon completion of the refund request.  Be sure to check your Spam/Junk/Clutter folders prior to contacting the University.  No refunds will be processed while changes are pending on a file, or during the add/drop period. In addition, no refunds are possible during any period that the registration system is closed to compile data for government reporting.

OSAP students, and students who have received scholarships, awards, or bursaries, will have refund requests reviewed by a Student Financial Services Officer. Changes in course load, and other factors, may affect student eligibility for OSAP, scholarship or bursary funding.  OSAP overpayments must be returned to the National Student Loan Service Center and therefore, credit may not be payable to the student.