If you have been accepted to VIU and are scheduled to start your program but would like to request a deferral or a refund, please fill out the form and send it back to us at Study@viu.ca. Please ensure you have carefully read the Refund and Deferral policy before submitting your request.
Deferral requests must be received by the dates below:
- Fall (September) Semester - no later than 11:59 pm PST on August 15
- Spring (January) Semester - no later than 11:59 pm PST on December 15
- Intersession (May) Semester - no later than 11:59 pm PST on April 15
Note that the form is a request that will be considered - it does not guarantee that your request can be granted.
Fees, Deferrals and Refund Policies
General Regulations
All students at VIU are subject to university policies and procedures. Below are the deferral and refund policies specific to international students.
New international applicants to VIU should be aware that their initial deposit to VIU is non-refundable and non-transferable, except in the case of approved deferrals or study permit refusals.
Unpaid fines, administrative fees, and other amounts owing to VIU will be deducted prior to any approved deferral or refund.
Students required to withdraw, or who are not admitted to VIU, due to a violation of the Student Conduct Code and/or Student Academic Code of Conduct are not entitled to any deferral or refund.
Deferrals
Deferrals* - New Applicants Prior to Arrival at VIU
In most cases, new international applicants may request to defer the start of their studies one time and up to a maximum of one calendar year from original start date. The deferral request must be made in writing and received by VIU by the deferral deadline (eg. prior to the start of the semester that they have been accepted to).
If a student is approved to defer their start date, VIU will hold their initial deposit/payment in trust as a partial payment towards the new start date. Once a deferral is approved, the funds held in trust will be forfeited if the applicant does not attend the accepted VIU program by the new start date, except in exceptional circumstances (see refund details below).
*Students should be aware that not all programs allow deferrals and not all programs that allow deferrals have intakes each semester. Students wishing to defer, should contact Study@viu.ca or Masters@viu.ca
Refunds
Please be aware that payments made from all sources within Canada will be refunded to the student only; payments received from outside of Canada will be refunded to the payer via the method consistent with the original payment. Credit card payments will be refunded back to the credit card.
To initiate refunds, new students should contact Study@viu.ca or Masters@viu.ca. Continuing students should contact Cashier@viu.ca.
Study Permit Refusal Grounds
New applicants who have submitted a complete and legitimate study permit application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) related to their most recent VIU letter of acceptance (including deferred acceptances) and who are refused the related study permit are eligible to apply for a full refund of tuition paid to VIU, minus administrative fees and any related banking charges. Such requests must include a copy of the relevant letter of refusal from the Canadian Embassy High Commission, or Consulate Visa Section. Students requesting a refund on these grounds will be deemed to give VIU authorization to contact IRCC about their study permit application and resultant refusal letter should they require any confirmation of information from IRCC. View the IRCC authorization form. A copy of the completed, signed, document should be sent to VIU as part of your refund application. Students must also fill in Section 2.0 ‘Applicants Information only’. This document is only valid for one time use with IRCC, so any future refund requests based on study permit refusal grounds will require a new form.