Tuition and Fees 2021/22 FAQs
About your 2021/22 Fees
The fees on the Incidental Fees information page have been updated to provide more detail about what each fee funds, who makes the decisions about the fee levels and contact information for student/parent inquiries. You can also contact Service Laurier for more information.
For students experiencing financial challenges, we continue to offer financial supports. Visit Financial Supports for Students for information about what is available to you.
There is an established process for reviewing incidental fees. The Non-Tuition Fee Protocol (NTFP) committee reviews all non-tuition fees and does so regularly throughout the academic year. The NTFP committee includes representatives from the university, the Students’ Union and the Graduate Students Association.
Frequently Asked Questions
The provincial government’s Student Choice Initiative would have allowed students to opt out of fees the government deemed “non-essential.” This initiative was struck down by the courts in November 2019 in a ruling that is currently being appealed by the Government of Ontario.
While we continue to monitor the appeal process, all non-tuition ancillary fees will appear on invoices for each term. There is no option to opt out of these fees unless otherwise stated.
For more information, review the Student Choice Initiative FAQ.
For information on optional fees, please log into your Student Fee Opt-Out Portal
As we continue to move towards fully returning to campus, fees will be used to support essential services that remain accessible to students online. Continuing to provide these services means continuing to pay staff as well as investing in new technologies and approaches to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic. Fees are also required to ensure the university can re-open and restart in-person services as soon as possible when conditions allow.
We have reviewed competitor data and are confident that this year’s incidental fee rates continue to be similar to or lower than other Ontario universities.
Building fees charged to Brantford and Waterloo students are being used to fund the maintenance and necessary upgrades to the buildings on their respective campuses. Fees are required to ensure the university can fully re-open and restart in-person classes and services as conditions allow.
The Department of Athletics and Recreation continues to work diligently to provide innovative and inclusive hybrid programming options to allow students the opportunity to take a break from their academic commitments and remain healthy at home.
These opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- group exercise
- e-sports
- health and wellness webinars
- student employment
- sport skill development
- certification clinics
- sport-specific clinics
Athletics fees support the staff and program costs associated with delivering recreation services online, as well as to maintain the building and equipment and to prepare for a future re-opening to the public.
The Department of Athletics and Recreation will provide an innovative experience for students to stay active, challenge themselves, and embrace the culture of being a Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk. If you have specific inquiries contact services@laurierathletics.com.
Athletics and Recreation also remains committed to re-opening our facilities. We continue to work closely with our pandemic recovery committee, along with the Public Health guidelines, to coordinate the necessary precautions for a safe return to in-person activity. Please note: plans for re-opening the Athletics Centre are being developed independently of any other campus buildings. Visit laurierathletics.com in the coming weeks for return to activity plans in the fall semester.
Currently, about 55% of co-op students work remotely. Student gain skills and experience through productive work with co-op employers, regardless of whether they work remotely or on location.
Although we cannot guarantee that every student will secure employment, the employment rates have remained consistently high throughout the pandemic. The co-op fee for each term is associated with enrolment in the co-op program.
For more information about coop programs, visit the co-op page.
The fee for PRISM resources will be charged while learning is done primarily online. Student's have the option to opt-out of this fee using the opt-out portal.
The Music Student Experience Fee will provide operational funding for student initiatives and cover conference fees for students who wish to attend events virtually. They will also go toward bringing in special guest performers and lecturers for virtual master classes. As before, distribution of Music Student Experience Fee is at the discretion of the Dean of the Faculty of Music.
Laurier is committed to delivering high-quality, engaging courses in a virtual format to ensure that students can successfully complete their degrees and diplomas. The costs of delivering each program have actually increased due to additional expenditures on staff training, enhancements to online capability, and the development of new supports for students and faculty. To cover these program costs and the ongoing costs of maintaining campus facilities, Laurier has kept tuition fees in line with last year’s tuition. This is the same approach that has been taken by all other Ontario universities.
Visit the tuition page for more information about tuition fees.
We recognize that financial burdens are being felt more acutely during this period and that is why we have invested in additional financial aids for our students. If you require any assistance to cover the cost of your education, visit Financial Supports for Students for information about what is available to you.