Understanding your fees
Learn about UCalgary tuition, program and general fees, assessment details and opt-out options.
UCalgary assesses fees for each term that you’re an active full- or part-time student/trainee (residents and fellows). In addition to tuition fees, some programs include program-specific fees each term. Students/trainees can review their assessed fees in the My Financials section of the Student Centre. You can generate a term account summary to support understanding the assessment.
Updates to mandatory non‑instructional fees (MNIFs)
MNIFs are fees that students pay for specific goods or services that enhance the student experience. Currently, the MNIFs are grouped into three categories. Beginning in Fall 2026, the student account will show five fee categories.
This update is required to align with the Government of Alberta's Tuition and Fees Regulation and the Alberta Tuition Framework, including recent direction (February 2026).
The total amount you pay in MNIFs will remain the same. No services have been removed or added, and the overall student experience supported by these fees remains consistent.
Tuition
Students and trainees (residents and fellows) pay the tuition and fees applicable to the term in which they’re admitted and begin their program (this is also known as the student’s admission term). A program may include two types of costs: program-specific fees charged each term, and tuition fees calculated per course. Tuition course fees are taxable; if paid, they will appear on T2202 tax forms. Tuition course fees associated with audited courses are non-taxable.
Course fees
Course fees vary by type of course, the faculty offering the course, and sometimes by the program offering the course. Students will be assessed per course tuition fees as listed in the Course Fee Rate Group tables in the Academic Calendar.
Undergraduate students taking a graduate-level course will pay the graduate course fee rate. Graduate students taking an undergraduate-level course will pay the undergraduate course fee rate.
Retained Tuition Rate
Some students are eligible for a different tuition rate based on the term and program to which they were admitted. These rates are referred to as Retained Tuition Rate Groups throughout the Academic Calendar. Undergraduate students eligible for a Retained Tuition Rate Group, see P.1.1.1 Undergraduate Retained Tuition Rate Groups; eligible graduate students, see P.2.3.2 Graduate Course-based Retained Tuition Rate Groups.
Program fees
Some programs assess a program fee, and tuition and general fees. Please refer to the Academic Calendar links below for details on any program-specific fees that may apply to you:
General fees
General fees are assessed each term the student has active enrolment, whether at a full or part-time academic load. The general fees include mandatory non-instructional fees (MNIFs). Some fees are assessed each term, and some are assessed annually. See the links below for a full list of the applicable general fees including MNIFs and the services that they fund.
Tax eligible general fees
- Campus Recreation (per term)
- Athletics (per term)
- Donation (per term)*
- Student services fee (per term)
Non-taxable general fees
Taxable general fees
- Campus Recreation (per term)
- Athletics (per term)
- Student Services Fee (per term)
- Graduate Bursary Donation (annually)*
Non-taxable general fees
- Group Insurance (annually)
- Graduate Students Association (GSA) (per 12 months)
- City of Calgary UPass (per term)
- GSA Health Insurance (per 12 months)*
- GSA Dental Insurance (per 12 months)*
*The following fees may be optional. See optional fee information below for details.
^As of Fall 2026, this fee will be organized and relabelled as per the MNIF section below.
Note: PGME trainees (residents and fellows) aren't assessed general fees unless they're registered in courses in addition to PGME. Trainees may choose to opt in to the UPass, if eligible.
Mandatory non-instructional fees
Mandatory non-instructional fees (MNIFs) are fees that students pay for specific goods or services that enhance the student experience. They aren’t related to instruction in a specific program and are not optional.
UCalgary administers the following five MNIFs (as of the Fall 2026 term). There is also an MNIF paid by Faculty of Law students. For MNIF details from previous years, visit the Finance website.
Check the Academic Calendar for more details.
Academic services
Supports non-instructional services that directly contribute to students’ academic success, learning development, accessibility and career readiness.
Student health and wellness services
Supports non-instructional health, wellness and well-being services that help students maintain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Student experience services
Supports non-academic services that enhance student safety, inclusion, belonging and overall student experience.
Student enrolment and registrarial services
Supports enrolment-related and registrarial services that enable students to register, progress and complete their academic programs.
Campus recreation and athletics
Supports student recreation, physical activity and intercollegiate athletics.
Fees with an opt-out option
Some student fees, including health and dental coverage, the Engineering Endowment Fund, and certain donations, can be opted out of before the term fee deadline if you meet eligibility requirements.
Have proof of alternative health and dental coverage? You must opt out before the fee deadline for the term.
All engineering students are asked to make a tax-deductible donation to the Calgary Engineering Endowment Fund. Full- and part-time undergraduate students (excluding Open Studies and diploma students) are automatically charged $25 per Fall and Winter Terms. Funds raised go in an endowment fund. Its interest is used to enhance the Engineering undergraduate program.
Students can opt out of the donation one month before the start of each term. You can do this through the My Financials section of your Student Centre. The donation is non-refundable after the term fee deadline. You must submit the opt-out request on or before the term fee deadline to opt out of the fee.
Including the Undergraduate Student Peer Assistance Bursary, and the Graduate Peer Assistance Bursary
The UCalgary Students’ Union asks all students to make a tax-deductible donation to the Student Peer Assistance Bursary program. That bursary program includes both the Undergraduate and Graduate Peer Assistance Bursaries. These bursaries are available to students in financial need.
In each of the Fall and Winter terms, you'll be charged $10. In each of the Spring and Summer terms, you'll be charged $7. Your donation provides bursaries to other students with proven financial need. The donation is non-refundable after the term fee deadline. The donation can be opted out one month prior to the start of each term. You can do this through the My Financials section of your Student Centre.
Note: Students who don’t contribute to the bursary limit the maximum available payout of the bursary. Students who don’t contribute can receive no more than 50% of the full bursary amount ($1,500).
Term account summary
The term account summary is a feature within the My Financials section of your Student Center. The fee assessment provides a detailed summary of all financial transactions on your account for a specified term. If applicable, it includes:
- A breakdown of tuition organized by course,
- Associated general fees, including MNIF,
- Residence charges, and
- Payment plan charges with associated due dates.
The term account summary also lists payments by term. This includes UCalgary scholarships and refunds.
The term account summary isn’t an invoice. It’s also not intended to act as an official confirmation of tuition amounts for a third party. Print a confirmation of registration letter if you need an official document that shows your assessed fees. If you need an official invoice for a third party, use the third-party sponsorship process.
If you need help to understand your term account summary, contact the appropriate group below:
- Enrolment Services can help with understanding undergraduate course registration, fee assessment, undergraduate scholarships and refund inquiries.
- Graduate Studies can help with graduate registration, fee assessment and graduate scholarships
- Post Graduate Medical Trainees (residents and fellows) can contact PGME for all program/fee assessment questions.
- Undergraduate Medical Education students can contact UME for support on registration.