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International Students Office
Sir George Williams Campus
Hall Building, Room: H-653
Tel. 514-848-2424 ext. 3515
supportservices.concordia.ca/iso

In this section, international students will find relevant information on immigration regulations, health insurance and tuition fees.

The International Students Office (ISO) is a member of Advocacy and Support Services, Enrolment and Student Services, and has developed support services to promote the adjustment of international students to life and study in Canada. Further information on the International Students Office is provided in the Student Services section.

Upon arrival at Concordia University, new international students must attend an Immigration Information session, organized by the International Students Office, in order to pick up their Information Package about Concordia and the City of Montréal. Students must also attend a Health Insurance Information session and sign up a Health Insurance card or, in exceptional cases, opt-out of the health insurance plan. For further details, see section on International Student Health and Accident Insurance.

It is essential that International students bring copies of their immigration documents and/or passport to the International Students Office. See details below.

Immigration Procedures and Documentation Required for the University

All persons, other than Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, who wish to pursue their studies in the province of Québec, must obtain a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a Study Permit. However, if their program of study is six months or less in duration, students have the option of studying in Canada without having to apply for a CAQ or Study Permit, provided they complete their studies within the authorized period of their stay in Canada. This regulation may be of particular interest to a visiting student, exchange student, or any other student whose program of study will not exceed six months. Students should verify with the Canadian immigration authorities in their country if a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV or Entry Visa) is required to enter Canada. Citizens of a number of countries must have a visa to enter Canada.

For students studying for more than six months, immigration documents are required to study at Concordia University. The CAQ is issued by ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles du Québec (MICC) and the Study Permit by Visa Departments of the Canadian Consulates, Embassies or High Commissions. As it may take several months to obtain the CAQ and Study Permit it is strongly recommended that the application process be started immediately upon receipt of the letter of admission from Concordia University. Failure to obtain these documents may prohibit study. For further information, please consult the ISO Pre-Departure Guide for International Students available on the International Students Office website. Students who do not receive their documents in time for the beginning of the term should request a deferral of their admission.

When applying for the Québec Acceptance Certificate and the Study Permit, international students are required to present evidence of sufficient funds for tuition and living expenses.

Students are advised to ensure that they will have sufficient funding to complete their degree. Concordia University cannot assume financial responsibility for students who do not have adequate funds.

Processing fees will be charged by both Immigration Québec and Immigration Canada for the issuance of a Québec Acceptance Certificate and a Study Permit.

Studying Without a CAQ and a Study Permit in a Program of Study of Six Months or Less:

Regulation 188(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations reads as follows: A foreign national may study in Canada without a study permit:c) if the duration of their course or program of studies is six months or less and will be completed within the period for their stay authorized upon entry into Canada.

This regulation may be of particular interest to foreign nationals who are coming to Canada for a short period of time, such as exchange and visiting students (with an offer of admission for one term only). It is understood however that this regulation only applies to a course or a program of study of a duration that will not exceed a six-month period.

Despite regulation 188(1), foreign nationals may still apply for a CAQ and a Study Permit if they wish to get these documents. There are certain advantages in having a CAQ and a Study Permit for studying in Canada. Some of these reasons are:

Working on campus: Only students holding a Study Permit are authorized to work on the campus of the institution where they are registered as full-time students.

Intent to pursue another program: If a student is considering pursuing another course or program of study after the six month period.

Documentation Required for the University. International students who will be studying in a program for six months or more are required to provide a copy of their CAQ and Study Permit, to the International Students Office, by the DNE deadline when they first register at Concordia and thereafter every time they renew their immigration documents (CAQs and Study Permits). Failure to comply with this regulation could result in the cancellation of the student’s registration.

These directives are in accordance with the funding regulations of the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport which requires that all international students registered at a university in Québec have in their permanent file a copy of their Québec Acceptance Certificate, their Study Permit, and for persons studying six months or less, a copy of the appropriate passport pages.

Working On-Campus

Immigration regulations allow full-time international students to accept employment on the campus of the educational institution where they are registered full-time, as long as they hold a valid Study Permit. They do not require a Work Permit.

Spouses of international students are allowed to work on and off-campus and are required to apply for a Work Permit. Further information may be obtained at the the International Students Office, 514-848-2424 ext. 3515, or by e-mail: iso@alcor.concordia.ca

Concordia offers an on-campus Work-Study program for Concordia University students. Those participating in the program have the opportunity to work on campus (maximum 200 hours per term). For further information on this program, consult the Financial Aid and Awards Office website or visit the International Students Office.

Working Off-Campus

Students may apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit after six months of of full-time study providing they maintain “good academic standing”. For further information refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website or visit the International Students Office, 514-848-2424 ext. 3515, or by e-mail: iso@alcor.concordia.ca

Working As Part of Your Degree

Some academic programs require that students complete a work term(s) in order to complete the degree requirements. International students who are enroled in such programs must apply for a Co-op Work Permit. For further information refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website or visit the International Students Office.

Working After Graduation

After graduation, International Students may work in Canada. They must apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit within 90 days of the release of final marks.

The duration of the Post-Graduation Work Permit will depend on the duration of the student’s studies at Concordia University. However, the permit will not be valid for a longer period than the length of the program of the student’s studies up to a maximum of three years. For further information refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

Immigration regulations are valid at the time of this writing. For further information, students should contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website

International Student Health and Accident Insurance

Immigration Québec and the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec require that all international students be covered by a health insurance plan while studying in Québec. To this end, Concordia University has implemented a compulsory health and accident insurance plan for its international students. Health insurance fees are charged automatically every year when international students register for courses or for Continuing in Program Registrations.

Check the International Students Office website for the cost for single coverage. Family and couple coverage are also available upon request. Coverage is from August 15 until August 14 of the following year. Students who register in January pay a pro-rated premium for the eight-month period from December 15 to August 14 of the same year and those beginning their studies in a Summer semester will be enrolled in a health insurance plan from April 15 to August 14.

Only certain categories of International Students will be permitted to opt-out of the Concordia Health Insurance Plan for International Students. These categories are listed below. Please note that Concordia University does not accept any other kind of health insurance plan that the student might be carrying or maintaining while coming to Canada.

1. Students who have a valid Québec Medicare Card/Carte d’assurance maladie du Québec.
2. Students who have a diplomatic visa in Canada and are covered by a group plan through their government. These students and their sponsors must complete a waiver of health insurance for international sponsored students provided at the ISO.
3. As a result of intergovernmental agreements, full-time students from Denmark, France, Finland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal and Sweden who were covered under the government’s medical system before their arrival in Québec will be eligible for the Québec medical benefits (called Québec Medicare Card or Carte d’assurance-maladie du Québec). These students must apply for the Québec Medicare card. Further information is available at the International Students Office.
4. International students who receive a scholarship (including health insurance, tuition fees, etc) from a sponsoring organization or government (such as CIDA, ICCS, CBIE, WUSC). Students must ensure that their scholarship letter clearly mentions the health insurance coverage as well as the duration of the policy. These students and their sponsors must complete a waiver of health insurance for international sponsored students provided at the ISO.
5. Refugee Claimants and Convention Refugees who can show proof of medical coverage by the Canadian or Québec Government.
6. International students who become permanent residents of Canada. An exemption/adjustment will be based on the date the International Students Office receives the record of landing document.

Proof of above-mentioned insurance is required in order to process an exemption. It must be presented in English or French indicating the period and amount of coverage available in Canada. This information is required by the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec and must be in the student’s Concordia file for audits and reports. Applications for exemptions are processed in person at the International Students Office (ISO), Hall Building, Room 653. Applications must be processed every year before the prescribed deadline; requests received after the deadlines and approved by the ISO will be charged an administration fee.

Opting-Out Deadlines

For all students beginning their insurance coverage in the Fall:
First deadline: October 31
Full refund
Second deadline: December 23
Partial Refund (administrative fee: $100)

Final deadline: May 1
Partial Refund (administrative fee: $200)

No refund will be approved after this final deadline.

For students beginning their insurance coverage in the Winter:
First deadline: February 28
Full refund
Final deadline: May 1
Partial Refund (administrative fee: $100)

No refund will be approved after this final deadline.

For students beginning their insurance coverage in the Summer (registered Summer 1):
Final deadline: May 15
Partial Refund (administrative fee: $50)

No refunds will be approved after this final deadline.

For students beginning their insurance coverage in the Summer (registered Summer 2):
Final deadline: July 15
Partial Refund (administrative fee: $50)

No refunds will be approved after this final deadline.

Refunds will be considered only for students who have not filed any claim to the Insurance Company during the current insured period. Refunds are given in the form of credit to the student’s university account.

Tuition and Other Fees for International Students

The cost of tuition for an academic year (i.e., Fall, Winter, Summer) varies depending upon a student’s status, level and program of study. Tuition fees for Graduate Diploma, Certificate, Independent and Visiting/Exchange Students are charged on the basis of the number of academic credits registered. “Other” compulsory fees include an Administrative fee, Student Services fee, Graduate Student Association fee and International Student Health Insurance fee. Students in a Master’s or PhD program may pay tuition and other compulsory fees based on the total number of academic credits in their program. The fees are charged in equal installments over a certain number of Tuition Billing Cycle terms irrespective of course registrations or academic notation, e.g. Continuation in Program (CIP). International Students should refer to the Financial Regulations section for detailed information on tuition and other fees or Tuition Fees and Financial Regulations online.

Exemptions from Differential Fees

Certain international students may be eligible to pay the same fees as Quebec residents. The following are among those who may be exempt from paying differential fees:

1. Diplomats, consular personnel, accredited representatives or civil servants of a foreign country, the United Nations or one of its organizations, an intergovernmental organization to which Canada belongs, and any member of the staff of the above-listed persons who are working in Canada in an official capacity and who have obtained an attestation issued by “le Protocole” (Gouvernment du Québec), 525 Réné-Lévesque East, Québec City, Telephone: (418) 649-2346. This attestation is valid for one academic year and must be renewed each year the student is attending university.
2. The spouse and unmarried children of the above-listed persons.
3. An international student whose spouse or parents hold certain categories of Work Permits in Quebec. For further details, contact Enrolment Services, Room LB-700, telephone: 514-848-2424 ext. 2624.
4. A student who is registered at a university and who has come to Quebec as an exchange student, or as a student participating in a program of cooperation agreed to by the Government of Quebec and which exempts the participants from paying differential fees.
5. A student who is a French citizen (accord France-Quebec); and has not resided in another Canadian province or territory immediately prior to coming to Quebec.

6. A student who is admitted to a Quebec university and whose country has a fee remission agreement with the Quebec Government. The government of Quebec has agreements for granting a limited number of exemptions from differential fees for International students from the following countries: Algeria, Andorra, Belgium (Flemish Community), Belgium (French community), Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Colombia (ICETEX), Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Germany (Bavaria, DAAD), Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Korea, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico (CONACYT, SEP, SRE), Morocco, Niger, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Spain (Catalonia), Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Vietnam.

   Taken from Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère de l’Éducation, Direction des affaires étudiantes et de la cooperation du Ministère de l’Éducation website. Note: Students who are granted a fee remission must maintain full-time status, each semester, in order to qualify for the fee remission.

   Inquiries and applications for an exemption should be made directly to the student’s own Ministry of Education prior to leaving their home country. In some cases, when the person is in Canada, it may be possible to apply for an exemption at their Embassy or Consulate in Canada or in the United States.
7. A student who is registered at a university and whose status as a Permanent Resident has been officially recognized by Canada Immigration. Should a student receive permanent resident status during the academic year, he or she should immediately present the official document to the Office of Enrolment Services, Room LB-700, and to the International Students Office, Room H-653, to have his or her status changed and to inquire about a possible refund. For more information on refund policies and deadlines for submission of documents, please contact Enrolment Services.
8. Under certain conditions, students who have obtained Convention Refugee status may be eligible for an exemption from the differential fees for international students. Depending on the documentation submitted, they may be eligible to pay either the Québec tuition rate or the Canadian non-Québec rate. For information on deadlines for submission of documentation and on the specific documents required, please contact Enrolment Services
9. A master’s or doctoral student who has been granted a fee remission from Concordia University. Application forms are available at the Graduate Awards Office, telephone: 514-848-2424 ext. 3801. The deadline for applications is December 15 of each year for the next academic year.
   Note: The fellowship deadline for the MFA is January 20.

Tuition Payment Arrangements

Students may be eligible to make payment arrangements through Payroll Deductions (Teaching and Research Assistants, certain Concordia employees). Payment arrangements do not supersede Concordia University’s tuition and other fees payment policies with regard to the release of transcripts, student records, degrees, diplomas or other official records, or permission to register in future sessions. Interest charges are assessed on all outstanding balances not paid in accordance to the University’s tuition and other fees payment policies regardless of whether or not a payment arrangement has been made with the Student Accounts Office. For more information, see the Financial Regulations section.

Fee Remission Awards for International Students

The Government of Quebec allows universities to exempt a certain number of full-time international students who have been admitted to graduate programs from paying academic tuition fees at the international rate. Detailed information can be found in the Graduate Awards section.

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