Costs

It’s important to have a good understanding of the expenses you’ll have as an international student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. All costs listed here are in Canadian dollars. Please note: All estimate calculations are based on Tuition & Fees in the Academic Calendar effective September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

On This Page

• Application Fee
• Confirmation Deposit
• Tuition & Mandatory Student Fees
• International Tuition Deposit 
• Living Costs
• Other Costs
• Sample First Year Costs

Application Fee

When you start your application to KPU by applying online, you'll pay a $120 application fee.

Confirmation Deposit

To accept your offer of admission to KPU, you must pay a non-refundable confirmation deposit of $5000 CAD for Limited and Open Intake programs. This confirmation deposit secures your seat offer at KPU, and is applied towards your KPU tuition.

Refunds of the confirmation deposit are only available under the following circumstances:

• KPU has cancelled an intake of admission, OR 
• Student’s Visa study permit application has been denied by IRCC, OR 
• Student is facing extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control where undue hardship is evident (please refer to the Refunds page, Scenario 5 for more information)

See Refunds page for more details.

Tuition and Mandatory Student Fees

At KPU, tuition and mandatory student fees are usually assessed at a rate per credit. Currently, international students pay approximately $777.26 per credit for tuition and fees, with the exception of ENGQ and ELST courses, which are $430.18 per credit for tuition and fees.

• Tuition: $726.42 per credit
• University Levied Student Fees: $50.84 per credit

ENGQ and ELST courses:

• Tuition: $402.04 per credit
• University Levied Student Fees: $28.14 per credit

These rates are applicable between September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025, but are subject to change. Visit the Tuition & Mandatory Student Fees page on the University Calendar for the official fee schedule. 

The following fees also apply:

• Kwantlen Student Association (KSA) fees:
  • Operating fund: $3.89 per credit + flat fee of $11.60 (to a maximum of $61.96 per semester) and
  • $6.79 per semester and
  • $8.02 per credit 
• KSA Extended Health Plan: $92.59 (per year) 
• KSA Dental Plan: $119.83 (per year)
• Multi-Pass and U-Pass BC (public transportation pass): $56.58 (per month)
• guard.me Temporary Medical Insurance Plan Coverage: $201.30 (per semester until proof of coverage for the provincial's health care plan can be provided)

Most international students pay between $14,694.48 - $24,141.80 per year in tuition and mandatory student fees as full-time students at KPU (enrolled in 9-15 credits per term for two terms). Additionally, you should account for the costs of textbooks, course materials, and other living costs. In general, you can calculate how much you’ll pay in tuition and fees for a course or program by multiplying the per-credit rate by the number of credits. Or, try using the Tuition Estimator.

International Tuition Deposit 

All continuing international students will be required to pay an International Tuition Deposit in order to be able to register. Each term, you will only be able to register for courses once your deposit has been received and processed and you have a balance of at least $2,200 on your account.

• This is not an additional fee; the $2,200 is applied towards the balance of your account, which will reduce your total fees owing for the term. 
• Your international tuition deposit must be paid online. Please allow at least 5 business days for your payment to be processed by KPU. Find out how to pay at kpu.ca/registration/pay. This amount must be paid and received in full before you will be able to register for classes. 
• Once your international tuition deposit is received and processed, you will be able to register for classes on or after your assigned registration day/time. 
• If you choose to drop all classes prior to the start of term, a refund of the international tuition deposit may be requested in writing to KPU International. 

Living Costs

In addition to tuition and other course-related costs, students must account for the expenses of living away from home for an extended period of time. Living costs vary from person to person, but some of the costs you should consider include:

• Moving Costs
• Accommodations
• Utilities
• Transportation
• Food
• Entertainment

The average student will likely need, at minimum, $8,800 to cover living costs each semester. This is an estimate only and will not apply to all students; we strongly encourage that you make your own estimates and budget based on your own living arrangements and habits.   

Other Costs

Visit the Other Fees page on the University Calendar for an overview of other fees you may encounter as a student at KPU. 

Sample First Year Costs

This chart can help you understand how much money you may need for your first year at KPU. Please note that your actual costs may vary; this chart estimates an average international student’s first year costs, and your costs will vary based on various factors, including program of study, cost of accommodation, living habits, and more. 

¹ This fee includes the U-Pass BC ($46.00/mo) and KSA MultiPass ($10.58/mo).  
² This fee includes the KSA Extended Health Plan ($92.59/yr) and Dental Plan ($119.83/yr), Temporary Medical Insurance Plan ($201.30/First Semester), and MSP (After First Semester $75/mo).
³ Based on 3 courses with an average of $125 textbook costs per course. Costs will vary based on the courses taken. Some courses may have zero textbook costs, while others will require both textbooks and additional course supplies
⁴ Based on accomodation ($1400/mo), utilities ($200/mo), and personal expenses ($600/mo).