Payment Plans for International Students
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Spread your tuition payments over the term
Manage your international education costs with convenient, interest-free payment plans. The University of Alberta (U of A) offers self-service payment plans through PayMyTuition for international students in degree programs, allowing you to distribute your tuition payments across the term.
If you are unable to pay your tuition in full by the payment deadline, you can enroll in a payment plan. Note: you may only have one active payment plan at a time.
Important: If you do not fulfill your payment plan obligations for your current term, financial holds will be placed on your account, preventing you from enrolling in the following term.
Payment plans through PayMyTuition
Eligibility
Payment plans are only available if you:
- Are an international student (undergraduate or graduate).
- Are enrolled in a degree program. Full-time or part-time status.
- Have a financial account with no financial holds (i.e. library fines, tuition, residence balances owing, etc.), or outstanding balances from previous terms.
- Owe at least $2,000 in eligible charges, which includes tuition, mandatory non-instructional fees and faculty fees. (Full-time or part-time students).
Ineligible students
Domestic students
The payment plan is only available to eligible international students at this time. Payment options available for domestic students are listed on uab.ca/paytuition. Review the “Other ways to pay” section of this web page.
Graduate Research or Teaching students receiving tuition payroll deductions
If you are an international student enrolled in the Graduate Payroll Deduction plan, your tuition is already automatically taken care of through scheduled deductions. This convenient program was negotiated for you by the Graduate Students Association, meaning you do not need to sign up for the separate payment plan. For more details, please visit Graduate Student Employment.
Cost to participate
$75 per term non-refundable enrolment fee, due at the time you enrol in a payment plan.
Payment plan details for eligible students
Dates and deadlines
Term availability
Plans are available for the Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 terms (four payments per term).
Enrolment
- If you enrol on Sept. 30, allow 5 business days for processing.
- If using an international bank transfer, which takes up to 10 business days to process, initiate your payment at least 14 business days before the due date.
- Enrolment windows: You can only sign up for a plan during the specified enrolment period each term. See dates listed below ↓
Payments
- The first payment is due upon enrolment and must be paid using the PayMyTuition portal available through Bear Tracks. If the payment is not received within 5 business days, the student will be considered ineligible for the payment plan.
- Payments are due on the first of the month (See dates listed below ↓). Payment plan dates are not subject to change. Ensure your payment is received by the U of A on the payment plan due date.
- If the first of the month falls on a weekend, the payment will be processed on the following business day.
- If your tuition balance changes (e.g., adding/dropping classes or receiving an award), your remaining payment amounts will automatically adjust.
- PayMyTuition will send regular email reminders to your @ualberta email to help you stay on track.
| Term | Enrolment period for payment plans | Instalment due date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Aug. 15 - Sept. 30 $75 + 25% of Total Tuition |
Oct. 1 - 25% Nov. 1 - 25% Dec.1 - 25% |
| Winter 2027 | Dec. 15 - Jan. 29 $75 + 25% of Total Tuition |
Feb. 1 - 25% March 1 - 25% April 1 - 25% |
Student responsibility
You are responsible for keeping your payment methods and installments up to date.
How to enrol in a payment plan
You can enrol in a payment plan anytime during the payment plan enrolment period. For Fall 2026, payment plans are available through PayMyTuition starting Aug. 15. Only one payment plan is available per term.
1. Eligibility check
Review the Eligibility Criteria listed above. If you are eligible, you can enrol yourself directly through PayMyTuition.
2. Enrol in a payment plan in PayMyTuition
Visual instructions on how to enrol a payment plan in PayMyTuition.
- Log in to your Bear Tracks account.
- Go to your Financial tile
- Select the Financial Account tile to access "Make a Payment"
- Select "International"
- Select "PayMyTuition"
- Select the "ENROL IN PAYMENT PLAN" button to start the payment plan process.
3. Review Terms and Conditions
Before enrolling, you are required to complete the following steps:
- Verify balances: Check your student account details in Bear Tracks to confirm they align with your payment plan total.
- Review policies: Ensure you fully understand and agree to all financial information listed within the plan provided in the Terms and Conditions. Your signature is required on the form.
- Note exclusions: Keep in mind that Residence, Meals and Emergency Loans are excluded from payment plans and must be paid by their standard deadlines.
4. Input payment method and finalize your plan
Carefully review the final payment plan agreement, including installment due dates.
5. Pay the $75 non-refundable enrolment fee.
Your enrolment fee and down payment must be paid through PayMyTuition.
6. Making instalment payments
Canadian financial institutions
If you use a Canadian bank, you will be required to log into your bank account and make your payment on your instalment date. Issue the payment to the University of Alberta.
International financial institutions
If you are paying from an international financial institution, you must log into your chosen payment portal (CIBC, Convera or PayMyTuition) to manually initiate each payment before the installment due date. Remember to account for international processing times to ensure your funds are received on time. For example, because an international bank transfer can take up to 10 business days to process, you should initiate your transfer at least 14 business days before the installment deadline. Automatic withdrawals are unavailable from international financial institutions.
Credit Card
Pay via PayMyTuition, Convera or CIBC. Payments made through Convera and CIBC are not automatic. You must log into your chosen platform to manually initiate each installment before the due date. Note processing times to ensure you meet installment deadlines.
Detailed payment options
Your payment method depends on your bank account location:
Paying from a Canadian financial institution
If you’re paying from a Canadian financial institution (bank), you must set up the University of Alberta as a payee (similar to a utility bill).
Account number
Your seven-digit student ID number followed by the first four letters of your last name (e.g., 1234567SMIT). If your last name is shorter than four letters, fill the remaining spaces with your first name.
Processing time
Allow a minimum of two to three business days for processing.
Canadian credit card
If you log into PayMyTuition payment plan, you are able to set up automatic monthly payments using your Canadian credit card. By doing so, your credit card will be automatically charged on the payment due dates. Please note, this can only be available through PayMyTuition directly.
Credit card fees
Credit card fees will vary depending on the payment portal that is used to issue the payment, and whether the card is a Canadian credit card or international credit card. Please check with your credit card issuer for the credit card transaction fee that will be assessed when you're using your credit card to pay tuition and fees in Canada.
Paying from international financial institution
If you’re paying from an international financial institution, you can pay by:
- Visa debit or Mastercard debit; or
- Credit Card in your home currency; or
- Bank transfer/wire
You must log into one of the international payment portals; PayMyTuition, CIBC or Convera and initiate your payment before each instalment due date.
Need support completing your payment plan or processing international payments?
Connect with PayMyTuition directly:
- Phone: 1-855-663-6839 (toll-free) or via their local country contact numbers.
- Email: support@paymytuition.com
Frequently asked questions
Enrolment and approval
Once the payment plan enrolment period opens, you can enrol in a plan:
- For Fall 2026, the enrolment period is open Aug. 15, 2026 - Sept. 30, 2026
- For Winter 2027, the enrolment period is open Dec. 15, 2026 - Jan. 29, 2027
- A reminder that the U of A is closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4. If you issue a payment during this time period, your payment is safe and it will be reflected on your student account when we reopen for business!
Note: The enrolment fee and down payment must be paid through PayMyTuition. The payment plan is only available for Fall and Winter terms at this time.
Be sure to enrol in a payment plan by the tuition payment deadline to avoid any penalties and financial holds.
You can only enrol in one payment plan per term. If you did not fulfill your payment plan obligations for the Fall term, you will not be able to enrol in the payment plan for the Winter term.
Important reminder: To ensure a smooth and successful experience, we encourage international students to maintain good financial standing by taking care of their financial commitments on time. Outstanding balances in the payment plan from the Fall term must be resolved to ensure there is no impact on the Winter term.
A payment plan can be a great option if you’re looking to spread your tuition and fees across multiple installments during each term; Fall and Winter. This approach gives you more time to manage your finances without the pressure of a lump sum payment. However, it’s important to remember that a payment plan is not a loan; it doesn’t provide additional funds for your education.
Before enrolling in a payment plan, ensure you have a budget and financial plan in place. This will help you cover the costs of your payment plan installments and other expenses (e.g. living expenses, costs of books and supplies, etc.), setting you up for success and preparedness throughout the term.
For more information see the Office of the Registrar’s Financial Literacy resources.
The time period to enrol in the fall payment plan Aug. 15 to Sept. 30.
The time period to enrol in the winter payment plan is Dec. 15 to Jan. 29.
A reminder that our offices will be closed for the winter break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4. If you make a payment during the closure, your payment is safe, and will be processed on your student account when we reopen for business!
To enrol in a new payment plan for a future term, you must first pay off your current outstanding balance and meet the eligibility criteria for a new plan.
Cost and payments
There is a $75 non-refundable setup fee charged for each payment plan.
Yes, your payment plan amount will automatically adjust to reflect any changes and provide your current balance. Note that if you drop all your courses at any point and your balance reverts to $0.00, your plan will be automatically completed.
- You will receive an email notification from PayMyTuition advising we have not yet received your payment. If your payment is not received within five business days of the instalment deadline, you will be charged a $50 late fee.
- Miss one payment: The missed installment will be added to the next installment.
- Miss two payments: You will be placed on financial hold and removed from the payment plan. You’ll then be required to pay your outstanding tuition balance immediately. 18% annually will be added to your student financial account. Refer to the University of Alberta Tuition & Fees calendar for additional details related to payment deadlines and late payments.
- Missing the final payment: You will be placed on financial hold and unable to enrol in future payment plans until the balance is paid.
- If you are planning to enrol in classes for next term, ensure your current account balance is up to date. Outstanding balances will prevent new course enrollment, and registration changes.
- Graduating students will not receive their final transcripts and/or parchment until the final payment is made and applied to your account.
You should clear your outstanding balance to avoid interest and holds on your account as holds will prevent future registration. Once your balance for the current term is cleared, you will have the option of enrolling in a payment plan for the future term.
If you have been approved for sponsorship funding, the U of A needs to receive your sponsorship letter by Aug. 15. Once your letter is received, you will receive confirmation from Student Receivables, and you do not need to enroll in a payment plan.
For more information, see Third Party Sponsorship.
Ensure you drop all of your classes before the Add/Drop course deadline for the term, so you do not incur an academic or financial penalty. Your payment plan balance will then be adjusted accordingly.
As stated in University of Alberta’s drop deadlines, you will be responsible for the associated tuition and fees for any courses you remain enrolled in after the drop deadline.
If you have an outstanding payment plan balance, you will be placed on financial hold and won’t be able to enrol in future classes. You may also be dropped from classes if already enrolled in classes for future terms.
You have the option to pay the full balance of your payment plan at any time without penalty instead of cancelling it. Note: the payment plan setup fee is non-refundable.
If you’d like to cancel your payment plan, contact us through the Student Service Centre (include your full name and student ID number). Any requests to cancel a payment plan must be submitted five business days before a scheduled payment date.
- During the add/drop period (full refund window): If your tuition balance changes after you enrol in the payment plan, your monthly payments will be automatically recalculated based on any tuition adjustments that occur on the student account. Therefore, your remaining monthly payments will be reduced to reflect the new, lower balance or increased to reflect the higher balance.
- After the add/drop period (withdrawal window): If you withdraw after the deadline, you are still financially responsible for the tuition of that course based on the institutional refund policy. Your monthly payment amounts will remain the same until the plan is paid in full.
If a student is making a one-time payment and can only pay a portion of the total amount, they can simply edit the payment amount, and we'll post that exact amount to the payment plan.
If the student does not pay the full amount of the expected installment by the installment payment deadline, the student will be charged a $50 late payment fee. The unpaid amount will be added to the next instalment.
Eligible tuition and fees included in the payment plan are not subject to a hold if installment payments are made on time.
If you have a departmental hold on your account such as Library, Parking, and Residence, you will not be able to access registration and transcripts until all unpaid amounts and fees are paid.
If you miss one payment, you will not have a negative hold placed on your account, but you will receive a $50 missed payment fee. The missed instalment will be added to your next instalment.
If you miss two payments, a hold will be placed on your student account preventing access to services. Additionally, you will be removed from the payment plan and will be required to pay the remaining balance in full. 18% annually will be added to your outstanding balance.