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REGISTRARIAL SERVICES: REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AND STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES

Financial Petitions

The University assists students in a variety of ways, not just through financial petitions. Please review the following information to ensure you address your issue with the correct department.

  • Acceptable Reasons
  • Unacceptable Reasons
  • Steps to Submitting an Undergraduate Financial Petition

You may submit a financial petition if you experience a serious documented medical illness or a death of an immediate family member that causes you to drop courses.

Financial petitions may be granted at the discretion of the University and will be considered for a period of one year after the occurrence of the illness or death.

Please do not submit a petition if one of these reasons is the basis of your request for an adjustment. The financial petition will not be granted.

Expand Not attending classes

Simply not attending classes or failing to drop unwanted courses are not sufficient grounds for a financial petition. You must also be aware that there are financial penalties for dropping courses after the start of classes (see the Refund Tables). You are also responsible for the full fee for any courses added to your record, regardless of when in the term you added them.

Expand Being unaware of the University policies and regulations

By the act of registration you become bound by the policies and regulations of York University including the Faculty in which you are registered. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the general information, rules and regulations of the University and with the specific information rules and regulations of the Faculty or Faculties in which they are registered, enrolled or seek registration or enrolment, as well as the specific requirements of each degree, diploma or certificate sought.

It is your responsibility to:

  • carefully assess your ability to successfully complete a course when enrolling/attending a class late;
  • verify course enrolments by listing courses using the Registration and Enrolment Module (REM);
  • ensure there are no timetable conflicts to course schedules;
  • verify course instructions;
  • enrol in a manageable course load;
  • ensure that courses chosen are appropriate to program requirements and course prerequisites.

Adding, dropping and replacing courses can result in additional charges to your student account. Most often, replacing one course for another will result in new and additional charges for the new course being added in replacement of the other. This information is available to students when using the York Registration and Enrolment Module (REM).

Expand Being unaware of the academic versus financial drop deadlines

There are two sets of dates associated with dropping a course, one academic and the other financial. Therefore, not meeting deadlines such as grades deadlines is not grounds for a financial petition.

Expand Financial difficulties

If you begin to experience difficulty keeping your student account in good standing, it is advised that you make an appointment with a Financial Aid Adviser at Student Client Services to discuss the financial resources available to you. In addition, the Scholarship, Awards and Bursaries program offers financial assistance to students in need.

Expand Issues pertaining to Faculty related considerations

Issues arising within a course that concern the pedagogical relationship of the instructor and the student, such as the organization of a course, grading practices or conduct of instructors, fall within the authority of the department or Faculty sponsoring the course. Your concerns should be directed to the responsible department. It is advised that you contact the Office of the Dean of the responsible Faculty representing the course in question.

Matters concerning administrative processes, such as allegations relating to the actions or preparations of an employee or an office of the University, fall within the authority of the Faculty/department responsible. It is advised that you contact the Office of the Dean or the responsible department for a thorough review/resolution of your case.

Expand Issues related to your account transactions

If there are issues associated with the transactions of your student account, please call Student Client Services at 416-872-9675.

  1. Drop the courses* for which you are requesting a credit/refund using the Registration and Enrolment Module (REM).
  2. Complete a Financial Petition form (below).
  3. If you are submitting a financial petition due to medical reasons, you must also complete the Attending Physician's Statement form (below) along with your request.
  4. Submit the form(s), including all relevant supporting documentation, by placing them in the drop box located in the lobby of the Bennett Centre for Student Services (the building is open 24 hours a day) or by fax at 416-736-5386. It is not necessary to submit your documentation in person.

OSAP students please note: if you are entitled to a refund as a result of a successful financial petition, and if during the study period for the course in question you received OSAP funding, York is required by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to send all/part of the refund directly to your lending institution. This amount will be applied to your outstanding student loans to reduce the principal owing. If this situation applies in your case, you will be notified by letter of the amount of any refund York has sent to your lender.

* Important note about dropping courses: if the deadline has passed to drop the course(s), you must submit a complete academic petition package. Your academic petition must be successful before your financial petition can be considered.

  • Students in Osgoode Hall Law School, submit your package to Osgoode Student Financial Services.
  • Students in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, submit your request directly to your Faculty, Room 280, York Lanes.