The information on this page outlines the policies and application procedures of the English Language Institute (ELI). Please read this information before you proceed to the online application form.
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To be a student at the English Language Institute (ELI), you must have completed high school (or be at least 18 years old) and have a basic understanding of English. Our programs are not suitable for students who are complete beginners. The ELI reserves the right to deny entrance to students who do not fulfill these requirements.
All program and service fees are quoted in Canadian dollars.
Tuition and fees may be paid in the following ways:
- by international money order or bank draft, in Canadian (CAD) funds, payable to The University of British Columbia
- by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only)
- by wire transfer.
A non-refundable $150 application fee and non-refundable tuition deposits are required for each application.
For the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program and UBC-Vancouver English Experience Program (UBC-VEEP), the tuition deposit is $600. The tuition deposit for all other programs is $300.
The tuition deposit guarantees you a place in the program until one month before the program start date; only tuition paid in full guarantees you a place after this date. We will continue to accept payments and applications until programs are full.
Medical insurance, accommodation services and textbook costs are not included in the tuition. Please budget for these additional expenses accordingly.
The English Language Institute (ELI) reserves the right to cancel any program because of insufficient registration. You will be refunded any fees you have paid for the cancelled program.
Withdrawal
It is your responsibility to notify the English Language Institute (ELI) of any changes in your plans before your program starts. Please be aware that if you change your registration dates, the English Language Institute is obliged to report such changes to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada under the Immigration Act.
Requests to withdraw from a program must be made in writing to the ELI, and must be accompanied by a brief explanation for the withdrawal. The following charts list the schedules for refunds:
English for Academic Purposes (EAP)/ UBC-Vancouver English Experience Program (UBC-VEEP)
| Withdrawal Date | Refund |
|---|---|
| One week before the first day of the program in which a student is registered. | 100% of balance of fees*. |
| Up to and including Friday of week 2 of the program. | 70% of balance of fees. |
| Final Refund Deadline: After week 2 of the program. | No refund. |
Please note: if your English level is not ready for the EAP program (intermediate, CEFR B1), we will register you to two 8-week UBC-VEEP programs running during the same period. We will apply two non-refundable deposits of $600 each to your two UBC-VEEP programs. These deposits will be paid from the tuition fee you initially paid for the EAP program. There are no extra charges. The withdrawal policies and schedule will apply to each UBC-VEEP program separately.
English for the Global Citizen (EGC) / Business English (BE) / Explore for Non-bursary students**
| Withdrawal Date | Refund |
|---|---|
| 1 week before the first day of the program (testing day). | 100% of balance of fees*. |
| Up to and including the 3rd day of classes. | 70% of balance of fees. |
| Final Refund Deadline: After the 3rd day of classes. | No refund. |
*The balance of the fees is the tuition minus the deposit for cancellation of a full session or a term.
**Explore for Canadian Bursary students follow these refund policies.
Visa or Study Permit Refusal
If you must cancel your registration because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has denied your application for a study permit or visitor visa, ELI will refund your deposit provided you meet the following two conditions:
- You notify ELI immediately, or at least seven days before the program starts, in writing about your visa denial or delay,
and - ELI receives the letter of visa denial within 30 days from the date shown on the letter.
Transfer a Deposit
If you do not receive your study permit or visa in time for the program for which you have registered, you may select a new start date from any of the dates published at the Dates and Fees page. The new start date must be within 1 year of the original start date. Your deposit or full tuition will be transferred to the new session once only. We require a minimum of one week’s written notice that you wish to postpone your start date, or the cancellation schedule will apply (see above). Postponements after the payment deadline (one month before the program start date) might be granted if the balance of tuition and the medical insurance fees are fully paid.
Note: You may transfer your deposit to another session once only.
All students are required to enrol in a mandatory medical insurance program. For more information, please visit Medical Insurance.
It is your responsibility to register for English Language Institute (ELI) programs in sufficient time to apply for and receive your Canadian visa or study permit. If you want to study for less than six months, you may need a temporary resident’s visa. If you want to study for longer than six months, you must obtain a study permit. Ask at the nearest Canadian visa office to make sure you have enough time to get the proper documents you may require.
Although your local Canadian visa office may publish shorter study permit/visa processing times on their website, we recommend that you allow at least three months before the start of your program for your study permit or visa application to be processed.
View the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for more information. If you plan to visit the United States, check with the US embassy or consulate in your country. You must get your US visa before you come to Canada.
All students are expected to be present for the first day of their program. If you are unable to arrive on time, you must notify the English Language Institute (ELI) prior to the program start date.
If you arrive late without notifying the ELI, you may lose your place in the program.
To respect the privacy of English Language Institute (ELI) host families, ONLY students in the UBC ELI Homestay program may visit or contact their host families. No other persons are permitted to visit the UBC ELI host families.
Accommodation Placement Fees
If you are applying for homestay, you are required to pay a $250 non-refundable placement fee. If you are applying for campus stay, you are required to pay a $150 non-refundable placement fee.
All accommodation services are subject to availability.
Cancellation of Homestay or Moving
Students must give 30 days' notice before moving or leaving homestay.
Multiculturalism
The ELI will not under any circumstances make changes to your homestay arrangements based on a host family's ethnic or national origins.
At the English Language Institute (ELI) you are always encouraged and supported to speak English in order to benefit from being in an English immersion environment. The English-only policy, initiated and supported by the ELI students and staff, requires that you speak only English when you are in the main ELI building, in all campus classrooms used for ELI programs, and during socio-cultural programs and events.
There is a 3-step warning system to encourage students to speak only English at the ELI.
ELI computer resources are for English-language use only, with the exception of designated computers for sending and receiving email in other languages.