Program fees

How much are the fees?

All amounts indicated on this page are in Canadian dollars.

***The 2024 departure fees are currently being assessed and will likely be increased***

  • (Should be around $19,200. Fees are currently being reviewed) non-tuition program fee payable in the Fall semester prior to the trip as follows:
    • $1,000 deposit: once accepted into the program, the deposit must be paid (see Refund Policy below).
    • $10,000 1st installment: Due October 15th.
    • Balance 2nd installment: Due November 15th
  • Tuition fees: Amount varies. See below

    For the January 2024 departure, McGill students who are selected for the program will automatically receive a $4,500 award to help defray the cost.

What's included in the program fee?

Included:

Not included:

Accommodation

Airfare

Meals

McGill tuition (see below)

Ground transportation

McGill application fees

Park fees

Immunizations

Game drives, archaeological site visits, visits to local villages

Antimalarial drugs

Gratuities for local staff members

Immigration application (Tourist Visa)

 

Spending money

 

Health and/or Travel insurance

How do I pay my fees?

You may pay your fees in the following ways:

  • $16,965.11 program fees (Currently being reassessed for 2024):
    $1,000 deposit: once accepted into the program, the payment will be accepted by Student Accounts.
    $10,000 + balance: payments will be accepted by Student Accounts.

    For further information on procedures for payment of fees visit the Student Accounts website.

    On-line banking
    Pay to McGill University using your student ID as the account number.
    Once you have done this, send an email student.accounts [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Africa%20Field%20Study%20Semester%20-%20payment) (Student Accounts) to notify the financial office that the payment has been made. 

  • Tuition - See below.

Tuition fees

Students must register for their courses and pay before leaving for Africa. For more information about paying student fees, please visit the Student Accounts website. Students may give "guest access" to someone such as a parent to view their student account (tuition) via the internet.

Student Accounts provides the schedule of fees.

Refund policy

Withdrawal by the student
  • $1000 (deposit):

Fully refundable up to the time of the first installment; it is non-refundable thereafter.

  • $10,000 (1st installment- 15th October):

Fully refundable until 2nd installment.

  • Balance (2nd installment- 15th November)

Because there are fixed costs associated with the program that must be paid regardless of the number of students participating, only 50% of the two installments can be refunded for withdrawal after Nov 15th. If a student can be recruited from the waiting list, a larger refund may be possible; however, neither McGill nor the AFSS can guarantee that late recruitment will be possible.

Cancellation or termination by the University

The African Field Study Semester is subject to security reviews right up to the time of departure. If the AFSS program is cancelled by the University for security or any other reason, there will be costs associated with this cancellation. Certain prepaid, fixed costs cannot be reimbursed/refunded. Applicants must be aware that security is a top priority for McGill and the AFSS Program.  If there are any doubts about meeting the security standards, the AFSS Program will be cancelled at the University’s discretion.

Cancellation of the AFSS Program BEFORE departure: 80% of the two installments will be refunded.

Termination of the AFSS Program AFTER departure: This would only occur under exceptional circumstances. Based on the emergency response strategy, a decision about possible refunds would be undertaken only after the safe return of all participants and the assessment of the related expenses.

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