Per IRCC policy, students are permitted to begin their studies at a new DLI while awaiting the decision on their study permit extension if they belong to either of the two groups below:
2025 Exceptions to Refund Policy for DLI Changes
Overview
Contact Us
Group 1 – “Grace Period” for Winter 2025 and Summer 2025
If you were accepted to a new DLI for the Winter or Spring 2025 semester (starting from January 1, 2025 to May 1, 2025) you can start studying at your new DLI if you meet ALL the below criteria:
- have been accepted to a DLI for the Winter or Spring 2025 semester (starting from January 1, 2025 to May 1, 2025), and
- have applied for a study permit extension, and
- have a study permit that remains valid and that doesn’t have the DLI name printed on it, and
- meet all your existing study permit conditions
Students who start at Seneca under the “Grace Period” and receive an IRCC refusal may be eligible for a refund of their term 1 fees in the below situations:
| Date of refund request | Eligible for refund |
|---|---|
| Before the 10th day of class | Yes |
| After the 10th day of class | Yes, if request submitted within 14 days of IRCC refusal letter |
| After completing term 1 | Yes, if request submitted within 14 days of IRCC refusal letter |
| After term 1 (if student did not attend) | Yes, if request submitted within 14 days of IRCC refusal letter |
Required documents: passport copy, signed withdraw form, and IRCC refusal letter received to theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca within 14 days of receiving the refusal. No administrative fees apply for refunds due to IRCC refusal, provided all documents are received by the deadline.
If a student has not received an approved study permit before the start of term 2, they are advised to take a Leave of Absence.
No refund is applicable if the student receives an approved Seneca study permit after the 10th day of class in term 1.
Note: If a student was not eligible to start their classes at Seneca under the “Grace Period” but did so anyways, they may still be eligible for a refund of term 1 tuition, subject to review by Admissions team.
Group 2 – Previous DLI Closed/Cancelled/Discontinued
You can start studying at your new school while waiting for a decision on your study permit extension application if you meet all the following criteria:
- you stayed in Canada since you received your letter of acceptance (LOA) from the new DLI and
- you continue to meet the conditions of your previous study permit and
- before you completed your course or program of study, you find yourself in one of the following situations with the previous DLI:
- it closed
- it discontinued the course or program of study
- it was placed on the suspension list or
- it lost its designated status
Students who start at Seneca under the “previous DLI closed/cancelled/discontinued” policy and receive an IRCC refusal may be eligible for a refund of their term 1 fees in the below situations:
| Date of refund request | Eligible for refund |
|---|---|
| Before the 10th day of class | Yes |
| After the 10th day of class | Yes, if request submitted within 14 days of IRCC refusal letter |
| After completing term 1 | Yes, if request submitted within 14 days of IRCC refusal letter |
| After term 1 (if student did not attend) | Yes, if request submitted within 14 days of IRCC refusal letter |
Required documents: passport copy, signed withdraw form, and IRCC refusal letter received to theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca within 14 days of receiving the refusal. No admin fees apply for refunds due to IRCC refusal, provided all documents are received by the deadline.
If a student has not received an approved study permit before the start of term 2, they are advised to take a Leave of Absence.
No refund is applicable if the student receives an approved Seneca study permit after the 10th day of class in term 1.
Note: If a student was not eligible to start their classes at Seneca under the “Previous DLI closed/cancelled/discontinued policy” but did so anyways, they may still be eligible for a refund of term 1 tuition, subject to review by Admissions team