Education Benefits

Carleton University offers a number of tuition benefits and subsidies to support and encourage continuous learning initiatives.

Free Tuition

As a Carleton University employee, you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents can take advantage of free tuition for courses at Carleton. See your Benefits at a Glance for Free Tuition Program eligibility.

New Application Process

1. Student registers for course(s) via Carleton Central.
2. After course registration is complete, Employee submits the Tuition Waiver Application (Online Submission Form). Be sure to do this before the financial drop date deadline of the term.  Refer to the Tuition Waiver Guide for details on how to complete your application.
3. Student consents to terms and conditions.
4. The HR Benefits team will process your application and contact you if necessary.

Contact the Registrar if you are unsure of how to register for courses on Carleton Central.

Contact Human Resources for more information on the Free Tuition Program.

Contact Student Accounts for more information on when the benefit gets applied to the student account.

Tax Impact

Commencing in 2007, free tuition to an employee’s family member is not reported on the employee’s income. Instead, the fair market value is reported as a scholarship on a T4A slip for the family member. Since this ruling by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Tuition Bursary Program has offered no additional benefit and therefore has been discontinued effective July 1, 2010.

For more information regarding the tax impact on tuition fees, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Contract Instructor Tuition Waiver Program

Contract Instructors who are members of CUPE 4600, (Unit 2) and their child dependents may be eligible to participate in this program subject to the following criteria:

• Taught at least three (3) full credit courses or equivalent in the bargaining unit during the previous thirty-six (36) months; including at least one course during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the application for Tuition Waiver.

A Contract Instructor submits a written application for the Tuition Waiver, for themselves or their dependents, directly to Human Resources who will verify program eligibility.  Approved applications will be forwarded to the Business Office.

The Tuition Waiver may be applied to Carleton University credit courses funded by the Ontario government, at either the graduate or undergraduate level.  Supplemental fees are not eligible for reimbursement or waiver.

Should a Contract Instructor cease employment with the university the Tuition Waiver will continue to the end of the current term.

Conditions

• Requests for a Tuition Waiver will only be considered once the student has been admitted to their program of study.
• Individuals who are unsuccessful in a course must successfully complete the next course at their expense to re-establish eligibility for the Tuition Waiver.
• The value of the Tuition Waiver will not exceed the tuition cost of $900 per academic year (September to August) for the Contract Instructor or their dependents.
• The Tuition Waiver does not exempt the student from the payment of incidental fees or the cost of required textbooks.
• Tuition Waiver applications must be submitted before the financial drop deadline of the term.
• Applications for dependents of Contract Instructors are applied on a first come, first serve basis until the program annual maximum of $25,000 has been allocated.
• Dependents are defined as children of the Employee for whom the Employee is entitled to claim tax exemption under the Income Tax Act in the year in which the tuition waiver is requested, or children under the age of twenty-six (26) to whom the employee provides financial support.

Application Procedure

1. Register for your course(s) via Carleton Central.
2. Please complete the Contract Instructor Tuition Waiver form, or the Dependent of Contract Instructor Tuition Waiver form, and email the completed copy to HumanResources@Carleton.ca.

If this is your first submission for a dependent, please include proof of the dependent status.

• If your dependent resides with you, a proof of address will be. A tax return or any other document that reflects the relationship may be submitted in lieu of a proof of address

3. Our Benefits team will process your application and contact you if necessary.

For additional information contact:

Registrar if you are unsure of how to register for courses on Carleton Central.

Human Resources for more information on the Free Tuition Program.

Student Accounts for more information on when the benefit gets applied to the student account.

Career Development Fund

The Career Development Fund is available to assist employees who wish to pursue training associated with career development objectives. Career development is designed to prepare an employee for another position within the University or to increase the ability of an employee to meet potential requirements of the Employer.

Career development is the responsibility of the employee. However the Employer will endeavour to support the training and development needs of employees in support of their career with the University. Job related development training is any training or skill upgrading activity required by the Employer. Funding for Job Related Development is the responsibility of the Employer. This includes both on campus and off campus training courses and seminars.

Read about requirements and eligibility for the Career Development Fund here.