Your first week at NAIT is a blur of orientation, new buildings, and a to-do list nobody hands you in one place. Most of it is fun. A few pieces of it are financial, and those are the ones that cost you if you miss them. This guide walks through what to expect in your first week, and the money moves to make before the deadlines sneak up.

Orientation: the actual schedule

NAIT’s All Student Orientation runs August 25 to 27, 2026, starting at 9 a.m., and it’s where you get connected, get informed, and get NAIT-ready. It includes campus tours, planned activities, and a chance to connect with staff from different service areas.

Beyond the all-student orientation, there are Community Orientations on August 28 and 31 for specific student communities, and your Program Orientation where you meet your instructors, staff, and classmates. You can find the details for all of these on the MyNAIT Portal.

There’s also NAIT 101, an online orientation course you can complete at your own pace before classes start, and the Student Service Fair on September 15–16, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Main Campus, where you can learn about the services available to help you succeed.

Classes for Fall 2026 begin Tuesday, September 1 for most programs.

The tuition payment deadline: August 12

Your Fall 2026 tuition is due August 12, 2026, before orientation even starts. Pay in full or set up a payment plan by this date. You can view your balance and pay through the PayMyTuition portal in MyNAIT.

If you’re waiting on Alberta Student Aid, remember the lead time: Student Aid recommends applying at least 60 days before your study period starts, because processing time is what makes people late, not eligibility. If you haven’t applied yet, that’s the first thing to fix this week.

The money moves to make in week one

Beyond the deadlines, a few small setup tasks in your first week save you money and stress all term:

  • Pay your tuition or set up a payment plan. The August 12 deadline is before orientation, so don’t leave it to the last day.
  • Apply to Alberta Student Aid if you haven’t. The 60-day lead time means September-start applications should already be in.
  • Complete NAIT 101. The online orientation course gets you familiar with the systems and services before you arrive.
  • Find your program orientation. Check the MyNAIT Portal for your Program Orientation date and time, so you meet your instructors and classmates.
  • Find your classes before day one. Orientation is the time to walk your route, so you’re not late and stressed on the first morning.

The bottom line

Your first week at NAIT is about more than finding your lecture halls. Get to All Student Orientation on August 25, complete NAIT 101, and make sure your tuition is sorted before August 12. Those three things handle most of the money stress before it starts.

Sources

For more on making your money work at NAIT, see our guides to student housing and eating cheap on campus.