Your first week at OCAD University is a scramble: orientation, studio checkouts, a new ID card, and a campus spread across McCaul Street that takes a few days to learn. Most of it is fun. A few pieces are financial, and those are the ones that cost you if you miss them. Here’s what to expect and what to get done before the deadlines land.
Orientation: Welcome Day
OCAD U runs a Welcome Day for new Fall 2026 students on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s where you get your bearings, your OCAD U ID card (you’ll need it for building access, including 24/7 studio entry), and your first look at campus.
Classes for Fall 2026 begin Thursday, September 10.
Two registration dates matter more than most students realize:
| Deadline | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Day | Sep 8, 2026 | Orientation, get your ID card |
| 100% refund deadline | Sep 22, 2026 | Last day to drop with a full refund |
| Tuition due | Sep 9, 2026 | Payment deadline for the fall term |
| Last day to register | Sep 30, 2026 | After this you can’t register for fall courses |
The refund deadline is the one students miss. If a course isn’t working out, dropping before September 22 means the tuition comes back. Drop after, and you can still be on the hook for part or all of it.
The tuition deadline: September 9
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Your fall tuition and fees are due September 9, 2026. OCAD U collects payments through PayMyTuition, so set that up in advance rather than the night before. If you miss the date, the penalties stack up fast:
- a $100 non-refundable late fee
- automatic enrolment in a payment plan
- interest charges on the balance
- a financial hold that blocks registration changes, official documents, and graduation
If you’re on OSAP, you’re covered: OCAD U gets notified of OSAP approval about a week before the deadline, and once the OSAP banner is on your account you don’t have to pay or enrol in a plan, and you won’t be dropped for non-payment. If your funding is coming up short or late, contact the Office of the Registrar before the deadline instead of after.
OCAD U also offers an optional payment plan that splits tuition into monthly instalments for a $50 non-refundable setup fee. If you’d rather spread the cost than pay in one hit, that’s cheaper than eating the $100 late fee.
The money moves to make in week one
A few small setup tasks in your first week save you money and stress all term:
- Get your OCAD U ID card. It doubles as your building access key, including 24/7 studio entry. Losing it costs $20 to replace.
- Set up tuition payment or confirm OSAP. September 9 comes a day before classes start, so don’t let it sneak up on you.
- Drop what isn’t working before September 22. A full refund beats a partial one.
- Learn the campus footprint. OCAD U’s buildings run along McCaul Street and Richmond Street West, with Kensington Market and Chinatown a short walk away. Knowing where the cheap food is (more on that below) pays off immediately.
The bottom line
Get to Welcome Day, sort your tuition by September 9, and mark September 22 as your last chance to drop without paying. Those three things handle most of the money stress in your first week.
Sources
- OCAD U Welcome Day Fall 2026
- OCAD U dates and deadlines
- OCAD U how to pay tuition
- OCAD U payment plans
For the other big first-year costs, see our guide to student housing at OCAD U.
This guide is general information for Canadian students, not personalized financial advice. Program rules and dollar amounts change, so confirm the details with the official government source before acting on them.
