Your first week at SAIT 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
SAIT’s New Student Orientation runs August 25, 26, and 27, 2026. Each student attends on one of these three days, and your specific date, start time, and location are in your student schedule on mySAIT under the course ORNT118.
Orientation prepares you for classes, introduces key student supports, and gives you a chance to connect with your instructors and fellow students. It’s designed for students only, so leave family at home.
There’s also SAIT Start, an online onboarding experience for first-year students, and PREP 100: The SAIT Experience, a free short online course on time management, exam prep, and note-taking that you’re automatically registered in. Indigenous students are invited to a dedicated Indigenous Student Orientation on Monday, August 24.
Classes for Fall 2026 begin Tuesday, September 1.
The tuition payment deadline: September 11
Your Fall 2026 tuition is due September 11, 2026 for continuing students. An outstanding balance can trigger an account hold or dismissal, so don’t leave it to the last day.
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.
Add, drop, and refund deadlines
Your first weeks are also your window to fix your schedule without academic or financial consequences. The Fall 2026 dates:
| Deadline | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New Student Orientation | Aug 25–27, 2026 | One of these three days, per your ORNT118 schedule |
| Classes begin | Sep 1, 2026 | First day of fall term |
| Add/drop period ends | Sep 11, 2026 | Last day to add or drop for most full-time programs |
| Tuition due (continuing) | Sep 11, 2026 | Pay in full or set up a payment plan |
The practical takeaway: if you’re going to add or drop a course, do it before September 11. After that, you’re committed for the term.
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:
- Apply to Alberta Student Aid if you haven’t. The 60-day lead time means September-start applications should already be in.
- Set up your bank and payment method. Know how you’ll pay tuition by September 11.
- Complete SAIT Start and PREP 100. Both get you familiar with the systems and services before you arrive.
- Check your fees for things you can opt out of. Some incidental fees are optional, and the opt-out windows are early in the term.
- 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 SAIT is about more than finding your lecture halls. Get to your orientation day on August 25–27, complete SAIT Start, and put September 11 on your calendar. Those three things handle most of the money stress before it starts.
Sources
For more on making your money work at SAIT, see our guide to student housing.
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.
