Are you a Canadian senior? Going back to school for free might be a good way to spend your time.

Seniors pursue higher education for many reasons, including their sheer passion for learning and desire to keep their minds active. Whether you’re trying to finish something that you already started, pursue a career, or merely achieve a lifelong goal, Canada’s universities have geared up to help by waiving their tuition fees for qualified senior applicants.

The University of Manitoba

The University of Manitoba accepts seniors as undergraduates without charging them to learn. As long as they:

  1. Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status;
  2. Have reached the age of 65 by the beginning of the term they’re applying for — May 1 for summer classes and September 1 for fall courses;
  3. Can provide official documents proving their age, and;
  4. Meet any necessary degree-specific requirements.

One potential hurdle is that foreign-born applicants may need to demonstrate their English proficiency before being accepted. Seniors can also choose from a variety of student experiences that may make it easier to adjust:

  1. Auditing students take courses for personal interest without needing to go through exams or turn in assignments.
  2. Special students receive grades for their work and test performance. While they earn credits, they’re not trying to complete diploma programs.
  3. Mature- and Regular-status students take classes, complete coursework, and go through all the normal hoops in pursuit of degrees.

Finally, remember that being a free-tuition senior doesn’t exempt you from everything. For instance, even though you won’t pay for courses, your application, student union membership, or other fees, you’ll still have to foot the bill for your books and supplies.

The University of Calgary

Going to the University of Calgary as a senior citizen lets you take advantage of free tuition for undergraduate, direct-entry courses up to the bachelor’s level. As with other programs, there are some unique requirements to meet. For starters, you’ll need to:

  1. Be 65 or older by the fee deadline for your enrollment term;
  2. Pay application fees, and;
  3. Pay any mandatory supplementary fees associated with the specific courses you want to enrol in, such as equipment fees for studio art classes or lab charges for hands-on science courses.

The University of Calgary exempts senior citizen students from paying certain fees that they might incur at other institutions. For instance, you don’t have to cough up money for the Student Union, Athletic Services, Student Service, or Campus Recreation. It’s important to remember, however, that these cost waivers are contingent upon you not using any of the related programs. If you decide to start attending the campus gym or taking meals in the dining halls, you’ll have to pay the regular fees.

Seniors also get price breaks on dental and health plan costs that are mandatory for most undergrads. You will, however, need to formally opt-out using the relevant forms.

The University of British Columbia

At the University of British Columbia, senior learners don’t have to pay application, student, or tuition fees. As long as they’re 65 or older by the term they’re registering for, they can pursue their higher educations for free.

UBC programs appeal to those British Columbian students who want to pursue graduate school education. It’s important to understand that this university’s rather extensive fee waiver program doesn’t mean that all seniors will get off without paying, however. Those who go into fields of study such as Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry or Nursing still have to pay certain fees due to these programs’ limited resources.

Seniors at UBC should also expect to pay charges for non-credit courses and certificate programs. While you can opt-in to Alma Mater Society (AMS) fees to take advantage of dental plans, medical coverage, and the U-Pass transit card, you can’t pick and choose. You must either pay the entire AMS fee or nothing.

McMaster University

Students at McMaster University can enrol in for-credit classes without paying tuition or supplementary fees. To be eligible, they simply must be over the age of 65 and pay the full-time application fees.

McMaster University also lets senior students audit classes or attend them as observers without being formally enrolled or receiving credit. Auditing classes may help seniors refresh their minds if it’s been a while since they last covered certain subjects. It can also be a helpful option for those who struggle to get back into the swing of student life.

York University

Seniors can attend York University and save on academic fees if they’re:

  1. Older than 60 by the May 1 or September 1 deadlines for summer and fall registration, and
  2. Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

As with other programs, there are some important limitations to remember. Although seniors who apply get the free tuition benefit automatically, they can only use it to obtain a maximum of one undergraduate and one graduate degree. Seniors also have to pay other costs that come with general enrollment and specific courses, such as material, penalty, and associated registration fees.

Is a University Education Right for You?

Being a senior doesn’t mean that your formerly active life is now over. According to Statistics Canada, the workforce is gradually aging. With more seniors fulfilling professional roles, getting your diploma could help you beat the competition for desirable jobs.

Earning a degree could help you increase your self-esteem, stave off diseases like Alzheimer’s by staying mentally active, and set a great example for your loved ones to aspire to. Why not take the plunge, especially if you can do so for free?