These policies apply to all non-credit professional learning offerings from the School of Cities at the University of Toronto (including microcredentials, workshops, short courses, certificates, and custom or team training). By registering you agree to the policies below. If you have any questions about any of these policies, please email us at education.sofc@utoronto.ca.
Effective February 24, 2026
Enrollment in School of Cities non-credit offerings is open to adult learners, professionals, recent graduates, and others as defined in individual course/program descriptions. Some offerings may require prerequisites, technical capabilities, etc., and it is the learner’s responsibility to ensure they meet these requirements prior to registering. Registration is considered complete only once full payment has been processed, at which point seats are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. The School of Cities reserves the right to deny or revoke enrollment if eligibility criteria are not met or verified.
Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. For team registrations and/or alternative billing arrangements, learners must contact education.sofc@utoronto.ca as soon as possible to ensure timely registration via invoice. All fees are listed in the currency specified on the offering page, and any applicable taxes or service charges will be displayed at checkout.
Payment is due at the time of registration unless an alternate billing arrangement has been agreed to in writing. A seat is not secured until payment has been received, or an approved invoice has been processed. Once registration is confirmed, learners will receive an enrollment confirmation email.
School of Cities microcredentials are eligible for funding through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), subject to provincial eligibility requirements. Individuals considering a microcredential may consult the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities website to view a list of OSAP-eligible micro courses and learn more about the application process (see also OSAP).
OSAP-supported School of Cities microcredentials
- Urban Data Storytelling
Course Code: FAS-ISI_SOC-UDS-10_25
- Urban Data Analytics and Visualization
Course Code: FAS-ISI_SOC-UDAV-01_26
Application information
Applicants must follow the OSAP application procedures outlined by the OSAP for Micro-credentials at University of Toronto Registrar Office. Applicants must first register and pay for the microcredential and then apply for OSAP.
OSAP and U of T supplemental form details
When completing the OSAP form:
- Use the course code listed above to identify your School of Cities microcredential.
When completing the U of T Supplemental Application Form:
- Learner ID: Leave blank for microcredentials
- Name of U of T division offering the program: Faculty of Arts & Science
- Program name: Use the course code for your School of Cities microcredential (see above)
- Program study period: Enter the start and end dates of the microcredential
Important note
The School of Cities does not administer OSAP. Eligibility and funding decisions are determined by the Province of Ontario.
U of T staff may be eligible for the Staff Tuition Waiver for School of Cities microcredentials, subject to their employee group and the relevance of the learning to their role. Eligibility and approval are determined by Central Benefits and the staff member’s divisional HR office.
Staff should consult with their manager and HR representative prior to applying. Applications must be submitted using the existing Staff Tuition Waiver form available through the People Strategy, Equity & Culture website, and should include a link to the microcredential webpage and the registration fee.
If approved, staff will receive instructions regarding payment processing and the recording of microcredential completion.
Learn more and access the form at Education Funds – Learning and Leadership Centre
General refund policy
Refund requests must be submitted by email to education.sofc@utoronto.ca and should include the learner’s name, course title, date, and reason for the request.
- Courses/Microcredentials
Refunds are available up to 5 calendar days prior to the course or program start date, and requests submitted after this date are not eligible except under Section 9 (extenuating circumstances). Approved refunds are generally processed within 10–15 business days and returned to the original payment method. All refunds are subject to an $88.00 CAD administrative fee plus 13% applicable tax.
- Leading Urban Change (LUC) program refund policy
Refunds for the LUC Program are structured according to the timing of the withdrawal:
Three or more calendar weeks before the start: 50% refund via the original payment method.
Less than three calendar weeks before the start: no refund.
ALL LUC refunds are subject to an $88.00 CAD administrative fee plus 13% applicable tax per course or program. Requests must be submitted by email to education.sofc@utoronto.ca with the learner’s name, program title, date, and reason for the request. Approved refunds will be processed within 10–15 business days.
Learners may request one (1) transfer to the immediate next scheduled offering of the same course/program, subject to seat availability. Transfer requests submitted after the course or program has begun will only be considered under approved extenuating circumstances (see Section 9).
Learners may withdraw from a course or program at any time by emailing education.sofc@utoronto.ca, with the official withdrawal date recorded as the date the email is received by our office. No refund will be issued for withdrawals submitted after the course or program has begun, except in cases where an approved extenuating circumstances exception applies (see Section 9).
Exceptions to the refund policy may be considered in cases of documented extenuating circumstances, such as serious medical emergencies, bereavement, or other significant unforeseen events. To request an exception, learners must submit a written request along with supporting documentation to education.sofc@utoronto.ca as soon as possible. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and approval is discretionary and not guaranteed. If approved, a partial refund or a credit toward a future offering may be issued.
Auditing of courses is not permitted for any School of Cities non-credit offering. All individuals must enroll as full participants and are expected to complete required course activities and assessments as applicable.
The School of Cities reserves the right to cancel any course or program offering, and participants will typically be notified at least one week prior to the scheduled start date. In the event of a cancellation, registrants may choose to receive a full refund (exempt from refund fees) or transfer their enrollment to the immediate next scheduled session.
The School of Cities reserves the right to make changes to course content, schedule, instructors, or delivery format at any time.
Learners are expected to engage in the learning content, participate in required activities, meet all assignment deadlines, and, if applicable, attend all scheduled synchronous sessions. Learners who do not meaningfully participate in 50% or more of required sessions or activities and/or do not complete the assessments may receive an Incomplete evaluation and become ineligible for the credential.
The default evaluation model for School of Cities non-credit offerings is Complete / Incomplete, consistent with adult learning principles. Completion criteria—including attendance requirements, assignment submissions, and participation in individual and group activities—are defined for each offering in the applicable course or program outline.
Successful completion is required to receive the applicable credential, which may include a Certificate of Completion, Microcredential, Digital Badge, and/or Stacked Microcredential contributing toward a Certificate of Professional Advancement. Digital badges are typically issued within four to six (4–6) weeks following confirmation of final completion.
Learners have 3 years from the date of initial registration in a program to complete the program.
Learners are expected to adhere to the University of Toronto’s standards for academic integrity (Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters). Acts of plagiarism, cheating, falsification of work, impersonation, or other academic misconduct are prohibited. Consequences for violations may include removal from the offering, denial of credential— with no refund.
The School of Cities expects professional, respectful conduct in all interactions (Code of Student Conduct). Harassment, discrimination, bullying, or other disruptive or harmful behaviours are prohibited. The School of Cities reserves the right to remove learners from the learning environment for misconduct without refund.
Reports of misconduct should be directed to education.sofc@utoronto.ca and will be handled confidentially and promptly.
All School of Cities course materials (including recordings, slide decks, assessments, and platform content) are the School’s copyrighted property unless otherwise stated. Materials are provided to learners for personal educational use only. Recording, reproduction, distribution, or public posting of course materials without written permission is strictly prohibited. Learners retain ownership of original work they create during a course unless a written agreement assigns rights to the School or a partner (e.g., for collaborative projects). Learner work may be used for teaching or promotional purposes only with the learner’s consent or as previously agreed in writing.
The School of Cities is committed to accessible and inclusive learning. Learners requiring accommodations should contact education.sofc@utoronto.ca as early as possible to allow timely arrangements.
The School of Cities collects and maintains learner information necessary for registration, credentialing, and course delivery. All personal data is managed in accordance with University of Toronto privacy policies (Privacy | The Office of the Governing Council, FIPP. By registering, learners consent to the use of their information for administrative and credentialing purposes. Digital badges issued through recognized platforms will include verifiable metadata, such as the learner’s name, course, issue date, and criteria met. Learners’ names and email addresses are shared with the digital credential management platform to enable badge issuance.
Online offerings will list minimum technical requirements (supported browsers, recommended internet speed, required software or plugins). Learners are responsible for ensuring their devices meet these requirements.
These policies are reviewed periodically. The School of Cities reserves the right to update policies; the version posted on the website is the authoritative version and applies to new registrations from its effective date.
General inquiries, registration issues, payment questions, accommodation requests, and refund/transfer requests, email education.sofc@utoronto.ca. Response time: We aim to respond to routine queries within 2–3 business days. For urgent matters include “URGENT” in the subject line and explain the issue; we will prioritize accordingly.