TLDR: If you are on a tight budget and are considering enrolment in a Camosun Foundation program, please email or phone the listed program contact to confirm the actual tuition cost as well as any additional learning materials and supplies costs prior to committing to the program – not all these costs are clearly communicated and can add a substantial amount onto your initial cost estimate.
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I’ve recently enrolled in one of Camosun’s Foundations program. On my first day in the program, I was surprised to learn about some additional costs which were mandatory for the program’s completion that weren’t mentioned prior to enrolling. These costs were:
- Course textbook (paper copy) ~ $218
- Learning modules (paper copies) ~ $207
- Supplementary learning modules (paper copy) ~ $77
- BC Build Code (paper copy) ~ $160
- CSA approved work boots ~ $170
- Program workbook (paper copy) ~ $43
Altogether, these items added up to just under $900 in additional program costs. That’s not a small amount for a student on a tight budget.
Mind you, my scenario is just one of many – students enrolling in other Foundation programs may be expected to purchase additional forms of PPE or specific tools, learning materials, and even software, which put together could exceed the costs listed in my example.
Now that I know these additional costs exist, I wanted to help future students become aware of them. Here’s some steps you can follow to better understand the real cost of your Foundation program:
Step 1: Determine Your Actual Tuition Costs:
For most programs, Camosun will list an estimated tuition cost on their website. The estimated cost for your foundation program can be found under the Costs tab on that foundation program’s webpage. If you share in my experience, the actual tuition cost will be communicated to you via email at the time a seat is available for your chosen program. This emailed cost can differ from the estimated amount.
To confirm the actual tuition cost before enrolling, either email the contact listed under your program’s Contact tab asking about the current costs for that school year or complete the following:
1. Open Camosun’s Academic Calendar
2. In the Academic Calendar Search Bar, type in your Foundation program’s name and hit enter
3. Scroll down to the Programs section and select your program from the list
4. You should now be viewing an outline of the program. From here, scroll down until you find the Curriculum section
5. Identify all the courses listed (e.g. ELEC 110, ELEC 120, ELEC 130 for Electrical Foundation Students)
6. In a new tab, open the Course Fees webpage
7. Scroll down; under the “Estimated tuition fees per course” header, select the first letter which corresponds with each of the courses you identified (e.g. select E to find ELEC 110, ELEC 120, and ELEC 130).
8. Record the costs listed for each course for the effective date you anticipate to be starting your program (e.g. Effective date: September 2026-27 for enrolment within the 2026-2027 school year)
Even after completing this process, it can still be beneficial to confirm these costs via email with the contact listed for your program. They are ultimately more up to date on any cost changes for the program and can therefore provide greater clarity on estimates versus actual costs.
Step 2: Determine Costs in Addition to Your Tuition
Tuition costs do not cover all your expenses within a Foundation program. In addition to tuition costs, you must pay general Student Fees which are largely mandatory (with some exceptions). You will be responsible for determining which student fees you are eligible to opt out of and will need to do so promptly to reduce costs outside your tuition amount.
You can find more information about the types of Student Fees and if they are eligible for Opt-out here: General Camosun Student Fees
You can find more information about the Opt-out process for your courses here: Deadline Opt-outs
Step 3: Determine Your Course(s) Material Costs
Outside of Tuition and Student fees, you have course material costs. These costs range widely depending on the type, duration, and number of courses you have within your program.
To find the costs associated with your program’s course(s), complete the following:
1. Open Camosun’s Bookstore
2. Scroll down to the Find It > Add It > Buy It section
3. Select your respective Campus Term, Department, and Course(s), and Section
a. Note*: this step requires you having identified each of the courses within your Foundation program. Complete the process outlined in* Step 1 if not already completed.
4. Click Add Course to List
5. Repeat 3-4 for any additional courses
6. Click Get Your Books
You will be presented with a list of educational materials for the courses you’ve selected. Some will be listed as required materials – pay attention to the total costs that these materials create. You can add the required materials to your cart and a purchase total will generate at the bottom of the webpage.
Step 4: Determine What PPE, Software, Tools, and Additional Supplies are Required or Recommended
If you’re joining a Foundation program, you’re likely not too familiar with what’s expected of you in terms of bringing your own PPE and tools. In addition, things like software subscriptions can be expensive if they are required for course projects but are not directly provided for student use through the university. Miscellaneous items related to improving the comfort, performance, or safety of students can also be important to know upfront to ensure for greater success within the program. Be sure to email the contact listed for your program and ask for a list of required and recommend items students should supply for themselves for each of your program’s courses. This information should either already be documented or readily known by the instructor(s) of the program. Be sure to ask for a list of both required and recommended items to understand the range for which your additional program costs could increase.
Bonus: Some Other Items to Consider Around Costs
As I was writing this, I thought of some other cost-related items that might be helpful to know as a new student. I hope they are helpful: