Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please contact isp@epsb.ca should you have additional questions or to set up a phone, online or in person meeting. We do not accept walk-in appointments.
Applications:
From what countries do the international students attending EPSB come?
EPSB International Student Programs is pleased to host students from numerous countries, including Belgium, Belize, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.
When do applications open, and when is the deadline for applying?
Please refer to our homepage for more information on when applications open. Applications stay open until spaces are filled, so there is no fixed deadline. We recommend applying as early as possible once applications open.
What age of student will you accept? Will you accept a student who has already graduated from high school?
Students must be under the age of 20 as of September 1 to be accepted into EPS' International Student Program. If a student has already graduated from high school in their home country, please email isp@epsb.ca before applying for more information.
When are the application deadlines for the first and second semesters?
Students are advised to apply by April 30 for a September start and by November 30 for a February start.
Can students choose the school they will attend?
Specific school placements for international students are not guaranteed. Final decisions regarding school access and placements for international students will be made solely by Edmonton Public Schools, depending on school capacities to accommodate.
Why is the high school I want to attend not listed under school preference in the online application?
If a high school is not listed in the application form, it is not available for international students to attend.
What grade will students be placed in?
Our school division uses age-appropriate grading, and the final decision regarding grade placement will be made by the school administration upon registration.
What if I do not have transcripts for the past two school years?
If you do not have transcripts for the last two years, upload the most recent ones you have. Please explain why other transcripts are unavailable in the "additional notes" section of the application.
Arrival:
Can I arrive early before my program begins and take summer school in July?
Students who are arriving to begin their program in September cannot arrive early to attend summer school. International students in high school who have been enrolled in the previous school year can ask about registering for summer school with Metro Continuing Education.
What day do you prefer the students to arrive?
The earliest arrival date for students in the Homestay program is one week before the first day of classes. It is recommended that students not in the Homestay program also arrive approximately one week before classes start.
Custodial/Custodian:
What is the age of majority in your particular province?
The age of majority in Alberta is 18.
In the case of a minor, who assumes custodianship responsibilities?
Custodianship must be privately arranged for students under 18 who are living in a private arrangement. Custodianship is available for students who participate in homestay. The Canada Homestay Network assumes custodianship.
What are the requirements of a custodian?
Custodians should be easily accessible at all times to attend any in-person appointments.
If the custodian is unable to continue taking care of the student for any reason, they are responsible for discussing alternate arrangements with the biological parents. The custodian needs to ensure that alternate arrangements are made.
It is important to note that EPSB is not responsible for arranging care of the student in such situations.
Fees and payment:
Is the application fee included in the tuition price, or is it a separate fee?
The application fee is separate from the tuition fee and is non-refundable.
Can the application fee, health insurance fee and tuition be paid at the same time, or do they need to be paid separately?
All fees must be paid together. Once the application is complete and all fees are paid, a Letter of Acceptance will be issued.
Will you require bank fees to be added?
Yes, any bank fees must be paid by the sender. Payments should be made through Flywire.
Can the tuition be pro-rated on a monthly basis if the student can't stay exactly a semester or wants to stay longer than a semester?
International Programs does not allow partial payments. Tuition fees must be paid in full. Once payment is received for the student’s program, a letter of acceptance is issued, which is used to apply for a study permit. A study permit is required for students applying to study for more than six months. A study permit is always recommended, as students may decide to stay for an additional semester of studies after they get here.
If a student is applying for a full year, can tuition be paid by semester?
International Programs does not allow partial payments. If a student is applying for a full year, they must pay full tuition costs at the time of application. A letter of acceptance is then issued for that time period.
What payment methods do you accept?
Fees must be paid in Canadian funds. An invoice will be issued after the application is approved. International Programs uses Flywire for all tuition payments. Payments must be made within 30 days of the invoice date, or the application may be cancelled.
Please follow the link below to begin payment: https://epsbtuition.flywire.com/
If you require further assistance with payment by flywire, please refer to their website at https://help.flywire.com/hc/en-us.
Homestay:
Is the Homestay program run by the school or a homestay company?
International students needing homestay apply through the Canada Homestay Network (CHN).
Is the homestay paid monthly or in one lump sum?
All homestay fees are collected in advance; the Canada Homestay Network will send an invoice after the application is submitted. For a list of fees, please visit the Homestay Program page. The emergency fund covers any unexpected costs the student may incur and, if unused, is refunded when the student completes their study program and leaves their Homestay placement.
Is there any additional cost for airport pick-up or drop-off?
Airport pick-up and drop-off are available for students registered in the Homestay program. Please consult with the Canada Homestay Network for more information.
Insurance:
Does the school arrange medical insurance? Is it provincial or private insurance?
Edmonton Public Schools’ International Programs has a mandatory private student health insurance plan. Letters of acceptance are not issued until health insurance fees are paid. Students are solely responsible for all medical and other expenses that exceed the scope of the health care coverage. Please see the following webpage for more information: https://www.studyinsured.com/epsb.
Is the insurance fee included in the tuition price, or is it a separate fee?
The health insurance fee is separate from the tuition fee.
Will the students get an insurance card or anything else that shows they are insured?
Students receive a healthcare information package which includes a personalized wallet card along with their Letter of Acceptance. This is sent to your agent and/or your family member. Please check your email to see if you have received this from Study Insured directly. If not, please contact isp@epsb.ca. We will have it sent to your email.
Can students choose which doctor they want to see? Do they have to pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement? What about expensive bills like for hospital treatment?
Students may use whatever doctor they choose. In some but not all hospitals or clinics, students will pay up front for their medical treatment, and then submit a claim directly to the insurance company. Copies of the claim form, instructions for completing it, and a summary of benefits information are available at https://www.studyinsured.com/epsb.
Can a custodian pay the health care fees on the student's behalf and then receive the reimbursement cheque from the insurance company?
Yes, the custodian may pay the fees on the student's behalf, but be sure that the receipt for payment of fees is made out to the payer and that the insured's name (student's name) is included on the receipt.
Pre-enrollment:
What is pre-enrolment, and how do international students participate?
Each spring, parents across the Division pre-enrol to let schools know they would like their child to attend next year. Pre-enrolment helps families plan and allows schools to prepare based on the number of students expected to attend in the fall.
International students must pay fees and complete a renewal application before being able to participate in pre-enrolment. Instructions on how to renew will be sent to students’ share.epsb.ca school email accounts in the fall term for those whose fees expire in January, and the winter term for those whose fees expire in June.
If the student is entering junior high or high school, ISP will be placing students at schools. Placements will depend on school capacity after resident students have been enrolled.
Please note that International Programs does not accommodate school transfer requests for students who will not be entering junior high or high school in the following school year.
Report cards, transcripts, validation:
How do I obtain official transcripts?
Official transcripts are issued directly by Alberta Education, the Ministry responsible for education in the province of Alberta. Students must order official transcripts directly from Alberta Education using their myPass account. High school students can speak with their school office for more information.
Does the school offer help with the legalization process required by the home schools of Brazilian, Colombian, Mexican and Spanish students? If so, what help is offered? Is there any additional cost?
School report cards are validated by request only. The charge for this service is $200 CAD, which includes all legal, embassy, and courier fees.
Note that students need to complete course requirements to obtain credits in any Alberta school division, including Edmonton Public Schools. This process takes a minimum of five months (one semester).
Please click here to download the validation request form.
School:
Do you have an orientation week? If so, what dates?
International student orientations are provided at their schools, and CHN provides welcome orientations for students in homestay. Before arrival in Edmonton, students must follow the steps outlined in their Welcome Letter to book a new student registration appointment at their school.
Do you offer French classes? Can an international student take a French class if they have never taken French before?
Yes, French as a course is available in most high schools. Please note that students may need prior language knowledge to enrol in French. Students can talk with their school counsellor at registration to receive more information.
Can students choose the classes they would like to take?
Students can largely choose the courses they would like to take, provided the courses they want are available within their timetables, and they have the prerequisites.
When will the students have vacations? Can you provide us with a school year calendar?
Holiday periods include a two-week break from the middle of December to the beginning of January, a one-week break from the end of March to the beginning of April, and a summer break during the months of July and August. For exact dates, you can access school year calendars on the EPS website: https://www.epsb.ca/calendars/printablecalendars/
Does the program arrange any extracurricular trips or outings?
Yes, the schools often organize field trips. These are also occasionally organized by Homestay families. International Programs organize activities throughout the year for the students whose parents have signed our consent form. Please review the Consent Form for International Student Activities section in this handbook for more information.
What courses are offered at your schools?
Please see the following International Programs webpage for more information on academic courses: Academic Programs
What time does the school day begin/finish?
This varies with the school attended, but generally, the day begins between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. and finishes between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.
Can I transfer schools after I arrive?
There are no school transfers once you have begun your program.
Transportation/Travel:
Is the student allowed to travel alone with parental and program permission?
For students in the Canada Homestay Network (CHN), overnight stays outside the family home are subject to the approval of the homestay parents and/or the CHN Relationship Manager. Out-of-town travel with persons other than homestay family members is subject to the approval of the homestay parents and/or the CHN Relationship Manager.
Is there bussing for international students?
Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is the preferred means of transportation for Division students. Our Division works closely with ETS to ensure all students have access to close and reliable transit routes. Yellow Bus service is not available for International Students.
Information about the Edmonton Transit System can be found online at www.takeets.com.