Credit card convenience charge

Athabasca University (AU) converted to a convenience charge model in 2020 through the online payment service provider.

With this model, a convenience charge of 2.25 per cent of the overall total cost of registration or course fees is applicable for learners who choose to pay with a Visa credit card or Mastercard credit card. In the summer of 2020, it was two per cent, and will be increasing to 2.25 per cent on September 1, 2021, due to a change by the credit card companies and the online payment service provider.

This will affect learners who want to pay for their course fees with a Visa credit card or Mastercard credit card through the Office of Registrar’s Online System (OROS). Learners can avoid paying this fee by choosing Visa debit, or Mastercard debit at the check-out.

These fees go directly to the online payment service provider. By not accepting credt card payments directly, AU is able to save costs related to merchant card fees. These savings will enable the university to repurpose these dollars for serving learners in other priority areas at AU. It also brings AU in line with many other post-secondaries in Alberta and across Canada who already use the convenience charge model.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Updated September 04, 2024 by Digital & Web Operations, University Relations (web_services@athabascau.ca)